|
As mentioned, get the mids as sealed off as much as possible (taking volume/driver "Q" into consideration) and the baffles as non-resonant as possible. Most car interiors are horrible environments for decent sound reproduction anyway. Anytime the drivers are essentially pointing at each other, 90 degrees off axis to the listener, there are bound to be sound quality/stage issues.
If you can, choose drivers with the most forgiving off-axis response. Another trick is to use baffle "wedges" to cant the door speakers a few degrees more on-axis. Or you can use kick-panel "pods". The latter is a bit harder on Targas and Cabs due to the smaller foot-wells.
A parametric EQ will help attenuate any pesky cabin/cockpit modes (nodes/antinodes). Try and find one with adjustable center-freq, range, and octave. A decent 1/3 octave (or finer resolution) graphic EQ will help a ton as well. Preferably one that can adjust L and R channels independently. If you have an RTA and mic and time on your hands, even better.
If you want the ultimate IMO, get a Behringer DEQ-2496 (and Behringer condenser mic) and convert it to 12v. That will give you individual L/R or linked control of 31 EQ bands (down to 59/3rds-octave bandwidth resolution) with parametric adjustments plus a 61 band RTA and white noise generator. You also get a host of studio processors built in as well (feedback correction, compressor/expander, digital delay, stereo separation/symmetry, etc.). I've got one for the home system, and it's a great piece of kit. The only other thing you'll have to do is make your own XLR/TRS to RCA cables if the rest of your gear is RCA. If needed, I've got a good source for those, using the best Mogami wire available/suitable for the application.
With all that said, it's best to do any "corrections" passively first (speaker placement, physical modification to the listening area, bass traps, etc.). Then tweak with parametric EQ, then lastly tweak with graphic EQ. When it doubt, trust your ears, and use EQ carefully.
Ok, enough audio geek-dom for now...
|