Easiest/cheapest way to improve sound quality without modifying Ascent

May 1, 2023

I just got a new Ascent and was not impressed with the sound quality. It’s not the best idea to have a tweeter on the windshield as they are directional speakers. I decided to search this forum and found that the 3.5″ speakers would not fit in the dash [second picture below shows there’s a plastic bump inside of the dash hole that prevent installing a 3.5″ standard speaker]. I also learned about a FaitalPro 3FE22 in another post, a full 3″ speaker made in Italy. I decided to give it a try and I’m very happy with the sound.

So in my opinion the best and easiest way to improve the sound of your Ascent is to put a good quality 6.5 or 6×9 in the front door and upgrade the stupid dash tweeter with this awesome speaker 3″.

Here’s what I suggest:
– Dash Speaker: Go with the FaitalPro 3FE22. They cost $33 each and are worth even more! To install, simply connect the wires inside the tweeter socket and tape it with electrical tape [pictures below]. The speaker holes don’t line up with the dot holes so you can drill two new holes or just put some foam tape where the speaker meets the dash to avoid any sliding/vibration.

– Front Door: I went with a Focal RCX-690 that I got from the $158 open box at Crutchfield. I’m a Focal junkie, I have a pair of studio monitors and love them! I believe any good quality 6×9 or 6.5 would do a good job there. The speakers are shooting at foot level so I don’t think they matter much [considering you got good ones]. Installation is simple, Crutchfield sends free brackets and harnesses.

– Backdoor: I learned that the EQ on the backdoor is not good. I went with the Infinity Primus 6.5 because they were $63 at Crutchfield. You haven’t installed them yet. The same free and easy installation kit if you get them from Crutchfield.

– Sound Death: I bought the material but ended up returning it. I found it very tricky to install through the speaker hole and the plastic/guard on the door seems tricky to remove. I didn’t want to mess with the door since I got the car less than a week ago.

Overall, I’m happy with the results and can’t wait to listen to music in my car! For almost $300, the sound quality on my Ascent is drastically improved and it was easy to install everything.

Next step: get the KMC Bully wheels

3FE22 Description from partsexpress: FaitalPRO’s do-it-all 3FE22 neodymium 3″ full speaker has high sensitivity and flat frequency response. Perfect for use in professional, home and car audio applications. Key Features: