Soon to install new comps, any ideas?

[altoncustomtech 773]

Alright guys, I've had these Bravox 3 ways for a while now. My wife didn't want to tear into the van until the Atlas's had died and they're on the way out. The front passenger mid has been giving the "Death Rattle" from time to time and it's getting worse, so my wife is breaking down and wanting me to begin getting the design, supplies and such together to be ready to make a quick change and build for the new set. That being said, I have some idea's about how I am going to do it, but I wanted to run it by the great minds here and see if there's a better way to go about it.

First of all, here's a picture of the inside of the van to give you an idea of what I have to work with.

There's only about 3" of depth to work with in the kick panel on the passenger side and a little less on the driver's side with the e-brake pedal. That really kind of eliminates any possibility of building kick panels for it, at least from a practicality standpoint. I'm not great at fiberglass, there's not a lot of call to do it around here so my experience is limited, besides that I don't think I'll have the time to do it. So I'm left with working with the factory placement and door panel.

My plan is to cut the factory grille out of the panel. I plan on building the baffles in the door up to get just shy of the factory panel. Then building a snap in grille that matches the curve and shape of the panel (so it looks factory) and use some 1/4" aluminum rods to protect the mid since the 3-way set does not include grilles for them. Then I was planning on placing the mid and tweet wherever they sound best. I will be moving them around and finding the best placement for them.

I guess what I'm looking for is any better way to do it with the limitations I have on it. I wish I could visually show you guys whats in my head, but i'm no good with drawing, so we'll not try that. I think it's the best I can do with what I have, but I figured I'd see if I can tap into some of the great minds of some of the great guys I've met on here and get a little help or a better way to do it. Thanks for the help ahead of time guys.

[///M5 2,833]

That vehicle doesn't scream 3 way to me. If you have to, I'd put the mid and tweet up on the dash and fit the midbass in the stock location. Since you've ruled out kicks your only other real options is all in the door. Of course, you really should experiment as it will all depend on that passive. My guess is that the closer the drivers are to each other the better, but getting the mid and tweet up high might be more than acceptable as well. If it were me, I'd run something 2 way in that car and not 3.

[Sir-Lancelot 216]

I know you said you didnt want to, but I would try MB in the door and the mid and tweeter in the kicks.

You wouldnt have to go really big on the kicks as the mid wouldnt need much airspace.

That would be the easiest way to good results IMO.

[///M5 2,833]

If kicks are in the play I like that idea as well.

[altoncustomtech 773]

That vehicle doesn't scream 3 way to me. If you have to, I'd put the mid and tweet up on the dash and fit the midbass in the stock location. Since you've ruled out kicks your only other real options is all in the door. Of course, you really should experiment as it will all depend on that passive. My guess is that the closer the drivers are to each other the better, but getting the mid and tweet up high might be more than acceptable as well. If it were me, I'd run something 2 way in that car and not 3.

If kicks are in the play I like that idea as well.

No, it's not the best for 3-way at all. However, I had the opportunity to get those Bravox's for a once in a lifetime low price and I didn't want to pass it up. I also figure that if I take care of them they'll last what life the van has left in it at 175,xxx miles and hopefully be better suited in the vehicle that replaces it. I talked with Impious about the set when I first purchased them to get some insight on the pros and cons of the set and such since he had some good experience with them so I've got down some of the tricks it will take to get the set working right and I sure as hell intend on playing with placement A LOT to be sure I get them in the right location. His recommendation was keeping the mid and tweet close to the midbass as well, tho on my current component set it never sounded right with the tweeter anywhere but where its at up high, so we'll just have to see.

I know you said you didnt want to, but I would try MB in the door and the mid and tweeter in the kicks.

You wouldnt have to go really big on the kicks as the mid wouldnt need much airspace.

That would be the easiest way to good results IMO.

The midrange shouldn't need any airspace to speak of, it has a sealed back. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that assumption tho. The biggest problem with the kicks is the damned parking brake pedal. I had thought of trying that placement but I'm pretty sure I'll have the pedal in the way or would have to figure out some way of moving it. I'll just have to recheck that though to be sure, I'll snap pics of the process as well so you guys can see how much of a pain this thing is, lol.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm hoping everything works out well. At least what I see in my head should be pretty nice. As always the trick is getting the picture in my head fabbed out to real world existence and be the same.

[///M5 2,833]

Why not put something used and cheap in there and then when you sell the van install the Brav 3 ways in what you replace it with. The only reason I said to put the mid & tweet up high is that I was afraid you'd be separating all of the drivers and that would sound like ass. Passives aren't designed for that geometry in particular in a 3 way. If you have to separate them please keep the mid & tweet together.

You keep complaining about the kicks, but sort of need to use them to effectively use that set. So many compromises to make them work basically compromises all of the benefits of a 3 way to begin with. Sort of like using an 18" sub in a 12" box because you have it. Not an effective way of producing bass, but there are people that do it.

[altoncustomtech 773]

Why not put something used and cheap in there and then when you sell the van install the Brav 3 ways in what you replace it with. The only reason I said to put the mid & tweet up high is that I was afraid you'd be separating all of the drivers and that would sound like ass. Passives aren't designed for that geometry in particular in a 3 way. If you have to separate them please keep the mid & tweet together.

You keep complaining about the kicks, but sort of need to use them to effectively use that set. So many compromises to make them work basically compromises all of the benefits of a 3 way to begin with. Sort of like using an 18" sub in a 12" box because you have it. Not an effective way of producing bass, but there are people that do it.

I've got some ID CTX's sitting around intended for a Blazer I'm in the middle of rebuilding the engine on, but I REALLY want to play with the 3 ways, lol. I'll keep it in mind, especially since I would prefer to have the best I can get out of them no matter what vehicle they're in. You don't have to worry about me separating the mid and tweet, me and Impious went over that in some depth.

Yeah I keep complaining about the kicks cuz of their size and the placement of items near the driver's side. You'll see what I'm talking about when I get back home (I hate travelling for work sometimes) and get some pics taken with the mid and tweet in the locations to help give some scale to what is seen. The passenger side wouldn't be impossible, in fact it's quite doable with just the mid and tweet. However the drivers side with the parking brake pedal and the hood release is the possible deal breaker on the location. I'm definitely not ruling it out, but only some testing and measuring will tell for sure. I figured that if worse comes to worse reinforcing the door panel from the back side and installing them right above the midbass could possibly work out well, or at least get them well into the ball park. I'm pouring back over Impious's install thread on his to get some more inspiration and information too.

[///M5 2,833]

Do you ever use the parking brake?

*outside of when I have a trailer I NEVER do

[altoncustomtech 773]

lol..... no, not really.... but the hood release is pretty important, lol.....

I get what you're saying and it could be an option..... we'll see..

[///M5 2,833]

Not to but it is WAY better to use a properly implemented 2 way than to overly compromise the set you have. Passive 3 ways are pretty restricted in getting them to sound good which is why you generically see me telling everyone to never do it. If you have to make too much of a compromise you are better off with a 2 way. Your other option is to make up for it with active crossovers and processing, but then it'd be silly to use those drivers.