[Leekle2ManE]

I am currently in the design stage of my system for a '99 Jimmy. I have two goals with this system: 1) Use Pioneer products as much as possible and 2) end up with a system that is largely SQ oriented with a little heavier bass. I built a temporary box for my sub, a single 12 and played with positioning until I found the optimal location. Now I am looking at the high end. My tweeters have been mounted in the factory dash location and bounce off the windshield. While this puts my soundstage on the hood, it has been a little difficult dialing in the phantom center, vocals tend to be slightly right or slightly left. Part of this is probably due to the lack of time delay as I do not have a signal processor. I have been looking at either mounting the tweeter onto the pillars or the inside plate of the side mirrors, but I am at a loss on how to test these locations. Testing sub placement was easy, but I would rather not have to drill and redrill holes in my pillars or mirror plates to move the tweeters.

So I am wondering if anyone has some advice for good tweeter placement for getting that phantom center without a signal processor (since Pioneer doesn't look to have one)? Would it be better to aim tweeters toward the driver's seat or bounce them off the windshield again? Or use a second set of tweeters and do both?

 

[BlackHHR]

Putting them as wide as you can will give you width. At some point amplitude steering will be needed to focus them. The 80prs from pioneer is a good place to start in single din with advanced tuning. The dbl dins also have a decent starter dsp built into them but lack separate left and right eq. Single din with the pocket below the head unit dash kit?
Double sided tape/velcro will work for testing locations with out the need to drill any holes.

 

[ATOMICTECH62]

Mount them low on the pillars so they sit on the dash.
Everything in my sig is in a 99 blazer,it took 8years and 2 different Blazer to get it where it is today.A lot of experimentation.

 

[Leekle2ManE]

Thanks for the tips. I will try the double-sided tape and low on the pillars. I looked at the 80PRS and it is tempting. I am not sure I will go that route though. I am not an audiophile, just someone who has had a greater appreciation for a clean sounding system over an SPL system ever since attending my first IASCA event 20 years ago (not putting down SPL systems, they're just not my thing). Still, I will put it on my list of possible upgrades.

Thanks again.

 

[Alrojoca]

I also had mine there, recently I placed them 4" above the dash on the pillars, 4" being the center of the tweeter. It made a huge difference on both sides.

I had to do it since my dash is higher on the driver's side. still way more clarity and detail.

Pics?

 

[Leekle2ManE]

Nothing to show from me right now. Unless you want to see a sun-crack vinyl dash. As I said, I'm still in design phase. Not even the sub box is worth photoing. Once I start form-fitting the box against the back passenger quarter panel... then maybe. But then I'm not one who takes pictures while working.

 

[Justin Zazzi]

Time alignment will not get you any staging improvement with your tweeters. Above roughly 1khz, our ears are much more sensitive to intensity differences than they are to time differences. To learn more, search for the topic psychoacoustics or pick up the book of the same title by Floyd Toole.

What you really want is something that can do left/right independent EQ, such as the 80PRS or a more sophisticated outboard processor.

(all of this after you find the ideal mounting position and angle first, of course)

 

[Leekle2ManE]

Thanks for that tidbit, Jazzi.

It is sounding like the 80PRS will be in my future. It solves a lot of the issues I have with my current deck, the 3500UI. This deck is decent, but lacks a full set of pre-outs. I also prefer not to plug things into the front if it can be helped, so getting away from the front USB and Aux ports would be nice. While I am trying to get the staging right, I didn't want to get too heavy into processing as I would rather not have too many external pieces. While I have a (smaller) SUV, I have a full family and we take frequent trips to the beach with a cooler, chairs, boogie boards... the whole shebang, so space is still a premium. Hence my choice of a single 12" against the rear passenger-side panel. There were actually two slightly better sounding locations, but they both ate up too much usable real estate and would have been susceptible to damage from loading and unloading. Amps are a given. I am going to try to use a 4-channel amp with a sub amp setup, but might end up having to get another weaker 2-channel amp for the rear seats as I would like to have speakers for the kids (probably coaxials angled to fire back), but I don't want them to disturb my front stage too much. If I can avoid using outboard signal processing, then all the better. The 80PRS will will fit the bill for what I need, though it will provide me with more functionality than I really need. At the very least I could use the AutoEQ feature or take it to a shop to have it properly tuned.

Thanks again everyone.

(Edit: Just started reading through your build log Jazzi and all I cam say is "Wow". A lot of information there. More than I woud look for and, admittedly, a bit of it is beyond me. But a lot of it I can at least figure out. After reading your explanation of sub placement, I am going to have another look at mine and figure out distancng from the floor and rear wall. I have only read part of the first page so far, so I have a lot to read and educate myself on. Awesome work.)