Update time. No major changes but a bunch of evolutionary ones. Lots of trial and error with tuning my first DSP setup, gradually learning REW as well. I've recently decided to start from scratch with the tune, now that I have a better idea about my preferences and my gear. Ideally starting fresh I can optimize things better with levels/crossovers as a starting point before EQ and try using REW more to my benefit. Should've taken more pics but I get focused on what I'm doing and forget.
I realized that my resistor box (which tricks the head unit into "seeing" speakers) was causing distortion at higher volumes (it was loading the OEM amplifier down, which feeds my DSP). I removed it, which once again disabled the OEM head-unit fader. I disconnected the rear speakers for now, but I'd still like to come up with a way to turn them for the rare occasions I have rear passengers who want to listen to music. Might have to install a physical switch for them. Still worth it for what I gained in clean headroom!
I took apart my front doors again, in an effort to chase down rattles/buzzes with auto/marine closed cell foam tape. I discovered that the small hard plastic access panels were acting a bit like passive radiators tuned to 110hz, the resonance would go away when I pressed on them. I decided to screw a piece of mending plate to them (ccf sandwiched between), the added mass pretty much killed the resonance. I also went to town with CCF tape anywhere plastic touched metal, which has reduced many sources of buzzing:
Attachment 9801
I also realized that my map pockets were flexing causing resonances, even though I had cld applied to the inside of them. I made-up some braces from broken mic stand caps and furniture feet, seems hokey but they actually make a difference. I've placed them far enough back that they're not really in the way.
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Those two changes resulted in much cleaner midbass from the door woofers (enough that I had to adjust my tuning to compensate). I also managed to subdue most rattles and buzzes with the exception of the outside door handles. They're plastic and buzz horribly against the door metal (inside and out) at around 120hz. I was able to reduce it somewhat with CCF smooshed into gaps under the handles but I have no idea how I could eliminate it with the way they're designed.
I recently swapped my woofer baffles for NVX silicon ones, which actually made a surprising change to midbass impact. More details on that in this thread: https://www.caraudiojunkies.com/show...omparison-Test
Attachment 9802
Lastly, more random resonance/rattle chasing. I did a bunch of CCF taping where my cargo floor sits on the plastic framework and put more CLD on the bottom of the cargo floor. I also CLD's and CCF taped the rear-hatch which was very tinny. If nothing else it's reduced road-noise from the back of the car and killed a few rattles. The rear passenger dome light also rattles a bunch, I removed it, put CLD on the roof above it and stacked some CCF tape in-between. Better, but still rattles a bit with certain bass freqs. I'll have to have another go at it.