Thoughts on Car Audio mods
06-13-2007, 09:29 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
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Thoughts on Car Audio mods
I've come to a painful realization...most of our cars are hardly worth preserving as original examples of a great marque. Rather (like old surplus military rifles) they are very high in "utility for dollar" value and can be had cheaply, thus lending themselves well to customization.
To that end...I'm wondering at a couple things.
One: what speakers do people install in their door panels on the multi speakered variety (the early models had only one 3.5" in a plate behind the vinyl)?
Two: has anyone cut out the cup in the door metal to fit bigger ones (like a 4x6") ?
Three: what speakers are in the multi speakered option later cars (in the rear)?
Four: does anyone object to my basic precept?
To that end...I'm wondering at a couple things.
One: what speakers do people install in their door panels on the multi speakered variety (the early models had only one 3.5" in a plate behind the vinyl)?
Two: has anyone cut out the cup in the door metal to fit bigger ones (like a 4x6") ?
Three: what speakers are in the multi speakered option later cars (in the rear)?
Four: does anyone object to my basic precept?
06-13-2007, 10:20 PM
#2
Electron Wrangler
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Tim,
I agree here are few 928 that are still pristine anyway and of those there are very few that benefit greatly from being kept completely stock... so I'd save have at it.
If you can keep it looking in keeping with the style of the car it may actually add value...
The 10 speaker cars stock have Blaupunkt speakers all rounds - just OK quality. The rear speakers: top of the rear quarters are approx 5 1/4" mid range only). The big ones are 6.5" woofers and the small one above & behind is a tweeter paired with the mids on the top of the deck with passive crossover actually physically mounted on the back of the wooferes (but elect isolated from them). The woofers are driven seperately by the amp w/ active crossover. The doors are driven as single channels L/R with mid range & tweeter with passive crossovers in the doors.
I have installed slighty larger door drivers but did not need to cut anything - on the later cars though its tight here are enough options. On the very early cars (leather grilles) here is very little room.
I did add a small sub in the lower pass door area - and you have to cut some metal for that.
Alan
I agree here are few 928 that are still pristine anyway and of those there are very few that benefit greatly from being kept completely stock... so I'd save have at it.
If you can keep it looking in keeping with the style of the car it may actually add value...
The 10 speaker cars stock have Blaupunkt speakers all rounds - just OK quality. The rear speakers: top of the rear quarters are approx 5 1/4" mid range only). The big ones are 6.5" woofers and the small one above & behind is a tweeter paired with the mids on the top of the deck with passive crossover actually physically mounted on the back of the wooferes (but elect isolated from them). The woofers are driven seperately by the amp w/ active crossover. The doors are driven as single channels L/R with mid range & tweeter with passive crossovers in the doors.
I have installed slighty larger door drivers but did not need to cut anything - on the later cars though its tight here are enough options. On the very early cars (leather grilles) here is very little room.
I did add a small sub in the lower pass door area - and you have to cut some metal for that.
Alan
06-14-2007, 02:21 AM
#3
Burning Brakes
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Hey alan, I'd love to see your car...or at least what you are talking about. Any chance you'll be in Havasu next week? I'm heading east on a more or less permanent basis from here, but I'm starting from there.
I've got the OB style speaker setup (lighter weight option on the '85). I'm thinking of tracking down a classic grey leather interior (or something like it) to become my new interior with better acoustics. I'd like to try and find a later model cars interior (door and rear quarter) pieces and start from there.
That said, I have to figure out how I'm going to make the 3.5" and 4" speakers I have (Infinity Kappa coaxs) fit into slightly shallow stock locations. I've got a Basslink II powered sub as well, with no way to mount it. Oh well, the dream will have to become reality on the other side of the country.
Anyhow, I'm sorry we never crossed paths while I lived here...your car sounds like a bit of a dream.
I've got the OB style speaker setup (lighter weight option on the '85). I'm thinking of tracking down a classic grey leather interior (or something like it) to become my new interior with better acoustics. I'd like to try and find a later model cars interior (door and rear quarter) pieces and start from there.
That said, I have to figure out how I'm going to make the 3.5" and 4" speakers I have (Infinity Kappa coaxs) fit into slightly shallow stock locations. I've got a Basslink II powered sub as well, with no way to mount it. Oh well, the dream will have to become reality on the other side of the country.
Anyhow, I'm sorry we never crossed paths while I lived here...your car sounds like a bit of a dream.
06-14-2007, 11:33 AM
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Tim,
A no to Havasu (though that would be nice... miss the lake)
Yes my car is a little unusually equipped (understatement...)
But as to a dream - much of the time yes - sometimes - like everone elses - its just a nightmare!
I am happy with what I've done though. What you propose sounds nice but will be very expensive - the interior will probably cost more than the Audio you put in...
The biggest problem with modifying a 928 IMO is that Porsche didn't leave much room behind - everywhere has something already installed or has minimal clearance. I do think you can cut the upper door metal to create space for magnets & voice-coil without much structural impact but keep the holes to minimal needed and look for low profile speakers. You do gain some by having speakers outside mounted with surface grilles - but don't go extreme on this!. Some have created bump-out boxes on the doors for larger - I don't like this look at the top so much (but its functional) - but I think its quite OK if well done for a sub at the bottom front of the door (pass side anyway). I've also seen sub enclosures (small-ish) integrated into the rear tool panel cover that looked very nice - then of course there is the spare tire well - for me I have a tire there and use the rear for luggage a lot - so not so practical - but its a nice big space - possibly even with the spare in place.
You will also have to cut metal in the rear to fit 6.5" woofers and note that the later further forward location for the rear quarter panel speakers has very little depth... I had to build/upholster spacers there for the (already slim-ish) speakers I wanted to fit.
Amps are also a challenge - go without (use head unit alone) or use the small stock amp space & head unit in combo, parcel shelf (if you have one) or create new space: raise rear deck, delete rear seats, spare tire well...
I didn't like or couldn't use any of these so I ended up installing mine behind the rear seat backs (really a lot of work - but I like very much).
I can send you a website pointer if you want to see a few pictures of it.
Alan
A no to Havasu (though that would be nice... miss the lake)
Yes my car is a little unusually equipped (understatement...)
But as to a dream - much of the time yes - sometimes - like everone elses - its just a nightmare!
I am happy with what I've done though. What you propose sounds nice but will be very expensive - the interior will probably cost more than the Audio you put in...
The biggest problem with modifying a 928 IMO is that Porsche didn't leave much room behind - everywhere has something already installed or has minimal clearance. I do think you can cut the upper door metal to create space for magnets & voice-coil without much structural impact but keep the holes to minimal needed and look for low profile speakers. You do gain some by having speakers outside mounted with surface grilles - but don't go extreme on this!. Some have created bump-out boxes on the doors for larger - I don't like this look at the top so much (but its functional) - but I think its quite OK if well done for a sub at the bottom front of the door (pass side anyway). I've also seen sub enclosures (small-ish) integrated into the rear tool panel cover that looked very nice - then of course there is the spare tire well - for me I have a tire there and use the rear for luggage a lot - so not so practical - but its a nice big space - possibly even with the spare in place.
You will also have to cut metal in the rear to fit 6.5" woofers and note that the later further forward location for the rear quarter panel speakers has very little depth... I had to build/upholster spacers there for the (already slim-ish) speakers I wanted to fit.
Amps are also a challenge - go without (use head unit alone) or use the small stock amp space & head unit in combo, parcel shelf (if you have one) or create new space: raise rear deck, delete rear seats, spare tire well...
I didn't like or couldn't use any of these so I ended up installing mine behind the rear seat backs (really a lot of work - but I like very much).
I can send you a website pointer if you want to see a few pictures of it.
Alan
06-14-2007, 12:10 PM
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Burning Brakes
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Hey Alan,
I'd love to see whatever you've got going. I'm not quite ready to put it all together yet but I'd like to see what else is out there. Honestly, I always thought that 10 speakers would be entirely too much for a car as small as this. I've got it in mind to stick with the stock sizes/locations and then add a single powered sub woofer in the back and 6.5" or 5x7" speakers in the lower front quarter of the door.
I'd love to see whatever you've got going. I'm not quite ready to put it all together yet but I'd like to see what else is out there. Honestly, I always thought that 10 speakers would be entirely too much for a car as small as this. I've got it in mind to stick with the stock sizes/locations and then add a single powered sub woofer in the back and 6.5" or 5x7" speakers in the lower front quarter of the door.
06-14-2007, 09:42 PM
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The number of speakers matter not. it's the quality and powerhandling that matter, as well as a good crossover. A 3 way speaker is technically 3 speakers in one location, vs car manufacturers saying you have 10 since the tweets mids and mid bass are all in seperate locations.
I run premier 6.5's in the doors and rear quarters with satellite tweeters as well. You can get them for under $150 a pair and they sound great. In the back I have a single 3000w 15". Running about 4000 watts total RMS with a 5 farad cap and Optima battery. hits very hard when I need it and still have some trunk left..for now..going 4 more 12" subs soon, good bye back seats.. BWAAAH-Boom,Boom.
I cut the doors and rears to fit the magnet depth of the 6.5"s and used trim rings from Bestbuy to raise them out. Looks decent and not much different from the stock mid 80's 2 speaker door design. Newer tweets since pics, they now match better.
I run premier 6.5's in the doors and rear quarters with satellite tweeters as well. You can get them for under $150 a pair and they sound great. In the back I have a single 3000w 15". Running about 4000 watts total RMS with a 5 farad cap and Optima battery. hits very hard when I need it and still have some trunk left..for now..going 4 more 12" subs soon, good bye back seats.. BWAAAH-Boom,Boom.
I cut the doors and rears to fit the magnet depth of the 6.5"s and used trim rings from Bestbuy to raise them out. Looks decent and not much different from the stock mid 80's 2 speaker door design. Newer tweets since pics, they now match better.
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06-15-2007, 03:21 AM
#8
Originally Posted by TeufelHei
I've come to a painful realization...most of our cars are hardly worth preserving as original examples of a great marque. Rather (like old surplus military rifles) they are very high in "utility for dollar" value and can be had cheaply, thus lending themselves well to customization.
To that end...I'm wondering at a couple things.
One: what speakers do people install in their door panels on the multi speakered variety (the early models had only one 3.5" in a plate behind the vinyl)?
Two: has anyone cut out the cup in the door metal to fit bigger ones (like a 4x6") ?
Three: what speakers are in the multi speakered option later cars (in the rear)?
Four: does anyone object to my basic precept?
To that end...I'm wondering at a couple things.
One: what speakers do people install in their door panels on the multi speakered variety (the early models had only one 3.5" in a plate behind the vinyl)?
Two: has anyone cut out the cup in the door metal to fit bigger ones (like a 4x6") ?
Three: what speakers are in the multi speakered option later cars (in the rear)?
Four: does anyone object to my basic precept?
No objections to the precept, unless you are a museum curator. For those of us who prefer to DRIVE their sharks, necessity prevails.
My door panel speaks are JBL Power P452, 4" requiring 2" mounting depth. I cut out the door metal, but used the OE speaker grill. The OE tweeter was disconnected, but left in place. Rear quarter panel took an Infinity Kappa 62.7i, 6.5" 2-way speaker. No metal cutting required, but I had to 'customize' the OE speaker grill to work. Turned out fine.
Rear side panel upper took an Alpine SPS-10c2, 4" speak. Had to cut away some of the foam insulation under the panel, but it fit. All these have a built in crossover. The PO had installed a 100w amp, placed in the passenger parcel shelf. I left it alone. Sound is fantastic, but then I also sound insulated the entire car with Cascade VB products.
Hawkeyes
