Midrange Installation

!! WARNING

Double check the clearance for both speakers before proceeding. Many cars are different from one side to the other!

The midrange drivers should be installed in one of the following ways depending on location:

Factory Location: Follow the same wiring procedures outlined for the woofer installation.

The C5-400cm has been designed to install, without modifications, into most vehicles that accept a 4-inch (100 mm) speaker. Most factory 4-inch speakers use four mounting screws which will line up with the mounting holes on your woofers. In most factory locations, it will be necessary to use the supplied Flush Mount Adaptor Rings as shown in the Diagram E on page 11.

Use the supplied mounting clips unless the factory holes already feature threaded inserts. Hand-tighten the screws evenly to avoid bending the speaker frame!

Some vehicles which accept a 4-inch (100 mm) speaker use a two-hole mounting system. This can be easily accommodated by breaking off two of the tabs as shown in the diagram at the top of this page. All four mounting tabs are perforated to permit their removal. Bend each unneeded tab back and forth until it breaks off. Please be careful in handling the speaker after breaking off the tabs as there may be sharp edges.

Custom Location: For custom-mounted applications, break off all four mounting tabs and use the supplied Frame Adaptors as shown in the diagrams on page 11. These Frame Adaptors permit for a smaller overall diameter when custom mounting the speakers and must be used in order to install the supplied grilles.

Run speaker wire to the desired mounting locations. If you are running wires into a door, use existing factory wiring boots whenever possible. If you are drilling new holes, file their edges and install rubber grommets into each hole. Wires should then be

covered with a protective, flexible PVC sleeve and then run through the door jamb. Make sure that the wires will clear door hinges and other structures in the door. If you are unsure about any part of this process, please contact your JL Audio dealer for installation help.

Select an even surface. Tightening a speaker onto an uneven surface can damage it. Carefully measure and mark the “mounting hole diameter” outline in the selected location using the dimensions listed on page 2. Before drilling or cutting on your interior panels, use a utility knife to cut any fabric, vinyl or leather from hole locations. These materials can easily be snagged by a drill or a saw, causing damage to the panel and possible bodily injury. Drill a pilot hole in the center of the proposed speaker mounting hole. Then, using a saber saw with an appropriate blade, make the circular cut out for the speaker. File any rough edges.

After cutting the hole, check to see that the speaker frame fits into its mounting hole cleanly. Do not force the frame into a hole that is too small. Once the speaker is in place, use the holes on the speaker’s grille tray to mark the panel where the four mounting screws will be positioned, as shown in Diagram F. Remove the speaker and drill 3/32-inch (2.4 mm) holes at each mark. Insert the #6 mounting clips with the flat side towards the speaker. Connect the speaker wires, observing correct polarity, and secure the frame adaptor, speaker and grille tray to the panel by evenly tightening by hand the provided #6 x 1.25 inch (32 mm) mounting screws. Make sure the midrange driver is secured so that air does not leak around the mounting flange. Air leaks will cause a severe degradation in sound quality. Seal any air leaks with an automotive-grade sealant material.

Break off small pieces of the supplied butyl adhesive putty and place them on the inside of each grille tray. This adhesive will hold the grille mesh insert in place firmly and prevent rattling. Insert the grille mesh insert into the grille tray, squeezing gently around its edge until it seats firmly into the tray. Finally, attach the self-adhesive JL Audio logo badge to the grille mesh insert.

You may also choose to install the midrange drivers using the Frame Adaptors with no grille tray. This can be useful for applications where a custom grille is being fabricated and will result in a smaller overall mounting diameter than the standard tab-mount system as shown in Diagram G on page 11.

Diagram E: Factory Location Woofer Installation

Diagram F: CUSTOM Location Woofer Installation

Diagram G: CUSTOM Location Woofer Installation

!! WARNING

Hand-tighten the screws evenly in a criss-cross pattern to avoid bending the speaker frame or stripping the mounting clips.

10 JL Audio - C5-653 Owner’s Manual