Why when most upgrade to components, does everyone put the tweeter in a pod down at your feet? This has got to be the worst location for a tweeter. Why wouldn't you want to replace the current tweeter in it's stock location?

If you go with a coaxial speaker you can't seperate them. The advantage of components is you can put the tweeter where it needs to be . . . as close to ear level as possible.

Ken

 

The stock tweeter is about the size of a large peanut. I found the stock location was too shallow to mount any decent sized after market tweeter so with the help of Idwin (whom finishes custom aircraft interiors) we mounted with a modified basket.

Even after this, the triangular piece still sticks out about 1/10" because of the depth and the diameter is the biggest problem. As you can see if you don't nail a perfect center, the speaker can block the door panel from fitting properly. (NOT the center of the stock tweeter port but the center of the door finisher)

We also modified the stock woofer housing to accommodate a large after market component speaker with the help of aircraft grade glue.

 

The interior of a car is a small listening environment making it difficult to direct sound that is balanced for both the driver’s and passenger’s side.

Tweeters (which have very directional sound) mounted in the stock location (the Sail Panel) are difficult to stage because the speaker is so close to the listener. You could shift the balance favoring the right side for better sound to the driver’s seat, but that is somewhat artificial. And doing this would cause an even more unbalanced sound for your passenger who would really get blasted by the right side tweeter. Another problem with the Sail Panel is fitting a better component into its tight space.

Many people prefer kicks since this configuration allows directing the sound very accurately to produce excellent staging. The effect is realistic sound coming from a position in front of the listener. You have the advantage of directing the sound towards the center of the car while maintaining distinct left and right channels.

There are disadvantages when using kicks:

1) Kicks block the dead pedal so the driver loses that footrest.

2) The foot-well on the passenger side is smaller.

3) If you live in a climate where there is snow or moisture, you or your passenger could possibly scrape the speaker grills with your shoe/boot soles depositing snow or debris across the grill surface. That makes cleanup difficult and might allow moisture to enter the speaker space.

There are alternatives to using either position (Kicks or the Sail Panel) when mounting a tweeter. One is mounting the tweeter in the A-pillar where you have more space than the Sail Panel for the component. The A-pillar mount also allows more control for better staging.

So you can see there are multiple issues (even the weather) that can determine the best place to mount your components.

--Spike

 

Through all the research that I have done, and my own personal experience. Mounting your tweeters as close as possible to the woofers will provide a better sound stage vs seperating the signal that using the sail panels will cause. This is why some high-end companies sell braxial components.

 

Damn i was hoping there was a nice alternative replacement, both my tweeters are blown and it's gonna drive me nuts...lol

 

I have the polk audio momo's. They mounted perfectly in the tweeter and door spots. no cutting or custom work.

 

Link to where I can get em?...lol

 

I think these are the ones I got. Its been awhile.

http://www.polkaudio.com/caraudio/pr...6-1-2/mmc6500/

If fact. I am sure those are the ones I got.

 

I have those also in the front. I have 650's in the back. I mounted the tweeter on the outside of the sail and the aluminum trim matches perfectly with the interior.

 

I did those in all the speaker spots. I needed to cut in the tweeters in the back. It looks good.

 

i got a phoenix gold comp system and the tweeters swaped out perfectly with no mods necessary. car still looks stock on the inside

 

A couple of other things to consider...

One thing I notice using the stock door position and its grill for mounting the midrange component is a somewhat hollow sound. I am not exactly sure how to describe it and use the term “hollow” for lack of a better adjective. I did install some sound deadening in the door, and that provides a significant improvement. I believe one problem with the stock door position is the OEM speaker door-grille which tends to muffle the sound.

I agree with Tackett:
I think that is why some would even suggest a very high quality coaxial (if you can find one) when using the stock door position.

I’ve been in Z’s with either Door Pods or Kicks, and I think these mounting solutions provide better sound (for the reason Tackett mentions, and that the speakers are “inside the car” vs. hidden back in the door). Kicks sound better than Door Pods, and that is simply because Kicks position the speakers a little farther forward allowing better staging. The caveat of Kicks is taking space in the foot-well from the driver and passenger. But, using Door Pods or mounting in the stock door position expose the components to constant hammering when opening and closing the doors.

I suppose you could compare this to everything else in life. There are advantages and disadvantages making it impossible to achieve the perfect solution. You need to decide what compromises provide the best solution for your particular case.

--Spike

 

Anyone want to throw up some pics of these mounted in a z?

Reviews look great.

 

Edit.. double post

 

Are you looking for pictures of components mounted in the stock OEM positions? I guess that would look like stock (what you have in your car) with maybe some minor trim pieces in the Sail Panel area. Rear two-piece components in the back would look stock with the addition of a tweeter cutout.

If you want to see pods, Bing (the best installer evah) has posted pictures of Kicks and Door Pod installations. I believe he recommends pods for the best sound in a Z. Search on “16psibric” posts to see many great installations and examples.

Here is a picture of my tweeter installation in the A-Pillar.



Actual Tweeter is where I mounted the tweeter (in the A-Pillar).
Tweeter Reflection is the angle/position where I bounce the forward firing tweeter off the wind screen and back towards the center of the car’s interior for better staging.
Sail Panel is the stock installation position for a tweeter that I am not using.

It’s a compromise, and certainly not as good as pods, but I like its sound better than a Sail Panel installation.

--Spike

 

I mounted my Boston Acoustics pro tweets in the stock location and they fit fine. When I upgraded to the Z6's, I left them mounted in the coax style location as I felt the sound was just too bright in the stock location..