This is one thing I've thought of for a while, but until now, I'd never actually seen one...

I'd think that this would be better than the reference series 6.5" because the cone can put out more bass.

I've heard others say that the kappa plates can't sound as good as components, due the fact that they are using a cheap, built-in cross-over.

Well this has an external cross-over, and a separate tweeter, and a big *** surface area...

Any thoughts? Seems like a nice solution for high quality rear-fill.... I'd even go for a "Perfect" version, maybe one without the tweeters... but I could always use the crossover to 'tame' the tweeters..( I'm always thinking of the passengers! )

Basically, what are your thoughts on how the 5x7 component compares to the 6.5 component? -- assuming we are comparing both as reference series...

I'd tend to think that you would get MUCH more bass output... and even if this isn't the best solution for our cars... what about other cars with rear shelves? Would this ever be better than a regular 6.5" component setup?

 

The 6.5 has more cone area than the 5x7 so it should have better bass. The 5x7 would fit more convenienly - you would probably have to modify the hole to fit a 6.5 back there, whereas you could just buy a spacer for the 5x7 and stick the tweeter up pretty high so it's not blasting right in your ears.

OR you could even mount those tweeters up front in the A-pillars since you don't have components up there and just have the woofer in the back. That was my original plan before I bought my kick panel components. You will need to find a way to get their respective volumes set right (which may be more trouble than it's worth).

If you're itching to spend $100, I would leave everything the way it is, and add the CDT Audio M519S:

http://www.thezeb.com/p-CDT-Audio-M-...tem-108390.htm

I would have done it myself, but I needed better all-around sound up front, and this wasn't going to fix that. I will also be reluctant to spend any more money on car audio since I just spent $200 on speakers, and $200 on sound deadening material that hasn't been installed yet. Plus I want to build a new subwoofer enclosure. Since you seem to be happy w/ your midbass, this might fix your imaging.

 

I don't think we're thinking of the same thing... but a 6.5" woofer would actually have less surface area than a 5x7..

but its hardly noticeable... so I guess with the case of the 5x7 component, there is not much gain... but consider 6x9's and such... where there is bigger gain...

 

Area of a circle = pi*r^2
= 3.14*3.25^2
=33.2 in ^2

Area of ellipse = pi*A*B where A is half the long axis and B is half the short axis
=3.14*3.5*2.5
=27.5 in^2

The 6.5" has more cone area.

 

oops I was sorta thinking that 5x7's and 6x9's were the same speakers, with different mounting brackets...

in that case

a 6x9 has a 42.39 sqaure-inch cone surface area.... NOT taking into account the fact that the cone is not flat, and that adds more surface area to this formula.....

I'd like some 8" components...

 

Sticking 8's back there brings us back to the topic of a different post that involved fabricating some type of baffle to put back there.
I'd still like to see somebody fiberglass those areas into an enclosure (which would be permanent, of course) and put subs in there. There are a few companies that make shallow mount drivers that would likely fit if mounted low enough, but it would be difficult to calculate enclosure volume (although there is a decent amount of space). You would probably reduce some road noise as well since they would block sound from the rear wheel wells.
I would feel sorry for backseat passengers crammed in those tiny seats with subs banging in their ears! I'm still thinking about removing those seats entirely since they're practically worthless and putting subs in there, or else making that my "new trunk." That's all it does now, why have the seats?
Ah, too many ideas and not enough time/money.

 

you think the back seats are worthless??? try riding in a mustang, eclipse, f-150, civic, corolla...

you name it, our seats are usually better..

 

good point