What so set Boston SL60s tweeters at and other questions

[bakesalee 10+ year member]

This is my first set of component speakers I've ever owned. I'm generally pretty broke, so it's astonishing that I have the system I do (it impresses the folks I know, maybe not the experts here).

Anyways, I understand the crossovers for the tweeters have a switch that sets the tweeters to 0, 2, or 4 dB. I think the crossovers will be installed inside the doors, and by professionals, meaning I won't be there watching and listening. If I can't access it myself, what should I recommend that they set it to?

Also, when the crossovers are tucked and hidden away inside the doors, should something be covering them to protect them from moisture and dirt, or are they just suspended in there commando style?

Is it even recommended that all these accessories be tucked away in the doors, or should they be out so I can tweak them?

What I'll have after the install:

2003 Hyunda Sonata GL

-Alpine 9856 w/ direct connect iPod (iPod inside center console; cord hidden)

-Boston S95 x 2 in rear deck; powered by HU

-Boston SL60 components in front powered by...

-Rockford Fosgate 325.2 Punch amp (2 x 80 RMS, but actual RMS is 115 x 2 at 4ohms)

-2 sheets of Extreme Dynamat inside both front doors

Is it recommended that the amp is under the drivers seat?

I also bought Dynamat Extreme sheets for the S95s in the back, but the stupid installation place said they "didn't use it" when I went to pick up the car. How can I utilize this Dynamat for speakers in a rear deck? I can only access these speakers by opening the trunk, and only then I see the backs of them. I'm not willing to take them apart or anything, is there any use?

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[redcalimp5 10+ year member]

When you're getting your tweeters/door speakers installed, you should be there to listen to it once it's hooked up so that the installer can set your tweeter adjustment to your liking based on what you hear at the time.

I'd try to have your crossovers mounted under one of your seats, or even possibly under the dash somewhere. Having them mounted in the doors is fine, but:

1. The inside of car doors usually get pretty hot, esp. in the summer, and some crossovers might not fare so well if it's too hot and there enclosed in a door.

2. Crossovers getting wet because they're in the doors....and they will get wet when it rains, or when you get your car washed.

When I was using passive crossovers like you are now, I had my pair mounted behind my back seat, right next to my amp. That way they'd stay dry, keep fairly cool, and I could make adjustments from time to time if I felt the need to, because they were easily accessible.

Hope this helps!

 

[shpatb 10+ year member]

i mounted my cross overs in the truck, right next to amp... very dry and gernerally not hot in the truck, and its very accessiable... and why would you put an amp underneath a seat? i wouldnt want something that gets that hot underneath the padding that im sitting on...

edit: i'd only use the dynamat on the mids and not bother with the rears personally.

 

[bakesalee 10+ year member]

Yeah you totally help. If I have them mounted inside the vehicle, then I wouldn't need to be there because I could adjust the tweeters. But you definetly raise a great point. I would love to watch all my stuff get installed (aka make sure they're doing things right) but I imagine these places don't want your eyes on them at all - especially for a few hours.

 

[bakesalee 10+ year member]

You know, on the floor...under the seat. Seems like a logical place to me, but no?

i mounted my cross overs in the truck, right next to amp... very dry and gernerally not hot in the truck, and its very accessiable... and why would you put an amp underneath a seat? i wouldnt want something that gets that hot underneath the padding that im sitting on...

edit: i'd only use the dynamat on the mids and not bother with the rears personally.

 

[shpatb 10+ year member]

it just seems i'd be difficult to change the gain settings and such if it was mounted underneath a seat, are you going to have it drilled in there or what?

 

[bakesalee 10+ year member]

Hmmm I don't know. I guess not by the reactions here. Where should I request that it be? On the other hand, it'll be just as tough tweaking the settings if the amps in the trunk right? Where shall it go?

 

[redcalimp5 10+ year member]

Hmmm I don't know. I guess not by the reactions here. Where should I request that it be? On the other hand, it'll be just as tough tweaking the settings if the amps in the trunk right? Where shall it go?

In your Sonata? I'd have the installer fold your back seat(s) down, and bolt your amp and your crossovers right next to each other.....they stay cool, dry, and are easy to access when you want to tweak/tune.

It's really that easy. lol

 

[redcalimp5 10+ year member]

Man, and don't "request" NOTHIN' of the installer. TELL him/her exactly what you want done, how you want it to sound, and how you expect it to look/sound when it's all done.

YOU'RE paying for it with your own money, you should dictate how the install's going to be, NOT the installer.

 

[bakesalee 10+ year member]

You're totally right. I'm such a *****.

 

[redcalimp5 10+ year member]

You're totally right. I'm such a *****.

don't worry about it, bro. Especially if you're not used to dealing with people like that, it takes time.

Just get that set in your mind FIRST, before you get everything in and done by them. They can make recommendations all they want, but when it comes down to it, it's YOUR money, YOUR system, and YOUR car.....so whatever you tell them you want should be the final word.

Good luck, man!

 

[2wheeler 10+ year member]

I've got a set of SL60s in one of my trucks. I'm at -2 on the tweets and the "offaxis" setting for the mids. They are in my 04 Tacoma, installed in the stock locations, mids are in 3/4" thick MDF adaptors and the doors are deadened.

As for

"TELL him/her exactly what you want done, how you want it to sound, and how you expect it to look/sound when it's all done."

Yes, the installer is working for you, so you have the right to "TELL" him what to do. But be careful, do you know more than the installer? (and I'm not saying that you don't, many people here are way smarter than some installers..) I made my living as a finish carpenter for 12 years and I've had my share of customers "TELLING" me how to do MY job. I was always happy to do what they asked for, because it usually was easier for me to follow the inexperienced advice of some egomaniac homeowner than it was to do things to my (higher) standards. Basically, if some customer acted like a dick to me, I took his money and did what he asked for, instead of doing the best work I know how to do. And anything that went wrong was the customers fault, because I was following the customers direction instead of using my experience to guide me.

Edit: My x-overs are on the interior side of the doors, under the door panel. So when I pop the door panel, they are exposed, but not inside the door with the window mechanism. Keeps the wiring easy and they are protected from weather, etc.

 

[bakesalee 10+ year member]

2Wheeler, thanks for popping in. How do you like the SL60s? I've seen some here say they're for cheap people, but let's get real, if you paid MSRP (like most consumers) these are $350 speakers. Not too shabby if you ask me, or anyone that I know.

As far as your crossovers inside the trim panel, is that really different from just being "inside the door?" Maybe so seeing the speaker is in there now I guess.

Also, did you install this yourself? I was wondering how they were set a -2dB if you didn't install them, seeing as an inexperienced person (me) wouldn't have access to them if tuning changes need to be made.

I was almost thinking of putting them in a middle position (-2) and then if I needed - just use the treble engine on my Alpine to adjust them.

What is this about settings on your woofers? You mean there are settings on the crossovers for them as well? This is starting to sound like I need to be there during the install. But if it takes hours to pull out the dash to access stereo, install Dynamat, install component speakers, install amp, how in the world are they going to allow me to watch them the entire time?

 

[2wheeler 10+ year member]

bakesalee, the SL60s are the best set of speakers I've ever had, but that's not saying a whole lot. Compared to the Infinity Reference 6x8s and the JBL (cant remember the model, bottom line components..) 6x8s I've had the Bostons are great. I do all my own installs, it takes me forever but they always come out good. The x-overs are set with jumpers inside the units, so you could just set them how you want them and tell the installer what you did. The directions spell out what to do with the axis setting, I just followed them.

Are you running without a sub? If so, I don't know how the SLs will stand up to the power you're sending to them. I've got about 125x2 on mine but they've never seen anything below 80 hz... Careful with the volume

 

[bakesalee 10+ year member]

No, no sub. One of the reasons I bought them was because it's rated at 45hz-22khz. All my other options started around 50 or 55hz. So, from this standpoint, it actually can produce lower lows than what's in my car now, and the other options I considered. Not sure why you're not letting it do anything under 80.

Are you running without a sub? If so, I don't know how the SLs will stand up to the power you're sending to them. I've got about 125x2 on mine but they've never seen anything below 80 hz... Careful with the volume