Audio options for some kick?

[ME+DRUMS]

Hey guys im new here, just got my vibe a couple months back.I was wondering what my options were for some thump since obviously 6 x 9 dont fit in the doors. I dont necissarily want to commit to a subwoofer yet so what are my options as far as 6 1/2s? Are there any i could use for rear speakers that are more bass oriented? Thanks

[lovemyraffe]

First off, WELCOME!!! As far as thumpy speakers, I really like Boston Acoustics. They give alot of bass.

[audiovibe]

Welcome to the fourms. My suggestion is to do a ton of research. If you are looking for some oomph from the lil 6.5s you will most likly have to go with some components. Generaly the woofer in a component system (seperate mid and tweeter for thoes that were unaware) is built for better performance in this area. You will also need some components that will handle some power. you will also need an amp that will put out some good clean power, and to deaden the doors and create a sealed enviroment for the speaker to work in. Sealing up the door cavity and deadining the outter door skin will give you awesome results and will drasticly improve the low end extension of the stock speakers. A speaker produces sound waves off the front of the cone as well as the back of the cone of the speaker. A normal door is normaly pretty open, the outterskin has a saftey bar connected to it and the inner skin has a frame the is designed to hold components (i.e. Window mechanisms, locking mechanisms, ECT.). This frame has real big openings in various places. The way the speakers were designed were to output sound off of one side of the speaker 0 degrees (front of the woofer or 180 degrees back side of the woofer). now your probably thinking well more is better right? Not in this case, The factory leaves the door open because its cost effective for them, and think the factory audio is always good enough. The issue with their theory is it could always be better, like everything else.Ill try to get back to what I was saying now.Have you ever took a speaker hooked it up to see what it would sound like? you know like just hold onto it plug it in and watch it move. then you were like wow not really much bass at all, this thing sucks! Then you put it in a bok and this thing rocks! Thats where the 0 degrees and 180 degrees come to play. With the woofer not enclosed you have sound coming from both sides of the speaker causing no sound that is good, this is called cancellation, what this means is that the sound from the backside (out of phase) is coming around and meeting the sound coming from the front of the woofer (inphase) and canceling the effects of the other. Now you put that speaker in an enclosure and the sound is drasticly better. Why? You created a barrier between the front of the speaker and the rear of the speaker allowing one side to create sound. Your doors work in the same manner, whit the way the are from the factory they create a canceling effect limiting the speakers reproduction by ways of cancelation. (yes I know they are cheap speakers but can sound alot better then the way GM left them)That might get you off on a good start and might even be the only solution that you need, but I dont think it is. Since you mentioned "more bass oriented" and "Subwoofer" in the same sentence sounds like you want a small speaker to work like a large speaker. This is no easy task, but is achievable and in the long run will probably cost more then a sub and amp that will yield the same results you are looking for. their are a few people that have done some subwoofer installs that are out of the way and take up no storage space and concealed so someone walking by has no idea, here is mine and I still have a spare tire.Sorry for being so off topic and random but to sum it up my advice would be to add a woofer. I know you dont want to make that commitment yet but I truely honestly think it will better suit your the sound you are tring to achive based on you post. If you do decide to jut replace speakers look into doing the fronts before the rears, you sit in front and drive the car, enjoy what your money buys, and I agree that the new Boston stuff really kicks (removed).Aron

[w8_4_me]

Nice looking install audiovibe. What size sub is that? thanks, W8

[Kamikaze]

Aron... Beautiful write up, and so true.Love your install btw, it's so clean.

[skylinedrifter]

I just bought a Kenwood KSC SW1. It's a powered subwoofer that is small enough to fit under the passenger seat.It isn't going to wake the neighbors or announce your pending arrival from a block away, but it has added just the right amount of solid lows at moderate volumes that I was looking for. Depending on how much kick you're looking for it may not be a bad idea.

[audiovibe]

Quote, originally posted by w8_4_me »Nice looking install audiovibe. What size sub is that? thanks, W8Thanks, It is a 10" subQuote, originally posted by Kamikaze »Aron... Beautiful write up, and so true.Love your install btw, it's so clean.Thatkya thankyaAron