Initial Results after adding Tweeters

[Chriscpm]

MANY THANKS Chriscpm (!!) for starting this thread, then filling in details and answering questions. Like others, you've convinced me to do this mod, since I love listening to "car tunes" (lol), see this as something I can do, for an affordable price (Can$168 for the Alpine tweeters I just purchased off amazon.ca). That said, while I'm inside the door, I may as well install some sound deadening insulation. The amazon link you posted above, doesn't work for me for some reason. But I pulled off the "item number" from the unworkable (for me) link, which after searching amazon.com, suggests it's the:

394mil Thickened Sound Deadener for Cars - Aluminum Foil Foam Noise Deadening Material - Heat Shield Hood Insulation Dampening Mat 6sqft​

For US$14.99 (394 mm thickness and 6 square feet); is that correct?

I'm hoping that's it, since I can buy the same product on amazon.ca for (as usual) an increased price (Can$26.99).

That sounds right. In my c8, the product was thinner and denser. Any sound deadening material works.

 

[Six Speed Stephen]

Can we get a single write up with the installation instructors and wiring pictures for us noob modders? ala Kit Kat's installation guide for the shifter

 

[Chriscpm]

Thanks everyone.

If I were to add a subwoofer, the amp I have taps into speaker level signals then converts. It's an LC2i. It works well for shaping the bass. I'd like to get some of that goofy mid-bass out of there.

My plan was to tap the back speakers, then just turn dun the overall bass (probably way down) in the Emira screen. Then bring back using the sub.

Is there a smarter way?

 

[Chriscpm]

Can we get a single write up with the installation instructors and wiring pictures for us noob modders? ala Kit Kat's installation guide for the shifter

I did my pictures after the fact. In hindsight, I would have done a better job.

@crestima​

is going to do his soon. I live by him. I'll see if he would like me to stop over when he does his. Then we can do better docs.

 

[crestima]

I did my pictures after the fact. In hindsight, I would have done a better job.

@crestima​

is going to do his soon. I live by him. I'll see if he would like me to stop over when he does his. Then we can do better docs

Sounds like a plan @Chriscpm. I should receive the tweeters and Second Skin sound deadening by Friday, so perhaps we can coordinated for this coming weekend, if it works for you. Btw, here's a picture of the A-pilar trim removal taken from the service manual. Only 2 clips holds it in place.

 

[netsinah]

I'm curious to know how much sound deadening material is needed for both doors, assuming one should buy a bit more than actually used, to be on the safe side. The material that Chriscpm looks to have purchased off Amazon, is described as 6 square feet. Was that enough or was more than one package purchased?

I've never done this "sound deadening" mod before. The more I read about it, the more it looks like an endless audiophile rabbit-hole. Not only do different materials supposedly handle different sound frequencies, with manufacturers touting the virtues of their own product when it comes to ease of use and effectiveness, but some users complain some materials don't "stick" enough or they're so "sticky" it's almost impossible and very messy to work with or remove. Then we have the issue of WEIGHT being added which can be a sore spot for many. Some manufacturers claim their high cost is justified when their product is thin and doesn't weigh as much, yet still very effective. Others say you can't get good sound deadening, unless the material(s) is physically thick. Sigh. Ideally, it would be nice to find that perfect balance between sound cancellation effectiveness, weight and cost, for your "average buyer" (like me) who's not seeking perfection.

The Youtube videos, as usual, appear "suspect" with some reviewers looking to favour certain products. Other than many saying THE recognized manufacturer in this area is Dynamat, which has been around a very long time, a more recent competitor looks to be ResoNix, but both are very pricey, especially for someone in Canada looking at the US exchange rate and cross-border ship cost. Then there's Kilmat, Siless and a host of others, all of which get varying degrees of approval amongst reviewers. Locally and aside from what I can get off Amazon, and ignoring paying a local audiophile business a ton of money to do this for me, one of my only other choices appears to be Hushmat, which I can buy from an automotive performance retailer.

That said, I expect I'll follow the suggestion of Chriscpm and use anything that looks OK, to improve the Emira sound and the new Alpine tweeters I've purchased. Sorry for the length of this post...I should have stopped after the first paragraph (lol).

PS to crestima: thanks for your post on the thread and volunteering to provide further directions. Much appreciated and I look forward to same.

 

[KJWEmira]

I heard about this. Does the whole pillar just pry off?

Yes, it will pry off - but be cautious due to the airbag.

Use a plastic trim tool and insert at the top of the A-Pillar trim, and in the center. The trim will only pry off a little way (approx 3 cm) because a large metal retaining clip will prevent it from coming off any further (see attached pics).
Use a set of needle nose pilers from the top to squeeze this metal clip together to remove it (if you just pull, you'll deform it..).

Finally, I believe all cars have had the A-Pillar tether upgrade by now (see pic 0184)- This is a strap securing the trim to the car which prevents it from flying off in the event of airbag deployment. All you need to do is remove the 8mm bolt from the cars' A-Pillar.
Don't worry should this strap not be present, Lotus will install this for free as part of a service bulletin.

(If you zoom in, you'll see the speaker grill metal tabs folded over in Pic 0180 which I referred to in my previous message).

 

[KJWEmira]

I'm curious to know how much sound deadening material is needed for both doors, assuming one should buy a bit more than actually used, to be on the safe side. The material that Chriscpm looks to have purchased off Amazon, is described as 6 square feet. Was that enough or was more than one package purchased?

I've never done this "sound deadening" mod before. The more I read about it, the more it looks like an endless audiophile rabbit-hole. Not only do different materials supposedly handle different sound frequencies, with manufacturers touting the virtues of their own product when it comes to ease of use and effectiveness, but some users complain some materials don't "stick" enough or they're so "sticky" it's almost impossible and very messy to work with or remove. Then we have the issue of WEIGHT being added which can be a sore spot for many. Some manufacturers claim their high cost is justified when their product is thin and doesn't weigh as much, yet still very effective. Others say you can't get good sound deadening, unless the material(s) is physically thick. Sigh. Ideally, it would be nice to find that perfect balance between sound cancellation effectiveness, weight and cost, for your "average buyer" (like me) who's not seeking perfection.

The Youtube videos, as usual, appear "suspect" with some reviewers looking to favour certain products. Other than many saying THE recognized manufacturer in this area is Dynamat, which has been around a very long time, a more recent competitor looks to be ResoNix, but both are very pricey, especially for someone in Canada looking at the US exchange rate and cross-border ship cost. Then there's Kilmat, Siless and a host of others, all of which get varying degrees of approval amongst reviewers. Locally and aside from what I can get off Amazon, and ignoring paying a local audiophile business a ton of money to do this for me, one of my only other choices appears to be Hushmat, which I can buy from an automotive performance retailer.

That said, I expect I'll follow the suggestion of Chriscpm and use anything that looks OK, to improve the Emira sound and the new Alpine tweeters I've purchased. Sorry for the length of this post...I should have stopped after the first paragraph (lol).

PS to crestima: thanks for your post on the thread and volunteering to provide further directions. Much appreciated and I look forward to same.

Hi There,

I used "Skinz" sound deadening, then stuck acoustic foam over the top.
Skinz has an adhesive backing that requires heating up to stick. It comes in easy to handle & cut square pieces. I used 1 & 1/2 boxes - each box cost 100 GBP.
Yes, this will add some weight, around 10-12kgs, if you did both doors and the whole of the rear compartment.
But it's worth it - no more stone flicking up noise, you can have a conversation with the passenger, can take phone calls, music sound is far improved etc - although I've fully upgraded the audio.

Installing sound deadening took the longest amount of time to execute, around 7 days (not solid days)....But I did the plastic door cards too as you'll see from the pictures attached.

 

[crestima]

Yes, it will pry off - but be cautious due to the airbag.

Use a plastic trim tool and insert at the top of the A-Pillar trim, and in the center. The trim will only pry off a little way (approx 3 cm) because a large metal retaining clip will prevent it from coming off any further (see attached pics).
Use a set of needle nose pilers from the top to squeeze this metal clip together to remove it (if you just pull, you'll deform it..).

Finally, I believe all cars have had the A-Pillar tether upgrade by now (see pic 0184)- This is a strap securing the trim to the car which prevents it from flying off in the event of airbag deployment. All you need to do is remove the 8mm bolt from the cars' A-Pillar.
Don't worry should this strap not be present, Lotus will install this for free as part of a service bulletin.

(If you zoom in, you'll see the speaker grill metal tabs folded over in Pic 0180 which I referred to in my previous message).

Very, very helpful instructions. Thank you.