Front Stage Speaker Replacement - The Right way?
 

So, i'm looking at doing a full stereo in the BRZ this spring.

Has anyone used 3-way components for the front stage?

If so, what have you used, and what do you think?

Yes, quite a few have.
I'm running Hertz Mille 3 ways. Sounds pretty good.

Any pictures?

Ballin, those are nice nice speakers

Found a set without crossovers for 750, wish i had it.

Not yet, I'll be posting some pics of my complete setup prolly next week.

Be sure to get the serial numbers authenticated before making a purchase like that btw.

What do you want to achieve? You can get better results with $200 speakers installed perfectly than you will with $1000 speakers installed badly (e.g. just slapped into the OEM holes).

This.

To better help you we need a few pieces of information.

1. Are you planning on using the stock locations?

2. Have you sound treated yet?

3. Are you going to run full active or passive?

4. DSP?

Honestly, I think the factory speakers would sound better with a real amp driving them and good sound treatment/deadening.

Based on reading the forums here the most popular brands seem to be Hertz, Focal, and JL.

I'm looking to use factory locations with a separate amp and new HU.

I'm not going for the full out bass mobile or anything, i like crisp, clean music.

I'm coming from Pioneer Components (woofer in door, tweeter in A-pillar), pioneer HU, with dual 12's, all amped.

After doing more research, this is the setup i'm leaning toward (although, no HU picked out yet)

Speakers
http://www.jlaudio.com/c5-650x-car-a...s-99105#tech_2

Amp
http://www.jlaudio.com/xd500-3-car-a...plifiers-98267

Sub
http://www.jlaudio.com/10w3v3-2-car-...-drivers-92150

I've not heard those particular JL Audios. It's an interesting design. I've seen that one attempted a few times. My major concern is that all of your sound is going to sound like it's coming from the floor.

I'm not a bass head. Personally, I've always been content with one 10" sub, particularly if it's in a well tuned, ported enclosure.

A few things to consider.

When designing a system people often talk about imaging and staging. This refers to how your ears percieve the sound and where they percieve the sound to originate from. The prefered image is one that appears to originate just past the windshield so it feels like you're sitting in front of a stage or live performer.

How do we achieve this?

Two ways are most common. Processing using a Digital Signal Processor or DSP, and speaker installation location.

The lower you mount the speakers, the lower the sound will appear to originate. The higher you mount them, you get the idea...

This is one reason component sets are popular. It allows you to place drivers (speakers) in locations that will deliver the best imaging results. I would personally consider installing something in the dash to help bring the image back up off the floor.

Let me ask you this, then...

What do you think of keeping the JL's in the door as I was talking about, but then adding a second, smaller component set in the dash, both run off the same amp channel?

Although, i suppose you'd have to find a pretty small component set to do that.

I know of at least one person running the C3 instead of the C5 and it wasn't a price issue, i think you would be just as happy with them. Maybe run a 3.5" coaxial in the stock location in the dash off the head unit.