Looking for some input from you guys about killer SQ front stage components... that won't break the bank.

3 questions:
- What tweeter crossover frequency should I shoot for, to get good imaging? (2K, 3K, 4K, etc)
- 2-way vs 3-way... which is better and why?
- Which tweeter position gives the best results? (sail panels, a-pillar, kick panel, on-axis, off-axis)

The goal is a wide soundstage and realistic reproduction. Install doesn't have to be beautiful, but the sound does.


Here's what I found so far
Tang Band W6-789E 6.5" woofer in the stock door location. It has flat response between 80 and 2000 Hz, has 92 dB sensitivity, and takes 15/30 watts rms/max.


Crossed at 3000 Hz to a Tang Band 25-302SH 1" tweeter in the sail panels off-axis (facing the center of the vehicle).


Dayton Classics are GREAT woofers, but I'd have to go 3-way since their midrange suffers. I have no clue how to pick a midrange, though.

Installation even if not pretty is a large factor in how a car sounds.

X-over and what not depend on the drivers you choose. And is vehicle and install dependent. Trial and error listening evaluations are needed.

2-way vs 3-way well it depends on the drivers used and mounting location along with installation. trial and error listeneng can be used for evaluation. In a 3 way setup you should consider using a dedicated mid-bass driver. The Tang band above would not be my first choice even for a "baller on a budget" mid-bass.

On or off axis depend on the drivers you choose and relay on trial and error listening evaluation.


I use a 6.5 inch midbass in the door and another 6.5 inch for midrange in the kick panel. And tweets in the pillar firing off of the glass along with rear fill via a 5.25 inch comp set to get a nice stage.

All of these can be tied to driver placement in the vehicle and installation methods used. Reflections can do some weird things in cars. Some are good some are bad.

Wise words, Mr. Roberts.

Your idea about firing off the glass is pretty ingenious. You want to place the tweeters far from the listener, but still on-axis. I bet that took some tuning and adjustment... but gives a huge soundstage.

Currently a 3-way looks to be the best option. 6.5" midbass in the door, a 3" full range trimmed to do midrange, and a not-too-harsh tweeter.

I'll test a few positions before I start glassing things into position... because you're right it's nothing more than guessing at this point. As long as I get speakers that appropriately cover the frequency range, that's half the battle... the other half is taking good sound and making it lifelike.

You may not need tweeters depending on choice of 3 inch midrange and location of installation.

Listen to the drivers in various placement scenarios before you begin glass work. Trust me. It will save both time and money in the future. Learn how your choice in driver and placement react to your car. Then you can actually begin tuning!

The Dayton classic will do better than the Tang Bang you mention in my opinion , why?
1. I use it more and I know them better then the Tang Bang .LOL
2. then come on 4 ohm also
3.they have a wider frequency response , you mention that you would have to use them in a 3-
way . Well i use them in 2 ways all the time .
4.check out the power rating and the sensitivity and compere them both . The Tang's seem to
be design mostly for low power home application , making them harder to control in a car
application .The Dayton seem to be more of a all around application .
5. price , with the savings i could get better tweeters .

But there are also other options on woofers for a low budget install.
Also when you say that picking proper speakers is half the battle , ouch , you might be up for a surprise .I recommend to check if there is any one in your area that could help you .

Senior Aguilar has some good points.

thank you , sir !
know just for that you owe me a beer , that would make it 2 or 3 you owe. I need to catch up with you have up the beer ,then i pay you the ones i owe you .lol
i bet you have a beer right know , i have a dos equis on my hand.lol

@ John,
I didn't think about letting the midrange handle the highs... I've built a few full range speakers, and they do well atleast to 10K, but roll off in the last octave. Could be promising.

@ Senor Aguilar
I apologize if it came across as "SQ is easy!" My intent was to say that achieving flat response is a real task, but making the sound come to life for a wide range of music... that's where greatness becomes elegance.

My 2 cents on beer ... Shiner Bock =


The Dayton Classics definitely have alot going for them, and would be a solid midbass woofer to build on. According to their manual, their response has a major drop-off at 1500 Hz. Do you have a mid/high suggestion for a 2-way component system that handles 1K-20K? ... not many speakers stay flat for that whole range.

The best I found so far:
Dayton 2" dome midrange - LINK to manual
Tang Band 3" full range aluminum cone 30wRMS - LINK to manual

both will require some special treatment of the top octave, but should be simpler than going 3-way.

There was a car at finals this year that had one of the best center images I have ever heard. It received a second place in the modified Q division. Awsome sounding car. It had a pair of fours in the dash, either 6.5" or 8" in the door and a pair of 8" in a fourth order bandpass in the trunk. Not one tweeter in the whole car. I had to hear it to beleive it. The 4" played all the way up with ease. And the car could do low 140s to music.