C4 Front Sound Stage
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
C4 Front Sound Stage
Who, if anyone feels that they have "nailed it" with the front sound stage in a later C4?
I have reworked my fronts to include both a JBL 2-way 4x6 and an Infinity Reference, 5-1/4" round on each side, in fiberglass enclosures that I made myself. These speakers are wired in parallel, powered by a JL Audio amp. Plenty of power.
While the front is 10x better than it was with the stock speakers and power, it is still lacking. Not enough midbass, not a good sound stage, and it's pretty heavily handicapped by occupants legs.
I really feel that only a totally custom front package will fix it, and I'm willing to go down that road, but looking for thoughts, b/c I just don't see many great options. No room! I feel that tweeters on the top of the dash would help, but that still doesn't solve the forward oriended mid-bass issue.
I have reworked my fronts to include both a JBL 2-way 4x6 and an Infinity Reference, 5-1/4" round on each side, in fiberglass enclosures that I made myself. These speakers are wired in parallel, powered by a JL Audio amp. Plenty of power.
While the front is 10x better than it was with the stock speakers and power, it is still lacking. Not enough midbass, not a good sound stage, and it's pretty heavily handicapped by occupants legs.
I really feel that only a totally custom front package will fix it, and I'm willing to go down that road, but looking for thoughts, b/c I just don't see many great options. No room! I feel that tweeters on the top of the dash would help, but that still doesn't solve the forward oriended mid-bass issue.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,515
Likes: 646
From: Silicon Valley and Yosemite, CA
it has been many moons since I dealt with the C4 sound stage... BUT, I believe with the JBL 4x6's and the Infinity Reference's mixed together you have not created the best combination for any mid bass, or any bass.
I had the Reference series in my C4 and they were borderline in any bass. I had the JBL 4x6's up in the dash for a time and had zero bass.
The much better combination I had was a CDT 5.25 mid's in the doors and the CDT tweeter in the dash, on a mount that pointed towards the center of the car. At the time they were a pretty hot speaker. I still like them but they have fallen out of favor over Focals with some people.
You have an investment in your combo, but you might want to rethink it.
I had the Reference series in my C4 and they were borderline in any bass. I had the JBL 4x6's up in the dash for a time and had zero bass.
The much better combination I had was a CDT 5.25 mid's in the doors and the CDT tweeter in the dash, on a mount that pointed towards the center of the car. At the time they were a pretty hot speaker. I still like them but they have fallen out of favor over Focals with some people.
You have an investment in your combo, but you might want to rethink it.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Than you for the reply.
Sounds like yours was an earlier 'Vette ('84-'88?) My car the speaker location is basically in the frame rail, by your ankles. I've thought hard about a good mid there, and then tweeters on the dash like you mentioned, but am worries about the factory location getting muted by your pant leg. I REALLY think that the earlier C4 had a much better layout w/the door speakers and the option in the dash.
I am not at all invested in my current speaker system. The only thing I like is the head and the amps. Which is partly why I posted; I'm ready and willing to tear into it. Thanks again for posting about your experience.
Sounds like yours was an earlier 'Vette ('84-'88?) My car the speaker location is basically in the frame rail, by your ankles. I've thought hard about a good mid there, and then tweeters on the dash like you mentioned, but am worries about the factory location getting muted by your pant leg. I REALLY think that the earlier C4 had a much better layout w/the door speakers and the option in the dash.
I am not at all invested in my current speaker system. The only thing I like is the head and the amps. Which is partly why I posted; I'm ready and willing to tear into it. Thanks again for posting about your experience.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,515
Likes: 646
From: Silicon Valley and Yosemite, CA
Than you for the reply.
Sounds like yours was an earlier 'Vette ('84-'88?) My car the speaker location is basically in the frame rail, by your ankles. I've thought hard about a good mid there, and then tweeters on the dash like you mentioned, but am worries about the factory location getting muted by your pant leg. I REALLY think that the earlier C4 had a much better layout w/the door speakers and the option in the dash.
I am not at all invested in my current speaker system. The only thing I like is the head and the amps. Which is partly why I posted; I'm ready and willing to tear into it. Thanks again for posting about your experience.
Sounds like yours was an earlier 'Vette ('84-'88?) My car the speaker location is basically in the frame rail, by your ankles. I've thought hard about a good mid there, and then tweeters on the dash like you mentioned, but am worries about the factory location getting muted by your pant leg. I REALLY think that the earlier C4 had a much better layout w/the door speakers and the option in the dash.
I am not at all invested in my current speaker system. The only thing I like is the head and the amps. Which is partly why I posted; I'm ready and willing to tear into it. Thanks again for posting about your experience.
What you are looking for may vary, but I used "I'm a Man by Chicago The Band as my test song, and the percussion in that song were laid out across he dash exactly as it was when I saw them in concert.
OMCE
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Got all of that. Thank you again.
What did you have going on in the rear? An in the C4 how did that affect the front. I ask because I feel that in the C4, it's very easy for the rear to over power the fronts, both b/c of their size and b/c of their location.
What did you have going on in the rear? An in the C4 how did that affect the front. I ask because I feel that in the C4, it's very easy for the rear to over power the fronts, both b/c of their size and b/c of their location.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,515
Likes: 646
From: Silicon Valley and Yosemite, CA
I still had a great soundstage. I was very leary of what I would get when I put the 4x6's in the dash, as Kale said the more speakers the bigger the mess. However this seemed to work.
Chicago's "I'm A Man" has an incredible percussion session in it and the instruments were laid out across the front of my face just as they are on stage.
The drum solo has you sitting smack dab in front of the drums and as the drummer moved around the set, the sound went with him.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,566
Likes: 4
From: Mt Laurel NJ
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Try mounting the tweeters up on the A pillars. It raises the sound stage, and you will only need one speaker down by your leg. Do a search on speaker pods, and you'll see what I mean.
Randy
Randy
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