That, my friend, is the real issue here. Some people just want to be able to hear the music at highway speeds with the top down and whatever they can do to make it sound louder works for them and there's nothing wrong with that. Some people also don't like adding amps so for them rear speakers are the best bet for more volume.

Then, there are people who not only want it loud but also want a good image and stage. This requires a lot more fine tuning, custom installs (most probably requiring cutting factory trims/panels/etc), high end components, time, money and a lot of experimentation.

I myself fall in the second category, on a budget these days but still try my best (as you can see from that imaging tips thread that I started). I can see how a set of bandpassed mids in the rear can fill up the sound a bit but that's as far as I'd go. Installing two/three way speakers in the rear just don't make sense to me cause I can already hear my tweets and sub perfectly. The only problem in this car is the mids, imho. I have taken care of this by tuning down my tweets compared to the mid-woofer and now the sound is pretty much balanced. I plan to install a set of 4" mids somewhere (kick panel?) in the front in the future.

 

Sound stage, whatever. It's a frigging convertible. I just want to be able to hear the GD music at 80 mph with the top down.

The difference these setups make is so incredibly large especially for the amount of $ you have to spend for the basics is great.

The fact that Podman took the complaint of speakers firing into the back of seats and muffling and moved them to the ears with such a clean look is ingenious and I wish I would have though of it first.

The only place to get really good audiophile sound is in a hardtop vehicle. Unless you have a permanent HT in your s, then rears are the best option.

 

mas you make good and vaild points.
The only thing i was trying to do was to point out that putting speakers in a headrest is not good (audiophile sense) .
But yes i can understand that some owners that just want a simple solution to being able to hear the system at speed roof down...

I will being having a multi amp, sub,active setup to achieve this, and i know that to many this is pointless and a waste of money/space. To me its not.

s2000raj
[QUOTE]

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mas

 

Only if nothing else works. I'm also somewhat limited to what I can do to the car since it's a lease otherwise I'd have hacked the entire door panel by now - cut the stock mid's grill out, make a custom angled pod for it and then cover it with speaker cloth, or something.

I can probably still hack that stupid grill. You see how the speaker sits so far back and the top 1/4th part of the speaker is blocked by the door panel? On top of that the grill is so damn thick with those pieces of plastics going back about an inch or so. No wonder it's so tough to get any mids out of that location - they just can't reach your ears!

 

Don't you touch my chinese food!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by b0mbrman

 

Wow, this thread is doing great. Thanx to everyone for contributing.

UPDATE: I just installed the first step in my upgrade project with a set of tweeters custom molded into the A-Pillars. They are facing each other across the windshield, halfway up the A-Pillar. This positioning serves to soften the sometimes "harsh" tweeters, has raised the sounstage to eye level, and has greatly increased clarity at speed with the top down.

I am very impressed with the difference.

These are hidden much better than the pods on the door, and higher than the new '04 location as well.

More to come.......

 

Mark - this is the first I've seen of your invention. I'm very impressed.

I have my hands full with some body mod projects but I keep saying the stereo is next. I'm leaning towards an Alpine 9815 up front, either MBs or BA 6.5s up front, if BA then a JL amp but still unsure about doing a sub or something in the back.

I'm a daily driver and use the back for my briefcase, suit, and files. Sinking something into the "tool area" might work but I don't need anything crazy but I do listen to all sorts of music and would like to actually hear my tunes if I were zipping around town.

Your set up looks like something the car should have had from day 1 so I'm VERY interested in what this set up would cost with coax. I could actually get the matching MBs or BAs depending on my avenue to fit in your set up though but I would definitely want coax vs. tweet alone.

In any event, congrats on a wonderful looking set up and I look foward to hearing more about your system.