46 replies to this topic

[waggy]

I have the very same sub although I put mine behind the drivers seat to give the sound some room to get out(as I'm a short arse)

Sounds awesome!

Sorry I have tried to ignore this thread and in particular this post.... Just can't help myself any longer!



As a dedicated I.C.E. audiophile for many years, having competed in sound off's in both SPL and SQ events I feel it is my duty to inform you that regardless of where you place the sub in the cabin it should sound the same. the sound wave created by this type of sub will be at peek just as they pass the little grill, they are relatively low frequencies and should travel extremely well through the air regarles of how close they are to any objects.

Personally, I have had a high end audio system in every vehicle I have owned, I once competed with a system were the wiring alone cost in exces of £1200. So when I took delivery of my VX last year I thought here we go again, what will I do to this little beauty.......

I had a good look around it, weighed up the possibilities tore out the rear speakers as one of them was torn and replaced them with a set of the cheepest nastiest alpine coaxials I had in the garage, this car is just not built for an audio system, with no sound deadening and lightweight plastic everywhere it's just a waste of time and money.

As for putting tweaters in the sills I have no idea what vauxhall were thinking, this creates separation and distorts the sound, having your tweeters and drivers/mids located in different areas means the sound will reach your ear at a different time, this just makes the listening experience unbearable IMHO.
The best thing I've seen done here is someone mounting 10cm's in the dash, a sound stage should ALWAYS come from the front, rear speakers are only there for fill.

If you really, really want a sound from your audio system in your VX then I have a system design that will work and will gladly share it with anyone who wants it, but TBH I decided against it because you just dont get enough bang for your buck, you also need to be fairly handy with fibreglass and not be afraid of cutting things!

TOP tip........ for any speaker to work properly it needs to be mounted to something solid, ie wood, heavy plastic or metal..... that alone in a vx as standard is virtually impossible. If you have the time and patience to mount your rear speakers from behind ( ) on an MDF ring it would dramatically reduce the terrible vibrations that the plactic makes when the speakers are on.

Appologies for reply I just cant help myself.....

[Hark]

Thanks for all the replies. I think any of the ideas would improve what I've got at the mo. It is truly awful, distorted, crackling tosh.

[jameso]

I had a good look around it, weighed up the possibilities tore out the rear speakers as one of them was torn and replaced them with a set of the cheepest nastiest alpine coaxials I had in the garage, this car is just not built for an audio system, with no sound deadening and lightweight plastic everywhere it's just a waste of time and money.

As for putting tweaters in the sills I have no idea what vauxhall were thinking, this creates separation and distorts the sound, having your tweeters and drivers/mids located in different areas means the sound will reach your ear at a different time, this just makes the listening experience unbearable IMHO.
The best thing I've seen done here is someone mounting 10cm's in the dash, a sound stage should ALWAYS come from the front, rear speakers are only there for fill.

If you really, really want a sound from your audio system in your VX then I have a system design that will work and will gladly share it with anyone who wants it, but TBH I decided against it because you just dont get enough bang for your buck, you also need to be fairly handy with fibreglass and not be afraid of cutting things!

TOP tip........ for any speaker to work properly it needs to be mounted to something solid, ie wood, heavy plastic or metal..... that alone in a vx as standard is virtually impossible. If you have the time and patience to mount your rear speakers from behind ( ) on an MDF ring it would dramatically reduce the terrible vibrations that the plactic makes when the speakers are on.

Appologies for reply I just cant help myself.....

Yep again working in the industry I second this - best value for money audio mod is two MDF rings under the speakers (this is how my speakers sit)

Second best is a stand alone slim line sub so your standard speakers do not have to produce the low frequency.

Low frequency sound (bass) is non-directional (think of your surround sound system at home - it matters where you put the 5 standard channels but not where you put the sub)) so doesn't really matter where you put the sub

J

[Mangham54]

Many thanks to all,

Hope the OP doesn't mind my taking over of his thread, with my ramblings, I just thought it may be useful for anyone searching this topic.

To the audio gurus thanks for the advice, especially that on the PM Waggy

I will definitely have a look at making some MDF mounting rings, but for the fronts and the rears. As for issues with heat produced bythe speakers, is there anything you would recommend?

I have used the crossover / low-range split to feed the sub, rather than asking the rear drivers to do the lot, but it did make the low frequencies more directional and so the location of the sub could be heard. However I strongly think that the use of front speakers should help reduce this as it should produce a more immersive music presence in the whole of the cabin rather than just behind my head. Ie the low frequencies melting into the rest of the sound rather than just sitting as an objectionable punching and thumping in the corner.

It is interesting to hear the views of car audio buffs, as I have never really ventured into it myself, though I have on a home HiFi, having spent more than the VX was worth new over the years. And having had to replace drivers on my Monitor Audio stand mounters (after a neice of Mels saw the gold drivers and prodded and pocked them) I really can see the value of solidly mourning and bracing an enclosure

[waggy]

Many thanks to all,

Hope the OP doesn't mind my taking over of his thread, with my ramblings, I just thought it may be useful for anyone searching this topic.

To the audio gurus thanks for the advice, especially that on the PM Waggy

I will definitely have a look at making some MDF mounting rings, but for the fronts and the rears. As for issues with heat produced bythe speakers, is there anything you would recommend?

I have used the crossover / low-range split to feed the sub, rather than asking the rear drivers to do the lot, but it did make the low frequencies more directional and so the location of the sub could be heard. However I strongly think that the use of front speakers should help reduce this as it should produce a more immersive music presence in the whole of the cabin rather than just behind my head. Ie the low frequencies melting into the rest of the sound rather than just sitting as an objectionable punching and thumping in the corner.

It is interesting to hear the views of car audio buffs, as I have never really ventured into it myself, though I have on a home HiFi, having spent more than the VX was worth new over the years. And having had to replace drivers on my Monitor Audio stand mounters (after a neice of Mels saw the gold drivers and prodded and pocked them) I really can see the value of solidly mourning and bracing an enclosure

If they had been my monitors she would have been a late niece of Mels! Mind I did watch a good friend melt a set of monitors during a 12hr set on NYE (5pm nye to 5 am new years day!!) and I mean melt! the kind people at monitor did replace the coils on one unit and completely replace another free of charge which i thought was very good customer service.

On the note of heat reduction, I recon the cheepest effective way would be ho go to your local homebase or b+q buy a roll of foam backed aluminium foil it's not expensive, stick it in the holes alloy side facing the speakers....... completely unrelated, but when you have the dash top out of the car you could use the remainder of this foam backed foil to line under the airvents that are still operational, it makes a massive difference to the heat you will get through your two remaining vents as the foil will prevent heat loss into the dash cavity.

[LY_Scott]

Mr Mangham, Did you get the dash fitted? Scott.

[Mangham54]

Not yet. I thought I had found some spare time in my life. But it appears I was wrong. Should hopefully find some time to get this done, this month, along with the suspension work and MOT. Will stick some more pictures up when I am back making progress