COMMON PREMIUM SYSTEM
TECHNICALS

This Common Premium System is popular as an upgrade option in base vehicles, or as a base system in high-end vehicles. It has 6 channels of amplification.
The front 6½” speakers receive 2 channels of amplification, while the front 3” run on their own 2 channels with the A-Pillar tweeters connected via a passive 6dB per octave crossover. The rear 6½” connect to the final 2 channels, with their coaxial tweeters connected via a 6dB per octave passive crossover. This creates a lot of dispersion and comb-filtering problems, which ultimately limits the potential sound quality from the system.
The Digital Signal Processor (DSP) within the amplifier provides sound equalization and active crossovers between the front bass and midrange drivers, and also between the bass drivers and subwoofer.
The separate 10” subwoofer, enclosure and amplifier are used to reproduce deeper and more powerful bass than the 6½” drivers are capable of. As a single point of sound, the subwoofer suffers major standing-wave cancellations (around 80Hz for a trunk mounted subwoofer in a typical sedan), which cannot
be rectified.
Due to the configuration of this system, there is no easy way to upgrade the sound quality at a later date.

UPGRADED PREMIUM SYSTEM
TECHNICALS

The Upgraded Premium System has a total of 8 channels of DSP and amplification.
All channels have independent level, crossover and equalizer settings which allows for better integration, tonal balance and voicing between drivers. Due to the very high efficiency of the Ported Tweeters, all channels are housed within the head-unit. A second 4 channel amplifier IC can be incorporated on the head-unit PCB, without adding undue thermal or electrical stress. This greatly simplifies the system, while further reducing cost and weight.

Active 24dB per octave crossovers between the bass/midrange and tweeter greatly reduce any comb-filtering problems.
The DSPs within the head-unit are used for sound equalization, active crossovers, and provide a roll-off below 50 Hz in order to protect the bass drivers from mechanical and thermal overload.
The 4 x 8” bass/midrange drivers have more than double the surface area of a 10” subwoofer. When powered with a standard 20 watt amplifier, they will easily outperform a single 10” subwoofer driven by a 200 watt amplifier, while saving space, around $170, and approximately 4 ½ Kg (10 lb.) in weight.
The Ported Tweeter allows for a much lower crossover frequency than is normally possible, resulting in a wider, much more immersive sound.
*The vehicle could ship with traditional crossover points, but a “Premium” DSP tune with lower crossover frequencies could be available for a fee. This would provide a smoother, much more immersive sound, and deeper bass. This could be implemented as a one time upgrade fee, or via a monthly subscription. If the subscription fee were $5 per month, this could add $660 profit over the 11 year life of the vehicle.
**For those individuals who can’t get enough bass, a 12” subwoofer and amplifier can be added later (a smaller one would be pointless). The vehicle manufacturer could retail the subwoofer, enclosure and amplifier for $700, and return a profit of around $500.