Ice Up Front.

[RustyNut]

Hi People..
A question for the ice gurus.
After reading through some previous threads it seems i have two preferred options for my speaker set up at the front. Option A is to keep things OEM (ish..)and replace the dash speakers with good 'uns and add a pair of tweeters. Option B is the door build route using a set of components like these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALPINE-SXS1757...QQcmdZViewItem which i assume would do away with the need for the dash speakers? Which is the best option do you think?
Has anyone used drivers in the doors along with uprated dash speakers and tweeters or is it not worth it? I only ask as the way i see it is the drivers give you the bass and then the mids and tweets do their bit? Whatever i put up front i'll replicate at the rear along with (maybe) an enclosure in the boot for the low down stuff.
At the moment i've got an Alpine CDA 9853R head and an Alpine MRVF400 V12 amp and would like to keep everything the same brand but may go for Focal Access 165 components if i can afford it. I dont want to be overly purist about the way it's set up but do want to make the most of the items i've got so far and have a decent bit of sound.
Any advice for me peeps?

Cheers

Russ

[Fat Audi 80]

I have uprated the dash speakers to Kenwood 2 ways and added tweeters in the small air vents on the dash to compliment the dash speakers. I have standard rear speakers in the standard locations.

In the boot there is a custom built sub box housing a Kenwood 10" speaker in place of the spare wheel. The sub and front speakers are then powered by a old school Kenwood power slide amp.

IMO it sounds fantastic, powerful and bright with a good sound stage. You don't need door builds in the S2. Jamo will disagree

More details here: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2228615

Cheers,

Steve

[RustyNut]

Nice and neat in the boot there Steve, good work! Don't know if it makes any difference but the car is a 90Q so saloon, same shape you used to have.

Russ

[Fat Audi 80]

Hi Russ,

Not much difference really. I had a very similar setup in my A80 Sport Edition and I had the same speakers in the dash and just transfered them to my S2....

http://www.matey-matey.com/j34reh.shtml

The only thing with the saloon, is it is slightly harder to get the bass notes into the front of the car because of the bulkhead and fuel tank.

I think my S2 sounds a little better than my '80 Sport, but I have spent a bit more time and money on it.

Cheers,

Steve

[RustyNut]

Very nice again! The car too, isn't it just the best shape...?
Did you use crossovers etc? I'm keen to get as much bass as i can up front which is why i'm leaning towards a door build and dont want it to sound like the bass is coming from the boot if you know what i mean? I may ditch the enclosure and just fit a decent three way on a bespoke parcel shelf - not sure?

[Jamo]

No No No, you want front door builds dont let Fatty lead you down the dark path

Check the build in my Coupe soon to be transfered over to my Avant.

http://www.sounddomain.com/ride/228890/1

and http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11211

[Skull]

No, no, no. If you want to do really something for the sound qualiti. get those oem speaker covers of of your car. they take 2/3 of your sound away. Try removing one grille, and leave the other on. Compare the two sounds and report back.

[RustyNut]

Good work too Jamo! the dash flip down piece is truly excellent! (i've seen Karlos's work in the flesh too and it also is excellent!)
If i was going to do a door build i initially thought of just a two way system, would you recommend the three way over this? I would like to put the mids in the dash but have only been looking at two way components so far.

[Jamo]

Alastair C deserves the compliments, the dash flip was a one off in his old Coupe he didn't have the heart to try it on an S2

[Sweeper]

I've put two 20cm Morels upfront and two Morel tweeters , powered with audison amps and two Alpines subs at the back.

[Sweeper]

The front morels pump something like 400-600 wats each. I don't think there is anything that hit so hard and fast , maybe Hertz....

So i got realy clear and pumpy soundtrack =]. Feels like living discoclub , altrought becouse of full internal shielding you can't hear much from outside.

[ctolladay]

No, no, no. If you want to do really something for the sound qualiti. get those oem speaker covers of of your car. they take 2/3 of your sound away. Try removing one grille, and leave the other on. Compare the two sounds and report back.

This is the best advice I have ever seen on ICE on this forum. What a HUGE difference.

I bought some MBQuart 110s to up-grade my front speakers. After installing them I put the grills inplace before listening to them - BIG MISTAKE.

As is said above the sound that the grills muffle is astounding. Now I have removed them I get the full sound of these fantastic speakers. The high end is so much more defined and the low end has more umph.

I am now going to build some partial covers to tidy up the dash but this is fantastic advice which all should follow if you want decent sound up front.

CHEERS Skull!!! You have opened my ears.

[Bibby]

Russ... For anything half decent up front you'll need at least a 2-way comp setup, amped. Whether you install the mids in the kicks or the door is up to you.

You'll never get a well balanced system that's loud with those puny drivers in the dash. Too small, unless you add a set of midbass up front and run a 3-way setup.

If you want bass upfront rather that in sounding like it comes from the boot, tune your setup properly. Time alignment can work wonders, or just try adjusting the sub projection, ie upwards, toward the rear etc.

Get your *** over to talk audio.

http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/vbb/index.php

[terrybullwon]

How about these, along with speakers up front sounds really good!!!




[IMG][/IMG]

[RustyNut]

they look good James, nice and tidy. I'm having difficulty finding a three way system though. The only ones i can find are really expensive.... It may be that i'll have to purchase everything individually along with a 3way crossover.