19
Positioning the Loudspeaker
Rainbow loudspeakers may be installed in your vehicle in a variety of places. In determining the
installation location the following information should be considered:
Woofers require a large area for optimum sound reproduction. Car doors with a large air cushion
between the door lining and external metal or the rear windshield deck of an auto with a large trunk are
ideal locations. In some vehicles designated speaker locations in the instrument panel, doors, rear sides,
and rear windshield deck offer the necessary minimum area.
The installation location of the tweeter must, as with the woofer, fit freely into the available designated
area or in a newly chosen area, in order that an unencumbered radiation of sound is possible. Before
installation, the mechanical installation possibilities, with consideration given to acoustical expectations,
should be reviewed. In order to find the best placement for the tweeter to achieve optimal sound
reproduction, installation should proceed after installation of the woofer/midrange
,
as follows:
•
Attach tweeter, over the accompanying crossovers or over a suitable crossover
,
to the amplifier
using long cables in order to permit a free radius of action at the selected location.
•
Set the system into operation and insert appropriate CD. This selects the volume in such a way that
the tweeter is not overpowered by the mid- and low tone range.
•
Vary position of the tweeter until a vivid and spacious sound is achieved. At the same time,
exchange the polarity of the tweeter, (switch plus/negative connections at the connecting terminals)
paying attention to frontstaging and sound variations. Frontstaging adjusts itself only if the tweeter is
not too far from the midrange and/or woofer. The decision as to the optimal installation location
requires patience and must be accomplished by testing several varieties of music.
•
Mark the determined installation placement and prepare for assembly.
Important:
Rear and front windshields strongly reflect the tweeter signal and can make the sound
seem shrill and overpowering. Windshields can, for the purpose of support, be used if
desired, however, normally installation in the windshield proximity should be avoided.
Upholstery absorbs high frequency sounds, making sound reproduction seem flat and
dull. Sufficient distance from head rests, upholstered backrests, and seats is essential.
A fundamental consideration in selecting the installation location is that
the individual system
loudspeakers should, for acoustical purposes, be kept as close as possible to one another
. When
the individual loudspeakers are placed too far apart, an acoustical void that impairs the intended sound
can result.
Important:
Review mechanical suitability before beginning installation into the selected location!
Built-in auto parts should
not
be removed. Take care with window mechanics and door
handles during door removal. Likewise, during rear area installations use care around the
gas tank. This area should
in no case
be worked on in any way. In general, pay close
attention to hidden cables and lines, which should
not
be cut or removed. Self installation
of the loudspeakers is possible, however take note in advance of necessary specialized
technical information about connections and interior auto safety mechanics.
The most acoustically favorable installation location is not always mechanically suitable. In this case an
appropriate compromise between optimal sound reproduction and mechanical attachment should be
determined.
Door Installation:
In order to achieve optimal frontstaging, the tweeters should not be placed too deeply
in the door area. They should be installed, for instance, at shoulder height and as far forward as
possible, in the vicinity of the instrument panel. Suitable installation positions here are the side view
mirror area and the upper door lining. Placing the tweeters on diagonal spacer rings (about 20
°
) can be
tonally advantageous, if thereby the arrangement is done in such a way that the left tweeter radiates to
the right door and/or right seat and the right tweeter radiates sound toward the left door and/or the left
seat. (In order to achieve optimal tweeter placement the scenario described above should be followed.)
