best stereo for sound quality?

[jewbacca02]

I was just wondering what was the best way to go in a component system for sound quality. I like deep bass, but nothing to rock the neighborhood or anything like that. I just want the best possible quality sound INSIDE the car.

[ChameleonGreen]

Well, for true SQ, you need a quality 2-way component system. You can leave the 6.5 in the door but you will want to put the tweeters up on the dash or on the inside of the mirrors. Someone just recently told me the tweeters sound good mounted at the top two corners of the windsheild, but I have yet to try this. You'll then need a decent amp to power those components. Do not add rear speakers.

As far as bass you will need at least a single 10". My single stealthbox, same basic brand availiable from just about any audio shop, sounded damn sweet with an Audiobahn AW1000X in there. My two Audiobahn 12's suck @ss though. If you don't have T-tops and don't care about the rear well space you can get a dual 10 or dual 12 box. If you go that route, I suggest www.subthump.com You will then need an amp to power the sub.

I recommend Autotek Amplifiers. The cheapest you will find them is at www.cyberautosound.com and those are some DAMN good prices. I'm not fond of their customer service at all, but I did get my amp very fast. Probably because they're only 130 miles away from me. As far as speakers go, Diamond Audio, Focal, DynAudio, Canton, Image Dynamics, ADS. There's to many good ones to name. In the end, buy the ones that sound the best to you. When it comes to subs for SQ: ADS 3 Series, Image Dyamics IDMax or IDQ, Adire Brahma, Diamond MacDaddy, Lambda Acoustics PB. Also to many to name here. I don't suggest any sub with more than like 18mm of Xmax(excursion). If you get one with a higher number you won't be able to blast it without killing your ears.

[96firebird311]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by ChameleonGreen:
Well, for true SQ, you need a quality 2-way component system. Diamond Audio, Focal, ADS. In the end, buy the ones that sound the best to you. <hr></blockquote>

I recommend this.

[ToddBoe]

I did mount my tweeters on the windsheild in the corners and surprisinly enough they do sound good i did have to shif the balace to the left alittle but other then that it sounds really good there mtx 8000 componts i run them off the deck but if you want that try them and get a good 3 channel or 4 channel amp even and put one sub in the stealt box idea or still if you wana run the 2 10's or 12's the same amp would work just as long as it can go to a 2 ohm load or what ever ohm subs you would get or if you want you could always go with a 5 channel amp

[Brian Dieckman]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by ChameleonGreen:
...you will want to put the tweeters up on the dash or on the inside of the mirrors. Someone just recently told me the tweeters sound good mounted at the top two corners of the windsheild...<hr></blockquote>

No no no. Seperating the components in a 2-way set will only cause phase problems. Putting the tweeters on the dash is NOT a good idea, there's glass only 6" from them, and we all know what early reflections can do for a sound stage. Ditto with behind the mirrors, glass all around. Mounting tweeters at the top two corners of the windshield will place the left one about 9" from you, and the right one about 20" away. (no phase problems there, huh?)

It's true you can leave the mids in the doors, but for goodness sakes, put the tweeters near the mids. The BEST placement for a component set is as far forward, and away from you as possible. Kick panels are a great place if you have an automatic transmission.

Even with the components low in the car, a well tuned and aimed set of speakers will create a reasonably high sound stage that lines up with the dash pretty well.

No speakers in the rear for the best sound, but if you like it loud, go ahead and put a set there and only fade back there when you're rockin'

Your choice of sub realy depends on your choice of music. If you like rock, one well-powered 10" will do the trick. If you like rap or R&B, you might want to look at a bigger sub.

Please don't put your tweeters ANYWHERE near glass. Bad things will happen.

-Brian

[EyeOutThere]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Brian Dieckman:


No no no. Seperating the components in a 2-way set will only cause phase problems. Putting the tweeters on the dash is NOT a good idea, there's glass only 6" from them, and we all know what early reflections can do for a sound stage. Ditto with behind the mirrors, glass all around. Mounting tweeters at the top two corners of the windshield will place the left one about 9" from you, and the right one about 20" away. (no phase problems there, huh?)

It's true you can leave the mids in the doors, but for goodness sakes, put the tweeters near the mids. The BEST placement for a component set is as far forward, and away from you as possible. Kick panels are a great place if you have an automatic transmission.

Even with the components low in the car, a well tuned and aimed set of speakers will create a reasonably high sound stage that lines up with the dash pretty well.

No speakers in the rear for the best sound, but if you like it loud, go ahead and put a set there and only fade back there when you're rockin'

Your choice of sub realy depends on your choice of music. If you like rock, one well-powered 10" will do the trick. If you like rap or R&B, you might want to look at a bigger sub.

Please don't put your tweeters ANYWHERE near glass. Bad things will happen.

-Brian<hr></blockquote>

This guy knows what he is talking about.

Sure, you see a lot of pro systems with tweeters up high (in the dash and such). However, in all of the systems that win ANY awards for SQ the tweeters are accompanied by some sort of midrange.

I recommend getting a nice set of component speakers (6-6.75”) and installing the mid-bass drivers in the door locations. Mount the tweeters within 2 or 3” of the mid-bass.

This is how I have my tweeters mounted. I have tried many different configurations, and found this to be the best one for SQ.
Mount the tweeters on your factory kick panels like this (at the bottom):
http://eyeoutthere.tripod.com/stereo.htm

[ April 07, 2002: Message edited by: EyeOutThere ]</p>

[Brian Dieckman]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by EyeOutThere:


This guy knows what he is talking about.

<hr></blockquote>

Thanks, man. I've been installing stereos on and off now for about 10 years. Some of this stuff is common sense, but alot of it is not. (Such as this issue)

For people with tweeters near the windows, check this out: For an illustrated version of what I mean, go to a quiet place, maybe your garage, or a car wash at night.

Turn up your stereo to normal listening volume, then cut the subs, or just turn the bass down. Listen for a couple of minutes and pay attention to the highs and where exactly the sound is located in the car.

Now roll the windows down. Listen again and you'll see the difference early reflections make. The overall volume will decrease slightly. That extra volume was coming from the early (or late) reflections from your tweeters. The sound stage will be MUCH more clear, and if the tweeters are aimed correctly, the instruments will sound like they're coming from front and center, perhaps slightly higher.

On a side note, I HAVE seen an award winning car with tweeters pointed at the windshield. In fact, all the speakers were. The dash mids/tweets were angled the same as the windshield, and there was a mid/tweet in the center armrest that raised up and pointed in the center. Talk about a wide sound stage. It was great. I personally didn't like the harshness of the tweeters he used, but the effect was great. He put alot of thought and engineering into this install and it showed. It didn't win 1st place, but it did place.

-Brian

[EyeOutThere]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Brian Dieckman:

I have seen an award winning car with tweeters pointed at the windshield. In fact, all the speakers were. The dash mids/tweets were angled the same as the windshield, and there was a mid/tweet in the center armrest that raised up and pointed in the center. Talk about a wide sound stage. It was great. I personally didn't like the harshness of the tweeters he used, but the effect was great. He put alot of thought and engineering into this install and it showed. It didn't win 1st place, but it did place.
<hr></blockquote>

Right, in all of the systems that win any awards for SQ the tweeters are accompanied by some sort of midrange. (i.e. I have seen many award winning cars with tweeters in the dash, but in all of those installs, there was a mid in the dash also; and sometimes even a sub ;) )

The moral of the story, keep your tweets near your mids and try to stay away from the glass unless you know what you are doing [img]smile.gif[/img] .

[99firebirdconv.]

Rockford Fosgate all the way man, they sound excellent.

[Dewey]

I've been considering components for the front as well, and have an idea that I'd like to run by everyone. I stuck w/ the manual windows, and where the power switch would go is a flat black panel. I was thinking of mounting the tweeters in there, basically aimed @ my face. (Though i'd rather a set of "woofers" in my face :eek: ) Opinions?

[EyeOutThere]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dewey:
I've been considering components for the front as well, and have an idea that I'd like to run by everyone. I stuck w/ the manual windows, and where the power switch would go is a flat black panel. I was thinking of mounting the tweeters in there, basically aimed @ my face. (Though i'd rather a set of "woofers" in my face :eek: ) Opinions?<hr></blockquote>

you, don't want to do that:
1. you want the tweeter within a few inches of the mid-bass.
2. The left tweeter would be WAY to close to you.

Read the posts by Brian Dieckman, and myself.

[Brian Dieckman]

That certainly would be original, and the install could be very classy!

One other concern (in addition to my previous posts) I have is this: That's a high traffic area (your handle) and I would be wary of installing such a delicate piece there.

My tweeters were in excess of $100 each, I would hate to see one get bashed on accident!

-Brian

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dewey:
I've been considering components for the front as well, and have an idea that I'd like to run by everyone. I stuck w/ the manual windows, and where the power switch would go is a flat black panel. I was thinking of mounting the tweeters in there, basically aimed @ my face. (Though i'd rather a set of "woofers" in my face :eek: ) Opinions?<hr></blockquote>

[Dewey]

Not to mention, I'd hate to have to kill one of my passengers for doing it. I'll give it some CAREFUL consideration though. If I can ever figure out how to post pics, I'll put 'em up.