OEM Speaker positions?
Discussion
Mark,
You are correct. I believe the 98 and later models have the speakers in the doors.
What is it that you are wanting to do? New panels and leather will be quite expensive and you will still have to cut an opening in the door itself to recess the speaker into.
A good stereo shop can modify the existing panels for door mount speakers if you can't do it yourself. I have done this on my 95 S4s which should be the same as your 96-97 model V8.
I have some pics if you want to email me off line.
Jim
You are correct. I believe the 98 and later models have the speakers in the doors.
What is it that you are wanting to do? New panels and leather will be quite expensive and you will still have to cut an opening in the door itself to recess the speaker into.
A good stereo shop can modify the existing panels for door mount speakers if you can't do it yourself. I have done this on my 95 S4s which should be the same as your 96-97 model V8.
I have some pics if you want to email me off line.
Jim
Mark,
Door mounting speakers isn't the best idea in terms of sound quality. Aside from the expense, and destruction to the fine leather and panel, the speakers themselves can cause resonance in the door. Side-staging will give you a distorted reproduction of the music to your ear with the closest channel being dominant.
Also, generally, there's something unatural for human beings about side-staging, it's as if we're not programmed that way. We are predisposed to face sound and music which is why front staging will almost always sound better.
Your best bet is to place a set of coax speakers in the dash (usually 4") and a larger set, preferably component, in the rear bulkhead.
Adjust the gain to favor the fronts (front-staging) and also if the equipment allows, set the rear crossover HighPass considerably higher than the fronts. Keep the fronts to about 125Hz and the rears >250Hz. Hope this helps.
Happy Motoring ...Jim'85TE
Door mounting speakers isn't the best idea in terms of sound quality. Aside from the expense, and destruction to the fine leather and panel, the speakers themselves can cause resonance in the door. Side-staging will give you a distorted reproduction of the music to your ear with the closest channel being dominant.
Also, generally, there's something unatural for human beings about side-staging, it's as if we're not programmed that way. We are predisposed to face sound and music which is why front staging will almost always sound better.
Your best bet is to place a set of coax speakers in the dash (usually 4") and a larger set, preferably component, in the rear bulkhead.
Adjust the gain to favor the fronts (front-staging) and also if the equipment allows, set the rear crossover HighPass considerably higher than the fronts. Keep the fronts to about 125Hz and the rears >250Hz. Hope this helps.
Happy Motoring ...Jim'85TE
Thanks for the reply guys. The speakers in question are Dynaudio 3 way components www.dynaudiousa.com/products/car/3way.htm
I have mounted the mids in the dash, and the tweeters are temporaraly in the kick pannels - I have the woofers behind me now in custom pods but the depth behind is fartoo small and they are not giving halff the bass they should. I though that by venting into the doors I would open up the natural sound of the woofer, and keep the stage in front of me.
In my door I have a plastic bit with an ashtray, is it possible to buy the later model parw with the speaker pod and put this inplace of the ashtray part in my car? Instead of cutting up the leather etc which I would be keen to avoid?
Thanks for all your help so far guys, much appreciated!
I have mounted the mids in the dash, and the tweeters are temporaraly in the kick pannels - I have the woofers behind me now in custom pods but the depth behind is fartoo small and they are not giving halff the bass they should. I though that by venting into the doors I would open up the natural sound of the woofer, and keep the stage in front of me.
In my door I have a plastic bit with an ashtray, is it possible to buy the later model parw with the speaker pod and put this inplace of the ashtray part in my car? Instead of cutting up the leather etc which I would be keen to avoid?
Thanks for all your help so far guys, much appreciated!
markuskj said:
Thanks for the reply guys. The speakers in question are Dynaudio 3 way components <a href="http://www.dynaudiousa.com/products/car/3way.htm">www.dynaudiousa.com/products/car/3way.htm</a>
I have mounted the mids in the dash, and the tweeters are temporaraly in the kick pannels - I have the woofers behind me now in custom pods but the depth behind is fartoo small and they are not giving halff the bass they should. I though that by venting into the doors I would open up the natural sound of the woofer, and keep the stage in front of me.
In my door I have a plastic bit with an ashtray, is it possible to buy the later model parw with the speaker pod and put this inplace of the ashtray part in my car? Instead of cutting up the leather etc which I would be keen to avoid?
Thanks for all your help so far guys, much appreciated!
Mark,
Good equipment, all the more reason to mount them so their full potential can be experienced.
Instead of trying to move the mid-bass speakers to the doors, why don't you try adding some spun polyester (available in bulk as an aquarium filter media at pet stores for much less $$$ than at an audio dealer) and stuff this into your enclosures. About 1lb per enclosure should be about right. The polyester will have the effect of making the speakers sound as if they are mounted in a larger enclosure than they really are, also, bass will be enhanced.
But realize that your system has only a mid-bass driver. It will not give you ghetto-blasting, weatherstrip peeling bass, for that you need a sub.
Happy Motoring! ...Jim'85TE (w/ Nakamichi CD700 HU, Nakamichi PA-1004 (100X4)Amp, Focal 6.5" 3-way components (rear), Focal 4" 2-way coax (front) and soon to add 8" Focal sub driven by separate RF 100W Amp)
>> Edited by lotusguy on Saturday 18th September 17:05
Hey Jim,
Where are you going to mount the sub?
And you're going to need more than 100 watts to get that ghetto blasting bass you're looking for. 4-500 watts should do it.
:
As for the mids in the doors I think it's mainly for fill. I've got basically a 3-way system with tweets in the A-pillars, 5" mids in the dash and 6" mids in the doors. I have a very nice sound stage that sounds like it's coming from the front center of the windshield. With the sloped dash and windshield the Esprit is really pretty good acoustically. It's just the bass that's hard to come by. The JL audio 6" subs that I have in the factory enclosures behind the seats are ok but I could use more. Just my 2 cents.
JK
95 S4s
Where are you going to mount the sub?
And you're going to need more than 100 watts to get that ghetto blasting bass you're looking for. 4-500 watts should do it.
: As for the mids in the doors I think it's mainly for fill. I've got basically a 3-way system with tweets in the A-pillars, 5" mids in the dash and 6" mids in the doors. I have a very nice sound stage that sounds like it's coming from the front center of the windshield. With the sloped dash and windshield the Esprit is really pretty good acoustically. It's just the bass that's hard to come by. The JL audio 6" subs that I have in the factory enclosures behind the seats are ok but I could use more. Just my 2 cents.
JK
95 S4s
[quote]Mark,
Good equipment, all the more reason to mount them so their full potential can be experienced. [/quote]
Thanks - I am eager for advice!
[quote] Instead of trying to move the mid-bass speakers to the doors, why don't you try adding some spun polyester (available in bulk as an aquarium filter media at pet stores for much less $$$ than at an audio dealer) and stuff this into your enclosures. About 1lb per enclosure should be about right. The polyester will have the effect of making the speakers sound as if they are mounted in a larger enclosure than they really are, also, bass will be enhanced. [/quote]
I know of this technique and have used it in the past with smaller enclosures but the problem is that even with the MDF pods, the sheer depth of the woofers (and the amazingly small OEM enclosure) means that there is not even enough room to to add cladding - also, to be honest I am set on creating a good "stage"
[quote] But realize that your system has only a mid-bass driver. It will not give you ghetto-blasting, weatherstrip peeling bass, for that you need a sub. [/quote]
Agreed, I am going for SQ for now. In my previous car I ran 2 JL 12w3 subs but am a little stck as to where to put a sub in the Esprit without without sacravicing the passenger seat
Any advice on this also very welcome!
[quote]Happy Motoring! ...Jim'85TE (w/ Nakamichi CD700 HU, Nakamichi PA-1004 (100X4)Amp, Focal 6.5" 3-way components (rear), Focal 4" 2-way coax (front) and soon to add 8" Focal sub driven by separate RF 100W Amp) [/quote]
Kudos - Nak gear is the only way to go - I run the MB100 and love it, moved fron an Alpine 7969, runthrough a Genesis Dual Mono.
Good equipment, all the more reason to mount them so their full potential can be experienced. [/quote]
Thanks - I am eager for advice!
[quote] Instead of trying to move the mid-bass speakers to the doors, why don't you try adding some spun polyester (available in bulk as an aquarium filter media at pet stores for much less $$$ than at an audio dealer) and stuff this into your enclosures. About 1lb per enclosure should be about right. The polyester will have the effect of making the speakers sound as if they are mounted in a larger enclosure than they really are, also, bass will be enhanced. [/quote]
I know of this technique and have used it in the past with smaller enclosures but the problem is that even with the MDF pods, the sheer depth of the woofers (and the amazingly small OEM enclosure) means that there is not even enough room to to add cladding - also, to be honest I am set on creating a good "stage"
[quote] But realize that your system has only a mid-bass driver. It will not give you ghetto-blasting, weatherstrip peeling bass, for that you need a sub. [/quote]
Agreed, I am going for SQ for now. In my previous car I ran 2 JL 12w3 subs but am a little stck as to where to put a sub in the Esprit without without sacravicing the passenger seat
Any advice on this also very welcome! [quote]Happy Motoring! ...Jim'85TE (w/ Nakamichi CD700 HU, Nakamichi PA-1004 (100X4)Amp, Focal 6.5" 3-way components (rear), Focal 4" 2-way coax (front) and soon to add 8" Focal sub driven by separate RF 100W Amp) [/quote]
Kudos - Nak gear is the only way to go - I run the MB100 and love it, moved fron an Alpine 7969, runthrough a Genesis Dual Mono.
jk1 said:
Hey Jim,
Where are you going to mount the sub?
And you're going to need more than 100 watts to get that ghetto blasting bass you're looking for. 4-500 watts should do it.
As for the mids in the doors I think it's mainly for fill. I've got basically a 3-way system with tweets in the A-pillars, 5" mids in the dash and 6" mids in the doors. I have a very nice sound stage that sounds like it's coming from the front center of the windshield. With the sloped dash and windshield the Esprit is really pretty good acoustically. It's just the bass that's hard to come by. The JL audio 6" subs that I have in the factory enclosures behind the seats are ok but I could use more. Just my 2 cents.
JK
95 S4s
Jim,
I'm mounting the sub in the front boot attached to the A/C cover facing inwards, there s/b adequate sound channels through the ductwork and direct to give a decent bottom end O have already expeimented with another driver and it seems good. I got a spare cover, so will cut a hole w/ a dremel in it to mount the sub facing the cockpit (rearward). A 100W mono amp should be sufficient to power it as I am not looking for accoustic artillery, just some bottom fill.
Happy Motoring! ...Jim'85TE
jk1 said:
Hey Jim,
Where are you going to mount the sub?
And you're going to need more than 100 watts to get that ghetto blasting bass you're looking for. 4-500 watts should do it.
As for the mids in the doors I think it's mainly for fill. I've got basically a 3-way system with tweets in the A-pillars, 5" mids in the dash and 6" mids in the doors. I have a very nice sound stage that sounds like it's coming from the front center of the windshield. With the sloped dash and windshield the Esprit is really pretty good acoustically. It's just the bass that's hard to come by. The JL audio 6" subs that I have in the factory enclosures behind the seats are ok but I could use more. Just my 2 cents.
JK
95 S4s
Do you have any photos of how the tweets are mounted mate, this would be very useful!
BTW This is a great article on component placement: www.nearfieldaudio.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17
>> Edited by markuskj on Sunday 19th September 20:08
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