WhistlerSound

I'm getting into proper car audio lately (away from the Power=everything), and I was hoping to implement some of my home audio techniques into my minty 4runner to make it sound like it looks
When I hang my speakers on the wall near the celing at home, the sound scape get's bigger, the bass cleaner, and the old speakers sound new again!
I plan to mount 6.5 components from the roof behind the back seats and face them foreward. This would hopefully create a more integrated sound with the 5.5 components in the doors.
Would 6x9's be a better choice since they'd give broader bass?
Has anyone tried this approach?

If i can save the cash, i'll probably invest in Focals, but The rest of my system is Eclipse, so i'd need some coaxing to change brands.
Any advice would be appreciated!

The Wizard

iTrader: (2)

This will kill your front stage and pull it to the rear of the car. Put the new 6.5" comps in the doors in the front and put the 5.25" in the rear. Amp the fronts and the run rears off the deck, and even with that, fade most of the sound to your front stage. You will be much happier with the end result.

WhistlerSound

thanks for the advice!
I've already got my deck powering 4" mids in the front, and 2.5" factory tweets in the rear. With the new Eclipse amp however, I'll be able to fade the back down just with the gains.... or will this put stress on the amp by running various power to front and back channels? (runs 125rmsx4, so i'll knock the back gain down consideraby)

JohnVroom

Is this how you listen at home (4 channel)? OR is it 5.1? big difference! in a home theater the center channel is the primary speaker set (where all the TV and movie vocals are) and all other speakers being of less importance yet critical for reproducing realistic sound effects. In a car the goal is similar with the center being somewhere around the rear view mirror but with the other speakers accurately placing instruments on an imaginary stage.

But I am a purist so I am a little negative on this but it really is an interesting idea, also one prone to deviate from accuracy and you will probably be unable to forget there are a pair of speakers behind and above you ...BUT and this is big... if it makes you happy that is all that matters and it is a wise investment. If it is a distraction then it is money poorly spent.

I would recommend primarily mid-bass drivers for the rear stage unless you have a true 5.1 setup. This is because the tweeters will draw a lot of attention away from the front speakers (unless you turn them down and if you turn it down you will ask yourself why did you install them?). Now a true surround sound would require full range speaker systems... the Alpine BMW X5 had a surround system with full range comp sets EVERYWHERE and it was awesome.

veeman

iTrader: (3)

what i'd do is experiment with some other speakers first to get an idea of what it will sound like. I'll be honest with you, this whole sound stage/imaging business with only front speakers and a sub...well, I've tried it many times, and I don't like it! I love my rear fill, hell sometimes it's even rear full on. I'm not convinced an automobile is the place to try and set up a "realistic" sounding audio system. Hell, I'm not even convinced it's possible to get a real(as in live) sounding audio system with all the lattitudes the engineers take in recording the material, designing the speakers, amps, processors, and everything else in the audio chain. Anyway, that's a whole other topic. Like I said, I'd try some other speakers first in the set up you're looking to create, before you spend a fortune on new stuff. Quite frankly, I just want my system to sound good...to me, and maybe my entourage (their opinion isn't as important though!)

Haunz

iTrader: (3)

Cheers to veeman !!


OP, you need to go back to the drawing board.....

WhistlerSound

loving the feedback.

The whole thing about not spending too much money however, is that even after I've bought some Mids and placed them high and behind and HATE them there... it's only my time wasted to move them to somewhere else that they'll be put to better use.

I doubt i'll go so far as to the 5.1 yet, so perhaps just mid drivers back there as suggested by Vroom would be an excellent begining. (yes - home is a 4 channel setup off the floor).
Now.. this may stray into another topic, but any ideas on box structure? Plans are to fiberglass a pinched cylinder to form to the roof. Would I get better sound out of a boxier, less asthetic housing?

veeman

iTrader: (3)

well the roof idea sounds interesting, but I'd worry about vibrations. The roof is not very solid and flexes easily. As far as having the speakers already, my comment was more for you to determine whether you like or don't like rear fill. Some hate rear fill, others like me, love it.

JohnVroom

One of the fun things with car audio is trying new things and it is even better when someone else is spending their money not mine...

I have never been a big fan of "rear fill" because 1) nobody can define exactly what rear fill is...! 2) it is discussed as a 'need to have' item 3) people will generally misuse rear channels, 4) it is a deviation from the recordings accuracy. But when done correctly it adds to the listening experience in a number of ways

I have heard exceptionally good car audio playback systems, and they can do as well as a good as a home audio system in most areas when done correctly. Does 'correctly' mean 2 channel? sometimes! does it mean 3 channel? sometimes! does it mean 4/5 channel systems? sometimes.

I have no idea how many channels were playing in several of the best MECA/ IASCA cars I have listened to, it is the music that interests me less than the equipment. So you can get there in a car... it just isnt easy