djman37 wrote on 02/16/07 at 17:42:28:i had better luck facing the WO to the rear in my Xterra...3db better actually.
That sounds about right. The way I have it explained is that facing the rear provides a compound loading of the wave. Essentially doubling the number of waves hitting at the windshield (mic placement). Hence +3db.
As for anything else, 60 hit one thing dead on. SPL competitors are a crazy breed of talented people. I was in that crowd for a number of years and it is amazing the things one will come up with to get .1 more db out of a car they have been working on for years. It is like Drag racing in a very real sense. Once you get a fast car it gets exponentially harder to go faster. Same goes for loud.
Fast cars are fun to drive, but hard to race. That's why people get sponsors. Loud cars are fun to listen to, but hard to win with. Again money makes a big difference, but talent, crazy amounts of work and long hours pay off. If you want both sound quality and loud, hang up competing and learn to enjoy your music.
It took me over a decade to realize I just wasn't dedicated enough to win anymore. I may have gotten too old for all those long nights and hot weekends. Now I like to listen and hear. If you haven't done so, take the chance to listen to some really awesome SQ cars and even better a truly good sounding home stereo. It will sink in and become what you want to hear all the time. I know my recent listening to some various good home speakers opened my eyes.
Take care,
Robert