Car Stereos: Replace speakers for a Volvo, 2000 volvo s40, volvo s40

Question
My 2000 Volvo S40 has only one speaker working on the front driver side (factory).  What would you consider a good brand and how can I find out the proper sizes and locations of all the speakers in the car.

Answer
Hi,

I don't think I've personally worked on an S40, but it looks like you should have 5-1/4" speakers in your front doors, as well as 5-1/4" or 6-1/2" speakers mounted in the rear deck.  Also, you may have 4" speakers located on top of the dash.

From what I can tell, this is one of the easier cars you'll find for speaker replacement; you should be able to just pry off the grill cover to remove each speaker.  

I try not to make brand name recommendations; there are simply too many speakers out there that I haven't had a chance to audition.  Furthermore, what sounds good to one person might not necessarily sound good to another.  I'd suggest going to a few stores and listen to the speakers they have on display.  Ignore all the power and frequency response specs, and don't assume a "3-way" speaker is automatically better than a "2-way".  Some of the best speakers made are 2-way designs.

Generally, I tell people to listen for the most natural-sounding speaker.  You don't want one that sounds excessively bright or bassy; a speaker that sounds bright in the showroom often sounds much more shrill in the car.  Just look for a balanced, realistic sound.

Hope this helps!

Brian