You know, that is truly an excellent question. It's a combination of sensitivity, radiating area, and the design of the driver, itself.

I just got back from a drive thinking how well the stock speakers can sound with just a bit of tuning, a good amplifier, and upgraded deck. As you mentioned in a previous post, looking for (sonic) resolution in this environment is almost futile. In part, it's the stock speakers' lack of resolution that help them maintain a given level of sonic quality on every recording. Hell, I probably wouldn't bother looking for other speakers if it weren't for their dynamic limitations.

I'm actually debating which gear to install. The 4ch Arc is going is, as is the underseat sub, but I'm vacillating between speakers. I have a pair of BA Pro60s that I've had in the car before. It was in a completely different install and I'm thinking that maybe I should give them another shot.

OTOH, there's the custom solution. As I haven't been able to find a set of pre-packaged speakers that fully meet my needs, and horns aren't really that easy to install in this car (though could be doable), the only thing left is custom. I found a set of 8" full-range drivers that seem like exactly what I'm looking for. Next step would involve finding another set of doorcards and glassing them to fit the drivers. I'd do this over the winter and run the stock speakers 'till then.

In all honesty, I'm 50/50 on this. What would you do in my position?

 

I'd run the BA's out of simplicity's sake. i don't have an amp yet. was thinking about running the Alpine power pack. maybe if i make enclosures for some 6 1/2 woofers on the rear deck, i'll get enough low end response.

 

As I'm waiting for the enclosure to arrive, here's another thought inspired by a colleague's question. Why doesn't anyone make speakers as sensitive as stock?

Simple answer, because no one would buy a speaker rated at 15-30wpc.

Long answer, because there's audio and then there's car audio. In audio, I mean real audio, most understand the relationship between sensitivity, efficiency, power, and response. In car audio, a manufacturing sector free of the regulations that govern the bulk of the audio industry, invents its own version of audio. As time went on, car audio whose thrust is driven by marketing and only marketing, dumbed down audio even further. At this point in time, try explaining why power rating on speakers are irrelevant to anyone shopping for a system. I'm talking about playing music, of course.

Try explaining that a highly sensitive speaker driven by a very small amplifier is able to produce the same volume levels, if not quite a bit higher, as a far less sensitive speaker and a much bigger amplifier. Where is the benefit? In a word, distortion. Every time a cone exerts, it distorts. The less excursion, the less distortion. I'm oversimplifying this greatly, but you guys get the idea.

In a car like ours a highly sensitive speakers makes the most sense for the following reasons:

1. Very low distortion at high volume levels necessary to overcome the car, itself.
2. The speakers weigh a lot less, as does the small amp needed to power them, the wire can be lower gauge, etc.
3. Low current draw, something to consider at WOT as the system is at full blast and the fuel pump is asking for current.
4. Easy installation. An amp that's more that plenty for this type of setup can be small enough to live in the glovebox. No need to reinforce the doors, blah, blah, blah.
5. Less buzzes and rattles driven by heavy drivers flopping for their lives.

Drawbacks:

1. None.

 

I was leaning in that direction, too, until my wife reminded me how I felt about their in-Evo sensitivity. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm really leaning toward staying with the shockers for now.

Not a bad idea; it's nicely integrated package that fits this application really well.

6.5s are just to small. You can hang a pair of 8s under the rear deck, venting though the grills, and build enclosures around the drivers. I ran a couple of pairs of 8s just for yucks and you'd get some bass into the cabin with very careful tuning. Not a lot of bass, but some. This, in turn, raises the car's center of gravity, adds overall mass, and allows the rear deck to bounce like a trampoline. I'm telling ya, audio in this car is like nothing else.

 

I don't know if i told you but i'm going to run seas neo tweets in SPHERES mounted on my dash to see how they perform. right now i have dayton 7 inch reference mids in my doors IB and they sound terrific.

 

Hey now! That sounds really cool. Please post some pics when you get the spheres going.

I cannot tell ya how attracted I am to these drivers:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=264-894

They're the ones I was thinking of glassing into the doorcards. My biggest problem is the uncertainly. I'd hate to go though this whole thing and have to put the stock speakers back in once again. Plus, what a PITA.

 

i also have an older infinity basslink laying around too. i think that would do the trick, and i don't think it would look weird in the trunk, just have to figure out where it's final mounting place would be. Co-axial's are usually more sensitive than components, have you considered this?

 

Check it out and let us know how it works out. What does it weigh?

...yea, sure, even tried some. After driving tonight with all windows open, as to simulate a summer environment (it's very warm out), I might try the BAs again. Indecisive? Who, me?

Now an unhappy note, my enclosure still has not shipped and I'm starting to feel uncomfortable. I certainly hope it goes out tomorrow. If not, he might as well forget it.

 

Another update. The box is shipped and I should have it tomorrow. It won't be installed then, as I'm not going to rush anything. I know there are folks interested in the project, and frankly I'm pretty anxious to get this going. The plan is to have the system in the car by the end of next week, tuned and rockin' away. I'll post a thread maybe even over the weekend, reserve a few posts for the install, and start with some pics of the gear.