Nothing but "Screw rear fill, just run a strong front stage" on caraudio forum readings, but from what I notice it's mostly SUV/couple/truck owners, not mid-full size sedans.

In the middle of a whole new amp renovation and considering picking up some Hertz ESK165's components for the rears off 120watts (From a Sundown SAX 100.2) [Currently not running any rear fill, got polk db650 in the doors, but no power to them]

My fronts are Hertz HSK165 components that'll get 320watts, coming from a Sundown SAX 100.4.

I will set the gains conservatively on the 100.2 so that the rear comps does not overshadow the fronts.


What'dya think?

 

When I installed my system in my TSX over the past month or so, I was only able to install the front components and my subs as I couldn't get my hands on the matching rear speakers. Needless to say, it sounded MUCH better than the stock system. Over this past weekend, I secured my rear 6x9's and installed them. MAN what a difference!! I haven't been able to tune the system as of yet because I don't want to bring attention to my car from my neighbors, but I have it faded mostly to the front so I just get a little bit out of the rear and it makes a huge difference...hth

 

When you go to a concert.... where does the band play? On a stage in front of you. If you have a strong front sound stage and a strong subwoofer it will blow your mind.

I had a Civic that I built for sound quality several years ago. I ran MB Quart fronts and a single 10W3 off two humungous 2 channel Phoenix Gold amps. By far, the best sounding audio system I've ever heard.

Rear fill is for people that just can't let go of the rear speakers. But, they don't know why.

 

I understand that, but was just wondering what your thoughts were, found some Hertz ESK 165 comp used for 100$, was considering it. I've already let go of rear fill for the past 2 months, but right now i'm changing all my amps and I've already got an amp for rear fill so I figured may as well use it. Got Polk db650's back there right now but I was never really impressed by them. Looking for a change, most likely coaxials, components if it makes any sense to do so. Found some Type-X coaxials for 50$ I think I will get those to throw back there. If not then maybe the pioneer rev's, heard nothing but good about those

 

Got it. Put whatever you can back there as long as you leave the gain down. Too much rear fill can actually take away from your listening experience. It's not really worth spending much time or money on. Your factory speakers are the best for such an application.

 

FWIW, I just threw some old coax's in the door that I had in the attic. I usually keep it faded almost completely to the front (which is why I taped the front pre amp outputs for the sub instead of the rears), but wanted something back there for when I have rear seat passengers. I have the kids back there quite a bit. When that's the case, I fade to 50 / 50 so they have some sound other than the sub behind them. I have ridden back there with the system faded to the front and they are definitely needed for rear seat passengers to be able to enjoy the music.

 

i know quite a few people that prefer music coming from the rear, but very few of those people are true audiophiles. I guess it does give you kind of a sense of being more enveloped in the music, and I do kinda see their point. I believe a properly set up front stage can do that as well, but I always encourage people to do what they feel sounds best to them, if you're not competing. I've heard of a few cases where a rear stage has actually improved on the overall sound quality, usually by making speakers harder to localize. Not everyone wants to feel like they are sitting in the crowd at a concert, but in the orchestra itself. Just remember that music is played in stereo, and all you can differentiate between is left and right.

I say if you want the rears, and have the money for it, that set up sounds like it would work, and would match the fronts. I think the only benefit in running components in the rear would be possibly to turn off the tweets and just run mids, or at least be able to separately adjust the tweeter gain (i'm not sure if the hertz crossover has that ability, assuming you're not going active). Also some time-alignment (if you have that on your headunit) may help blend w/ the fronts and not hurt the front stage as much.

I have had friends that put component rear fill, and overall it would make it 'louder', and don't be surprised if rear passengers can't hear what you are saying in the front. Although that depends a lot on how you set the gains. don't forget to readjust your sub level to blend well with the additional mids/highs.

 

Thanks for all the input, turns out those ESK's were sold anyway. I ended up picking up some used Alpine Type-X Mids that came with the component set used (no xovers or tweeters, mids only). They should be perfect for a little bit of extra UMMMPPHH. My friends got the x component set and their mids sound pretty nice.. not as nice as the hertz hsk's though =)

 

i have rear coax speakers and cannot even tell they are there until i fade all the way to the front. i think they do make the sound fuller.

i do not have any speakers in the rear deck though.