Entertaining the Idea of a 3 way component system for the wife...
 

Hey guys,

I am looking to pick up another Z. This one for DD and for the wife... She Loves her music and loves everything from classical, Rock, and techno. That is mainly what she listens to and not much else.

Components:
I am looking for a good set of 3 way component speakers and the right way to build it to her needs. I was thinking along the brands of Morel, Dynaudio, focal, or CDT... I am looking for quality but dont want to break the bank all of these seem to be around the $1k-2k range and I am good at finding deals... (I found authentic morel 603's for $500 new!)

Head unit:
I am also looking at a Pioneer stage 4 head unit or similar... Mainly looking for a good head unit for SQ. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Subwoofers:
I am wanting to run a set of two 10" woofers. I dont want it to rattle the car but I would like some sustained punch... I am open to ideas! (sealed/Ported enclosure?)

Amps:
When it comes to amps I definitely need some help. And I know this is going to depend on the speaker setup and sub setup. All your help will be appreciated.

Install:
My plan was to use the tweeter in the stock location, Use the 6.5" in the door panel and the 4" in the back kick panel. If you have other suggestions or Ideas I am all ears. I would also be running an active crossover setup. I am still debating on amp location as well as subs.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and this would help me with my research into this setup. I am currently looking at a car that has the bose system and I have a brand new reQ sitting at home waiting to be used or sold either way. Thank you guys in advance for the help!

Mike :tup:

I also forgot to mention that I will be installing a Nexus 7 in the Cubby and will be the main source for music... it will also be tethered to our phones.

I'd recommend running your 4's in the a pillars or kick panels and not running them so far away as behind you. Just curious why do you want to run a 3 way when a lot of high end 2 ways are just as good especially when ran active.

Back to your thoughts. I would recommend going with morel, hertz, or focal for your 3 way setup. Depending on what kind of sound your after would depend on which I would recommend. The focals have a much brighter and direct sound where as hertz and morel have a smoother more wider sound. Your going to need a seriously good class a/b amp to make them produce at their best (any high end speaker)

The first recommendation that comes to mind is the audison Lrx 6.9 fallowed by even higher end focal and mosconi amps.

If you do decide to go with your mids in the rears i highly advice going active something like the audison bitone. This will allow you to time delay your fronts and all much more control. It will also allow you to feed your tablet directly into it. The sad part about active is you will need 6 channels one for each speaker plus one for a sub. I would only advice going with one sub especially with a 3 way setup. That will actually be plenty in itself for the size of the car.

I will advise 3 things.

If any of her music is compressed your not going to get the best quality out of your speakers and you will hear how poor the quality is. As a audiophile with over 1,000+ albums I do not compress my music.

A high end SQ setup can be done well with a 2 way setup.

A 3 way setup is a pain to setup active.

great thoughts!

So I am looking for the car to have a full sound stage. That is the reason I was looking at a 3 way system and locating the 4" behind the seats to give that all encompassing sound. I am open to other options.

What would you recommend on the 2 way?

Your right the Bit One is BA! I have seen it used alot in higher end builds.

I am in the mindset that the sound should be smooth and not ear shattering. I am leaning more towards a more relaxed system than what I have heard focals give. Others have told me they are really aggressive. My wife plays violin so the music she listens to has a lot of strings and deep tones. I dont want the system to be ear shattering at higher levels... she likes to crank it sometimes.

In regards to the amp... The 6 channels would have to be run like so?
1:L1
2:L2
3:R1
4:R2
5:Bridged for Sub
6:Bridged for Sub

Any ideas on another headunit?

thanks again!

BA?

A 2 way setup I would recommend looking at hertz mile like the MLK 2. The image dynamics XS have an amazing silk tweeter with smooth roll off. Keep in mind when going active you have way more control over your tweeters. I like a smoother sound myself like found in martin logans, but I am running a focal KRX3 way setup in my car soon and I will be able to get them sounding smooth.

Morel I have nothing but good things to say about if you want to go with them as well.

Any single din head unit is going to give you better quality sound than a double din. I prefer alpines over others.

bad a$$ ;)

I love martin logans but they need a large room to fill. I was tempted to buy a full set but they were uber expensive at the time and I got one heck of a deal on my klipsch reference series setup!

I will keep researching more!

Thanks again!

I'm gonna agree with matt on going with a 2 way setup rather than a 3 way. Your main limitation on a 3 way in this car is a spot for the mid driver. You absolutely do not want it behind you, and there just isn't room up front for it, unless you get REALLY creative. A 4" in the a pillars in this car would look like As#, and the kicks would make legroom a little tight, But thats a personal preference for sure.
I also agree with the component sets he noted. also great choices. As far as the single din source goes.......
The pioneer stage 4 p99 I can't say enough about. Top-notch SQ, and all your signal processing built in. This thing does everything but clean your windows. It would be a wise choice for sure.. Its the cream of the crop. (biased opinion, by the way).

Take a look at this,http://www.the370z.com/audio-video/6...e-build-4.html complete Morel setup and it rocks. I'm a music lover, right Matt (he's been in my media room) I haven't one complaint with the setup. The bass is deep and tight, the mids hit hard and the highs are clean and crisp. I am planning on moving the tweeters to the cover for the mirror, being that highs are directional reflecting off the windshield is not really great for imaging, don't get me wrong it does sound great, but I like to tinker. So for what it will cost me to do, it is so minimal, it can't hurt to try. If she likes good clean audio with proper bass, then in my opinion 2 10's will be over kill, These 8's really hit nice. If your interested in going with one 10, I still have my corner unit for sale. Make a offer.:tiphat:

I have also heard many good things about the CDT audio components as well

I am definitely leaning toward morel!

Tommy,

Which ones do you have and what amp setup?

Thanks!

P.s. I will keep ur enclosure in mind I followed ur build of it.

Sound System Options
 

Check out/listen to Audison's Thesis HV Venti amp and Thesis speakers. Another speaker manufacture for tweeters/mid-bass is Hybrid that is more reasonable price-wise. My active two-way front mounted speakers with a bitTen greatly improved the sound of my focal K2P speakers.

:iagree: two 10's will be an over kill!!! I have one 10" JL W3 in a zenclosure. It hits hard... but takes up more space than I anticipated. What's the price on the corner unit? (if he's not interested):yum:

The problem I am running into is getting the chance to audition brands... No one local seems to carry morel... Focal or any other higher end brands to the point of auditioning them... And I'm in freaking Atl! I will keep looking though!

There Primo 8's, the amp is JL HD 600