If the stock speakers are good, any way to just fix up the bad crossover? I wanted to start small. It's a brand new car with only 300 miles on it.
1. What do you listen to? you mentioned Alternative Rock, and spoken word Podcasts. Is that all?
That's pretty much it. I'm no music snob.
My friends may put on trance, techno, hip-hop, and rap. I'll only let them when it's a long road trip.
2. What do you listen with? (CD, iPod, etc.) you mentioned iPod
Actually I listen mostly to FM and MP3 CD. I tried to use my Toshiba Gigabeat S30 MP3 player and my iRiver H320 MP3 player, but they both make buzzing noises if I also use the cig charger. I'll probably be listening mostly with the FM radio and CDDA/MP3 CDs because I hate the minor hassle of carrying an MP3 player, but I do like the option of doing that (and the idea that I can carry 30-80 GB of music). This is one of the biggest reasons why I waited for the 2008.5s (MP3 CD). The other is the color of the car, but it also turned out the interior also turned me on moreso than the 2006-2008 (bought sight unseen). Sorry, 2006-2008 owners!
3. How do you listen to your music? Meaning, do you crank it, or do you tend to let it play in the background of your daily drive?
I normally leave it in the background, but I do crank it every once in a while - when a good song comes on, or I play my favorite MP3 CDs.
4. If you are at a concert of your favorite band, where are you in the club? Are you close to the band and speakers, or do you stay back where the volume is more consistent? This will tell me more about your preference for in-your-face or laid back speaker designs.
I like sitting closer to the back. I wish I could be closer to the band, but I just can't stand the sound pressure.
5. As a General rule, tweeter designs can be broken up into two types. One sounds sharp and crisp and extremely accurate but can possibly cause slight ear fatigue (especially when playing loud and proud), and the other is smooth, soft, and slightly less clear, but much more gentle on the ears and can be listened to much, much longer. Which would be your preference? Keep in mind that if you want the best of both, then add $$$ to your budget.
I like mine crisp. When I turn up the volume, I don't turn it up for long anyways. They are usually for just a song or two. Once in a while, I leave it turned up for the whole CD (mostly because i really like the entire album). While most like bass, I like hearing the highs and mids. Not that the bass is less important, but mids and highs are where I can tell if the audio is clear or not (or at least that's the impression I get). For me, it's harder to tell if the bass is accurate. Unless the bass is really flabby (as it sounds right now in the stock system probably because of the plastic interior resonating with the bass), I really can't tell if it's accurate or not. Lets just put it this way - I absolutely love the way my Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 (computer speakers) sound. The bass is barely turned up, and it sounds (to me) accurate that way.
6. How often do you have rear passengers? Do you care what they hear?
During the weekends, yes, I carry passengers. I care about the back as well because I may find myself sitting there on road trips (brother or friends driving). I sat in the back, and man is it comfortable there! Mind as well complete the experience with sound as well! Lastly (heh... lastly!), I do care about my passengers.
7. How much, if any, trunk space can you sacrifice for audio, and/or are you willing to give up your spare tire location (you can always put the spare in the trunk still of course)?
Little to none. I rather have nothing occupying the hatch area. If I must have an amp, I would like to mount it on the passenger side so it won't obstruct the jack and more balanced (since I'd be sitting in the driver seat). I won't mount on the seat since I'd like to have a flat floor if I ever lay them down. And I would not like to sacrifice or relocate my spare.
What is your budget, complete and done with the project? Remember, the more you budget for me, the better I can accommodate your request to stay lightweight, to sound great, and to be easy to work with and install. I'd suggest a dead minimum of $750 out the door, but if you have a number in mind, I can work with it.
I guess I'll set mine at the dead minimum. The most I've ever done in regards to car audio is replace a head unit (mostly because I wanted a MP3 CD player) and speakers. I've never had to deal with amps and/or sound processors.
Hope this helps, fourthmeal.
