Upgrading Audio -Speakers- Are components comparable to coxials?(in same range)-Morel

[peteruk]

Hey all!

I'm currently in the process of upgrading the audio in my 2000 reg Ford Fiesta. It's hard to stick a budget on this - my previous home amp DIY project was done on a value rational - while some components were a tad on the pricey side, I only included them if I could warrent their use, and even then, they were aquired from the cheapest of the cheap venders.

I have been basing a car-audio set-up on the intention of replicating my HiFi system at home. Admitedly, this may be naive, as cars are no doubt very different enviroments, but, I use a custom-made tripath amplifier, an M-Audio Audiophile 2496 sound card and two stereo Monitor Audio BR2 speakers.

The short of it is - I've never found the need for a subwoofer in my home, so is it fair to say I'm not likely to feel the need for one in a car? I'm assuming, but when sound dynamics are considered, could well be wrong.

After a great deal of research and consulting of various forums, I have aquired an Eclipse CD5425E which should suffice for a reasonably priced high-quality source. I now, however, need to locate some suitable speakers.

Continuing on my marathon of research, I am quite taken by the Morel Pulse 6x9 very highly reviewed here and again, albeit it with slightly less scrutiny at here. It seemed from what I had read, I was unlikely to find a more suitable sounding nor a more better value speaker for the money. While £150 wasn't cheap, it was acceptable.

However, in my attempts to find suitable vendors, I stumbled upon some Morel 6.5 Components being sold near me used for less than the 6"-9" were new. Problem is, I am unsure whether I should go for them - they have a smaller frequency range, I cannot find any exact reviews praising them and I had been advised using door-speakers was generally a poorer-performing way to go. But yet, on the upside, they are being sold new for considerably more money, so surely they cannot be worse? Then again I don't want to make any costly assumptions, as they are of course a different style of speaker.

I'd really appreciate your thoughts on this situation, and any other suggestions/comments/recommendations on what I have already nabbed and what I am considering, especially on the Morel dilemna. Perhaps I could buy the used 6.5s for the front, then maybe purchase a 6x9 for the back shelf later?

Of course, if you feel these are actually a completely overhyped product, please feel free to say so and put forward other ideas. I had heard Image Dynamics were good for components, but I am currently attempting to hunt down the link I had to a review for one of their sets.

I could use your vast sea of experience, hardened knowledge and steaming recommendations to help bring hifi audio to my car! Hopefully before someone snaps up those used 6.5s

Many thanks to anyone who can help.

 

[Janesy B]

You'll need Components for the front as the speaker is so low and there's a tweeter hold anyway. 13cm speakers will fit in the doors, anything else will require cutting into the door. You'll also need to check the depth of the speakers, you may need to make some baffles out of 12mm MDF.

Components at the front, 13cm coaxials in the rear using an adaptor and a sub in the boot will be your best bet.

 

[peteruk]

You'll need Components for the front as the speaker is so low and there's a tweeter hold anyway. 13cm speakers will fit in the doors, anything else will require cutting into the door. You'll also need to check the depth of the speakers, you may need to make some baffles out of 12mm MDF.

Thanks for the advice!

You see before I found the components, I was going to just survive with 6x9s in the back shelf, would that alone be insufficient?

And would you guess that the components are comparable to the coaxials, or is that just a sweeping statement?

 

[peteruk]

That is to say, would it be smarter to mix well-reviewed coaxials with well-reviewed components, or keep the product line and manufacturer the same? Sorry if I was a bit hazy.

 

[paintguy]

You see before I found the components, I was going to just survive with 6x9s in the back shelf, would that alone be insufficient?

That all depends on what you're after. If you just want to fill your car with a bit of sound, then rear mounted 6x9s would do it , but you certainly won't get the best out of them on such a flimsy mounting surface, and I wouldn't spend anywhere near that kind of money if I was going to 'waste' them like that. Also, I don't know about you, but I don't tend to listen to my HiFi with my back to it, so if you're trying to replicate your home sound, you don't want the speakers behind you

Achieving a good sound in a car is much more about how well the parts are installed, rather than how much money you throw at them. Some say 10% kit, 90% installation, so that gives you an idea of where to focus your attention. You mention the frequency range deficiency of the smaller drivers but trust me, mount the 6.5's solidly and they'll blow away a pair of 6x9s flapping away on a rear shelf.

A decent set of components, mounted up front on suitably reinforced mountings should be your starting point.

 

[peteruk]

That all depends on what you're after. If you just want to fill your car with a bit of sound, then rear mounted 6x9s would do it , but you certainly won't get the best out of them on such a flimsy mounting surface, and I wouldn't spend anywhere near that kind of money if I was going to 'waste' them like that. Also, I don't know about you, but I don't tend to listen to my HiFi with my back to it, so if you're trying to replicate your home sound, you don't want the speakers behind you

Achieving a good sound in a car is much more about how well the parts are installed, rather than how much money you throw at them. Some say 10% kit, 90% installation, so that gives you an idea of where to focus your attention. You mention the frequency range deficiency of the smaller drivers but trust me, mount the 6.5's solidly and they'll blow away a pair of 6x9s flapping away on a rear shelf.

A decent set of components, mounted up front on suitably reinforced mountings should be your starting point.

Thanks for lending the perspective, I can see where you're coming from now!

I will focus firstly on the components, and then look to upgrade from there on.

Ironically, my speakers are slightly behind me in my room! But that's more due to my room's compact nature and not neccesarily ideal .

I hate to pester, but would my logic be relatively sound in thinking: "If a particular range of coxial speakers gets an extremely good review, the component equivalents of the same range must be very similar" ? And thus, go for the morel components?

 

[Janesy B]

Usually but it doesn't hurt to mix and match. It's possible for one company to be brilliant at making Comps but awful at making Coaxials.

A budget would be helpful but remember trying to match your home system is a long an painful road, a tin can with speakers is never going to be the best sound stage.

At the front get some good quality 13cm Comps, replace the factory fit tweeters, I'd also recommend the use of some sound proofing for the door such as dynamat. You are quite lucky because the Fiesta door car has plenty of extra space to hide the crossovers for the tweeters. For the rear I honestly believe the use of 13cm coaxials and sub is best. I am actually selling these speakers with the 13cm adaptors for your car Click me - email in trust for more info!

Then get a good 10inch sub and you'll have a decent sound stage

 

[paintguy]

It's generalising a bit but yes, since the components will generally use the same err, components as the coaxials, but the tweeter is separated from the mid driver. Crossovers tend to be better in the component sets too. Morel do some very high quality kit, so I can't imagine either will be too shabby.