Durango_Boy wrote:
My 2 cents is that rear fill can really confuse your brain and sometimes make the audio experience less enjoyable. The output level isn't really what aligns everything for you...the directionality and timing play a huge roll too. High frequencies from the rear fill and mid frequencies from the front, from two different amps...sounds like a shooting gallery. You can't tell where each shot is fired from.

When you go to a concert, do you sit backwards? That's kind of the "keep it simple" philosophy I have always used. In a Corvette with the really tiny cabin we have to work with, I design the systems to be very simple and minimalistic. I still build with strong low frequencies and plenty of mids and highs.

I like the sub choice. See if you can make an enclosure that makes them happy being sealed up. I have always preferred sealed to ported. Don't over think it, just get a 1 or 2 channel amp and show them what they are rated for.

For fronts, again, keep it simple. Get a good high quality component set and go active with the front. 4 channel amp, run the mid drivers and the tweeters as 4 different drivers. Keep the tweeters close to the drivers and really be considerate about their placement and aim.

Control them with the head unit EQ or use an inline EQ and hide it between tuning.

That's about it really. You'll get your highs, mids, and lows and you'll have all the adjustability you need while still building a very simple system.

j3studio wrote:
Yep, Andy - you are right: that is geeky. I'm only that geeky with the home system. Just for your amusement (and because you already got a good response), our three Corvettes and their sound systems:

1) 1985: Stock and completely functional Delco-Bose (radio, cassette) - never listened to except during judging or when preparing for judging (when I drive the car I feel I need to hear if anything is falling off it).

2) 2003: Stock (except for iPod2Car interface) powerful but unrefined Bose (radio, cassette, 12 CD changer) which I will confirm can be heard clearly with the top down at 80 mph (which seems to have been it's design brief). Used mostly on long road trips.

3) 2012: Stock but finally respectable Bose (radio, single CD, native and usable iPod input), upgraded for 2012. Now nine speakers. Still no sub-woofer, but two improved 10-inch woofers. Ivelis uses the stereo a lot more than I do and she really likes it.