Car Audio Question

[JohnCU]

I'm getting a new CD player in my car, and new 5 1/4 3 way speakers in the front. Now, I can save 50 bucks if I go with 4 way speakers in the back instead of 3 way. How much better will it sound if I go 3 way?

Will it not sound good if I have 4 way in the back and 3 way in the front? (I don't do sound competitions or anything, just like to have a good sound when driving).

 

[Viperoni]

In the ideal sound quality setup, you only want mids, no bass or highs coming from the rears.
So in all honesty, get a semi decent rear (6x9 I'm assuming), buy a $5 coil to limit high frequency response (I can help you pick out the right one if you'd like), and enjoy better SQ.
Also, by buying less expensive rears, you can buy better fronts, putting your money where it's most needed.

 

[JohnCU]

So, er, does that mean 3 way in the back or what? I'm not very good with all the lingo and what not.

 

[Viperoni]

In all honesty, I'd go with a low buck full range driver in the back, like those low end JBL's or Pioneers, get the coil like I mentioned to cut off the highs, and spend the money you saved on better front speakers....like Infinities or JL audio or whatever.
That will get you better sound quality....which is what I'm guessing you're after

 

[Ns1]

4ways are useless

3ways are just as useless

do what viper says

get a soso pair of coaxal's(sp?) in the back, and cut the tweeter if you're l33t, or get a crossover and cross them at like 500hz

you want a reaaaaaaaaaaaally good pair of speakers up front, however

 

[Viperoni]

naw, not 500hz....higher...maybe aroudn 2k or so. Bit more "surround" effect + the coil will cost way less
cutting the tweeter doesn't work, because the woofer itself will still keep on producing highs, just as it did before the tweeters cut, except they will be worse sounding.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

I have a question: Why don't you want sound from the back (ie "Rears are for queers" type ideals)? Just because the original source is just two channel? I mean, I like the sound coming from every angle so that it sounds like it right in my head so to speak...when you sit in a car with the stock speaker placement, everything is so outta whack anyways that it doesn't seem like it would matter much...

 

[JohnCU]

I kinda like the bass and sound that come from my rear speakers that I have now, I've never heard about this "rear speakers are not important" stuff.

 

[Viperoni]

Well look at it this way.
You go to a concert, the sound that the ppl make on stage doesn't come from behind you, it comes from in front.
The only thing that comes from behind is the reflection of sound, either from walls or whatnot.
Reflections don't have much bass, or much treble, but do have a fair bit of mids.

The reason why the sound sounds better from the rear is because the distances between the speakers and you are a bit more closer ratio wise....good, but not realistic sounding. Kinda hard to explain, but basically you have a better soundstage in the rear than in the front. The front's is obviously worse....to correct for that you'd need a time-delay unit which all SQ competitors have....but $$$.

 

[Ns1]

all the people i talk to say anything above 500hz is iffy

viper, are you on car audio forum?

 

[Viperoni]

You know more about SQ setups than me anyhow, I'm just a basshead that can't stand overpriced-for-what-you-get subs

An 18g coil to cross @ ~500hz costs $4.80 from PE, a 14g coil would eb around $10. Is it worth the extra money? Nope.

I only post here, on the hardforum and on the Parts Express forum. Only sometimes on madisound's forum.