DIY: Tweeters in my Mirror Triangles
12-01-10, 08:53 PM
#1
DIY: Tweeters in my Mirror Triangles
This is my first attempt at using some fiberglass and bondo to make anything.
I started by sanding the triangles and speaker mounts with 120 grit sand paper.
Then I used some quick dry epoxy resin to glue the mounts to the triangles.
This is where it started to move sort of quickly. I used speaker grill cloth and plastic emblem & trim adhesive to get the form. Next I laid up resin and some fiberglass.
[/QUOTE]
next came sanding, bondo, sanding, and some more bondo.
I started by sanding the triangles and speaker mounts with 120 grit sand paper.
Then I used some quick dry epoxy resin to glue the mounts to the triangles.
This is where it started to move sort of quickly. I used speaker grill cloth and plastic emblem & trim adhesive to get the form. Next I laid up resin and some fiberglass.
[/QUOTE]next came sanding, bondo, sanding, and some more bondo.
12-01-10, 08:54 PM
#2
And after some sanding, here's what I have so far. I laid up the fiberglass on the passengerside, and test fit this pod.
I'm aware it still needs a little tweaking, but so far I'm fairly surprised how simple it's been. I'll update further as I get them finished. I'll have to order some SEM texture.
I'm aware it still needs a little tweaking, but so far I'm fairly surprised how simple it's been. I'll update further as I get them finished. I'll have to order some SEM texture.
12-01-10, 09:53 PM
#7
I boogered that first one up a little bit, I wouldn't use it for a mold, I got happy with the dremel and removed some plastic. 
After a while it all started to look the same. It was my first time ever using or seeing fiberglass in person, didn't realize it was like honey. It got me thinking some 5.25" components in the kick panels would be nice. I doubt 6.5's would fit.
I was thinking about trying to make one that houses a gauge. I think it would be cool to have a boost gauge there, it would be handy on an S5 with the automatic seat belts.
After a while it all started to look the same. It was my first time ever using or seeing fiberglass in person, didn't realize it was like honey. It got me thinking some 5.25" components in the kick panels would be nice. I doubt 6.5's would fit.I was thinking about trying to make one that houses a gauge. I think it would be cool to have a boost gauge there, it would be handy on an S5 with the automatic seat belts.
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12-02-10, 09:19 AM
#10
Updates: Passenger side is glassed, going to sand today. Driver side needs some tweaking as well. I'm surprised at how close I've gotten them to be mirrored, they may come out pretty good after all. Please ignore the graffiti my pod picked up last night, I got happy with some markers. 
Here they are comparing angle, shape, etc.
Here is what I started with.
Here is my test fitting.
Here they are comparing angle, shape, etc.
Here is what I started with.
Here is my test fitting.
12-02-10, 10:01 AM
#11
Right near Malloy
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You might not want them mirrored. You don't sit directly between them, so your sound stage needs to be shifted towards the driver's side. As such, the passenger's side one may be a little flatter for optimum performance.
12-02-10, 11:25 AM
#13
I'm not currently running a sound staging capable deck or processor to delay the sounds, so if I was to aim all of the speakers at just me would be in vain, as the timing of the sound reaching my ears would be off from the nearest to the furthest speakers.
12-02-10, 11:25 AM
#14
A waste of perfectly good mirror triangles. 'A' for effort, 'B' for execution, 'F' for acoustics.
Does nothing to improve the staging of the image. Additionally, that left tweeter will slam you in the face. The right tweeter will be hard to hear. Maybe add a potentiometer (volume control) to the left tweet to pull it back some for balance. Still won't help the image, but at least you could gain some control of the balance.
A better place would be to create tweeter pods nearer to the door speaker. This would tend to stabilize the sound image.
FWIW, I flush-mounted my tweeters in the flat surface just below that mirror triangle, facing up. I have some of the same issues you will have but the the balance is pretty nice and the imaging is ok due to the high frequencies mostly reflecting off the windshield. This added length in the sound path makes the high frequencies path closer to the path from the door panels. It works ok, but I don't know if I would do it this exact way again.
OTOH, you could be onto something for a gauge pod on S5 coupe.
Does nothing to improve the staging of the image. Additionally, that left tweeter will slam you in the face. The right tweeter will be hard to hear. Maybe add a potentiometer (volume control) to the left tweet to pull it back some for balance. Still won't help the image, but at least you could gain some control of the balance.
A better place would be to create tweeter pods nearer to the door speaker. This would tend to stabilize the sound image.
FWIW, I flush-mounted my tweeters in the flat surface just below that mirror triangle, facing up. I have some of the same issues you will have but the the balance is pretty nice and the imaging is ok due to the high frequencies mostly reflecting off the windshield. This added length in the sound path makes the high frequencies path closer to the path from the door panels. It works ok, but I don't know if I would do it this exact way again.
OTOH, you could be onto something for a gauge pod on S5 coupe.
12-02-10, 11:36 AM
#15
I'll echo Jack's "A for effort, B for execution" but my problem is the platform.
99% of RXs I see have broken mirror triangles and all Mazda asks of them is to cover up some screws.
Although you may have actually strengthened it structurally, it still depends on the flimsy (and apparently designed for one insertion only) mounting system.
But hell, maybe it hangs in great...what do I know?
99% of RXs I see have broken mirror triangles and all Mazda asks of them is to cover up some screws.
Although you may have actually strengthened it structurally, it still depends on the flimsy (and apparently designed for one insertion only) mounting system.
But hell, maybe it hangs in great...what do I know?
12-02-10, 11:40 AM
#16
I'm thinking that with the 4 - 6.5's and 2 - 3.5's already in the car I'm not lacking any high frequencies anyways. It's my car not my home stereo, and the car is so small that if I pointed them in any direction it would not take long for the sound to reflect back.
The triangles that I used were spare one's that I had and one was cracked, so actually I repaired it and made them both stronger, plus I got to utilize some of the tweeters that I've been hoarding for yrs. In my case it's a win win situation.
The triangles that I used were spare one's that I had and one was cracked, so actually I repaired it and made them both stronger, plus I got to utilize some of the tweeters that I've been hoarding for yrs.
In my case it's a win win situation.
12-02-10, 12:25 PM
#17
rx7 almost a religon
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I'm thinking that with the 4 - 6.5's and 2 - 3.5's already in the car I'm not lacking any high frequencies anyways. It's my car not my home stereo, and the car is so small that if I pointed them in any direction it would not take long for the sound to reflect back.
The triangles that I used were spare one's that I had and one was cracked, so actually I repaired it and made them both stronger, plus I got to utilize some of the tweeters that I've been hoarding for yrs. In my case it's a win win situation.
The triangles that I used were spare one's that I had and one was cracked, so actually I repaired it and made them both stronger, plus I got to utilize some of the tweeters that I've been hoarding for yrs.
In my case it's a win win situation.i'm going to do this but put a gauge there and another on the steering column.
12-02-10, 01:16 PM
#20
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Might consider this in my vert, good job there Only thing is I got tweeters in my 6.5" in the doors, and planning on two 8" subs in the parcel shelf, which will give good enough sound for a small car like the 7
Only thing is I got tweeters in my 6.5" in the doors, and planning on two 8" subs in the parcel shelf, which will give good enough sound for a small car like the 7
12-02-10, 04:35 PM
#22
I also have the issue of hardly hearing the radio too. That's why I bought some 6x9's and an amplifier. I lost the headrest speakers with the installation of an aftermarket headunit, so the amp will drive them and the 6x9's.
I just have so many other projects queued up in front of it.
Looks good though. I still give it an A.
