14 replies to this topic

[Aussierox]

Hey guys Recently I installed a set of Polk DB6501 splits in my car. I own a 1997 ford falcon el station wagon.

My woofers are mounted in the upper door which I've heard is the worst place they could possibly be mounted for an effective soundstage? (apparently the kick panels are the best? if so I'm jealous of my friend who has a lancer)

Apparently the tweeters are meant to help correct this problem? Well I'm quite happy with how my system sounds but I can only hear my own side and if I ballance it so that I can hear both sides it just doesn't sound quite right.

They are located so that the drivers side is sort of pointing into the side of the dash and the passengers side is pointing down.

 Drivers side.JPG   178.08K   0 downloads
 Passengers side.JPG   190.21K   0 downloads



Would putting these in a different location make a hugely noticable difference? If so where would be the best location to put them?

[shiny_car]

It's worth having a read through Sierra's entire thread (XR6): http://www.mobileele...m-the-begining/

His door woofers are in the factory locations, and imaging is perfect. Up until recently, his tweeters were in the factory locations; initially 'flat', then on angled pods. I heard this car many times with this setup, and it was fantastic. It's only slightly better (for purposes of competition) with the tweeters relocated to the A-pillars.

So the factory door positions for the woofers is fine. With the tweeters, you may want to try the factory dashtop locations. Your current sail panel location seems to angle the tweeters slightly downwards, which I expect isn't so good.

[Aussierox]

 shiny_car, on 04 February 2012 - 12:37 PM, said:

It's worth having a read through Sierra's entire thread (XR6): http://www.mobileele...m-the-begining/

His door woofers are in the factory locations, and imaging is perfect. Up until recently, his tweeters were in the factory locations; initially 'flat', then on angled pods. I heard this car many times with this setup, and it was fantastic. It's only slightly better (for purposes of competition) with the tweeters relocated to the A-pillars.

So the factory door positions for the woofers is fine. With the tweeters, you may want to try the factory dashtop locations. Your current sail panel location seems to angle the tweeters slightly downwards, which I expect isn't so good.

I found a picture of where the factory location is but since my car is a fairmont not a ghia I don't think it has a spot to put factory tweeters? How good is this factory location compared to where I have them now or the A pillar?


yeah they do point down I figured that may be a slight problem, also judging from how far they are from my location would I be best to have them on -3db 0db or +3db?

Edited by Aussierox, 04 February 2012 - 02:47 PM.

[shiny_car]

Compared to sail panels, not sure how good the factory locations are. But the factory locations are very good. A pillars - properly executed - are also very good.

Can't comment on dB setting without hearing it.

[Aussierox]

 shiny_car, on 04 February 2012 - 04:43 PM, said:

Compared to sail panels, not sure how good the factory locations are. But the factory locations are very good. A pillars - properly executed - are also very good.

Can't comment on dB setting without hearing it.

Well Alright I'd like to put them in the factory location (if the exist I'll need a dash peice from a ghia with the holes cut out or I can cut my own holes I suppose) otherwise I'll put them on the a pillars.

If they're on the A pillars what's the best way to have them facing and are they better at the top or bottem of the a pillars? If the spot is visible in my pictures would you mind circling it in paint to show me where please?

Edited by Aussierox, 04 February 2012 - 04:50 PM.

[shiny_car]

Refer to Sierra's car. Maybe check with him.

[Aussierox]

It turns out my car actually had factory tweeters installed in it and was a "premium sound model" but since the person who sold me the car has installed an aftermaket head unit (I've replaced it with a better one now) the tweeters were not wired up so I never knew they were there.

Apparently the factory location sounds really good (not quite as good as the a pilars but i'm not willing to re mould the a pillars since I don't plan on competing I just want good sound.

The only problem I have is I have no idea how I'm going to get the wires from the top of the dash, under the dash and into the door, it looks like it's going to be extremely complicated, there are factory wires going from the top of the dash downwards but I have no idea where they're going into :/

[shiny_car]

 Aussierox, on 06 February 2012 - 10:13 PM, said:

The only problem I have is I have no idea how I'm going to get the wires from the top of the dash, under the dash and into the door, it looks like it's going to be extremely complicated, there are factory wires going from the top of the dash downwards but I have no idea where they're going into :/

I don't quite get this, but no big deal.

If your tweeters are already mounted on the mirror sail panels, isn't the wiring already connected?! Or are they sitting there doing nothing?

[Aussierox]

 shiny_car, on 08 February 2012 - 04:45 AM, said:

I don't quite get this, but no big deal.

If your tweeters are already mounted on the mirror sail panels, isn't the wiring already connected?! Or are they sitting there doing nothing?

Oh sorry I'll try and clear it up.

Currently my tweeters are mounted on the sail panels and working fine but I discovered the other day that my car actually had factory tweeters mounted on the top of the dash and I have decided to move my tweeters from the sail panels to the top of the dash where the old factory tweeters were (apparently it's a very good spot second only to modding the A pillars which I'm not willing to do) but the problem I have with this is it means I would have to get the wires from the top of the dash (where the tweeters will be located) down through the insde of the dash and out into the door where the crossover is located.

[shiny_car]

Ah ok. Probably best to relocate the crossovers 'inside the cabin'. Then find the factory speakerwires that go to the door woofer, and cut and join to the crossover; then run new wire directly to the tweeter positions.

[Aussierox]

 shiny_car, on 08 February 2012 - 07:40 AM, said:

Ah ok. Probably best to relocate the crossovers 'inside the cabin'. Then find the factory speakerwires that go to the door woofer, and cut and join to the crossover; then run new wire directly to the tweeter positions.

Well I've used the factory wire from the amp-crossover (half factory half upmarket) but I could just put factory wire from woofer-crossover (now inside the cabin) then run new wire from crossover-amp and from crossover-tweeter since it's really hard to get wires into the door apparently?

[shiny_car]

If the car uses Molex/multipin plugs between the door and cabin, then it's going to be hard to run new wire. If it's just a 'tube' with wires inside, it should be easy enough to pass new wire. I don't know the car well enough. But usually it's easiest to have the xover in the cabin, so that only 1 set of wiring needs to go from the xover to the woofer.

[Aussierox]

 shiny_car, on 09 February 2012 - 02:44 AM, said:

If the car uses Molex/multipin plugs between the door and cabin, then it's going to be hard to run new wire. If it's just a 'tube' with wires inside, it should be easy enough to pass new wire. I don't know the car well enough. But usually it's easiest to have the xover in the cabin, so that only 1 set of wiring needs to go from the xover to the woofer.

It uses a rubber grommit but that's hidden well behind the dash so getting up to it may be hard (well on the cabin side anyway) but I'll give it a go. Is it fine to run factory wires from the woofer to the crossover or will speaker wire give it a huge boost in quallity? it would be a rather short amount of wire (maybe 2 1/2 metres)

[shiny_car]

Sounds easy enough to run new wire through if required.

But factory speakerwire is fine over a short distance.

[Aussierox]

Alright good to know. There current spot sounds good but I feel it could be better. Hopefully where I'm moving them doesn't sound worse since its a lot of effort.