I currently have a standard 4 channel setup but with my PXA h701, IVA D300 and a leftover Alpine SPX 177r set, it wouldn't be difficult to expand to a 5 channel system

Is it worth it to add a center channel if it means cutting into the dash?

 

You don't need to cut into the dash. I have a 1/2 DIN center channel speaker and amp that you can buy from me




Sounds amazing....

 

.....i have no space in my dash.....

 

no space? not even for 1/2 din? Too many gadgets!!!... Start cutting i guess...totally worth it!

 

Alpine IVA D310 fold out + Epic 150 processor + Alpine RUX C701 display makes for no room in the dash.

 

You seriously need a custom bezel so you can get that center channel in there, plus a couple more LED's...

 

Lol. I was thinking about making a mold for the top part of the dash where i could put a center channel. This would keep the front stage on the same horizontal plane. Plus the molded "pod" would be an excellent place to mount a forward-facing camera, strobes, MIRT, Jammers or any other little toy i think i might be needing

 

I'm kind of new to the 5 channel setup. How do you power this speaker? Wonder if you could slide the ac controls down and get rid of the ashtray. Then maybe mounting it between a double din and the ac controls....

 

Radio I would have to lean towards no you do not need a center channel. It is a bandaid fix to give people without any real audio knowledge or interest the impression that their new ride comes with an "audiophile" grade stereo system. The OEM folks are never going to make the effort that you have made to properly aim your drivers and tune them, and I think you would see a downgrade in overall clarity and performance if you added one, although you might get the "illusion" of a better stage, but I doubt it. Might give you some added height if you car stages low now, but not much else.

My .02 worth bro
Fej

 

Interesting.I've actually never seen or heard any car with a center channel setup but I can't see how it would be a worthwhile addition. As for soundstaging,that's all up to opinion. A lot of guys on here swear by a pair of good speakers up front and a sub with no rear fills but this is the only place I have ever seen this advice. I know I would never leave out the rear fills but that's just me.

 

Fej: you're probably right. Sine most everything I listen to was originally recorded in stereo, there's no point in simulating 5-channel surround.

....i just can't stand the sight of a single woofer/tweeter/crossover set laying in my bedroom.

 

Lance, Check out diymobileaudio.com, or CA.com or elitecaraudio.com and see what they recommend for car use. This site recommends what it does based on research from people that are WAAAYYY more into car audio than anyone on this site, except maybe Kale

And you will not see a single competition level car that would have their "rear fill" enabled during any critical listening or judging, if they have it at all. If they do have rear fill it is purely to add to the judging of their overall install quality and to attempt to earn more "install" points.

Ask yourself this, when was the last time you were at a concert with "rear fill", or more importantly, turned away from the stage to listen to that sweet rear fill sound

Fej

 

A pair of quality rear fill speakers will add alot of "color" to the overall sound. I did upgraded rears when I did my system and glad I did. Most C6 people disconnect the center speaker, they say it muddies the sound. I dont see the benefit of adding a single speaker. I would put the time and money towards better quality speakers up front.

 

Here's the thing,I've been a musician for the last 19 years years and have worked with professional audio for some big name artists (Kenny Chesney,Rascal Flatts,Tracy Lawrence,Sara Evans....) .The reason they don't have rear fills is because they use size of the venue to reflect sound off the side and rear walls. I doubt your car is capable of doing that unless you've got a lot bigger Vette than the rest of us.
You call me crazy but there's a reason that almost all professional studios have moved to 5.1,7.1 or 7.2 systems. Not to mention that any professional theater(including home theater) isn't using a Blose 3-2-1 setup.
Weather you like it or not, rear fills are used in addition to fronts and subs to create more accurate reproductions of the original recorded content. You can call me crazy all you want to but I'll be enjoying my music while you're wondering what's missing from yours.

 

The only reason rear fills would add "color" is due to them pulling the soundstage more to the rear of the car; couple that with the fact that they are generally of lower quality/performance than what is placed in the front of the car, and add in the fact that they are poorly angled, and what does reach the listener is either highly reflected sound, or sound that is attempting to play "through" the seat. Add all of those things up, and if that is what you call "color", then by all means enjoy it

And just to clarify, I by no means intend to be rude or condescending. It is just pure science and fact I am discussing, along with 20 years or so of car audio experience. With that being said, some people prefer to hear that "enveloping" sound when they are in a car, to each their own.

Fej

 

They are using 5.1 or 7.1 systems to simulate enclosed venues, which almost any mid to high end receiver or decoder comes pre-loaded with. I can listen to jazz CD's at the Roxy via my surround system in my front room, or switch to what was supposedly the Cotton Club etc.

Many high end "audiophile" recordings (SACD etc) are INCLUDING (not moving to) a 5.1 or 7.1 recording process to satisfy the people who attempt to simulate the "small club" experience in their listening areas.

However, no outdoor venue includes "rear fill" sound. Reflections are everywhere in indoor situations, so you are correct they are not needed, but that is just common sense, not "the industry" moving any particular direction.

And "rear fill" speakers are vastly different than surround speakers used in home systems or movie theaters, which provide depth and create an "environment" for the movie you are viewing. They are not playing the same audio as is coming out of the center or main channels, they are encoded for entirely different material. So please don't compare the 2, it is like comparing a Tercel to a Vette, entirely different purposes.

Actually you are 180* backwards on this, car environments are reflective nightmares. Every surface has reflective problems in a car, and professional/competition level installers work hard to minimize them. Cars are 50x more reflective than your typical house or concert venue is. So the problem is not having a bigger vette, it is being in too small a space to begin with surrounded by plastic and glass. This reinforces further that there is no real reason to have "rear fill" as a 3 speaker (2.1) in a vette interior is PLENTY. I can assure you I can overpower you sitting in the front seat of my vette at 75% of capacity with a meager 2.1 system.

Fej

 

My PXA H701 has a dolby rear-fill option I use. It allows me to keep a good front stage without having a "dead zone" just behind my head.

 

Overpowering and sounding good are two different things. I know a guy a work with 1600 watts going to 2 12's. It can overpower anything around,but does it sound good? Hell no. Take from that what you will. You have your beliefs,I have mine. I'm obviously into quality sound not loud sound ie show cars with way too much power and 140 decibels of bass. Call me backwards all you want to but there are reasons that cars are made with places for rear speakers(where venues are not). Most likely because they are NEEDED for accurate quality soudn reproduction in cars. Anyway,I'm done with this

 

our cars need rear speakers for the passengers riding in the back.

...always call shotgun in a vette