tweets in kick panels ??"s - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

97avalonxls · 10-13-2004, 11:35 AM

ok, So I am finally putting my new components in the front doors of my car and I had a thought. I was originally going to use the factory tweeter pods(right next to the door handle). This however is not a great spot for imaging since the left speaker sits about 1.5 feet from my head and the right about 3.5. I was thinking about putting the tweeter into the factory kickpanel.
I know Eddie has this =, and I assume many other people as well, I do have two questions about it.
One, is there anything that can go over the tweeter that will not detract from the sound but will protect the tweet(from dirt and debris)?
the second ? is how does this sound given that the tweeter has to fire through people? does this muddle the sound, not effect it at all? I'do like this to sound as good as possible, but don't want to put my tweets at risk.
Thanks

eddiem67 · 10-13-2004, 01:31 PM

another option is the A pillar, get two sided tape, and play them in various locations, I liked then in the kick location, but others prefer the A pillar off axis.

97avalonxls · 10-13-2004, 02:06 PM

the a pillar pretty much requires fiberglassing correct? but how does it stick to the plastic, do you have to make a whiole new pillar. Do you ever have to deal with debris getting to your tweet down there?
I was also thinking about putting the rear tweets in the c pillars, it might sound like shit for the rear passengers, but it would be the ideal place as far as the front passangers. any thoughts?

WortownSolara · 10-13-2004, 02:58 PM

he is talking about the tape just to see where YOU like them the best. Its going to depend on the compostion of your tweeter for ideal placement, if its a metallic dome tweeter, i suggest staying away from the a-pillar off axis, the refractions can get pretty ear-piercing. As for rear tweets, you want them as off axis as possible. Tweeters play the most DIRECTIONAL of all sound waves, if their placement is in sight of your ear, it will kill your sound staging all together. Tweeters btw are the most efficient speakers due to there small size and lack of total movement. You can 99.9% of the time get away with no tweeters in the rear at all? Any other suggestions eddie?

eddiem67 · 10-13-2004, 03:26 PM

you would pull the plastic trim along the A pillar off, cut a hole and mount the tweeter flush, so I dont think you would need to fiberglass anything.

97avalonxls · 10-13-2004, 03:31 PM

I'm going to rip the dash apart when I get home to do more deadening so I'll peep the insides of the a pillars for space. Thanks for the help.
Have you heard of putting the tweeters any where else? I was thinking about maybe on the center console, low, down by the accelerator. any thoughts on that?

eddiem67 · 10-13-2004, 04:20 PM

Direction is very crucial, so I would not recommend it, do you have silk or metal?

97avalonxls · 10-13-2004, 04:23 PM

silk, it wa just a fleeting thought, I want sq first and foremost, but I also like asthetics and originallity, I'll try the kicks first and then experiment if needed

WortownSolara · 10-14-2004, 06:21 PM

actually with a soft dome tweeter like that the A piller may become the optimum spot for placement

lsufan778 · 10-14-2004, 06:32 PM

Tweeter should be mounted as high as possible for best results. The reason is because the sound is very directional and they sound the best on axis. Another option beside a pillars would be to mount them on the dashboard by the front windshield. That way the sound would reflect off the windshield and would yield good results.

Riggs · 10-14-2004, 08:24 PM

When I installed my tweeters on my new components, I did a surface mount instal over the plate that covers the screws holding the sideview mirrors. They actually sound pretty good there.

If you want install pics, here's the forum with my install how-to for a '98 Camry.
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t52158.html

rawdawg · 10-15-2004, 01:19 AM

I had a correspondence with an IASCA winner who ran tweets in his A-pillar and 6.5's in his kicks. He ran his set-up with the tweets crossed over in the 5khz range and his 6.5's from up there yonder all the way down to 50 hz. That requires a Midbass/Midrange speaker that can handle 6-7 octaves! I think Scot Buwalda ran his 280 like that too. They were using Focal and MB Quart drivers, respectively.

97avalonxls · 10-15-2004, 10:02 AM

so is the consensus (sp) for A pillars on or off axis?

eddiem67 · 10-15-2004, 12:50 PM

Yeah well scott runs his irridiums down to 31 Hz! this is a 6.5" speaker. Well whenever I decide to run my 3 ways, im going 6.5" 63-400Hz, midrange 500-4K and tweet 5K and up fully active.

rawdawg · 10-16-2004, 01:20 AM

Every A pillar tweet I've seen is off axis, actually pointing towards each other, running along the windshield. I would imagine an on axis tweeter being too bright.

eddiem67, where are you going to stick your speakers?