Ok, help me pick: On Axis or Off Axis (fiberglass dash pods)

[Colin - STAPUFT]

Alright guys, help me decide if I should go On-Axis or Off-Axis with my new dash pods.

I know every application is different (I've given some info below), but I'm going for as much SQ as I can (or will ever) muster. Once I finish with this, I'm done tinkering for a year or two with the soundstage.

Either way I do it, I plan on running the tweeters on axis. The mids are 4" JBL GTi and the tweeters are 1" MTX silk domes. Going to have one tweeter L&R, 2 Mids L&R, 1 Mid (signal processed) Center.

On-Axis will be a bit more obstructive and a bit harder to do actually (fitment) than Off-Axis will be. Running them Off-Axis (firing up and angled a bit at the windshield *could* help a bit with the mids, but hard to say. I do have full and separate time alignment for the Tweeters, Mids, and Woofers (door). ...meaning- I can TA how far each speaker (each tweeter or mid or woofer) is from one another, AND how far away each set of speakers (both tweeters, mids, woofers) are from one another.

^said all of that to say this... I believe I have the tools to get phase correct (if I have the ability is another matter).

Off-Axis Pics:

On-Axis Pics:

Either way, it is pretty abominable.... lolol. Opinions?

[Colin - STAPUFT]

I am thinking this though:

With the angles I would have to make the baffles if I do On-Axis, I *could* make it sound good from the driver's seat while sounding like total Crap from the passenger's side.

^ I almost don't care. I'm the one listening to the system anyway.

So... It would probably have the ability to sound better from both seats if I went with Off-Axis.

Any thoughts?

[Jessica]

i think off axis is going to screw you over big time. I cant imagine all the work you have to do to deal with reflecting off the windshield like that. But it would be easier to build those pods for sure.

edit: changed on to off

[aculous]

what frequency are you crossing them over at?

[OrionStang]

You need some pods similar to these so you can play with how different positions sound, before actually making the glass pods. This is my car, im going with the third option. I have less room than you due to windshield slant, so you'd have more options.

[ALPINE408]

If that's how you will set it up on axis for sure the reflections off the glass will be hard to deal with

[Colin - STAPUFT]

i think off axis is going to screw you over big time. I cant imagine all the work you have to do to deal with reflecting off the windshield like that. But it would be easier to build those pods for sure.

edit: changed on to off

^ That's what I'm kind of thinking too. Reflections would suck. Still, it would be better than what I've got going on right now, but if I'm doing this might as well try to make it sound good. lol

what frequency are you crossing them over at?

That all depends on how things sound. For the mids the high pass will be at least at 150hz I would think. Maybe even up to 250- it just depends. I have the HP option for -6, -12, -18, & -24 roll off slopes and about 5 frequencies between 150-250 for HP cutoff, so I've got some flexibility there. As far as low pass cutoff- that's the tricky one. I could use passive x-overs (-12db but I can't remember the frequency). I will be running 4 seperate EQs (eventually) for the L&R Tweet & Mid.... I'd planned on trying them for some of the Low Pass duty for the Mids. Tweeters on -6db @ 3,800 hz (got some pricey caps that seem to do well by the tweeters especially on axis), but again- had planned on using the EQs to do some work on the tweeters too.

You need some pods similar to these so you can play with how different positions sound, before actually making the glass pods. This is my car, im going with the third option. I have less room than you due to windshield slant, so you'd have more options.

Oh agreed, and when I stuck speakers up there (by hand) and toyed with that Idea- they were literally in my face. The freakin' A-Pillar on an Astro is dumb close. I did build On Axis dash pods for my Nissan Frontier and I love the way they sound. They house inexpensive mids and tweeters too- off head unit power. Center image is freaking AWESOME- stage width though... eh- could be out a bit.

^That's what has me hung up on doing this. I've been listening to stuff and hearing things I've not heard before. Duets where you think the two voices are in the center singing together but you realize that one is left center and the other is right center and they are actually singing towards one another. ...it has me hung up on doing the setup like this (in some fashion) with decent speakers on real power (@1000 watts rms)

If that's how you will set it up on axis for sure the reflections off the glass will be hard to deal with

You are right. Even On Axis has the speakers close to the glass simply due to the narrow dash and angle of the windshield. Just isn't really much room up there. I do plan on having a bit of a lip that overhangs the baffle a bit (maybe) to hopefully help some... but still.

I could redo the doors and have everything but the tweeters in the doors, but I really feel like wasting some fiberglass and some time. Would you suggest going Off Axis then?

I just showed the On Axis baffle placement to the wife. She just scowled, said "NO." and walked off. hahaha

Best $20 I ever spent:

[Colin - STAPUFT]

Well, I killed a 2.5'x6' board with all of the baffle pieces.

I'm thinking if I do this, I will HAVE to go Off Axis like in the pics below. It is much less obtrusive and looks much better- even in the Jenga like way that stuff is just propped up there. This is more like accurate though on size- speakers clear and watnot. I need to stew on this for a while before the resin, glass, and bondo come out.

Still... pretty crazy though.

The wife likes it more- for what that is worth. I would like to think that if I did this and put the mids and highs on the dash she won't kick them like she does the ones in the kick panels, but she would find a way.

[OrionStang]

IMO, for its worth, aim the driver pod at the passenger headrest and the passenger pod at the driver headrest. Then use TA to get the best sound to the drivers seat. Bouncing off the windshield can be harsh, or just "off".

Not sure about the center channel.

[ALPINE408]

I would of went with what Orion stang 3rd option with the center channel firing up..... But that's me it's not my car I can just tell you from my experience as an SQ judge I have only seen one car do something like that and it scored horrible.... The guy was new to SQ as well so he was not going to score that high anyways