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Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:19 pm

Ok I DONT want the kick panels. So please don't mention them as an option. I'm thinking about two one inch tweeters and using them as my front speakers to compliment my 6x9's and 10" sub in the rear... would this work? Do tweeters put out vocals???

Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:29 pm

check your manufacturer's specs - the crossover frequencies are probably too high to make the tweets much use as front stage.

You could try using the components' crossovers and send highs to the tweets and the mid/bass to the 6x9.

Either way, you're not going to get great sound...

Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:30 pm

I'm just looking for a way to bring some vocals up front.. the sound doesn't have to be competition sound... just bring me some vocals up front.

Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:33 pm

They would create some sound...very little though. Tweeters are used to produce very high range noises. The human ear can hear between about 20 to 20k hertz. The human voice is anywhere between 300 to 3000 hertz. Most tweeters start at around 3000 hertz and go up from there. The noise you would hear out of the tweeters would be static from the radio and chimes or symbols in the music. Personally, I wouldn't bother with the tweeters. It wouldn't sound right having the mid range to back them up.

As far as placement, see how 6x9's sound in the back. I ran only rear speakers in my bug for a long time and it sounded pretty good to me. you could always fit a 4" speaker in the stock location and modify the glove box door with a speaker grill insert. Just a thought.

Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:35 pm

Works great for me[/url]

Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:57 pm

[quote="andk5591"]

Works great for me[/url][/quote

Did you just continue the Partition where the bottom sinks in?

Thu Jun 19, 2008 2:09 pm

This is an early cardboard template that I started with

You'll notice that I forgot the dimmer switch cut out :oops: (this is for a 65). I used 1/2" plywood and drywall screwed it to the lower part of the bulkhead. I cut a couple braces for the upper portion that I glued in. Be careful of your speaker selection so that they aren't too deep to where the magnets hit the bulkhead (my 5 1/4" Alpines are VERY close - I put some stick on weatherstrip on the back of the magnet so that they wouldn't rattle against it. The space is pretty small, so your bass response is non existent even with fiberglass batting in the space. But, I get the bottom end from the rear speakers. The nice thing about the Alpines is that you can aim the tweeters, so I have plent of top and mids from these and don't impact leg room at all. [/img]

Thu Jun 19, 2008 2:55 pm

You'll need at least a 4" to get any decent vocals/mid. It's not ideal, but if you have door panels without map-pockets, you can mount them into the lower front corners and get two of the speaker screws into sheet metal. I've got some 6.5" Polks in that location and component tweeters just below the wing vents. It's sounds OK, although the panels are a little flimsy and muddy up the sound. Dynamat would help this a little.

Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:52 pm

So I think by now you realize that tweeter only isnt a good idea. Everyone here though has posted some solid ideas. 6.5" speakers with an intergrated tweeter would sound good with your setup.

Thu Jun 19, 2008 4:33 pm

lt1 kenobi wrote: Ok I DONT want the kick panels. So please don't mention them as an option. I'm thinking about two one inch tweeters and using them as my front speakers to compliment my 6x9's and 10" sub in the rear... would this work? Do tweeters put out vocals???

Tweeters are for high frequencies, just like subs are for low frequencies. They are only there to ENHANCE the tonal range that you can hear. Tweeters are small for a reason, same as subs being larger for a reason. With the cone being so small, it becomes more rigid and only lets out the highest of frequencies. I have 6x9s angled a little forwards in my package tray and it sounds great, i have no need for speakers in the front (mainly because i think they're ugly up front). I say just use the 6x9s.

Fri Jun 20, 2008 2:21 am

Why would you not want to use kick panels? I've used them on several bugs including my current ride and been very happy with them.

Fri Jun 20, 2008 6:04 am

if you run only tweeters up front you will need to buy "tip toe thru the tulips" sung by tiny tim. it will rock the tweeters. :shock:

Fri Jun 20, 2008 3:53 pm

bill may wrote: if you run only tweeters up front you will need to buy "tip toe thru the tulips" sung by tiny tim. it will rock the tweeters. :shock:

hahaha 8)

Fri Jun 20, 2008 7:25 pm

lt1 kenobi wrote: I'm just looking for a way to bring some vocals up front.. the sound doesn't have to be competition sound... just bring me some vocals up front.

Oh well if you want to bring vocals up front you will need a midrange speaker not a tweeter (standard 4,5.25, or 6.25 speaker), as the tweeter really only makes the high-pitched instrumental noises like symbols and such. Having tweetrers only would really f-up the sound, most of it would be coming from the rear but the symbols would miraculously come from the front.

Plus when you run tweeters you will need a crossover so the tweeter doesnt waste energy trying to reproduce the mid and bass notes, making it sound like crap.

My vote would be the buy a set of component speakers (seperate tweeters, midrang, and crossover) and mount them either in the doors or (I know you said you wouldnt) kick panels.

What do you have against those kick panels anyway? Ease of install? Cheap price? Not cutting holes in the car/door panels? "clean look"? adequate leg room? Ideal speaker angle/location?

Fri Jun 20, 2008 10:43 pm

Put one speaker in the stock drivers location (behind the dash grille), then fabricate a baffle board holding another speaker so when you open the glove box you have your front soundstage. Only option other than your door panels or the other panels you don't want. Maybe a parcel tray with some component speakers in little boxes sitting on it?

Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:00 pm

I did not want kick panels either so I made my own that work great....check them out:

Just cut some sheet metal, cut to fit and installed shallow Infinity speakers. They are right behind the Map cutout so sound is unaffected but still covered by light material.

The below handles the mids, the tweets, mid/lows and 10 in sub in custom speaker box in rear. Powered by 700 wats amp.

Perfect for what I was looking for....crystal clear to bumpin hard

Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:03 pm

Just curious, why do you guys not like the kick panels?

Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:13 pm

Maimas13 wrote: Just curious, why do you guys not like the kick panels?

I guess just want the clean look and need the most leg room possible. Nothin wrong with them though.

Sat Jun 21, 2008 6:25 pm

For me - (front kick panel speakers) - I am trying to keep the interior a "stock looking" as possible. My rear speakers are in the rear kick panels as well. You really don't notice any speakers unless you look. I went so far as to use an MPs player that sits in the ash tray when you pull it out - so there is no head unit in the dash or even in the glove box. Amp is hidden under passenger front seat. It all depends what trips your trigger. And the best part is that my set up sounds really good and was relatively inexpensive.

Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:32 pm

Maimas13 wrote: Just curious, why do you guys not like the kick panels?

I personally like the uncluttered look of a stock style interior.