Center Channel in a 2!?!?!?

Final13 · 10-17-2007, 12:48 AM

I think that we can all agree that the front speakers are useless. However, I have been thinking...I was taking a look into surround sound speakers for the car and I had an idea. What about using a single speaker in the Dash of the second DIN location in the 2, what better front stage than right in the middle. I realize this kinda take things away as far as stereo things go, but if it was bridged from an amp (small one) then that may not even be noticeable. I suppose you could keep the doors for mid bass response or even use the rears and fade them out a bit to keep them from overpowering things. Of course a sub if you want one, but it might be a neat solution that works great, or it could fail terribly...

TRD_MR2_DRGN · 10-17-2007, 01:10 AM

300z and some other car used center speakers in the DIN slot before, but they didn't work out that good. I still have the center speakers setup from a 300z around the house somewhere but never installed since they didn't work that good.

canadam · 10-17-2007, 01:20 AM

I can't imagine a speaker designed for a DIN opening being better than the door speakers.

Final13 · 10-17-2007, 01:30 AM

Well think about the space that you are using, it all depends on how its designed, bose for instance doesnt seem like it should sound as "big" as it does but, well, it does! The door speakers are positioned entirely wrong, and are almost inaudible with the tops out. (at least in my car anyway) If they were in the kick panel location that would be acoustically better. I may try it out to see what happens, and if it doesnt work then just continue with a 5.1 system...The initial reason for not doing that in the first place is cost, but I think for getting vocals and most midrange frequencies the center channel will be quite applicable. Using the doors and or rears for midbass responce, the tweets for the highs, and a sub for the low, you might have a great system. The vocals are my chief complaint in the 2, I simply cant hear them as I would like.

TRD_MR2_DRGN · 10-17-2007, 01:46 AM

If you want to try go ahead, but the center speakers in a 300z with T-Tops did not work good. I believe the center speakers from the 300z were Bose (not sure cus they've been sitting around in hiding for so long). I wouldn't waste my time with the center speakers in the DIN slot. I was just gonna use it for the beartracker instead of running it through the head unit.

Final13 · 10-17-2007, 02:26 AM

Bose in a car, isnt really the same r&d as in the home stuff, I think it would at least be marginally better than the doors, cause I cant hear crap now...Alpine has a 150 watt unit that might be pretty good, clarion has one too, but I like the look of the alpine better...
Alpine SBS-05DC In-dash center channel car speaker at Crutchfield.com

schmiddr2 · 10-17-2007, 03:52 AM

If your not happy with the sound your getting now, the first step is imaging. Are the door speakers facing you at all...No. The rear fill speakers are right behind your head and the drivers side is in your left ear. The speaker placement was designed poorly. Also since the car is small, using one of these is a great idea Sound Processors at Crutchfield.com

That said, using after market speakers and then building a mounting surface that changes the way the speakers sound is directed is the best route. Could modify the speaker covers on the door panel. Takes money and time to build the whole thing correctly.

The center channel speakers were designed for the newer amps and processors that have left, right, and center channels. Mono would work but have a little harsh sound. Although you could wire it in series if it has more than one speaker connection.

Final13 · 10-17-2007, 01:12 PM

I first looked at kick panels, then It looked into something with the door panels...fabbing something on the door may prove to be the best move, but Im not sure I will be happy with the way it would look...I havent messed with fiber glass in a long time and I think that is about the smoothest way to get things to look sleek. I thought about creating a slanted mounting ring flush with the speaker hole and then covering that in vinyl to match the car but once again Im afraid I wont be happy with the results...

schmiddr2 · 10-17-2007, 01:29 PM

I looked for kick panels also and couldn't find them. I think a wedge shaped ring to mount the speaker on would be best and easiest. Look for some speaker covers/grills from another car or after market. I have ideas for fiberglass, but I've never done it.

Forgot to mention, component speaker sets are the best way to get great sound. These don't require the woofer to be faced fight at you, but need lots of power.

Final13 · 10-17-2007, 02:57 PM

I thought about playing with a reverse ring...pulling the speaker away from the panel from the inside...not sure how that would turn out though

10-17-2007, 12:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
Final13 Cage Fighter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 383 Thanks: 6 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Center Channel in a 2!?!?!? I think that we can all agree that the front speakers are useless. However, I have been thinking...I was taking a look into surround sound speakers for the car and I had an idea. What about using a single speaker in the Dash of the second DIN location in the 2, what better front stage than right in the middle. I realize this kinda take things away as far as stereo things go, but if it was bridged from an amp (small one) then that may not even be noticeable. I suppose you could keep the doors for mid bass response or even use the rears and fade them out a bit to keep them from overpowering things. Of course a sub if you want one, but it might be a neat solution that works great, or it could fail terribly...

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10-17-2007, 01:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
TRD_MR2_DRGN Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 427 Thanks: 6 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	300z and some other car used center speakers in the DIN slot before, but they didn't work out that good. I still have the center speakers setup from a 300z around the house somewhere but never installed since they didn't work that good.

10-17-2007, 01:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
canadam MidshipExpress Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Beautiful British Columbia Posts: 10,399 Thanks: 120 Thanked 142 Times in 121 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (34/100% )	I can't imagine a speaker designed for a DIN opening being better than the door speakers.

10-17-2007, 01:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
Final13 Cage Fighter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 383 Thanks: 6 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Well think about the space that you are using, it all depends on how its designed, bose for instance doesnt seem like it should sound as "big" as it does but, well, it does! The door speakers are positioned entirely wrong, and are almost inaudible with the tops out. (at least in my car anyway) If they were in the kick panel location that would be acoustically better. I may try it out to see what happens, and if it doesnt work then just continue with a 5.1 system...The initial reason for not doing that in the first place is cost, but I think for getting vocals and most midrange frequencies the center channel will be quite applicable. Using the doors and or rears for midbass responce, the tweets for the highs, and a sub for the low, you might have a great system. The vocals are my chief complaint in the 2, I simply cant hear them as I would like.

10-17-2007, 01:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
TRD_MR2_DRGN Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 427 Thanks: 6 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	If you want to try go ahead, but the center speakers in a 300z with T-Tops did not work good. I believe the center speakers from the 300z were Bose (not sure cus they've been sitting around in hiding for so long). I wouldn't waste my time with the center speakers in the DIN slot. I was just gonna use it for the beartracker instead of running it through the head unit.

10-17-2007, 02:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
Final13 Cage Fighter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 383 Thanks: 6 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Bose in a car, isnt really the same r&d as in the home stuff, I think it would at least be marginally better than the doors, cause I cant hear crap now...Alpine has a 150 watt unit that might be pretty good, clarion has one too, but I like the look of the alpine better... Alpine SBS-05DC In-dash center channel car speaker at Crutchfield.com

10-17-2007, 03:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
schmiddr2 Jak of some trades Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 57 Thanks: 8 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	If your not happy with the sound your getting now, the first step is imaging. Are the door speakers facing you at all...No. The rear fill speakers are right behind your head and the drivers side is in your left ear. The speaker placement was designed poorly. Also since the car is small, using one of these is a great idea Sound Processors at Crutchfield.com That said, using after market speakers and then building a mounting surface that changes the way the speakers sound is directed is the best route. Could modify the speaker covers on the door panel. Takes money and time to build the whole thing correctly. The center channel speakers were designed for the newer amps and processors that have left, right, and center channels. Mono would work but have a little harsh sound. Although you could wire it in series if it has more than one speaker connection.

10-17-2007, 01:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
Final13 Cage Fighter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 383 Thanks: 6 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I first looked at kick panels, then It looked into something with the door panels...fabbing something on the door may prove to be the best move, but Im not sure I will be happy with the way it would look...I havent messed with fiber glass in a long time and I think that is about the smoothest way to get things to look sleek. I thought about creating a slanted mounting ring flush with the speaker hole and then covering that in vinyl to match the car but once again Im afraid I wont be happy with the results...

10-17-2007, 01:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
schmiddr2 Jak of some trades Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 57 Thanks: 8 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I looked for kick panels also and couldn't find them. I think a wedge shaped ring to mount the speaker on would be best and easiest. Look for some speaker covers/grills from another car or after market. I have ideas for fiberglass, but I've never done it. Forgot to mention, component speaker sets are the best way to get great sound. These don't require the woofer to be faced fight at you, but need lots of power.

10-17-2007, 02:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
Final13 Cage Fighter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 383 Thanks: 6 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I thought about playing with a reverse ring...pulling the speaker away from the panel from the inside...not sure how that would turn out though