Getting the best out of my front speaker

[peppernick]

..... in actuality, the Focal Utopias are so bulky they don't fit behind my doorcards ....... :o :o

No I've always wanted to do this ;) and massive thanks to Icecold Andy, his craftsmanship and patience, I finally get to sample how a solidly mounted speaker can create such an impact in sound improvement [cool


Like a high performance engine, high performance speakers need space to breathe. To maximize air movement by the woofer cone, we cut into the doorframe of the M3 :eek: (painful at first but what the hell, it works :D )

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/peppernick/ICE124.jpg


Bloody BMW, of all places they shoved a supporting beam right behind the opening; rendering speaker reccess an impossible task :mad: But still the cut out is good enough for the Focals to breathe.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/peppernick/ICE125.jpg


Next up, to create as much space as possible around the stock speaker location to prevent the oversized Focals from catching any part of the doorcard during woofer excursion.

Stock speaker reccess

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/peppernick/ICE127.jpg

Andy with the grinder and trusty plier ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/peppernick/ICE130.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/peppernick/ICE131.jpg

The finished product [cool

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/peppernick/ICE132.jpg


Dynamatting is all important ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/peppernick/ICE134.jpg


Now the tricky bit, cutting out 4 pieces of 3/4 inch thick MDF rings, gluing them together and then shaping them to fit the curvature of the E46 inner doorframe.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/peppernick/ICE128.jpg

We test fitted the speaker location 10 times. Put the doorcard on and took it off 8 times in total before Andy was happy with the location and clearance. Once he was happy, the MDF rings were permanently fibreglass epoxied to the door frame.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/peppernick/ICE133.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/peppernick/ICE135.jpg


Once cured, they are now integral parts of the chassis. Speakers mounted.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/peppernick/ICE136.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/peppernick/ICE137.jpg


Wired up and doorcard installed. Looks 100% stock [cool

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/peppernick/ICE138.jpg


The sound quality is stunning! I've never heard midbass so tight before from just the front components. No rattles, no distortion, just pure ooouummmmpppphhhhh! . The Focal Utopia are amazing speakers, so natural, so precise, so clear, yet punchy. Like most Focals, the tweeters can be ear piercingly sharp. I turned them down slightly and ran all settings at neutral.

They work so well with my Diamond TDX sub. I'll be powering them with my DLS amp for a few days so that I can compare the difference between the DLS and the Audison Thesis when it goes in next week. Can't wait! Very happy!

Andy bro, you're the man! [ok Thanks dude [bow [bow [bow Just one final request ........... please please please .............






.......... can I have the left speaker pointing directly at my left ear and the right speaker at my right ear? :D :D :D I'll massage those aching biceps for you ;)

[Black Sabbath]

Another quality piece of work by Andy, as usual [bow
and how does he do so many late nights and still be at
work the next day?

[InvIs Inc]

wow thats amazing!!! well done andy :cool: and the cutting into the door :eek: :eek: :eek: nick ur insane!

making any sound clips soon?

nice 1 guys :cool:

[peppernick]

Another quality piece of work by Andy, as usual [bow
and how does he do so many late nights and still be at
work the next day?
He superman! He has such reserve it's amazing. But I think he'll be sleeping all night tonight :D




cutting into the door :eek: :eek: :eek: nick ur insane!
If you want it, you've got to go for it ;) No compromise :D TBH, it's not going to cause any problems. The area behind the doorframe is sealed anyway, plus the intergrity of that section is supported by the supporting bar and not the metal sheet we cut away. Even with speakers located at their stock position, the increase space behind the woofer cone will add so much more to the midbass.

[InvIs Inc]

what does it sound like from the outside now after cutting away the metal?

[adood84]

I can't see the pics but I bet it looks perfect Nick same as all your other mods

[peppernick]

what does it sound like from the outside now after cutting away the metal?
Unless at very high listening volume, nothing, with the proper sound insulation. Any sound hear outside is sound lost inside the cabin. Not good.

[mysticm3]

Nick you nutter! no wonder why Andy keeps delaying my project because of all your weird requests and make him work all night long haha lol! :eek:

joking aside that looks serious impressive, can't wait to hear them in person now. [ok


Your car must weights a ton now after all this dynamite sheets etc we need to loose more weight bro [situp

Well done again Andy you da man

[InvIs Inc]

aahh :cool: congrats again dude ;)

[GeorgeUK]

Immense Nick (as usual!) [cool (Hardcore effort by Andy[ok)

Very brave to be cutting in the door...I got worried taking the headlights apart to fit angels!

http://www.forumspile.com/Misc-Mad_Props.jpg

:)

[RDG 40]

thats some serious patience needed and a top quality look when finished.

Teddy mentioned a bit extra weight from dynamat all i can recommened nick is ul have to carbon the whole cars body parts. Roy here's your que pester him for a full vorsteiner conversion. lmao

[peppernick]

RE weight, in the quest of better sound quality, I'm willing to make the sacrifice :D

Strange nobody mentioned the best way to lighten the car is for the driver to loose 20 pounds! ;) Cheap too :D :D

[RDG 40]

I can do ya cheap personal training rates nick if you do wana be light for the ring lmao

[uberbmw]

Fantastic job, well done to Andy, looks great Nick.

[J2D]

Top job, looks quality

[mattj]

fairplay nick i know what a difference this makes, but i just couldnt bring myself to cut the doors!

must sound awesome though

[Nickleback]

Hat's off to you Nick, I aint never gonna compete with those! The Rainbows that I've got are as big as you can get without cutting the doors - but that's a whole new level to ICE moddin - congrats !!
Andy, top work mate - cant wait to hear them [jam [bow [bounce

[pete]

nice work..



focal door speakers are awesome ;)

[peppernick]

that's a whole new level to ICE moddin
It's all about exploring the horizon and then pushing forward just that bit more [ok

Problem is, now I know what it can do, there's absolutely no turning back! :eek:

[Raj]

Nice one Nick. You guys are nutta's. But all fair play to ya. Thre aren't many who would do that. I want to get a good listen to your set-up on the Ring weekend :D .

[Doc Matt]

Excellent project there, congrats. :D

[BigFas]

Doc Matt, what's happening with your ICE install? I'm desparate to see how you're getting a 12w7 into a vert! As your install could influence a future purchase ;)

[Raj]

Doc Matt, what's happening with your ICE install? I'm desparate to see how you're getting a 12w7 into a vert! As your install could influence a future purchase ;)

Your not the only one interested in this as the sub is MASSIVE :eek: .

[phat///M3]

Looking good, especially like that it looks stock, quality...

Steve