Sound Stage / Speaker Placement

**ChaCha** · 03-30-2005, 12:43 AM

My aim is to have 5.1 surround sound in my Tahoe. I am installing front tweeters in the A-pillars & front mid-ranges in the front door panels.

My questions are:

1). Instead of mounting the rear speakers in their stock configuration (in the rear door panels at ankle level), wouldn't it be better to mount them in the rear pillars by the liftgate, at head level?

Also...

2). What would be a better placement for a custom center speaker...mounted inside the dash facing upwards (the windshield) or inside the dash facing the passengers?

**sansoo24** · 03-31-2005, 09:17 PM

I would set it up just as you do home surround. Its a little different but with a tahoe you are kinda driving a small house around. I would personally put the rear speakers in the pillars by the lift gate at head level or possibly above that at a 15 degree angle downwards. The center channel is up to you. I dont competer in SQ competitions but this is my personal preference. The center channels i hve put in i have facing the straight up. That way it kinda reflects off the windshield before it gets to the passengers. Kinda softens the sound a bit for movies. And with the tweets in the a-pillar are you gonna run that a -3db or 3db. I have found that movies tend to sound a little better to me if they are at -3db. Tends to not be so shrill. You might also find that custom kick pannels are a better way to go with the front speakers. They tend to angle the speakers creating a better sound stage for surround sound.

just my 2 cents but like i said i dont compete in SQ. I like SPL but its not so good for movies. Sorry to say but the head phone idea is crap and will sound like crap to your passengers. NIce to have a wireless set or two if you got kids so they can watch a movie without you having to hear it. Plus kids dont tend to be to picky about sound quality

**Teknoledgi** · 04-02-2005, 08:55 AM

As far as my install goes, I have a specific Clarion SK5 centre speaker velcroed to the dash mat, main components installed in front door pods, rear coaxials installed in boot section (advised by professional installer not to install 5.1 in rear passenger doors as passengers will have rear surround in front of them) and subs pointing to rear tailgate.

Works fine for me, although the problem with 5.1 surround, and the same with any home setup, is that the focus of the surround is still limited to about two foot square are in any enclosure.

I agree with sansoo24, the positioning of the door woofers and lowering the db on the tweets if you are installing them in the A pillars is important. My centre is pointing straight at the windshield. If you are like me you will spend many happy hours pointing the tweets in different directions.

**ChaCha** · 04-05-2005, 12:51 AM

Sansoo24 & Teknoledgi -

Thanks for your replies. I appreciate your input. I'm going to do a custom mount of the rears in the back pillars by the liftgate around head level.

**dave2** · 04-05-2005, 02:06 AM

LOL Josh

Anyways, my suburban had the rear speakers up in the back headliner, Which is where I'm deriving the installation point from. I'm also running 5.1, once I get it done. Just spent all day ripping out a few thousand feet of wire from the previous video system

And now I get to re-do the interior and some exciting stuff which will make my project last forever.

**sansoo24** · 04-07-2005, 07:30 PM

Hey pilot its kinda hard to sense sarcasm with as many dumb questions and answers as i have seen on here. Plus thats before i knew you were a pretty smart guy.
I prefer to operate at all times with murphies law in mind.
Keeps me from going ape **** angry when something goes wrong.

**dave2** · 04-07-2005, 11:42 PM

My new rear panels are going to have the rear speakers mounted right at head level, in front of those back pillars. Should be good, and I can throw in some delay and make it sound like a movie theater.

**JaxPt** · 04-09-2005, 01:39 AM

If I were doing sound in a truck I would go with a small 6" center console mounted sub firing down, 6.5 mids in kickpanels, tweets in the a-pillars and if doing a center channel probably pull the air vent in the center and mount it in there....just a thought