Speaker options

[ericsmith32]

Right now in the Festiva I have the Dual headunit (won't be replaced) and 2 dB 5.25" speakers in the rear (really good speakers!). It sounds great except I hate only having the audio in the rear and absolutely no bass. I had the same speakers in the front of my ranger with one 12" sub and it sound great. Eventually I may do a 10" sub with amp also running another set of dB's I have.

I was thinking along the lines of putting the dB speakers in the front of the Escape and swapping them out for Pioneers 6x8. Good bass but crispness isn't there with the highs as with the dB's.. That would leave me right now with 2 3.5 pioneers and 2 6x8 Pioneer (3-ways I think), the other dB's are 100 miles away. Probably the best bet would be to put the 3.5's in front and 6x8's in the rear... but what about the 6x8's in the front? Say mounted in the kick panel area? Granted have don't know how they'll fit yet. Thoughts?

[perucho]

I would leave those 5.25" in the back, use your 3.5" for the front and add an 8" sub. I would start by replacing the Dual headunit but that's not in your plans.

[eurotiva]

I would leave those 5.25" in the back, use your 3.5" for the front and add an 8" sub. I would start by replacing the Dual headunit but that's not in your plans.

X2

[ericsmith32]

I would leave those 5.25" in the back, use your 3.5" for the front and add an 8" sub. I would start by replacing the Dual headunit but that's not in your plans.

The Dual headunit isn't to bad I figured coupled with a amp wouldn't see much difference than a high-end unit. Plans might be changing though might be getting more back on taxes than I originally thought. If that's the case I'll get a amp to drive the dB's 5.25's and put them in the doors and also to run a 8 or 10.. size depends on cost. I don't need much bass plus I'm afraid someone would steal it. The 3.5's will go in the back running off the headunit for fill. I think that'll sound very pleasing to the ear. Guess I should of waited a bit before posting.

[perucho]

The Dual headunit isn't to bad I figured coupled with a amp wouldn't see much difference than a high-end unit. Plans might be changing though might be getting more back on taxes than I originally thought. If that's the case I'll get a amp to drive the dB's 5.25's and put them in the doors and also to run a 8 or 10.. size depends on cost. I don't need much bass plus I'm afraid someone would steal it. The 3.5's will go in the back running off the headunit for fill. I think that'll sound very pleasing to the ear. Guess I should of waited a bit before posting.

An amp won't clean the signal, it will just amplify it (and depending on the amp, could make it worse). So a high-end headunit does make a difference. Then again, anything you get will be better than the stock system.

I have an 8" Bazooka tube with a kicker sub and I get plenty of bass.

[timmay89]

You could also add speakers in the doors and put some cross overs, that will get you some nice range without buying a subwoofer. So the door speakers would be 5 1/4, and then you could put some tweeters where the 4" speakers go. That would sound best without a subwoofer.

[perucho]

I have three way components in the front, 2-in tweeters on the doors, 4-in mids on the stock speaker place, and 6.5-in woofers on the doors and two way components on the back (2-in tweeters and 6.5 woofers) I think a sub is a must have.

[bobbyspider]

i thought we could put 4" in the front? thats what i did 4" component w/ satalite tweets. -edit- opps sorry i didnt read your response percho

[Festiva_tunner]

I would leave those 5.25" in the back, use your 3.5" for the front and add an 8" sub. I would start by replacing the Dual headunit but that's not in your plans.

An eight inch sub is perfect for the fester - thats what I run - great bass response inside less hatch rattle outside - I actually switched to a 8 from a 10 and I've been happy with the switch

As a general rule subs go as follows:
8: you want to hear it inside no so much outside
10: you want to be heard in an out but dont want to be a rattle box running down the road
12: you want to have the same base response outside as you do inside
15+: you really dont care what people think you want to bump and not hear anything else

An amp won't clean the signal, it will just amplify it (and depending on the amp, could make it worse). So a high-end headunit does make a difference. Then again, anything you get will be better than the stock system.
I have an 8" Bazooka tube with a kicker sub and I get plenty of bass.

A noise filter and EQ will take care of the most of that - your right though an amp simply boosts the signal - you will want to tune your amps for your head unit and speakers - I run one 400W for the speakers and a 900W for the sub and haven't had any issues

Enclosure is the way to go - I have a custom tube enclosure I modified

You could also add speakers in the doors and put some cross overs, that will get you some nice range without buying a subwoofer. So the door speakers would be 5 1/4, and then you could put some tweeters where the 4" speakers go. That would sound best without a subwoofer.

If you run speakers in the doors 5 1/4 is the way to go - try to get a shallow speaker though you dont have much space between the door and the glass on the inside - you may have to use shims if you dont want to spring for the low profile speakers.

i thought we could put 4" in the front? thats what i did 4" component w/ satalite tweets. -edit- opps sorry i didnt read your response percho

Stock patern all around is 4" the fronts fit a pioneer four inch beautifully as well as the rears - the rears can be modified to accept a 5 1/4" though - I'm running 4x6's in my cargo shelf (just search for sound in the cargo shelf) I used the 4x6's because I already had them - they will fit in the rear armrests with some massaging of the inner panel frame and a relocation of your fuel tank breather box - I removed them though after someone stuck a elbow through one

[ericsmith32]

I did go ahead and put the pioneers up front. They sound like crap compared the higher quality dB's but at least allow even sound all around. Would like to get the DB Drive DB400.2 http://www.amazon.com/Drive-DB400-2-...6437864&sr=1-1 to replace the Pioneer's and keep the 5.25 in the back. The DB drive's are real good sounding speakers! Don't know about the amp yet the DB amp's are expensive but want a 5 channel.. may be able to run a 4 channel and somehow run the amp? Good grief trying to figure out a decent stereo setup is just as bad a setting up a home theater. 8" sub sounds about right for the sub! May even get that size for the other ride. I hate being able to hear others sub's.

The Dual headunit will be replaced eventually the tuner stopped working.. wonderful cheap junk. The usb and aux works at least. Going with Pioneer or JVC but sure wish Dual's would be better. You can get a Dual with HD radio, USB and all the jazz for a little over $100... I haven't found a company that offers all of that in one.

[Festiva_tunner]

I did go ahead and put the pioneers up front. They sound like crap compared the higher quality dB's but at least allow even sound all around.

I run pioneers all around - and havn't had any issues with them sounding bad at all - unless I push them past their limit (which is only possible if your trying to blow your ear drums or listen to the music just as loud outside the car - If you want your music outside of the car there are better fit speakers - the 4" Pioneers arn't the most preformance speaker but a good all around speaker for their price.
Any speaker will sound like crap if it is pushed past its limit or the amp isn't tuned right for what your listening to. Thats where your Equalizer comes into play - it will let you tune and preset your sound output levels.

I have four that I use in my car - A high bass and mid for Hip-Hop/Rap A high mid with mild bass for Rock (both of these have lower highs) I also run on with a flat bass and mid with a peak on the high for my blues/jazz
and the final is just a flat EQ with a more natural sound.

[ericsmith32]

If all you have are Pioneers they would sound okay. That's all we have in the Escape and it sounds good with the stock headunit. The sound difference between the Pioneers and dB's is hard to explain... just a crispness there that the Pioneers don't have regardless of stereo settings. The pioneers do have more bass to them. And that's not only with the 4" but the 5x7 and 6x9 I've had in the past.

[DriverOne]

You may like these, for a low proile sub option... http://www.bargainunlimited.net/serv...-SW841D/Detail

[ericsmith32]

That one would be perfect but really would like to get a all-in-one type of deal. Could get that and fab up a box to fit inside the 12" spare though hmm. I haul alot of stuff would like it to go underneath the passenger seat otherwise.

Props to Dual they sent me a form to warranty the radio and tech support was pretty good. We'll see how they handle it when I ship it in though. If they handle it good might get more or their products... I know not high quality but someone broke in my car (the wife may of left the door unlocked but still) and took one of the usb drive and a dirty pair of gloves lol. The usb drive was only a 1 gig but still makes me weary about buying high dollar stuff.

[DriverOne]

That one would be perfect but really would like to get a all-in-one type of deal. Could get that and fab up a box to fit inside the 12" spare though hmm. I haul alot of stuff would like it to go underneath the passenger seat otherwise.

Skimsucka did something like that with 10" subs. I was talking before about building a box using the deck design that comes with the car, and I'm still trying to do that (If I can get the time and money! 62 hours a week for $475 average net pay? I'm tired!). A low profile sub like that would allow for much more space in the cargo area, and one 8" and amp would do well like that. Alright people! Tax time comes, you WILL SEE some prototypes!

Anyway, this is what he said:

I have a 10shallow mount kicker under passenger seat , had to modify the back and forth cable for seat adjustment and the kicker amp mount to the under side of driver seat and 4 kicker ds40s in stock spots it sounds perfect and is all out of sight . Only if i were to do again i would put the sub under driver seat and amp under passenger ,
although the ladies in the passenger love the vibration form the sub how it is ahahaha