Re: Kicker Audio SRT-6
I absolutely agree - this look is horrible. It is also terribly impractical. Having just taken my Crossfire on a 2000 mi trip, I gotta tell you - every square inch of free space in this car counts.
There is so much more that is important in an audio system than the "bigger is better" mentality that has been shoved down our collective throats by the car audio manufacturers.
I've only had my Crossfire since October '05, and have been slow at upgrading the audio system, as no one that I've talked to really understands how to optimize the stock system without going overboard. IMHO, the tonality and resolution of the stock system isn't all that bad. Frankly, I get more enjoyment out of the stock system than my very pricey home audio system.
I'd be quite happy with a little more SPL without pushing drivers and the amplifier into distortion. I agree with those who've written about putting a high pass filter capacitor series with the door low frequency drivers to limit them to a -6db/octave rolloff below about 100 Hz. Most of the energy going to these speakers go to bass reproduction, which is unnecessary with the subs behind the seat. The only reason I haven't done it yet it that I'm not crazy about pulling the door panels.
I'm not sure why the stock subwoofers have +12V going to them, unless they are amplified as well. Has anyone checked this out? It would be nice to get the most bass possible out of the stock locations.
Certainly if a person was going to go all out with the stock locations, a new head unit could be installed, along with an amp in the stock location and new drivers all around. I'm just not sure where the point of diminishing returns is for those of us who are interested in accurate sound reproduction at a reasonably high sound levels without the need to knock the paint off the outside of the car.
I've tried talking to dealers and car audio outlets about this and it was just a waste of time.
Any discussion in this regard would be welcome, IMO.