Most Acoustically Inclined Car Design Options

[zxzDarkCloudzxz]

whats the most musically inclined shape of automobile?
anyone know of any cars that are have a very well designed shape for acoustics?

thank you!

[DVDdoug]

I don't know about acoustics, but it's easier to install speakers in some cars than others.

A regular sedan with a trunk allows you to use the trunk as a speaker cabinet, or the room to install a subwoofer. Woofers/subwoofers can be difficult in SUVs, pick-up trucks, or hatchbacks. A trunk also privides a good 'hiding place" for amplifiers & active crossovers.

And, some cars may have better speaker-location options for mids & tweeters too.

[Cokemonkey11]

whats the most musically inclined shape of automobile?
anyone know of any cars that are have a very well designed shape for acoustics?

thank you!

From what I know, low ceilings are a good thing (to reduce echo), so a normal coupe is probably best.

Some of the best car audio I've heard was in a Scion TC.

[Snash]

Not that you asked, but be forewarned that Subarus can not have a new head-unit installed. This is true as of a few years ago, it may have changed.

[rpp3po]

More important than the a car's shape is the careful adaption to its specific damping properties. Due to the small, clustered space and the many different absorbing and reflecting materials in different locations, getting a balanced image at the listening positions is quite a task. The most sophisticated system able to cope with this task, that I have heard until today, is the 10-speaker Dynaudio package from Volkswagen. I don't know wether that is available worldwide.

Anything else I have heard inside cars, wether from specialist shops or even the Bose system in higher end Mercedes Benz doesn't come close. And for about 1000 EUR it's quite a deal.

This post has been edited by rpp3po: Nov 7 2009, 00:52

[Audible!]

It seems like all of that glass and the generally sub-optimal placement of speakers in cars combine to make a perfect storm of mediocre acoustics, at least in terms of imaging. For one thing, assuming you're the driver, it's tough to think of any standard system design where you're midway between any pair of speakers.

FWIW the Bose component speakers (in-door 5.25" mids + dash mounted tweets, not an inexpensive option) in the front of my Acura are atrociously mediocre, although the 6x9s on the rear deck aren't bad.

edit for verbiage

This post has been edited by Audible!: Nov 7 2009, 03:40

[zxzDarkCloudzxz]

anyone hear of any good news about teh alpine technology that uses a separate microphone to adjust every speaker for optimal balance in order for each seat position to hear everything as its meant to sound like?

[evereux]

I have the Alpine Imprint system installed in my car. I've not actually tried listening to it in any position other than the drivers seat but it has made a vast improvement in frequency response.

[zxzDarkCloudzxz]

did u have it professional configured? or was it a plug n play deal?
im the driver of an 88 jeep and wondering if its a good idea to do something like that. is it cost effective?
cabin shape i guess combined with reflections and reverb really do affect sound more than i had relazied previous to signing up on these forums