Installation of car acoustics is not an easy task. Incorrectly mounted speakers will negate the sound advantage of an expensive system. On the contrary, installing speakers on acoustic podiums will allow the full spectrum of sound frequencies to appear.
Why do we need a podium
Many motorists who install speakers in regular places do not suspect how much the sound quality suffers. The car has several places to install speakers: in the front door trim, on the luggage compartment shelves, inside the dashboard.
However, these places are no good. The fact is that the speakers work well when they are fixed rigidly. In this case, the membranes work with full amplitude. That is why the speakers of home acoustic systems are made of solid materials. In cars, the plastic is soft and thin enough to keep the speaker completely immobile. In addition, the movement of the car creates vibration of the skins, and the speakers are subjected to additional shaking. Acoustic podiums are designed to minimize unwanted vibration.
Another reason for installing podiums is to extend the speakers into the open space of the cabin. If they are flush with the door skin, then the sound partially goes under the skin.
Podium location
In order for the acoustic podium to perform its function, it must be made of a dense material on which the speaker cabinet will not vibrate. The most commonly used plywood. This is the cheapest and easiest material to process. Although not the best. Solid varieties of plastic, such as textolite, caprolon, polyamide, will give the best result, but production will cost more.
When determined with the shape and size, then take into account the diameter of the speakers, and the place where they will be installed. Podiums located in the doors should not interfere with the operation of door locks and power windows.
It is correct to mount not on the casing, but on the metal base. Then the heavy podium will not come off the plastic during movement, and the speaker membrane will work with full amplitude.
Inner podium
There are two options for installing the speaker in the door: indoor and outdoor. Each of them has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of indoor installation (under the door trim) include the following:
- The speaker is installed inside, so the appearance of the podium does not matter.
- The interior of the car does not change its appearance
Cons of this setup:
- It is not possible to change the angle of the speaker relative to the door. In order for the earthe driver perceived the entire spectrum of frequencies, the speaker located at the bottom of the door should be directed at an angle and look at the gearshift knob.
- Difficulty installing large speakers. In this case, it becomes necessary to cut the door frame, which causes placement problems.
Outdoor catwalk
This variety is installed more often due to the fact that large speakers can be installed. This is achieved by moving the columns outside the door frame. They can also be placed with the membrane up so that the sound is directed towards the driver's head. In addition, this option allows you to give your stereo a unique design.
The main disadvantage of this installation method is the difficulty of manufacturing an acoustic podium. After all, it should not only improve the sound, but also be in harmony with the interior of the car.
Materials and tools
For self-production, you will need certain materials and tools:
- Plywood. The thicker the better. Minimum - 10 mm. If the thickness is insufficient, then it will be possible to increase it by gluing the sheets.
- PVA glue or epoxy.
- Polyester putty with fiberglass filler. This variety allows you to fill large voids.
- Faux leather or carpet.
- Secrets, bolts with nuts.
- Jig saw, drill, stationery knife.
- Sandpaper.
- Mounting foam.
How to DIYacoustic podium for VAZ
For different models, the manufacturing principle will be the same. Let's take as an example the creation of acoustic podiums on the VAZ 2114. As mentioned earlier, there are two options: install the speaker under the door trim or outside. The outer podium is made from a plastic pocket, which is mounted on three screws at the bottom of the skin.
Work in progress in the following order:
- You need to define the size of the screen on which the column will be fixed. To do this, take the speaker, measure the diameter of the mounting frame. Screen hole size should be slightly smaller. Taking into account that the back of the speaker passed freely, but the fastener itself rested against the plywood.
- Cut out the ring with a jigsaw. The bigger it is, the better the sound. Therefore, the outer diameter is only limited by the width of the plastic pocket.
- Through wooden or plywood bars, the screen is fixed on the front of the pocket. Fasteners are made using self-tapping screws. You don’t need to take large ones, because the main fixation will be due to mounting foam. The bars must be selected in such a way that the axis of the speaker is directed at an angle to the horizon and looks at the speed knob.
Foaming the space between the screen and the casing. Mounting foam is best used with a low coefficient of expansion. It has a higher density after curing, which will have a better effect on the sound
- The cured foam must be cut along the edges of the plywood ring, and also donespeaker hole. For these purposes, a clerical knife is used.
- The resulting catwalks are not perfect. In this state, they cannot be covered with dermatin. Therefore, all irregularities must be eliminated with putty. It is applied with a soft rubber spatula that follows the contour. After hardening, it is ground with sandpaper grit P60 - P80. If the irregularities were not eliminated the first time, then puttying must be repeated.
- Drag of acoustic podiums 2114. Leatherette, which stretches, for example, vinyl leather, is well suited for these purposes. A thin layer of glue is applied to the plastic pocket, and leatherette is pulled on top. Next, a hole is cut out for the speaker, and the edges of the vinyl leather are tucked inward.
The last thing to do is install the speaker, cut holes for the power window control buttons and install the control box.
After that, a pocket with an acoustic podium is mounted. It is installed on the casing as standard, that is, with the help of three screws.
