How to install component sets? *pics*

Well,

I found that my car is designed to fit so tightly that I can't even get a tweeter to fit in the grill in front of the mid without them touching. I was assuming that there would be enough space for everything (tweets, mids, xover and wires) in my door if I took out the stock mount and made a new one, but now I'm seeing that there's barely enough room for a mid speaker. It's so cramped.

My goal is to hide as much of the stuff as possible so that my car doesn't become a target for break-ins, and looks as stock as possible. Kind of a stealth mentality. I think the only way to do it is to use the stock wiring to get power to the mids, and hide the crossovers under the dash somewhere. I can probably mount the tweets immediately forward of the door in/on a cover panel. I just hope the panel is strong enough, and there's enough room behind it to screw it in. Are there any other suggestions for how to install this stuff?

oh yeah, I'll post pictures later tonight.

don't worry, it was a tight fit for my accord as well, i had to make a mdf speaker ring and another mdf mounting bracket for my speakers, in my car, the only thing that doesn't look stock is the head unit, everything else is hidden, show us the pics!

OK... here are the promised pictures:

This is the current passenger side:
http://dce.ath.cx/images/IMG_3513.JPG

Drivers side:
http://dce.ath.cx/images/IMG_3512.JPG

What I had before that didn't work because it's so freaking tight in the door:
http://dce.ath.cx/images/IMG_3511.JPG

Here's what it looks like inside without the enclosure:
http://dce.ath.cx/images/IMG_3509.JPG

And here's what I've done with the enclosures:
http://dce.ath.cx/images/IMG_3518.JPG

I know I should just make some MDF mounts, and I may in a couple weeks after finals and stuff. I just want them working now.

So where should I put the tweeter on the drivers side? My feet are always kicking things down there when I get in and out of the car, so I don't want to hit it or get it full of dirt and dust. Any suggestions?

mount the tweeters up on the A frame or like i am doing int my truck....other wise make small kick panels for the tweeters....

Does it sound better to have them up there on the dash? Do you just surface mount them or flush mount?

What about heat damage or sun damage?

Can I run the mids from my head unit without a cross over without damaging them until I get all this finished?

Questions, questions questions... sorry guys, I'm just too curious :p You've all been a great help!

Does it sound better to have them up there on the dash? Do you just surface mount them or flush mount?

you somewhat raise the soundstage when u you them up on the dash. Yes it can sound better, and yes it can sound worse. Not all tweeters have the ability to be mounted on dashes and sound good. My friend's Focal TN-51 sounded pretty nice up on the dash. When he changed to a set of Seas Lotus reference tweeters, it sounded better in the kick panel area.



What about heat damage or sun damage?

you probably wouldn't have to worry much about that.


Can I run the mids from my head unit without a cross over without damaging them until I get all this finished?

yes you can, but it will probably sound horrible. Just make sure you don't try to crank up the volume too high.

[QUOTE]

I'm honored by a reply from the legendary GSteg!

From images I've seen, like the one below (provided by aznxthuggie) the tweets look like they're pointed in a horizontal direction parallel to the windshield. Is this an accurate observation? Do I just have to put them in various places until they sound good?

http://dce.ath.cx/images/M519twtrA-pillarmo_B5234.gif

that is exactly how the focal tweeters were positioned, except they were on the dash and not on the a-pillar.

try experimenting. I'm sure you'll hit that sweet spot somehow :)

you can really get a good staging and imaging even when mounted on the floor or in doors. One of the cars that surprised me was my friend's car at the IASCA event back in january. He had dummy tweeters on the a-pillar and the real working ones on the floor. I can tell you one thing for sure. I was fooled. lol.


So try throwing the tweeters around and see what happens.

i would put them right where the a frame meets the roof. if you can flush mount them then definitly do that. you might also want to look at mounting them next to the visors. in the ceiling towards inside of the visors (opposite the hinge side). i dont know what kind of results that it would produce. like if the tweet needs to be closer to the mid to get better sound

hey diceman, our cars are extremely similar, even the speaker mounts, here is what i made for my doors, it fit perfect, and it was in tight when i put some deadening in

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/aznxthuggie/DCP_1622.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/aznxthuggie/DCP_1621.jpg

the places where there was a gap, was filled in by my glue gun so it was airtight, i even put some glue between the 2 pieces of mdf to make sure

it took me a small sheet of 1/2 mdf, a jigsaw, and about 20 minutes not including the glue drying

the higher mounting area will just get them up off the floor, i just cant stand to have all of my music coming from where my feet are. it will also make things slightly easyer for you too. if you can, get one of CDT's cobra mounts and just slap them up on the dash, quick and easy, hassle free.
and if anybody brakes into a car to steal the system just ebcause they have cobra mounts...they have problems, but for a mot stock look i would put them in the A frames if you are going to mount the high...

Well, I'm probably just going to embed them in the lower part of the A frame then. I'll have to see if I can get the panel off, and if I can't, I'll just surface mount it until I can find something nicer. I'll be pulling my deck out (again... I'm getting sick of doing it) so I can rewire everything and get the crossovers tucked away. Look for some pictures later tonight, probably around 8:30 (EST).

I used the Qform kicks for the Accord .... they fit over hood release and look pretty nice. I put a pretty good layer of bondo on the inside to deaden them.

OK... some more long awaited pictures... I have never tried to do something so freaking annoying before. Most of it wasn't bad, but trying to mount those honking big crossovers somewhere hidden in a Honda Accord is such a royal pain in my neck, back and arms. Anyway, on to the pics.

Where I put the left crossover:
http://dce.ath.cx/images/IMG_3531.JPG


Where I put the right crossover:
http://dce.ath.cx/images/IMG_3529.JPG


The very last thing I have to do before I can finally put the tools away and call this a done deal (for the next couple months at least): screw down the tweeters. I'm testing them for now to see how they sound there.
http://dce.ath.cx/images/IMG_3533.JPG
http://dce.ath.cx/images/IMG_3532.JPG


Is there any way to manage these stinking wires so it'll still go in? I've tried to coil them nicely, but it always jams against the stuff in the back, and I've found that the easiest way is to just leave it like a pile of worms and wiggle it around until it locks in.
http://dce.ath.cx/images/IMG_3530.JPG

That's it for now... I'll probably have some more questions about balencing the 7 band equalizer that's in my head unit, but I'll fiddle with it tomorrow. It sure is nice to have sound up front again. The sound seems to be focused right about where my clock is (way up on the dash), so that seems to be what I'm aiming for.

No, no, no

Those angle mounts are to place right on the front dash... put them in the back right corner of the dash for the right...and the same on the left side (back left corner). Then the tweets will be angle towards you...and somewhat inward to the middle of the car ;)

NG

yea. lol. try to point them to the center of the console at least.

Well, I just got some industrial strength velcro to hold it in place. I'll try running it in different orientations, but when I have it pointed toward me or in toward the dome light, it sounds pretty harsh. Believe it or not, it's pretty balenced with the mids pointed like it is in the pics. When I said "the sound seems to be focused right about where my clock is", I meant the sound seems to come from about there.


I also found that hotglue, when left on a seat in the sun, tends to melt and ooze into the seams.

Well, I just got some industrial strength velcro to hold it in place. I'll try running it in different orientations, but when I have it pointed toward me or in toward the dome light, it sounds pretty harsh. Believe it or not, it's pretty balenced with the mids pointed like it is in the pics. When I said "the sound seems to be focused right about where my clock is", I meant the sound seems to come from about there.


I also found that hotglue, when left on a seat in the sun, tends to melt and ooze into the seams.

We're talking about the tweeters. Also, on the xover...put the jumper on the -3dB set. The tweeters will be less harsh...

Mount them like so:
http://img150.echo.cx/img150/5434/p62607815vc.th.jpg (http://img150.echo.cx/my.php?image=p62607815vc.jpg)


NG

We're talking about the tweeters. Also, on the xover...put the jumper on the -3dB set. The tweeters will be less harsh...

Mount them like so:
http://img150.echo.cx/img150/5434/p62607815vc.th.jpg (http://img150.echo.cx/my.php?image=p62607815vc.jpg)


NG

Heh, you're right, I never did mention tweeters. I'll try mounting them like that tomorrow. I'll put the soft side of velcro in several places so I can see how each sounds.

Which jumper are you refering to? I've got the only jumper in there set to the "5.25" side. You can see it in this photo:

http://dce.ath.cx/images/IMG_3511.JPG

Heh, you're right, I never did mention tweeters. I'll try mounting them like that tomorrow. I'll put the soft side of velcro in several places so I can see how each sounds.

Which jumper are you refering to? I've got the only jumper in there set to the "5.25" side. You can see it in this photo:

http://dce.ath.cx/images/IMG_3511.JPG

Ok, you're good to go! You have the "good" xover ;)

NG

sweet... does anyone know any good two channel amps for like 30 bucks? I don't need big power, I just want the mids to sound nice. 35-60 watts rms per channel would be good.

sweet... does anyone know any good two channel amps for like 30 bucks? I don't need big power, I just want the mids to sound nice. 35-60 watts rms per channel would be good.

Ha ha, well...I'll be on the look out for one for you temporarily...but for mid-bass...like REAL GREAT mid-bass they like power...and they'll handle it ;)

Check out a Profile CL400 on ebay for like $60, 100rms x 2 @4ohms

I attached the tweets today with some heavy duty velcro:

http://dce.ath.cx/images/IMG_3534.JPG
http://dce.ath.cx/images/IMG_3535.JPG

Is this how they're supposed to be?

Yes, that's the correct spot... you can angle them in or out to your tastes ;)

NG

In my car I have found that they sound excellent mounted in a similiar spot, but in the dash, facing up at the windsheild.

In my car I have found that they sound excellent mounted in a similiar spot, but in the dash, facing up at the windsheild.

Diceman, have you thought of flushmounting them inside of the black trim panel on the top front corner of your door? The mirror mounting is usually hollow so they should fit behind the panel with no wires showing.

I have, but those are part of the door, and I really don't want to have wires exposed going to the door. I'm planning to tuck the wires away today in the crack it's sitting next to, so that won't be visable for long. That sound pretty darn good like that too. That 7 band equalizer built into my head unit really helps.

I have a THX certified computer speaker system at home (Logitech z560), so I know what a balenced system sounds like, and I still need to work on the 150 hz to 1500 hz range in my car, I think. Currently looking for a $30 - $45, 50 - 80 watts rms per channel amp to power the CDTs, so if anyone knows of one, lemme know!

I have, but those are part of the door, and I really don't want to have wires exposed going to the door. I'm planning to tuck the wires away today in the crack it's sitting next to, so that won't be visable for long. That sound pretty darn good like that too. That 7 band equalizer built into my head unit really helps.

I have a THX certified computer speaker system at home (Logitech z560), so I know what a balenced system sounds like, and I still need to work on the 150 hz to 1500 hz range in my car, I think. Currently looking for a $30 - $45, 50 - 80 watts rms per channel amp to power the CDTs, so if anyone knows of one, lemme know!


No what I mean is fish the wires through the stock grommet where your power window cables are. Then run the wires up the INSIDE of the door to the triangle panel and put the tweeters flush with the panel. You will get a clean soundstage, and the tweeters will be near invisible.

Tru Profestionals use velcro....lol
but what works works... so how do they sound?

When I turn them up to 16 or 18, it sounds nicely balenced, but when it's quiet and I turn my sub down, it sounds almost nasal (think zero midbass). That's why I want to buy a used/cheap 2 channel amp to power them. If those profile amps were 60 bucks including shipping, I might go for it, but there's 20 bucks shipping and 5 bucks insurance on top of that, so I might as well buy it from like crutchfield or whereever. I asked Don at Island Sound, but he didn't have anything for that little.

Notlad -- I knew what you were talking about, and I've looked. There is NO space for more wires. I would have liked to put them there too. I'm pretty happy with where they are now, so I'll probably just leave them. Thanks!

Deadening your doors will help your midbass too

why didnt you try mounting the tweets in the plastic it the front of your windows by the dash. (the triangle shaped piece of black plastic in the window)? that is where mine are, of course, those are the stock locations. i didn't have to cut holes in them.

why didnt you try mounting the tweets in the plastic it the front of your windows by the dash. (the triangle shaped piece of black plastic in the window)? that is where mine are, of course, those are the stock locations. i didn't have to cut holes in them.

Thats what I just said, I dun think he know how to do the wire fish through the door tho

Well, that, and I can't figure out how to get the whole panel off. There's some trick to it, and I haven't found it. I've tucked the wires away, and it's pretty clean now. Besides looking for a really inexpensive amp, I'm pretty much done. I still haven't turned up the bass to the limit yet. I pushed it a little tonight as I was driving through the University of CT campus. They're starting a really crazy party night called Spring Weekend. It's so popular around here that you have to get wristbands or you get arrested/kicked out. Needless to say, it was fun to be bumping away through throngs people going to get wasted. I'm not one to get drunk though, so I just went home. Not my scene.