2 Speakers? GET REAL
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 970
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From: Dillsburg, PA
Hmm, what's with everyone arguing here about whether stereo is good or not in the S2k??
If you like nice tunes, do it. If you don't, don't.
Don't rain on others' parades. There are things everyone does to their cars/homes/whatever that some other guy or gal won't be able to stand.
As to whether or not two speakers suffice, well, had I an S2000, that's all I'd put in it. Why? If you're going to go and put a decent system in your car and "do it right," i.e. "by the book," then rear speakers won't matter much, anyway. You barely even hear them. Front stage is primary sound. Rear speakers in a car like the Stook, where the rears would be so close to your head, would almost take AWAY from proper soundstaging in that car, if you ask me.
Howevah... whatever blows your kilt up.
I'd throw a set of really nice coaxials in the door locales,
or maybe some axis-mount components (like Boston Acoustics Pro series) or something. I don't think I'd do kick panels.
In a car like that, I'd want to keep the footwells open.
I've still got my four-channel amp and (self-amplified) sub tube from my old Acura, so I'd probably bridge the amp to run the speakers, and run the sub off of whatever deck I bought, like I did in the Integra.
And my speakers wouldn't be MB Quart. Lots of folks like them, but if you ask me, it's all advertising and popularity. I don't like their sound, personally.
If you like nice tunes, do it. If you don't, don't.
Don't rain on others' parades. There are things everyone does to their cars/homes/whatever that some other guy or gal won't be able to stand.
As to whether or not two speakers suffice, well, had I an S2000, that's all I'd put in it. Why? If you're going to go and put a decent system in your car and "do it right," i.e. "by the book," then rear speakers won't matter much, anyway. You barely even hear them. Front stage is primary sound. Rear speakers in a car like the Stook, where the rears would be so close to your head, would almost take AWAY from proper soundstaging in that car, if you ask me.
Howevah... whatever blows your kilt up.
I'd throw a set of really nice coaxials in the door locales,
or maybe some axis-mount components (like Boston Acoustics Pro series) or something. I don't think I'd do kick panels.
In a car like that, I'd want to keep the footwells open.
I've still got my four-channel amp and (self-amplified) sub tube from my old Acura, so I'd probably bridge the amp to run the speakers, and run the sub off of whatever deck I bought, like I did in the Integra.
And my speakers wouldn't be MB Quart. Lots of folks like them, but if you ask me, it's all advertising and popularity. I don't like their sound, personally.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,821
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From: San Diego
GR8-S2K asked:
Jason, where did you mount the tweeters, and ... Any suggestions?
I decided to mount the tweeters behind the door panels, next to the woofers. You'll notive the holes in the door panel's "grille" area only go all the way through in front of the woofer. Using a drill, I punched holes in a circle next to the woofer, to let the sound through. Here's an old picture back when I had Infinitys:
The hole had to be enlargened for the 2" Focal tweeters, but you get the idea. Not the best for "imaging" but stealth was priority #1 to me - you can't tell the tweeters are there until you look straight-on. By door solidification I meant trying to make the door as much of a solid enclosure as possible. I replaced the white plastic and its goop with Dynamat, and fixed Dynamat to all the metal surfaces that were likely to buzz and rattle. The original basket for the speakers went bye-bye; built a new mount out of 3/4" MDF. The end result is a door much more Mercedes-like.
The crossovers with my Focals had adjustable tweeter levels on the corssover; mine are currently at -3db. I don't know if the K's had the same feature. Unfortunately there's not much you can do with the stock head unit, but you could put in a preamp Line-Out Converter/EQ, or try remounting, but I wouldn't replace them. Focal's tweeters are generally regarded as some of the best in the business. Hope this helps!
***And a quick question since hopefully I have the ears of a few audiophiles and bassheads: Is there any way I can get my hands on a DLS-X12 subwoofer in the States? My JLs are, ahem, past their prime, and I've heard rave reviews in the UK car audio mags. Thanks!
Jason
Jason, where did you mount the tweeters, and ... Any suggestions?
I decided to mount the tweeters behind the door panels, next to the woofers. You'll notive the holes in the door panel's "grille" area only go all the way through in front of the woofer. Using a drill, I punched holes in a circle next to the woofer, to let the sound through. Here's an old picture back when I had Infinitys:
The hole had to be enlargened for the 2" Focal tweeters, but you get the idea. Not the best for "imaging" but stealth was priority #1 to me - you can't tell the tweeters are there until you look straight-on. By door solidification I meant trying to make the door as much of a solid enclosure as possible. I replaced the white plastic and its goop with Dynamat, and fixed Dynamat to all the metal surfaces that were likely to buzz and rattle. The original basket for the speakers went bye-bye; built a new mount out of 3/4" MDF. The end result is a door much more Mercedes-like.
The crossovers with my Focals had adjustable tweeter levels on the corssover; mine are currently at -3db. I don't know if the K's had the same feature. Unfortunately there's not much you can do with the stock head unit, but you could put in a preamp Line-Out Converter/EQ, or try remounting, but I wouldn't replace them. Focal's tweeters are generally regarded as some of the best in the business. Hope this helps!
***And a quick question since hopefully I have the ears of a few audiophiles and bassheads: Is there any way I can get my hands on a DLS-X12 subwoofer in the States? My JLs are, ahem, past their prime, and I've heard rave reviews in the UK car audio mags. Thanks!
Jason
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 24
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From: Portland
Since this seems to be THE audio thread, I have a few questions others may have experience with -
Has anyone tried taking the high levels out of the stock head, all the way back to the trunk to drive an aftermarket amp and then back to the stock speaker locations (replaced w/decent aftermarket speakers)? Any noise problems, cable routing, etc.? Is there room under the dash for a 2 channel amp?
Anyone tried mounting tweeters in the winshield pillars? My local installer recommends that location but is also recommending MB Quart speakers and I find their metal tweeters very in-your-face already. I'm not sure about mounting them literally in your face.
At least Honda had the good judgement not to install a Bose system in the S2K. Then we'd be ripping out a bad expensive system instead of a bad cheap system.
Thanks for the help.
Has anyone tried taking the high levels out of the stock head, all the way back to the trunk to drive an aftermarket amp and then back to the stock speaker locations (replaced w/decent aftermarket speakers)? Any noise problems, cable routing, etc.? Is there room under the dash for a 2 channel amp?
Anyone tried mounting tweeters in the winshield pillars? My local installer recommends that location but is also recommending MB Quart speakers and I find their metal tweeters very in-your-face already. I'm not sure about mounting them literally in your face.
At least Honda had the good judgement not to install a Bose system in the S2K. Then we'd be ripping out a bad expensive system instead of a bad cheap system.
Thanks for the help.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 99
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From: Toronto
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Black99Coupe
[B]Has anyone tried taking the high levels out of the stock head, all the way back to the trunk to drive an aftermarket amp and then back to the stock speaker locations (replaced w/decent aftermarket speakers)?
[B]Has anyone tried taking the high levels out of the stock head, all the way back to the trunk to drive an aftermarket amp and then back to the stock speaker locations (replaced w/decent aftermarket speakers)?
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,821
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From: San Diego
I took a few pictures in my trunk today - they are here.
It'll be obvious why I never entered competition. I didn't even bother to try to fit the RF 800a4 on the left side - you might be able to with a smaller amp. I've seen somebody fit a Sony something-or-other there. I'd suggest getting a cereal box or something that approximates the size of whatever amp you're getting, and see if it fits. Gotta leave it some space for cooling too. Good luck!
...
And to tap the collective on this one again:
Does anybody know where to get a DLS X-12 subwoofer? Will I have to wait till I go to Europe in May and have one shipped from there? I need more BASS - help!
Jason
It'll be obvious why I never entered competition. I didn't even bother to try to fit the RF 800a4 on the left side - you might be able to with a smaller amp. I've seen somebody fit a Sony something-or-other there. I'd suggest getting a cereal box or something that approximates the size of whatever amp you're getting, and see if it fits. Gotta leave it some space for cooling too. Good luck!
...
And to tap the collective on this one again:
Does anybody know where to get a DLS X-12 subwoofer? Will I have to wait till I go to Europe in May and have one shipped from there? I need more BASS - help!
Jason
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Portland
GR8-S2K,
thanks for the info, read the other thread and have two questions-
Do the Focals fit into the standard baskets in the doors or did they require basket mods? And,
Am I understanding your tweeter install correctly in that you drilled holes in the A-pillar cover allowing the sound to pass thru it, then mounted the actual tweeter under the cover? Totally incognito?
Could you email or repost the template as the image is gone from the old post
thanks for the info, read the other thread and have two questions-
Do the Focals fit into the standard baskets in the doors or did they require basket mods? And,
Am I understanding your tweeter install correctly in that you drilled holes in the A-pillar cover allowing the sound to pass thru it, then mounted the actual tweeter under the cover? Totally incognito?
Could you email or repost the template as the image is gone from the old post
