I see alot of posts regarding a front stage vs. all 4. Can someone enlighten me to the benefits. C5 vert.
Thanks

 

It's only a benefit if YOU think it sounds good that way.

If you go to a concert the musicians are in front of you, a properly installed and set up system with only front speakers can be made to sound just like you're at a concert. Many feel that the rear speakers add unnatural sounding noise to that 'stage'. It's very subjective.

Turn your fade **** so you only have the fronts playing and decide for yourself

 

Stereo is designed to be reproduced by 2 channels. If stage and image reproduction is a factor, go with 2. if "loud from everywhere" is better for you, go 4.

 

To add to the discussion, depending in the engineer/producer, with a pure front stage(2 speakers) you should be able to hear the sounds spread across in front of you.
For instance, I'm a Man by Chicago The Band(The long version) has a simple percussion session in it that is perfect for testing the soundstage.
In my car I am literally on stage with the band. Drums are centered, sandpaper blocks come from the right, the triangle is just off center left in my right ear, percussion blocks on the left, all distinctly laid out.
With a 4 speaker system they seem to be blended together.

I have another album called Repercussive Jazz, Doctored for Stereo, that was out in the early 60's by Audio Fidelity, and it is the perfect test album. Note it is vinyl and I created lossless wav CD, although I did find an MP3 torrent that is pretty decent.
Imagine a piano keyboard laid out across your dashboard and each key has it own distinct sound and location. The low notes are on the left, the high notes on the right. Middle C, is exactly that in the middle. As the piano is played, you can very distinctly tell where each key is, based on it's location across the dash. They do the same thing with a Xylophone. Each distinct note has a unique location. They have melodies that take advantage of key/note location. When I play it for people they are simply blown away.
When I play it in a 4 speaker car, or stock Vette system, much of that gets lost because most people keep the fader balanced which moves the soundstage towards the back and blends it together, or the system is simply incapable of correctly reproducing the sounds and their locations properly.
Many claim that a car is no good for a decent soundstage, but I disagree. With the right setup it can sound great even at 65moh.

 

OK, with that, what speakers/amp do you recomend? I have a sub in the rear.
Thanks Again

 

I have had front stage only in two coupes now (Mustang and the C6) and I can say a good set of components is all you need. Had a set of CDT HD-62's in my Mustang that were able to keep up with a 12" RE XXX sub and a dual 12" Image Dynamics IDmax setup. Just finished putting in a set of Focal KR2's with a 10" Image Dynamics IDQv3 in the Vette. I'd love to have my dual IDmax setup again, but just not enough space. Don't waste your money on rear speakers.

 

I personally believe in only front speakers with the exception of a 5.1 set-up.

 

Which vendors sell the door mounting brackets to replace the bose set-up?

 

I got mine from here

http://www.nakidparts.com/id28.html

 

If you have a C5 dennis aka c5bearsfan can get you a set of spekaer plates. In my last 3 or 4 cars I have had fronts and sub only and wont go back. I have installed in probally 50+ C5 and C6 cars and of 50 maybe 4 of them had rear speakers at the owners request