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DLS SOUND HANBOOK - INSTALLATION
SPEAKER INSTALLATION
An important part of the installation is of course the
speakers.
How they are installed varies from car to car and
depends upon the possibilities in each type.
The factory pre-made installation holes are not always
ideal for other types of speakers than original. We
will give you some hints of what to think of when
installing speakers.
ORIGINAL INSTALLATION
The easiest way to install a speaker in a car is to use
the factory pre-made holes. If you use car specific
speakers, the installation job becomes very easy. But
the problem is that these type of speakers are usually
not of the highest quality and will not satisfy a
demanding listener.
The high quality speakers often have large magnets
making it necessary to first measure the space and
sometimes make changes in the door or dash-board
to make them fit. Especially the depth is important to
check so that the side windows goes clear from the
magnet.
Some car models requires special adaptors or
distances to make the speaker fit when you use other
speakers than the original.
If possible use some kind of baffle on the back of the
door panel. Make sure the baffle is fastened properly
and fasten the speaker in the baffle. This is easy to
make and will normally result in a better sound than
without baffle.
A speaker installation high up on the door-side is to
recommend, but if the pre-made hole is at the bot-
tom part of the door it´s difficult to change.
A 2/3-way system should be installed with the
elements close to each other to achieve the best
sound image. An alternative is to install the bass
element in the door and the tweeter on the dash-
board.
A door or dashboard installation is actually an "open-
air" installation since there is no limiting box.
ORIGINAL MOUNTING:
ADVANTAGES:
- Fast, easy and simple
DISADVANTAGES:
- The speakers have no baffle = rattle.
- Bad power handling capacity.
- Bad sound image.
Exemple of a door installation with new baffles.
NEW DOOR BAFFLES
If you want to improve your door installation you
should build a new door-side. This must be adapted
to the door side and is normally made of MDF or
particle board. The baffle is covered with cloth or vi-
nyl matching the car interior. Some car sound builders
changes the whole door-side to a new one. The spea-
ker element is directed to obtain the best sound
image. They are also fastened properly to avoid rattle.
They are normally mounted with a sealed speaker
box behind the elements. The volumes needed for a
4" or 5,25" element are only a few liters.
BAFFLE MOUNTING:
ADVANTAGES:
- The speakers are mounted in real baffles.
- A box construction that improves the sound
quality with less rattling.
- Higher power handling capacity.
- Better sound image (front stage).
DISADVANTAGES:
- More work and more expensive mounting.
- The cars original door sides are affected.
- The installation requires a lot of knowledge to
make the installation to look professional.
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