7 replies to this topic

[phy6]

Hi, I'm really enjoying this site.  I'm from the US and I have a Lotus Exige, which I'm looking to improve the audio on.  As you know the interior is pretty much the same (including being shipped with crappy OEM speakers) except for the dash layout.  I'd really like your input as to where to place components.  I feel like the VX220 community is superior to the Lotus ones, as far as being willing to modify the car to an owner's taste.  Too many people on high horses about weight, when it's really about enjoying the total experience. 

 

I just signed up, and after I reading through a few more threads I decided to post my own.  I used to really be into car audio some years ago (mostly SPL competitions), and the bug has bitten me again.  This time I want to focus more on SQ, although I did snag myself a couple large subs to choose from.

 

About the Elise/Exige: The stock locations in the dash normally take a 4"/100mm driver, but are easily modified for a 5.25"/125mm driver.  Our speaker vents are already facing towards the driver/passenger.

The stock rears are normally 5.25 but can be made to fit 6.5/165mm speakers.  The rears are in the same locations as the VX220.

 

I intend to completely replace the existing parcel shelf plastic piece, in order to better fit the sealed subwoofer directly up against the metal tub.

 

Here's the list of parts I intend to use:

Nexus7 2013 mounted in place of a head unit.

Parrot MKi9100 for hands free bluetooth integration-- I might be able to skip this as I'm not integrating into the OEM harnesses, and just use a simple BT->RCA receiver

(Optional) AudioControl Epicenter

AudioControl Four.1i (1/2 DIN, should fit directly under the tablet in the dash)

Alpine PDX V9 5 channel (4x100RMS and 1x500RMS) (About the size of a sheet of paper, 2" thick.  Might even fit in the dash in place of the driver's side airbag, as others have done)

 

JL 13TWV2-4 (I got the idea from one of your members!!  Intend to place this where the rear parcel shelf was)

Optionally, I also have a Morel Ultimo SC 10, but I'd really like to see if I can squeeze the JL in there, to be different.  I take it as a challenge.

 

Now for the stuff I don't have yet:

Mids/midbass and highs.  I'd like to use some combination of Dayton Audio Reference Series/Vifa/partsexpress mids/midbass and tweeters.  It might just be me, but I feel like the car audio speakers don't reach the quality level of those until you get into $500/300Euro setups like Focal and Morel, etc. 

 

What I really need help with is mid/high driver placement and deciding to do a 2 way or 3 way (plus sub)

If the xover points between mids and highs is tricky, I'll leave that to the active xover on the amp, and split mid/midbass with passives.

 

I'm looking to do front stage only - meaning I'm not looking for full range rear fill, although midbass could go behind the seats along side the sub.  

I have not been impressed with coaxials, but I'd consider your recommendations.  I'm not afraid to modify the dash if it will make it sound better.  I've been considering everything from compression drivers loaded against the windshield to soft domes, dual ring radiator tweeters, to "full range" speakers.  I even looked for the Bang & Olufsen tweeters that pop up out of the Audi A7's dash.

[color=rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;]I might be able to fit something like a 3/4" to 1" tweeter in the door sail panels.  I'd really like to avoid a huge A pillar pod --visibility being my issue.[/color]

 

 

So far my favorites are mostly the Dayton Reference series and some Vifas (listed in decreasing size)

 

Dayton Audio RS150P-4 6" Reference Paper Woofer 4 Ohm (45 to 10,000 Hz,  Rear midbass maybe?)

 

Dayton Audio ND140-4 5-1/4" Aluminum Cone Midbass Driver 4 Ohm (54 to 8,000 Hz, Neo magnet, crazy xmech.  Rear midbass?)

http://www.parts-exp...-4-ohm--290-216

 

Dayton Audio RS100-4 4" Reference Full-Range Driver 4 Ohm  (80 to 20,000 Hz, although has cone breakup at 12KHz)

http://www.parts-exp...-4-ohm--295-378

 

Dayton Audio RS100P-4 4" Reference Paper Woofer 4 Ohm  (85 to 13,500 Hz)

http://www.parts-exp...-4-ohm--295-369

 

 

Dayton Audio ND105-4 4" Aluminum Cone Midbass Driver 4 Ohm (60 to 10,000 Hz, Neo magnet, low sensitivity, crazy xmech)

http://www.parts-exp...-4-ohm--290-212

 

 

Dayton Audio RS52AN-8 2" Dome Midrange 8 Ohm (500-7000Hz, 8Ohms but supposedly sounds amazing, high sensitivity, huge flange)

http://www.parts-exp...drange--285-020

 

 

Dayton Audio DC28F-8 1-1/8" Silk Dome Tweeter  ([color=rgb(50,50,50);font-size:12px;]1,300-20,000 Hz, good power handling, huge flange)[/color]

http://www.parts-exp...weeter--275-070

 

 

Vifa XT25TG30-04 1" Dual Ring Radiator Tweeter ([color=rgb(50,50,50);font-size:12px;]1,500-40,000 Hz, great power handling, poor off axis by 60 degrees, large flange[/color])

http://www.parts-exp...eeter--264-1016

 

  Dayton Audio ND20FB-4 Rear-Mount 3/4" Neodymium Dome Tweeter ([color=rgb(50,50,50);font-size:12px;]3,500-25,000 Hz, small. Might fit in sail panels?)[/color]

http://www.parts-exp...weeter--275-035

 

 

 

[color=rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;]For the huge flanged tweeters, I was considering flush mounting them in the dash (reflecting off the windshield), or perhaps near the dash pocket panel near the doors.  When I read on this forum that separating the sources is a bad thing, I decided to give up trying to figure this out on my own, and reach out for help here.[/color]

 

 

 

Edited by phy6, 05 May 2014 - 04:53 PM.

[phy6]

Bonus: I think I found a good place for midbass from this thread:  

http://www.vx220.org...pics/?p=1392579

Now I'm wondering how big a driver I can fit there!

 

Also from reading on some other SQ sites, some of the old school pros (Richard Clark) had a rule of thumb that the midbass should cut off around 400-500Hz, or where the wavelength is about equal to the width of your head.

[smiley]

Not sure about a lotus but in the VX there is even room to have it pointed to the centre console.

Have a look at the inside/side of the footrest, just under the dash. (I have some unit stored there that links my satnav to the stereo, and it´s pretty big) 

 

[Bargi]

Midbass drivers mounted like that are not going to sound any good.

They need to either be in a sealed enclosure or you're going to get the sound coming from the back of the speaker mixing, echoing, etc

[haggi961]

http://www.vx220.org...ter-sound-pics/

[phy6]

http://www.vx220.org...ter-sound-pics/

Thanks for the link!  Looks like it was the Street Xtreme Speedster, for a Swedish magazine?

 

 

 I appreciate when people do unique mods like that!

[Dunk]

Wow. Hope you keep us updated on progress. Good luck.

[Mangham54]

Firstly welcome, even though your a dirty Lotus owner pffft. I am glad someone is finally using a phone/tablet in lieu of a head unit finally as it just makes so much sense to me.