Try using foam baffles behind the speakers. These will protect them and also
act as a tunable port for the speaker. The interior volume of a door is far
too much for most smaller speakers and can often make things worse. Even my
12" stage woofer only needs a ported box of 1.25 cubic feet for optimum
response and that is running at 400 watts constant.
----- Original Message -----
From: "neil N" <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2008 12:14 PM
Subject: Re: Was: speaker rec..... Now: RS Minimus 7 (aka Optimus) speakers.
Opinions? Where to buy new?

> Generally speaking, the larger the enclosure around the mid/woofer
> speaker(s), the deeper the bass will be. But, and I'm guessing
> somewhat, the size of the enclosure is relative to the power of the
> speaker, the size of the cone and crossover electronics etc. Plus the
> size and shape of the enclosure can accentuate certain frequencies.
> (standing waves. Think singing a low note in a bathroom stall)
>
> Though you weren't really suggesting that. Adding a box to the speaker
> in the door, seems somewhat counter productive to me. The "enclosure"
> is already there.
>
> For the rear, a box would protect the rear of the speaker, and you
> could control the low end acoustics somewhat by making the box for the
> speaker. i.e. IF the rear area under bench is empty (ha ha! Empty?!)
> the bass would be greatly, maybe too much so, enhanced without a box
> around the speaker. I'm pretty sure a box would control the low end to
> some degree. It would also take up room though.
>
> Just my .02,
>
> Neil.
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, May 31, 2008 at 3:41 PM, pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>> On the subject of speaker boxes:
>> How much would it make a difference to *actually* make little boxes for
>> behind the speakers?  For the front door panels this seems a bit
>> impractical, but for the rear ones it could be very doable.  Anybody done
>> this?
>> -Wes
>>
>>
>> On Fri, May 30, 2008 at 11:38 PM, Jake de Villiers <
>> crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I honestly don't know why you'd do that Neil.
>>>
>>> Car stereos typically are looking for a 4 ohm load, not the 8 ohms that
>>> home
>>> stereo loudspeakers provide.  In addotion, your low end response will be
>>> limited by the teeny enclosures rather than using the door cavity as a
>>> giant
>>> speaker box.
>>>
>>> Its quite easy to mount 6" two way speakers in the front doors that will
>>> outperform those little boxes, and they won't be pointed at your feet!
>>> :)
>>>
>>> I've got pix if you want......6" in the front doors, 5 1/4" in the
>>> overhead
>>> cupboard, 10" sub with real power under the rear seat.  John Clayton and
>>> Jeff Hamilton sound great!
>>>
>>> On Fri, May 30, 2008 at 12:03 PM, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> > Hi all.
>>> >
>>> > I've been thinking of installing a pair of RS Minimus 7 (aka Optimus
>>> > PRO-X44AV) in my Westy.
>>> >
>>> > Anyone using these in their Vanagon? Opinions?
>>> >
>>> > Not sure yet how well they would fit below the dash.
>>> >
>>> > Sadly I only have one left. The other one got sold with my old truck
>>> > the "blue flame".
>>> >
>>> > Anyone know where to get them new?
>>> >
>>> > I used them as home stereo speakers, and for a short while, as
>>> > reference monitors for audio recording. For what they were, they
>>> > sounded quite good to me. And they were well built, and stood up well.
>>> >
>>> > Just curious,
>>> >
>>> > Neil.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > --
>>> > Neil Nicholson. 1981 Jetta-fied Westfalia - "Jaco"
>>> >
>>> > http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
>>> > http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Jake
>>> 1984 Vanagon GL
>>> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
>>> Crescent Beach, BC
>>> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
>>> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
>>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson. 1981 Jetta-fied Westfalia - "Jaco"
>
> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/