Date:         Sun, 14 Jun 2009 10:23:55 -0500
Reply-To:     Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Subject:      Re: advice for 6.5" speakers in front doors
Comments: To: Edward Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US>
In-Reply-To:  <20090612234718.12E4E1E8348@tc2.main.nc.us>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Edward:  I have installed 6.5 Focal Mid bass drivers in my front
doors some years ago. Stating the obvious, the map pocket will have
to disappear on the driver's side and some sheetmetal will have to be
removed to get the frame to fit in the door.  I'm not sure which line
of speakers Best Buy considers their best, but I doubt they sell
Focal, MB Quart, or Boston Acoustics.  I've not been in the stereo
mode for cars lately, but you might be better off getting a good
amplifier from Best Buy and spending cash on the speakers from
somewhere else.  Really good speakers make the wimpy chip amp in most
head units sound like crap.  As you attempt to improve the sound
system in your vehicle, remember that the building of the system
starts with the source material, then the electronics, and then the
transducers.

In addition to mounting the tweeters up by the window cranks(power
windows not a problem with my installation but I understand Larry's
concern), I laminated some carbon fiber stiffening panels for the mid
bass drivers and surrounding areas and did the Dynamat thing
too.  The crossovers went on top of the metal air vent chambers.  The
big amp went under the passenger seat where it could get a very short
wire to the  positive battery post.  this system has run flawlessly
for 10 years now, so the motto "buy the best and only cry once" has
proven successful once again.

God luck with what ever you do.

DM&FS

At 06:44 PM 6/12/2009, Edward Maglott wrote:
>I've got a Best Buy gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket and
>have been thinking about some upgraded speakers for the front
>doors.  The 6.5" size seems to be as standard now as the 6x9 was when
>I was in HS.  (Yes I got some of those to put in the back deck of the
>'72 Maverick!)  Anyway, I've looked at the archives and some member
>websites and could not find exactly what I was looking for.  Can
>somebody point me to a good reference for what dimension limits I
>need to stay within for the speakers and best placement ideas?
>
>Thanks,
>Edward