Boston Acoustics?

[blizzard]

Any one have any opinions of Boston Acoustics? Specifically the "SL" series?

I have a friend that owes me a favour, and he sells Bostons so he can hook me up with a set.

I was thinking about getting these for the front:

http://www.bostonacoustics.com/ca_product.asp?ProductID=264

And these for the rear:

http://www.bostonacoustics.com/ca_product.asp?ProductID=265&CategoryID=14

How do you think these will sound?

 

[NoRotorNoMotor]

If you like the way they sound go for it, Boston makes good speakers

 

[FrigginGLI]

Boston is a quality product, give it a listen.

 

[JOS3]

im not familiar with the sl line, but i highly recommend boston speakers. i have them in my p5 and and my wifes civic and i love them. excellent speakers, especially if you can get them cheap.

 

[JOS3]

btw, for the front, id recommend a set of component speakers. you can have the tweeters mounted in the sail panels of the front doors.

 

[4th horse]

My old car had Boston Rally components in the front and Rally coaxes in the rear, and they were incredible but they don't seem to make the Rallys anymore. They have way more selection for 6" than for 5" and the front won't take 6" unless you make an adapter. In general, I like the Boston Acoustics speakers.

I would recommend components for the front if you want clear sound--treble is really directional so it will get lost if you don't have a tweeter mounted high, although it will sound great in the store. On the other hand, my components almost had too much treble so I had to tune it down.

 

[Matthew]

i have bostons in the front and rear...i have RC620s and NX67s and they sound great (though back speakers arent for much).

 

[1sty]

Good speaker, Great Company

 

[JOS3]

^see, i told you

 

[blizzard]

Thanks so much for all the approving responses! I went over to the shop today and had a good listen. Man they make some nice stuff.

Here's the thing. I stupidly listened to both of these on his recommendation:

http://www.bostonacoustics.com/ca_product.asp?ProductID=216&CategoryID=14

http://www.bostonacoustics.com/ca_product.asp?ProductID=296&CategoryID=14

Now those are some nice speakers! If you have a look at both of these, you see that they COME with 5x7 adapters in the box.

What I am now thinking is getting a matching set of these (either one, obviously one is considerably more expensive then the other, but you can tell ).

My question is this... Do you think that these could mount behind the factory grills in the doors? With that tweeter holder, it looks like they may stick out a ways. What do you think?

The other thing, is that I know every one says the rear is just for fill, but I really like to be surrounded by the sound. With my stock speakers I have the fader fairly far to the back. This makes the sound seem "even" to me. I was thinking that by going with a matched set, I would get that while leaving the fader in the middle.

The other thing is that Boston HIGHLY recommends AGAINST mounting the tweeters any where further than a few inches away. Specifically they said NO SAIL PANELS!!! The guy said that their speakers were so highly engineered that if you imagine listening to a drum solo, the snare would sound like it was coming from below, and the cymbol would sound like it was coming somewhere else completely.

My friend gave me a demo of this in a "car" they have set up in the shop. He switched between the tweeter locations, and I'd have to agree.

Sorry, I have kinda made up my mind to get either of these, just thought I'd ramble on for no good reason!! I really wouldn't mind some feedback though. And I would definitely like to know anyone's opinions about the space behind the door grills!

Thanks a lot everyone!

 

[4th horse]

Dang, those are some nice speakers!

The other thing is that Boston HIGHLY recommends AGAINST mounting the tweeters any where further than a few inches away. Specifically they said NO SAIL PANELS!!! The guy said that their speakers were so highly engineered that if you imagine listening to a drum solo, the snare would sound like it was coming from below, and the cymbol would sound like it was coming somewhere else completely.

My friend gave me a demo of this in a "car" they have set up in the shop. He switched between the tweeter locations, and I'd have to agree.

OK, first dumb question, what's a sail panel? Is that the thing at the corner of the A-pillar, that is, the very front corner of the side window? If so, that bites, 'cause that's where the stock tweeter goes, so I guess that is breaking the rule above.

I've heard this argument before and it's all about the sound stage...that is, everything should sound like it's coming from the same place. It makes sense but I guess I'm just lazy and want to have an easy install with no extra holes in the door.

Now that I'm thinking about it, my Rallys came with different mounting adapters, so you could drill a couple small holes and mount the tweets anywhere on the door surface...in fact that's what I did. Next time I might mount them lower so they don't make my ears bleed.

Or...who knows, you might be able to mount 'em axially if there's room.

Good luck with your new speakers! Nice to have a friend in the car audio biz. I would settle for a dealer in the area that has decent selection...(SF bay, anyone?)

 

[1sty]

Thanks so much for all the approving responses! I went over to the shop today and had a good listen. Man they make some nice stuff.

Here's the thing. I stupidly listened to both of these on his recommendation:

http://www.bostonacoustics.com/ca_product.asp?ProductID=216&CategoryID=14

http://www.bostonacoustics.com/ca_product.asp?ProductID=296&CategoryID=14

Now those are some nice speakers! If you have a look at both of these, you see that they COME with 5x7 adapters in the box.

What I am now thinking is getting a matching set of these (either one, obviously one is considerably more expensive then the other, but you can tell ).

My question is this... Do you think that these could mount behind the factory grills in the doors? With that tweeter holder, it looks like they may stick out a ways. What do you think?

Both are great speakers. The Z6 happens to be my favorite. They need alot of power though so keep in mind your going to want an amp that can deliver more then 100 watts rms per channel at 12 volts. I haven't seen the pros but there is a chance the Z's will fit behind the factory grill. Worst case, you can cut the tweeter in right above them, in the door panel using the supplied flush mount.

The other thing, is that I know every one says the rear is just for fill, but I really like to be surrounded by the sound. With my stock speakers I have the fader fairly far to the back. This makes the sound seem "even" to me. I was thinking that by going with a matched set, I would get that while leaving the fader in the middle.

Bostons are all tonaly matched so your money would be best spend on better front speakers, and less expensive rear speakers. Additionaly, I am going to guess that you have never had a high powered car system. I say this because once you have, you'll notice that just the front components with enough power will be all the surround "Full" sound you need. Rears are still good though for ambiance, ect. I'd use something from the SL line or atleast cheaper speaker in the back and run it off the deck or a small amplifer. Then, fade mostly to the front. Once you hear a properly setup front stage with rear fill, you won't ever want to fade to the rear again.

The other thing is that Boston HIGHLY recommends AGAINST mounting the tweeters any where further than a few inches away. Specifically they said NO SAIL PANELS!!! The guy said that their speakers were so highly engineered that if you imagine listening to a drum solo, the snare would sound like it was coming from below, and the cymbol would sound like it was coming somewhere else completely.

Your friend sounds like a nice guy but he was feeding you some BS here. Not much though. Its not that the Bostons were highly engineered, its that no component set is intended to have its mids and tweeters seperate over a large distance. This is true for any component. Take any home audio speaker for example, how often are the mids more then 6" from the tweeter? Almost never, unless your using multiple mids that are stacked. The truth of this matter is that you can seperate them and that you will loose stage position but gain stage height. Its also harder to tune as one tweeter will be 18" from your left ear and the other over 3 ft. from your right. Many people won't notice either way, however, you don't want a boston tweeter that close to your ear if you value your hearing.

Good luck and feel free to pass that discount onto me

 

[4th horse]

I haven't seen the pros but there is a chance the Z's will fit behind the factory grill. Worst case, you can cut the tweeter in right above them, in the door panel using the supplied flush mount.

I looked at the manual for the Z's and noticed they have hardware for flush mount, flat surface mount, and angled surface mount. I believe this was true for my Rallys too (so I don't have to pop $1000 for the Z's to get this hardware). If mounting near the woofer, wouldn't it be preferable to have an angle mount so the treble isn't just firing across the car and getting lost? I thought tweeters were pretty directional. I would have to look at my doors (I have a 3), and try out different placements.

I'd be interested in your general opinions on tweeter placement. Front components are going to be my first upgrade & I want to get the most out of them, since they are probably going to be the most important component I get (I'm not a bass freak, it's all SQ for me, although I'd like to get a sub at some point).

 

[1sty]

I looked at the manual for the Z's and noticed they have hardware for flush mount, flat surface mount, and angled surface mount. I believe this was true for my Rallys too (so I don't have to pop $1000 for the Z's to get this hardware). If mounting near the woofer, wouldn't it be preferable to have an angle mount so the treble isn't just firing across the car and getting lost? I thought tweeters were pretty directional. I would have to look at my doors (I have a 3), and try out different placements.

I'd be interested in your general opinions on tweeter placement. Front components are going to be my first upgrade & I want to get the most out of them, since they are probably going to be the most important component I get (I'm not a bass freak, it's all SQ for me, although I'd like to get a sub at some point).

Most components these days come with several mounting option hardware. This is true of MB quart, Boston, and JL atleaast.

The angle mount can work well but the messed up thing is that sometimes it sounds better to put the tweeter under the mid so that its even lower. Car acoustics are never a given so you have to play around. There is no way to predetermin which, angle mount or flush mount, will sound better.

Also, many comapnies built tweeters to have a high off axis resposnse. Meaning, they are still loud even when not pointing directly at you. Our ears can hear the direction of the sound, not the direction the sounds origin is pointing at. In other words, if I shut my eyes and someone else speakes, I can tell where they are, but I can't tell which direction they are facing other then by compared volume level. So when the person is facing me, it will be louder then when they are not.

 

[blizzard]

Additionaly, I am going to guess that you have never had a high powered car system. I say this because once you have, you'll notice that just the front components with enough power will be all the surround "Full" sound you need. Rears are still good though for ambiance, ect. I'd use something from the SL line or atleast cheaper speaker in the back and run it off the deck or a small amplifer. Then, fade mostly to the front. Once you hear a properly setup front stage with rear fill, you won't ever want to fade to the rear again.

This is my first venture into this "realm". I am fairly well versed in home audio, but this stuff is new.

I guess my best option is to get just ONE set of Z's first. Install those in the front and see if it even neccessary to get the second pair. I guess I will hear for myself what a really good front sound stage sounds like and I can then decide whether or not to upgrade the rears.

Here's a question. Do matched front and rear speakers actually sound BAD? The reason I ask is that I carry people in the back quite a lot. Do the people in the back get shafted with the front set-up soundstage? What I am asking is: Is it more just overkill in the back, or does it actually SCREW-UP your front set-up to the point where it sounds bad?

Your friend sounds like a nice guy but he was feeding you some BS here. Not much though. Its not that the Bostons were highly engineered, its that no component set is intended to have its mids and tweeters seperate over a large distance. This is true for any component. Take any home audio speaker for example, how often are the mids more then 6" from the tweeter? Almost never, unless your using multiple mids that are stacked. The truth of this matter is that you can seperate them and that you will loose stage position but gain stage height. Its also harder to tune as one tweeter will be 18" from your left ear and the other over 3 ft. from your right. Many people won't notice either way, however, you don't want a boston tweeter that close to your ear if you value your hearing.

Sorry, I kinda didn't explain that well. I talked to a Boston Rep about that. Not my friend who works at the shop. So, yeah, I hear you about the BS stuff. While the audio side is true, he just made it sound like it's because his speakers are so advanced while it's more just an audio thing. He did emphasize that the tweeters in the Z's are specifiacally designed to be close to the woofer where some other speakers are just a tweeter and a woofer put in a set and called components. These tweeter really sound best within a few inches of their matched woofer. I hope that explains what he was saying better?

My friend is really just taking a back seat, and letting me listen and decide. He gives me advice, and sets stuff up so I can hear it, but he's not shoving anything down my throat so to speak!

Thank you very much for all your detailed help! I really appreciate it.

 

[1sty]

This is my first venture into this "realm". I am fairly well versed in home audio, but this stuff is new.

I guess my best option is to get just ONE set of Z's first. Install those in the front and see if it even neccessary to get the second pair. I guess I will hear for myself what a really good front sound stage sounds like and I can then decide whether or not to upgrade the rears.

Amplification is the key.

Here's a question. Do matched front and rear speakers actually sound BAD? The reason I ask is that I carry people in the back quite a lot. Do the people in the back get shafted with the front set-up soundstage? What I am asking is: Is it more just overkill in the back, or does it actually SCREW-UP your front set-up to the point where it sounds bad?

No, matched sound ok, mismatched sound bad. Rear speakers in general can raise/lower the sound stage based on there loaction and if you fade to far to the back, it will kill any chance of a proper image (Hearing where things should be like on a stage)

Put your money up front but put a similair pair like I mentioned before in the back. Then when you have passangers, just fade the back in for them.

Sorry, I kinda didn't explain that well. I talked to a Boston Rep about that. Not my friend who works at the shop. So, yeah, I hear you about the BS stuff. While the audio side is true, he just made it sound like it's because his speakers are so advanced while it's more just an audio thing. He did emphasize that the tweeters in the Z's are specifiacally designed to be close to the woofer where some other speakers are just a tweeter and a woofer put in a set and called components. These tweeter really sound best within a few inches of their matched woofer. I hope that explains what he was saying better?

Thats sounds more accurate.

Are you getting them straight form the rep or from the store?