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OK, so found out something new and potentially useful. The A3 uses the same hole spacing as the A4/A5 but where the A4/A5 standard spacers seem to be 44mm tall, the A3 spacers are 36mm tall. This is excellent because it gives me more than enough space in the front to clear the door card.
This probably explains why the Aliexpress spacer was shorter, because they have made a single mould for all cars and gone for the shorter of the two.
Now just need to decide, if I should order the MDF version or the plastic Connects2 adapter.
Links to the spacers on the manufacturers websites.
I have decided to go with the 6.5" front door speaker. It will be less hassle. Also the Aurum Cantus AC-165 6-1/2" Carbon Fiber/Kevlar Woofermay be a pretty good choice for B&O (8 ohm) systems, since the depth is less than some of the other options. The backside depth for mounting is less than 3" & the Qts is 0.37 so this should work well with the internal air volume of the door. I am not too worried about max power, since I don't turn the volume high anyway.
That is fabulous driver and you are making a smart decision. @m444 have you worked out what the difference is between the AC165/50C2C, AC165/50CK and AC-165.
I can't find those drivers in the UK, even the official distributor said that they haven't stocked them for a few years.
I found another Italian brand called Ciare and they make some super drivers too. But again in my silly pursuit for going the hard things, I am fixated on fitting an 8inch driver, when a 6.5inch is soooo much easier.
Last edited by bruce_miranda; 09-03-2020 at 11:03 PM.
OK, so I think I might have found the spacer I can use for an 8inch driver. It's made for an A3 but the benefit is the hole pattern matches the A4/A5. It has a couple of mounting lugs, but they can be quite easily cut away.
The plastic version is made by Connects2 and has a part number of CT25AU10
The previous CT25AU07 that I bought specifically designed for the A4/A5 is 45mm tall, whereas the CT25AU10 is 35mm tall.
There is another interesting difference. So while both speaker spacers are meant to be for 8inch speakers and while the car mounting hole spacing matches, the construction of them is different. One used holes in the plastic that your self tapping screws will sink into, where the other seems to want you to use a nut and bolt.
The other difference is, that while both have a 9mm lip on which the speaker mounts the inner diameter of one is 187mm where the other is 183mm. The outer diameter of the speaker mounting surface is also different, one is 202mm and the other is 206mm. This could means some modifications are needed depending on the speakers used and this is where an MDF mount fairs better because you can easily make adjustments.
This will give me both options to play with to decide which one works better to clear the door card which is especially important, given I am choosing a speaker that is wider than the opening of the door. However the reason this option is still attractive is because the larger cone will mean digger deeper and the entire door card opening is dedicated for the cone, as opposed to cone + speaker frame.
Stay tuned..
Photo shows the two side by side.
Last edited by bruce_miranda; 09-04-2020 at 06:36 AM.
That is fabulous driver and you are making a smart decision. @m444 have you worked out what the difference is between the AC165/50C2C, AC165/50CK and AC-165......
AC-165 Mid/woofer, Aurum Cantus
• Composite cone of non-woven carbon fiber and Kevlar.
• 25mm / 1″flat CCAW voice coil, Kapton voice coil bobbin. Power Handling (max) = 90 Watts
Sensitivity 1W/1m SPL = 89 dB
Nominal impedance Z = 8 Ω
Resonance frequency F0 = 32 Hz Total quality factor Qts = 0.37
Equivalent volume of air Vas = 76 L Depth = 2.875"
Optimum Cabinet Size (determined using BassBox 6 Pro High Fidelity suggestion) Sealed Volume = 0.3 ft.³, Sealed F3 = 85 Hz
Vented Volume = 0.7 ft.³, Vented F3 = 53 Hz
================================ AC165/50CK Mid/woofer, Aurum Cantus
• Composite cone of non-woven carbon fiber and Kevlar.
• 50mm / 2″flat CCAW voice coil, Kapton voice coil bobbin.
• The special magnet system of Faraday ring and demodulation coil. Power Handling (max) = 225 Watts
Sensitivity 1W/1m SPL = 89 dB
Nominal impedance Z = 8 Ω
Resonance frequency F0 = 37 Hz Total quality factor Qts = 0.19
Equivalent volume of air Vas = 24 L Depth = 3.46"
Optimum Cabinet Size (determined using BassBox 6 Pro High Fidelity suggestion) Sealed Volume = 0.05 ft.³, Sealed F3 = 156 Hz
Vented Volume = 0.09 ft.³, Vented F3 = 105 Hz
================================ AC165/50C2C Mid/woofer, Aurum Cantus
• Sandwich cone of non-woven carbon fiber.
• 50mm / 2″flat CCAW voice coil, Kapton voice coil bobbin.
• The special magnet system of Faraday ring and demodulation coil. Power Handling (max) = 225 Watts
Sensitivity 1W/1m SPL = 90 dB
Nominal impedance Z = 8 Ω
Resonance frequency F0 = 37 Hz Total quality factor Qts = 0.19
Equivalent volume of air Vas = 32 L Depth = 3.46"
Optimum Cabinet Size (determined using BassBox 6 Pro High Fidelity suggestion) Sealed Volume = 0.07 ft.³, Sealed F3 = 155 Hz
Vented Volume = 0.12 ft.³, Vented F3 = 104 Hz
Its actually an extremely well made spacer, except that it is MDF. It does have a coating on it that is supposed to help it stay water resistant. I just wish the plastic frames were as well made as the MDF ones from Basser and 4carmedia.
So far the Aliexpress plastic is the best build quality, but in trying to make a generic spacer, they have made too many compromises.
I wonder if the door panels play any role in keep the car door water tight? My car has not had one door panel on now for a few weeks and I noticed that there is a lot of water coming down the door window into the door cavity. Or maybe that is normal except we don't see it.
09-01-2020, 04:02 AM
AC-165
