Use this section when installing Tweeters, Systems, or 3-Way
A solid front stage with a good image is one of the most difficult tasks to achieve in a vehicle. No
car has the optimum listening environment. This makes proper sound staging very difficult to
accomplish. Most speakers tend to be placed where they will fit easily, as opposed to where they
can perform the best. The mounting location of your speakers will have a great effect on the sound
quality of your stereo system. The special care taken to place the speakers will yield many hours of
listening enjoyment in return. Several important recommendations should be followed.
•Place the speakers where they have a direct path to the listening
area.
•For the best integration between the midrange and tweeter, the
tweeter should be placed less than 2" from the midrange (Figure 1).
•If you cannot place the tweeter less than 2" from the midrange,
then place the tweeter more than 7" from the midrange. Placing the
tweeter 2"–7" from the midrange can cause destructive interference
(frequency response problems) which will affect the speaker's
ability to reproduce the frequency range around the crossover
frequency of the system.
•Whenever possible, place the tweeter directly above or below the
midrange as this maximizes the imaging (point source) capability of
the speakers (Figure 1).
•Sound radiated from a “point source” provides the best stereo
imaging because the separation of the acoustical
centers between the midrange and tweeter for
each channel is at the optimum distance. In a
closed environment such as an automobile,
horizontal speaker alignment (Figure 2) can
cause amplitude and phase differences which
will degrade not only the imaging, but also the
frequency response. This is due to the path
length differences between the midrange and
tweeter. Mounting the speaker with minimum
path length difference will ensure the best
staging and imaging possible from
your audio system.
5
INSTALLATION-TWEETERS
2" or Less
Figure 1
Figure 2
Housing
Housing Clips
HousingTweeter
Tweeter Tweeter
Flush Mount Surface Mount
Wedge Mount