positioning/aiming 3 way components

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=136065
Printed Date: May 15, 2024 at 3:31 PM

Topic: positioning/aiming 3 way components

Posted By: sac430
Subject: positioning/aiming 3 way components
Date Posted: February 13, 2014 at 11:53 PM

Hello, new to the forums not to installs. I am looking to start working on my front sound stage. Wanting to achieve simply have a nice sound stage right at the dash (currently its at the middle of the car) and am looking to do a 2 or 3-way fiberglass door insert. Then probably modify my a-pillar to have 1" tweeters firing at each other about 6" off the dash.

The car is a 200 Trans Am, and I really want to stay away from the kick panels just to save leg room and the car is a 6 speed (clutch pedal).

Basically I am just wanting to know how you guys decide on a position for your woofer, mid-range, and if my idea of tweeter position is ok. Id like to have a great idea of the aiming of the woofer and mid-range, make the insert and install, then I can play with the tweeter on the a-pillar to find its sweet spot.

Here is the door panel:
posted_image

Here is my idea for the fiberglass insert:
posted_image

Also whats your opinion for the best location of these items (not just limiting yourself to the door panels)?

-------------
Alpine HU, iPad Mini Dash Mount, JL 500/1, JL 12W3-2

Replies:

Posted By: soundnsecurity
Date Posted: February 14, 2014 at 6:08 AM

well with the space that you have availiable in the doors and the rest of the car for that matter id say you dont have many other options. the example you have is probably the best setup you could achieve but i would not aim the tweeters at each other in the A pillars, you will want to aim them at your ears as much as possible because tweeters are very directional so even aiming them a few degrees off axis to your ears can change the way they sound to you. aiming of the woofer is not that critical but i would also take the time to aim the mids at your head also. you should also try to make sure that there isnt a huge difference in distance from your ear of the tweeter and mid on each side, this will help give you a nice high stage with proper imaging without having to use a ton of signal processing to fix it.

do you plan to add any sub woofers at all or are you counting on the door woofers to give you your bass? id say if you do plan to add a sub then i would just go with a nice set of 2-way components and mount the mid as high as you can get it in the door panel and leave the lower end to your sub.

Posted By: sac430
Date Posted: February 17, 2014 at 2:17 PM

I have a 12" in the back also. So do you think I should point the mid and tweeter towards the middle of the front two seats at ear level? I don't want the car to be biased based on which two seats your setting in.

-------------
Alpine HU, iPad Mini Dash Mount, JL 500/1, JL 12W3-2

Posted By: soundnsecurity
Date Posted: February 17, 2014 at 7:46 PM

you can point them where ever you want them. if you aim them at the drivers seat then yes it will sound a little bit better for the driver but isnt that the point? the biggest difference wont be how it sounds but more of how the image will be presented to the listener, if you aim then at the driver then the driver will get the correct stage and image and the passenger will be slightly off but i highly doubt that anyone sitting in the passenger seat will notice at all. a custom install is about getting better sound for YOU, so why drag down your listening experience for a passenger who may or may not even be in the car? design your system so that it sounds the best for you.