Or have one go off in your face. Running wires to the trunk is a PITA, but honestly I like to show off every piece of equipment I have.
Printable View
I just see diminishing returns on the DIY end for this car. VW did too many weird things to merit me trying harder. I might just put in a Leviathan, maybe some more deadener, and probably finish off with tweeter pods and call it done for this car, but I doubt going active in here is in the forseeable future. Hence why I need a beater to freshen up. And Civics around here go for about the 6k mark in perfect mechanical condition, so I see that as a good starting point.
Just let a friend audition the system. He was all smiles. Kept remarking on how "clean" it was. I cranked the volume, too...enough to give me a little trunk flex on Sander Van Doorn's "Kangaroo"
Ok time for another update, this time sitting in the car and tweaking the eq as I type. Trying to find the new balance between clarity, punch, and proper staging. I found out the response of these speakers isn't really as flat as I thought; that or the HU doesn't do the best job of keeping a flat signal. Had to make 6dB cuts at 200,1000, and 8000Hz as well as a 2dB cut on the 80Hz just to keep the mids from pushing too hard.
Then I did something interesting. I leaned forward and placed my head right at the shift lever, putting myself directly on axis with the comps. And almost came. I mean literally. Now I know what these comps need. Everyone saying the tweeters needed to be off axis were missing out. Now I just wish I could fit a pod on each a-pillar to house the whole set. It's revelatory, really. I would think I'd be getting a headphone effect but no. I got the whole stage presented in front of me. For this car, I may just settle on tweeter pods. But, seriously, these comps don't deserve to be behind a door.
I've got a video uploading right now that I took with one of my iDevices to give you a short feel how the system sounds ATM. I'll try to snag my wife's Canon and film a better video after the Eclipse amp goes in, but this'll give you a good impression of the system. Also, I ran the first half with Pioneer's AutoEQ enabled and EQ setting at Flat and the second half with my EQ adjustments using the SPL meter on the JL iPhone app and test tones from some random website. All test tones were recorded at -5dB. Anywho, hope you'll enjoy it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=EXAbMCzjjPU
I'm taking off for a bit, but when it's ready you should be able to view it. Enjoy and feel free to express your opinions as long as they're not iDevices suxxors!!!1!one!
Additional note, I changed over how I'm setting the EQ. I have the AutoCal on my AVH-P8400 for general peace of mind, but am using a combo of my ears and the JL Audio app on my iPhone with the RTA set to Octave display rather than 1/3 octave.
Also, I went back in to the driver door and applied more deadener to the baffle itself after I realized that I could feel a ton of vibration just putting my fingertips on the bare wood portion of the baffle. I haven't gotten to the passenger door for additional coverage, so it's pretty easy to discern a difference. Overall, there's a ton of additional impact and separation in midrange music. I'm almost to the point where I'm getting a real snap from the kick drum, but know I'm really not going to get there without a beefier amp (Zed Leviathan will be installed hopefully by next year). I am going to have to re-do the passenger door after noticing this.
Thanks, bud. I really am surprised how up front that tweeter is being behind the door card. Can't wait to get it up on or above the dash.
And 3-way won't be in this car. The doors are horrible for modification and I can't fit what I want to on the a-pillar and stay within California code.