So where to now???

[Premwood]

hey, thought i might ask you pros out there for some advice...

Currently in my VR wagon, Ive got a good sony headunit, 350 watt 6X9s, 600w sub and amp, and some tidy 200w 6"ers in the front. i was wondering what i should do next?
i was thinking about sound dead'n under all the door trims and tailgate, but i also also had the idea of using expanding foam in the rear quater panels (Getting access by removing 6X9's). would this be the next thing i should focus on? or has anybody tried doing this in a VR wagon before?
Any help would be greatly apreaciated

[Joe Peeps]

Before i answer, id like to ask you what it is about your system that your unhappy with?

[Premwood]

im not unhappy with it, i just want to get more out of it, just so its that little bit better

[Joe Peeps]

Leaving the gear the same, you will gain most benefit from sealing and deadening the front doors. This should improve mid bass and help bring your soundstage forward. Unless you got rattle i wouldnt bother about expanda foam in the back quarters - if your running a sub, you should have your 6x9's high passed anyway.

If your prepared to spend more, i recommend buying a 2 channel amp for the fronts. This will cost only slightly more then it costs to seal and deaden the doors.

[Premwood]

what about upgrading the factory earth and sealed battery?

[Joe Peeps]

Can do, but your system isnt very powerful so it wont make an audible difference.

[Premwood]

hmmmm true, ill have to look into some work on the doors then

[Joe Peeps]

Theres an excellent tutorial on this matter at CAA: To do it properly will still cost you some dough...
http://www.caraudioaustralia.com/con...p?contentID=19

Other members here can speak to the improvements this will make. IMHO i would amp first. I think theres more value in that for your system. Ideally do both. Someone else will pop up with an opinion soon

[Premwood]

thanks for the link im sure it will help me as well as a few others, that a good resource site!

[shaggerz]

I think sound deadening is an often overlooked way to get massive improvements in sound quality. I actually noticed when I moved all my audio gear from my old VS, which was an equipe, to the new Calais, despite it being exactly the same audio gear, the sound was far better quality due to the extra sound deadening in the Calais. I cannot recommend good quality deadening enough. Quality over quantity I always say... its all well and good to listen to music at a million decibels but if it sounds like crap then why bother?

[Car Audio Factory Outlet]

I think sound deadening is an often overlooked way to get massive improvements in sound quality. I actually noticed when I moved all my audio gear from my old VS, which was an equipe, to the new Calais, despite it being exactly the same audio gear, the sound was far better quality due to the extra sound deadening in the Calais. I cannot recommend good quality deadening enough. Quality over quantity I always say... its all well and good to listen to music at a million decibels but if it sounds like crap then why bother?

Well said.... standard should be a good OFC wiring kit and Sound Mat. on ANY INSTALL.

Though I guess it may cost what some people are spending on there speakers or Hu -- if they go the budget end like response etc.

But like you have stated .... HUGE IMPROVEMENTS!

True with SQ as the 171PRS component speaker from Pioneer which are there top of the line 6.5" are one of the nicest speakers that we have heard... and they are only 50 RMS on the spec though I would say they are more than that... plus they can handle double that everyday of the week 24/7

[Car Audio Factory Outlet]

Theres an excellent tutorial on this matter at CAA: To do it properly will still cost you some dough...
http://www.caraudioaustralia.com/con...p?contentID=19

Other members here can speak to the improvements this will make. IMHO i would amp first. I think theres more value in that for your system. Ideally do both. Someone else will pop up with an opinion soon

Joey the TUT is Good, though as most people mount there speaker inside the outer shell of the door then the sound mat is a bit excessive on the outer shell

The major problem is the Back Wave from the Speakers ... which then VIBRATE the DOOR SKIN like hell... especially on cheap import of for that fact most new cars as the door skins are waffer thin at best.

So the effect is like a big drum skin, this is why when you add good quality sound mat like accumat etc you will get a huge improvement out of even just basic speakers.

This is also why people often comment that the T162S from RF sound Tinnie... it not that they do as they are one othe best 6.5" on the market... but from the doorskins taking out alot of sound waves and causing noise or wave cancellation... hence the sound.

It is more noticable with better speakers....though again a good investment for any splits in the doors front or rear.

Even the sound cones for 6*9 in the rear make a huge difference.

[Joe Peeps]

So your saying that you would Seal and deaden before getting an amp? say you had $250 - ie you could properly do the doors with dynamat, or you could buy an amp, which would provide the most benefit to the system. i sealed my doors after i got an amp so i cant tell you from experience, but i suspect that the amp is a more valuable addition, because it will improve performance and he can always sell it afterwards

[Car Audio Factory Outlet]

Joey

It would depend what you had to work with in the first place with speakers.... OEM and add an amp... my opinion would be better to go the sound mat.

So the amp is overpowered for the OEM speakers anyway... and a door kit is only half of what you have said

[Joe Peeps]

Yes, but they arent the original speakers, described as 200w 6ers.. so im gussing about 60RMS? And can you properly do both doors with a single door kit?

[Car Audio Factory Outlet]

Yes, but they arent the original speakers, described as 200w 6ers.. so im gussing about 60RMS? And can you properly do both doors with a single door kit?

The Doors kits that we have are not single door kit as what is the sense in only selling single kits???

They are Double and YES are a great improvement....

I still say for the $150.00 they are half the price on an amp and will give you more than half the gain of an amp...

SO yes good value for money.

[Joe Peeps]

LOL i realise a door kit is for both doors mate, i'm just saying i know a few blokes who have found a door kit insufficient in terms of square meters to PROPERLY do both doors. Maybe they went overboard And an amp can be resold - you cant really sell your doors... well, i guess you can but you get my point. Plus, you can get a decent 2 channel for 200ish. Or a good 2nd hand one

*Woo hoo, my 100th post*

[Car Audio Factory Outlet]

LOL i realise a door kit is for both doors mate, i'm just saying i know a few blokes who have found a door kit insufficient in terms of square meters to PROPERLY do both doors. Maybe they went overboard And an amp can be resold - you cant really sell your doors... well, i guess you can but you get my point. Plus, you can get a decent 2 channel for 200ish. Or a good 2nd hand one

*Woo hoo, my 100th post*

for your 100th

They must buy the cheapest they can find or like the RF only one roll.

The ACCUMAT for instance has TWO(2) 305mm * 605mm sheets per door.

THat is .4 sq meter

You generally dont need to do the whole door as the door skin does not flex where it meets the door frame... plus like any acoustic material ... more is not better as it gets to a saturation point... so more is a waste of effort, time, materials and money.

We find that two sheets of the ACCUMAT per door is more than enough unless you have a Diawoo or similar with FLAP for Doors and tin foil for door skins ... Kia are in the same boat.

[AirStrike]

for your 100th

They must buy the cheapest they can find or like the RF only one roll.

The ACCUMAT for instance has TWO(2) 305mm * 605mm sheets per door.

THat is .4 sq meter

You generally dont need to do the whole door as the door skin does not flex where it meets the door frame... plus like any acoustic material ... more is not better as it gets to a saturation point... so more is a waste of effort, time, materials and money.

We find that two sheets of the ACCUMAT per door is more than enough unless you have a Diawoo or similar with FLAP for Doors and tin foil for door skins ... Kia are in the same boat.

Correct, on my mates VT we just covered all the holes in the door frame with the matting.

[Premwood]

thanks guys, that has been really great help. the idea of the reselling of the amp way a good consideration. but i guess matting would also take away a small amount of road noise as well???