My audiophile interest is begining to flow again. Just how much room is available behind the drivers seat for amplifers? I have relegated myself to believing that I can only fit one small sub in the cabin behind the passenger. Even started having the seat moved up a bit to get my passengers used to the less space. I wonder if I will be able to get close to 20hz?
Yes, Monsoon is already there, but there is no real presence in the car. That trunk is sure tempting to put some hardware in. And who buys a fun car like this for trunk space?
Anyone thought of replacing the rear speakers with something other than coaxials?
This is the stock Monsoon system with the sub box lying foward. At the bottom, you can see the silver bump outs, that is what the backrest sits against. The deepest part behind the passenger seat is about 5.75" and the drivers side is less without the two recessed areas
My audiophile interest is begining to flow again. Just how much room is available behind the drivers seat for amplifers? I have relegated myself to believing that I can only fit one small sub in the cabin behind the passenger. Even started having the seat moved up a bit to get my passengers used to the less space. I wonder if I will be able to get close to 20hz?
Yes, Monsoon is already there, but there is no real presence in the car. That trunk is sure tempting to put some hardware in. And who buys a fun car like this for trunk space?
Anyone thought of replacing the rear speakers with something other than coaxials?
Martin at GM Roadsters says that the depth behind the drivers side is as much as 4" near the floor but as stated in the previous reply it tapers in towards the top.
__________________
Regards,
Bodean
(North TX, 2007 "Cool" GXP Automatic with Monsoon System, Escort 9500ic, Custom Wind Restrictor, K&N air filter, Hahn BSR Tune & Hahn IC, Dual Horns, Kappasphere luggage rack (when needed), Flash2Pass, MagnaFlow muffler, JLe430 amp with Pioneer Components & Blaupunkt rear, Crossfire amp with Sony Xplode Sub, DDR ProBeam, ADR Propulsion Wheels, Solo Hi-Flow CAT, Halo Demon Eyes), Hide-Away plates, Cherry dashboard
Thanks for the great pics. It gives me knowledge on what's behind there before I attempt putting my audio into my Solstice (one of these years).
__________________
2008 Mysterious GXP (MoMo) Solo Mach "Shorty" and Solo High Flow Cat
ADR wheels, XenTec headlights/fogs.
Badges removed, tinted windows.
Pontiac symbol overlays all around.
VIN 100541 - Drove it home 7/13/07. As of today; 26,000 Miles
I will post my opinion again that the small speakers in the rear corner panels provide little to no benefit to the overall sound and as such, any upgraded sound system should simply by pass these speakers. Put the money in the quality component front speakers you can afford, good quality four channel amp and improved sub speaker.
The existing Monsoon sub enclosure should be revised with an improved 8" sub speaker or better yet a larger 10" sub driven off the bridged two rear channels of the four channel amp or if you prefer a dedicated sub amp but in the small Solstice you run into space problem. Mounting an amp in the trunk, although some like this, is plain wrong--too hot, and why reduce what limited space already exists??
You can get some half way decent bass out of the Monsoon enclosure if handled properly--Dynamat the enclosure and better sub speaker but you are never going to get the sound of a 12" sub ( I am not into the booming bass like some like--just like clean tight bass a sealed enclosure can provide).
If you upgrade to a better amp the two small speakers can not handle the power and fall all to pieces. In a convertible they are a total waste of money, especially where they are located. Focus on your front stage the way music is suppose to be played any how. When is part of a band behind you anyhow??
__________________ GXP--Cool / 5-Spd.
TSW Nogaro 19" Rims, 245/40ZR-19 Dunlop SP Sport Maxx XL Tires, M/F 3" Exhaust, Side Cowl Panels, Side Skirts, Gentex Rear View Mirror, Stubby Antenna, Little Chromies, Momo Shift Knob, Hand Brake, & Floor Plates, Full Interior Reupholstery.
Here are a few snapshots of my setup as well. I have seen pictures where they have cut out the metal in the passenger area to fit a larger custom fiberglass box. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do as far as an enclosure is concerned.
__________________
Mean GXP Delivered 1/30/2007 $MSRP +$2K
Pioneer Avic D3 - Nav System
JL Audio ZR speakers, Alpine PDX 4.150 amplifier
Solo Performance Street Race exhaust
JPM custom center console, handles and shifter
Painted dash and windshield surround
Custom Valentine1 flush radar display
Debadged rear lettering
K&N Air Filter
OZ Ultraleggera Wheels
DDM Works Big Brake Kit
I left them alone. My head unit is set with the front biased to about 7 / 10. The rears offer a bit of rear fill, but are not worth the $$ to upgrade in my opinion. If you want an all out spl car then upgrade and amplify the rear speakers as well. To me it doesn't seem worth the effort or cost to replace them. Trying to find another place to put an amp is problematic as well.
Russisms, where do you normally have the volume set when crusing with the top down? It seems I need it to be at 30 or more to get good sound over my street race and wind noise, just wondering if my PDX is set correctly.
__________________
Mean GXP Delivered 1/30/2007 $MSRP +$2K
Pioneer Avic D3 - Nav System
JL Audio ZR speakers, Alpine PDX 4.150 amplifier
Solo Performance Street Race exhaust
JPM custom center console, handles and shifter
Painted dash and windshield surround
Custom Valentine1 flush radar display
Debadged rear lettering
K&N Air Filter
OZ Ultraleggera Wheels
DDM Works Big Brake Kit
I don't go above 12-15 and the volume is too high., I only replaced the head unit. I had the Monsoon 7 speaker system.
That's kinda my problem too. Worse when I got it and the settings were not correct.
I am able to use the sub with just the HU replacement as well (someone mentioned you couldn't but I can).
However, the sound is worse with the new HU, more so if you don't set the HU output correctly.
(I'm no audio expert, this is just what I ran into with my HU swap).
__________________
2008 Mysterious GXP (MoMo) Solo Mach "Shorty" and Solo High Flow Cat
ADR wheels, XenTec headlights/fogs.
Badges removed, tinted windows.
Pontiac symbol overlays all around.
VIN 100541 - Drove it home 7/13/07. As of today; 26,000 Miles
That's kinda my problem too. Worse when I got it and the settings were not correct.
I am able to use the sub with just the HU replacement as well (someone mentioned you couldn't but I can).
However, the sound is worse with the new HU, more so if you don't set the HU output correctly.
(I'm no audio expert, this is just what I ran into with my HU swap).
Whats the resistance on the factory sub? I thought it had it's own amp? You might just be getting too much distortion from the head unit outputs into the factory amp or subwoofer.
for instance, I know that on my chrysler LHS with the infinity system all the factory speakers were 2 ohm. So you couldn't replace the head unit and run straight into the speakers, you had to keep the factory amp. The problem is though, that the factory amp is set up for lower wattage inputs from the head unit, so aftermarket head units with 50w peak outputs produce a lot of distortion because they quickly max out the gains on the factory amp.
Anyway, just something to consider when installing stereo systems and trying to use factory hardware. The 2 ohm speakers can't go straight into the head unit (most head units need 4 ohm resistance speakers, per channel) and the new head unit is much more powerful than the original one.
Anyway, I don't know what the resistance is on the factory speakers, but I would ditch the factory amp and subwoofer all together and use the pre-amp outputs from your new headunit into a new amp / subwoofer combo to get better results.
