14escape28

New here so I'm sure there are plenty of these threads existing, but maybe it is somewhat car-specific. I just bought a 2014 Ford Escape with the MyFord touch Sony system. From my previous car that I traded in, I retained Focal Polyglass components, Polyglass coax, an Alpine PDX-5 amp, and a JL 10w3 sub. I have talked to 2 shops about putting those parts into my new vehicle. One shop suggested doing an active setup on the fronts and powering them with all 4 speaker channels of the amp, having no rear fill, and then the sub in the back. They recommended a higher end processor and evidently tuning the thing like crazy. The other shop recommended a less expensive processor / line output converter and running the amp as a true 5 channel with the fronts having power, the rear fill coax having power, and then the sub. He did mention that I may see more improvement if I potentially spent money to upgrade the amplifier instead of a possibly unnecessarily expensive processor.

I'm curious as to what everyone's thoughts are on this issue. The shop suggesting no rear fill pushes the idea that most of what I will hear will be from the front stage (which I understand). The other shop pushes the idea that rear fill helps to fill in the sound and make it a more immersive experience (which I also understand). Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone in advance and I am sorry for the length of this post.

Dukk

Don't apologize - this is one of the things that a lot of people agonize over. How do you listen to your stereo right now? Are you listening with the fader in the middle, the rears faded all the way out, or just a little rear?

Personally I like just a little rear, and my kids appreciate some sort of direct sound from the back, so I choose to keep a little rear fill when I can.

I would run the amp on the sub and bi-amped on the front with either the headunit powering the rears directly or pick up a small, like the smallest you can find, amp for the rears if you want all your power to be after the processor.

14escape28

Thanks for the reply and insight. I have only had the new car for a week, so I have been listening to it how it came stock..faded to the middle. The past couple of days I have faded it all the way to the front to get an idea of how that would sound, and it isn't terrible. I can only assume that my Focal speakers with amplifier and processor will sound even better than the stock Sony "premium" audio system.

Currently I have no children in the back seat, and generally only have passengers in the back a time or 2 per month. With that in mind I may just go with the pure front set-up and potentially add rear fill down the road if needed and budget allows.

Thanks again, and any other input would be greatly appreciated.

1uvakind

iTrader: (1)

I currently have Focals in my car as well, not that it makes any difference. I like to play my music with almost all front stage, with very little rear. You would want a little rear fill if you are playing movies, for that surround sound feeling, but for music, the front stage is good enough.

Alvin8100

I am totally agree with you. You are 100% good here that you would want a little rear fill if you are enjoying films, for that encompass feeling but for songs, the front level is good enough.

Eli47

1st rule of Italian driving "What'sa behind you, is not important"!

When was the last time you went to a concert and turned your back to the stage to listen?
Even with front speakers only, you will get some rear fill as the glass will reflect high frequencies, which give us things like detail, imaging, soundstage etc..,
I would say dump the rear speakers, replace them with a small sub-woofer and have a blast!.