How can I enjoy GR-Research in my car?

jjb · « **on:** 8 Mar 2006, 01:46 pm »

I've been reviewing various car audio products attempting to upgrade the sound quality in my new car, as I spend half my life in my car. I realized that I wish I could use the GR 6.5 speakers in my car with a componet setup. I enjoy my AV-3 at home. Hey Danny could be a new market and product line, what do you think? Jim:D

kfr01 · « **Reply #1 on:** 8 Mar 2006, 02:20 pm »

Quote from: jjb

I've been reviewing various car audio products attempting to upgrade the sound quality in my new car, as I spend half my life in my car. I realized that I wish I could use the GR 6.5 speakers in my car with a componet setup. I enjoy my AV-3 at home. Hey Danny could be a new market and product line, what do you think? Jim:D

You can easily use GR 6.5's in your car. Just select a tweeter, install them both, and either a passive crossover or install an active crossover.

Active is probably the easiest:

http://www.altomobile.com/html/crossovers.html

Go with any four channel amplifier, do a decent job with the installation, and it'll sound pretty solid for a car system.

Loftprojection · « **Reply #2 on:** 8 Mar 2006, 02:45 pm »

That's an interesting subject. I'm very satisfied with my car system (Alpine deck with Polk speakers) but having the GR stuff in the car would be fun. However, the back of the GR woofer is pretty big, it would not fit in a lot of car doors and the tweater is uge, would need major work on the door trim to fit those...

jjb · « **Reply #3 on:** 8 Mar 2006, 06:07 pm »

Thanks for the info, I believe the GR Woofers would sound great, however the tweeters are to big to install. I wonder if an alpine, JL Audio, or Vifa tweeter would match with GR. Thanks for the active cross over info, I'll look for a 4 channel amp to drive the GR's. Should I be worried as this is a 4ohm load?

gprro · « **Reply #4 on:** 8 Mar 2006, 09:09 pm »

Go crazy, BG neo 3's on the dash in the corners, a couple woofs high in the doors, and 4 sw12's in the trunk ported tuned in the 30+- hz range

.

kfr01 · « **Reply #5 on:** 8 Mar 2006, 10:07 pm »

Quote from: jjb

Thanks for the info, I believe the GR Woofers would sound great, however the tweeters are to big to install. I wonder if an alpine, JL Audio, or Vifa tweeter would match with GR. Thanks for the active cross over info, I'll look for a 4 channel amp to drive the GR's. Should I be worried as this is a 4ohm load?

The GR driver will be an 8 ohm load. Any tweeter will work fine. I'd go with Vifa before offerings from JL or Alpine.

Any four channel will do, even if the impedences of the drivers don't match. Car audio amplifiers are generally stable to 2-ohms.

I am personally a fan of Xtant amplifiers. I've been very happy with these little monoblocks for my front stage:

http://www.xtant.com/html/products/xtant1.1i.cfm

I have an Xtant 300w mono class d powering my Image Dynamics IDQ 10" sealed subwoofer.

Nick V · « **Reply #6 on:** 8 Mar 2006, 11:53 pm »

How much do those little mono's cost? I'm in the procecss of putting together a system for my vehicle with some focal speakers. Looking for some good cost effective power.

Danny Richie · « **Reply #7 on:** 9 Mar 2006, 01:32 am »

I have sold some woofers to the high end car audio guys. Most have been serious custom designs. Sound quality and not SPL rides.

The best tweeter for the job is the Neo 3 PDR. It sounds great. It fits in a very shallow space and is very tough. 4 ohms too.

Keep in mind that you'll want to mount the tweeter as close as you can to the woofer to get good integration. Woofers down in the doors and tweeters on the dash will not integrate well at all.

BradJudy · « **Reply #8 on:** 9 Mar 2006, 03:32 am »

Danny, what speakers do you use in your ride?

kfr01 · « **Reply #9 on:** 9 Mar 2006, 04:59 am »

Quote from: Nick V

How much do those little mono's cost? I'm in the procecss of putting together a system for my vehicle with some focal speakers. Looking for some good cost effective power.

http://www.mitekfactoryoutlet.com/products/brand.cfm?brand=4&detail=ok&PN=XTANT1.1I

$350 direct from factory. They are nice little amplifiers. Very small. Very dynamic for a car amplifier. And the best part --- their efficiency doesn't make your car beg for an alternator upgrade. Auto is the ideal application for class d all around.

Also, Danny is right, tweeter and woofer as close as possible. I would try Woofer and tweeter in the kick panel if you have a large kick panel area and don't mind the encroachment on your foot space; woofer in door and tweeter in kick if you want to minimize space.

If all that doesn't work out, get a little crazier with the crossover and eq:

http://www.altomobile.com/html/ucs_pro.html

48db crossover slopes available with that one. Combined with 5 peq bands per channel, time delay, and a bunch of other nice options, you should be able to integrate drivers in less than ideal locations pretty easily.

Having said that, I used to have an active setup, but found a good deal on some nice mb quart components with passive crossovers, and have been just as happy.

There's something to be said for a tried and true passive crossover and less processing...

Danny Richie · « **Reply #10 on:** 10 Mar 2006, 04:11 pm »

Brad,

I don't spend much time in my car. All of my cars have factory sound systems in them.

BradJudy · « **Reply #11 on:** 10 Mar 2006, 05:45 pm »

Quote from: Danny

Brad,

I don't spend much time in my car. All of my cars have factory sound systems in them.

I hear ya. Knowing your interest in speed, I can only guess that if you did drop money on auto add-ons it would probably be on the performance side.

Best of luck on all of your current projects.

swaggs21 · « **Reply #12 on:** 10 Mar 2006, 06:12 pm »

Quote from: kfr01

some nice mb quart components with passive crossovers, and have been just as happy

that is probably the best thing said.

MB Quart Components are great for auto applications, I highly recommend them.

kfr01 · « **Reply #13 on:** 10 Mar 2006, 06:25 pm »

Quote from: swaggs21

Quote from: kfr01
some nice mb quart components with passive crossovers, and have been just as happy

that is probably the best thing said.

MB Quart Components are great for auto applications, I highly recommend them.

Thanks ... I really think little is to be gained going all active in car. Add a single 10" subwoofer in a small sealed box to complement the front components, and you'll have a system as good as it needs to be for daily driving.