Audio System Questions (Speaker Setup)

[EveBYoung]

Hey I have a few general questions as well as some EB specific ones. Love it if anybody could help.

I'm looking to do a re-haul on the whole sound system and was wondering exactly how many speakers are necessary for a really good sound. 2 subs and 2 tweeters? Do I still need 1-2 midrange drivers?
Also, when doing a sound system from components, how important is it to match up the frequencies of the woofers/tweeters/midranges? How do I go about doing that? I've done some research into good subs/good tweeters etc but I don't know what goes good together.
Finally, which components should be installed where for the best sound? If I do get 2 midranges, I guess I thought I'd put those up front, the subs in the back and the tweeters maybe mounted to the roll cage. I don't know though - I'm new to sound system work so I don't really have an idea.
Thanks a lot!

 

[moe d]

put 1 sub in the back, pair of 5 inch mid with tweeter in the front and a pair of 3 way 6 1/2 or 6x9 mounted in the quarterpanels behind your seats. Thats how i did mind and am very pleased..

I like JL audio. but if you wheel without a top on, you might want to look into Clarion Marine speakers and mount your amps under your rear seat and run the wires under the floor mat.

 

[EveBYoung]

thanks for the reply. one other question i forgot: can that all be run with 1 amp (in addition to my console unit)?

 

[moe d]

well.. i would run 1 4 channel amp for front and rear and 1 amp for the sub.. That way you can adjust the gain much easier.. but if your not concerned with volume, then yes run your head unit to the front and rear and a amp for the subwoofer.

 

[EveBYoung]

Yeah I think that's what I'll do. I was looking into 5-channel amps but one 4 channel and an additional one for the sub looks like the way to go.

What kind of mids/tweeter combos are best for the front? I think I've got the 6x9 and the subs picked out (assuming again they all overlay frequencies alright: i'm still not sure how important matching up all the components is).

Also, how'd you install your front components? I've seen people mount a box center under the dash but that seems like it would compromise the sound from side separation. I'm not sure if I want to cut my doors though.. Is there any way to mount them under/on/in the dash? I've also seen them underneath but those could interfere with the brakes or get kicked around. How well can they be mounted to a roll cage?

 

[22213evl]

the h**ps have that sound bar thingy that mounts to the bar, but if you wheel it might not be a good idea to have something that can konk you on the head up there.

 

[BroncoMP]

Well...I've been a MECP installer for a number of years now, and I can tell you that as far as "sound quality" and brand goes, it boils down to what you like, or what sounds good to you, shop around. Only round speakers will replicate sounds with minimal distortion (good clean sound), but some people like ovals like 6x9's or 4x6's.

Now as far as placement and size, ideally you want every speaker (sub included) but rear fill in the front, for ideal sound imaging. However, for car audio it is usually difficult to place your sub in front, unless you use 8" subs down in the inner kick panels, which can use up a lot of foot room.

Without going into it too much, yes, you need midrange woofers, tweeters, and subwoofers to cover the audio range of your music. I suggest placing the tweets on or around the dash or grab bar area, the mids either in the dash or in the kicks (4" min - 6.5"max round speakers), a set of coaxial speakers in the rear bedsides and a subwoofer either mounted in the bedside or in a box (point the sub towards the back if top is on, towards the front if off. Subs are omnidirectional, but need some reflection room for full sound). As far as amps, you can use a 5 channel amp or a 4 channel and a 2 channel/mono, or just a 2 channel/mono for the sub and the head unit for the speakers. Just make sure wherever you mount them, they get air movement for cooling, and are not getting too hot from sun or wet from rain.

I'm sorry this is so long any other audio questions just PM me if you want - Dave

 

[MattM]

This is what I did. (Stole the idea from Overhaulin’) Not the best sound quality, but it fits with my kickin’ Hi-Fi 8-track. (I also have a marine speaker box under the front passenger’s seat and one in the dash.)

I bolted the sub to the back of the can and then mounted the can behind the back seat.

 

[moe d]

lol, thats pretty cool.. A gas can enclosure..

I built a enclosure for the fronts and mounted it under my dash behind my shifters with each one pointing to driver/passenger.. If you have a table saw it is pretty easy to build the box..

I wouldnt attach anything to the roll cage.. If you have enough power going to them, they will be good and loud wherever you mount them.. You wont be winning any sound competitions when you have a truck with no sound deadening/ carpet.. i'll post a few pics when i get a chance

 

[BroncoMP]

I LOVE IT!!! Sweet idea - if you're wanting better sound out of it, get another can, cut the sides open and glass them together, so that it is a bigger enclosure, then stuff them with fiber-fill (pull the fiber-fill apart and stuff loosely) - it will give you more sound and range! Again - Looks awesome! Might have to experiment with that look myself!

 

[BroncoMP]

moe d's right - don't mount to the roll bar, just get stuff broken that way...if you have a grab bar running down the dash, you could mount tweets on/in it, or there is a company that makes small speakers for motorcycles that would mount to it as well - they look like turn signals...
http://www.chromeglow.com/index.asp?category=15865

 

[EveBYoung]

Would installing both amps underneath the rear seats be okay as far as ventilation goes or would I need to also install a fan or something? Also, if the 6x9s distort at high volume what coaxial set would you recommend instead? Lastly, would installing 6.5" mid drivers in the kicks interfere significantly with foot room/breaks/anything else?

Sorry for the barrage of questions just want to get this right the first time ;D .

And @ moe d - pictures would be great.

Thanks

 

[rekoj71]

I've never figured out if component speakers are better or why. I usually use decent quality 2 or 3 way round speakers for the highs and mids and use a crossover to get the bass out of them so they don't distort. I usually use the head unit to drive those. It also means less places I have to find mountings for. One good sub is ussually enough as long as it's powered right and several bass amps have an adjustable crossover in them so I adjust untill the frequencies work together with the other speakers, which the tweets and mids allready work together as they came built together. Alot of head units have a sub channel built in now and most of those have crossovers built into them for all of the channels. I think using most head units have plenty of power if set up the way I mention by not sending the low frequencies to the regular speakers, that along with a good base amp and sub I have more volume than I could ever need and it sounds great. Not going to win a stereo sound off, but clean sounding and still loud enough to piss off the neighbors.

 

[moe d]

Would installing both amps underneath the rear seats be okay as far as ventilation goes or would I need to also install a fan or something? Also, if the 6x9s distort at high volume what coaxial set would you recommend instead? Lastly, would installing 6.5" mid drivers in the kicks interfere significantly with foot room/breaks/anything else?

Sorry for the barrage of questions just want to get this right the first time ;D .

And @ moe d - pictures would be great.

Thanks

mounting upside down under the rear seat will have plenty of airflow.. I have 3 amps with about 1200 watts and the amps are fine..

i wouldnt put anything in the kicks.. i was thinking about it, personally, and figured i didnt want them getting ruined from someone's feet kicking them or mud/water getting into the cab.. mounting behind the sticks at least brings them above the tunnel and protects them to an extent. Plus running the wires straight back on top the tunnel is easier than worming wires freom kick panels back to the rear seat amps.

 

[moe d]

http://www.clarion.com/us/en/produc.../CMQ1720R/us-en-product-pf_1172409026960.html

these are good, have them in my boat.. it's good because they are water reststant..

A little on the expensive side but if your regular speakers get wet, you have to buy another pair.. with these you dont have to worry about it.

 

[EveBYoung]

any chance you could post pictures of the speakers mounted behind the sticks? thanks!

 

[70EB]

Not as complex as some of what you describe but here is what I have now and plans for the future:

Alpine head unit that is Ipod capable. Wanted to run an ipod as I don't have to worry about CDs skipping with the headunit mounted in the Tuffy center console.

Infinity 6 1/2 three ways in the rear quarter panels. I used Dynamat on the entire interior all the way up the bedsides and also behind the quarter covers (aluminum diamond plate versions that I had bedlined - removed the ugly diamond plate pattern and added sound deadening)

Currently run only by the head units. Sounds good a nd loud enough to hear with no top.

I have the wires pre run for front speakers that I will put in the dash when I redo my dash.

Undecided about a sub but like the idea of the gas can. Wonder if sound quality would be better using one of the heavy duty nylon/plastic gas cans that the military uses....gets rid of the tin can sound.

 

[Bronco_69]

i am getting ready to build my system too.

so far i have
kicker kx700.5 5 channel amp
alpine 9886 head unit
pair of kicker comp vr 10's (may only use one)
kicker 6" coaxials
some cheap components that i have heard good things about. PHOENIX GOLD® RSd6cs 6-inch RSd CAR COMPONENT SPEAKERS http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=200347314519

now i need to plan where to put it all. the components are the hardest part. there is no where to put them

 

[clkwrkorg36]

my ppi art series amps have been under the rear seat for years with no problems. i did space the seat up just a little to allow better cooling, since the older class a/b amps like my ppi's tend to run hotter than some of the newer amps.

 

[Bronco_69]

i really think we need a high end stereo sticky!!!