Originally Posted by dmruschell

I'm an audio engineer, so I can be pretty picky when it comes to audio quality. You're definitely right when the C1 doesn't lend itself to great sound. However, if you have loud, undistorted sound that doesn't have fairly even frequency response, it will sound harsh and empty because, even though it's loud, your ears will be hurting from the emphasized frequencies, but the sound won't be full because of all of the frequencies that aren't emphasized. Most modern stock car stereos have EQ curves built into the hardware that make up for speaker placement and environment, even though the speaker placement is usually optimal.

The best car stereo sound IMO comes from a fairly even frequency response with a wide stereo image, that of course has plenty of volume. A lot of the fullness of car audio comes from the placement of the left and right speakers being as wide as the car interior, so both of the listeners' ears have sound going to them.

In my opinion, the best place to get a full, wide stereo image is the kick panels (using component speakers with separate dash mounted tweeters would be best, but there's not a good spot to mount the tweeters in the C1).

For an even frequency response, it has it faults. the highs are a little muffled because the sound is directed at our legs and at the center console, and the ultra low frequencies don't have a big area behind the speaker to resonate. To make up for this, the graphic EQ can be used to shape the frequency response to be more even to the listener. The sub woofer was supposed to help with the low end, but because it's just a 6 inch sub, the frequency response isn't much lower than the 6x9s (I just like the thump in my seat )

Now, is where we get to the loud, undistorted volume. The amp that my dad installed in the 61 (i think) is around 60 watts x4 channels. The small 4x6s are extremely loud because the sound goes directly to my ear, but they sound harsh and midrangey (due partially to the bass blockers used to keep them from distorting, but also because they're small speakers), so I turn them almost all the way off. with 60 watts going to the 6x9's in the kick panels, it is PLENTY loud. with the noisy soft top up or down, i've never had any trouble getting the volume I want (and I think the "premium" JBL stereo in my Solara convertible isn't loud enough with the top down). Most 6x9 or 6 inch speakers these days will take at least 100 watts, if not more.

Overall, the sound quality isn't as good as the JBL stereo in my Solara, mainly because of the low frequency response, but I've tweaked it to the point where it doesn't bother me and sounds pleasant at loud volumes.

Frank, i'm sure the center speaker you have sounds better than the 4x6s in my 61. I just love the wide image that comes from the kick panel mounts. Just 2 different approaches to solving the same problem

I'd also be curious if anyone has installed speakers in the doors, as the frequency response might be better than the kick panels. Also, Custom Autosound does make replacement kick panels that have speaker holes built into them. We used their kick panels for my mom's 1972 Buick Skylark, and they worked ok, not great. the vent system in her car doesn't really work anymore. They're just ABS plastic, so they won't look as nice as the rest of the C1 interior, but figured i'd mention it in case anyone would be interested.