cAR aUDIO sETUP

[LVMarauder]

What aftermarket car audio stuff do you have in your MM's. right now im looking at speakers, amps, and doubtfully a sub

[67435animal]

I replaced all four speakers with Pioneer 6880s(think that's the number - 6x8s). They sound terrific. I fixed the subwoofer vibration by reaching under the package tray material on the driver's side (speaker grill out) and removing two chunks of foam packig material and a piece of the foam insulation over the subwoofer that was already cut and ready to pull out! It was held in two places.

No more rumble, no more vibration and the new speakers are Wow compared to the originals. www.onlinecarstereo.com has the BEST prices.

Bob

[DeadVic]

The two pieces of foam packing material, where are those? I removed the mastic which was covering the sub driver itself, but still have the vibration. Is it 'cause I didn't remove the other foam packing material?

Thanks!

[67435animal]

Mine was a Ford demo and I saw the subwoofer complaint listed on the OASIS report; so, it is possible that a dealer added the extra foam pieces:

" REAR SUBWOOFER MAKING NOISE R-R RADIO CHK OUTPUT HAS CLEAN SIGNAL R-R REMOVE REAR SUBWOOFER BLOWN EXCHANGE ENCLOSURE"

You can see that they replaced the enclosure (XW7Z 18C804AA SUBWOOFER ENCLOSURE ) so maybe you have the same problem.

Even though this was donebefore I bought the car, mine was still rumbling and vibrating; I reached in through the driver side speaker opening as far to the left as I could (small hands and arms - lucky me!) and pulled two pieces of white wads of foam (you might call them packing material). Then, I could actually feel where the foam under the package tray (the gray stuff) had been cut in the shape of the subwoofer. I worked around and lifted up the foam in the two uncut areas and it pulled out completely (careful, no yanking here!). I turned on the radio, cranked it up and NO MORE rumble and vibration.

That solved the problem in my case.

Bob

[Directedby]

I just ordered this Double Din Head unit.

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=1 0430

Best double din IMHO.

Infinity Kappa 6.5 " component speakers all around.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-n1l1n86QTAb/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=108K605CS

A component speaker will separate the highs and lows as they were meant to be.

I am getting the 8" RS8A-HP Bazooka, which is Bazooka's new high end sub.

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=1 0819

And I am going with a Performance Teknique 600 Watt amp. 150 Amp/speaker.

[sailsmen]

Look in reviews as to the subwoofer.

The oem front/rear are of low quality. The sub appears to be of higher quality then the oem front/rear.

Many have been pleased with only replacing the front/rear oem.

See my sig.

[T-90K]

Originally posted by Directedby
I just ordered this Double Din Head unit.

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=1 0430

Best double din IMHO.

Infinity Kappa 6.5 " component speakers all around.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-n1l1n86QTAb/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?i=108K605CS

A component speaker will separate the highs and lows as they were meant to be.

I am getting the 8" RS8A-HP Bazooka, which is Bazooka's new high end sub.

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=1 0819

And I am going with a Performance Teknique 600 Watt amp. 150 Amp/speaker.

Will love to see how you mounted Kappas!
Pleeeeeease... :)
(BTW, I have the same pair here, waiting for... hmm... Christmas)

[T-90K]

And... I will not recommend go with components for rear. It will smash all sound picture.

[Matt Johnson]

are you doing your own installation work? Who's a good LA person to do this stuff?

[darebren]

sound is very subjective, i replaced OEM speakers with Alpine Type S, like it very much! very crisp.

[the fat bastid]

random spew...go!

i agree to the 'components up front but not in the back thing'

our hu is double din? doesnt looke to be tall enough...like its almost one of those bootsquash gm 1.5 din...

i'm not sure if bazooka's quality has gone up recently but i steer clear of them. a little story...an audio shop used to but used subs. they said they had so many people selling thier bazooka tubes back they had to stop buying them. the infinity perfect 12"s are real nice, or elemental desgins, or idmax. OTOH, my uncle gave me a pair of old tubes for my honda...i never wanted a big system in there and they produce enough sq that its better for the average person.

i forget who but someone swapped the oem sub for a kenwood.

end spew!

[Directedby]

Originally posted by T-90K
And... I will not recommend go with components for rear. It will smash all sound picture.

Smash all sound picture? What does that mean?

Instead of the component 6.5's should I go with teh 5x7 2 way Kappes in the rear???

Advice would be great.

[Matt Johnson]

I've been jumping up and down to get your attention...

Who is doing your installation work in LA? I need to find someone trustworthy enough to tear into the car to do it because I don't have the time nor the faculty to do so myself. Do you have any recommendations. I'm going with two new amps - one for sub, one for speakers - as well as new speakers and new sub.

[Directedby]

Matt -

I sent you a PM.

I tried to do what you want to do and the problem I ran into is the head unit.

Because it doesn't have RCA outs, the amp is converted through FM.

This reduced the quality and I also had a constant buzzing sound. Buzzing was engine noise but even when the radio was turned off, it made a hiss.

Best thing IMHO is to replace the head unit if you really want to get awesome sound.

[the fat bastid]

sound picture aka sound stage aka sound image (not my def):

The soundstage is the position (front/back and high/low) that the music appears to be coming from, as well as the depth of the stage. A car with speakers only in the front will likely have a forward soundstage, but may not have enough rear fill to make the music seem live. A car with both front and rear speakers may have anything from a forward to a rear soundstage, with an accompanying fill from the softer drivers depending on the relative power levels and the frequencies reproduced. The high/low position of the soundstage is generally only obvious in a car with a forward soundstage. The music may seem to be originating in the footwells, the dash, or out on the hood, depending on how the drivers interact with the environment.

The stereo image is the width and definition of the soundstage. Instruments should appear to be coming from their correct positions, relative to the recording. The position of the instruments should be solid and easily identifiable, not changing with varying frequencies. A car can image perfectly with only a center-mounted mono speaker, but the stereo placement of the music will be absent.

[TAF]

Well said, Gavin!:up:

[T-90K]

Originally posted by Directedby
Smash all sound picture? What does that mean?

Instead of the component 6.5's should I go with teh 5x7 2 way Kappes in the rear???

Advice would be great.

In simple words - all sound sources (aka instruments) will be placed in wrong positions or will be unable to localize. People above said the right things about that.

For simpliest and trouble free installation I will go with 1 way 6x8's for rear. 2 ways will work too, but you should remember - high frequencies from rear are your first enemy, the excessive sound level from rear- the second.

Regards!

[joflewbyu2]

your radio has dsp built into it. "dsp" is digital signal processing. it could delay sounds to each channel as well as change the sound stage. this feature makes adjustments for the front driver, rear passengers or all passengers. just keep the front and rear speakers of the same make, model and size. ie.) 6x8 Kenwood kfc-6808c 3 ways.

[Directedby]

Sounds like I should keep the 2 way 5x7 Infinity Kappas in the rear.

[TAF]

Originally posted by Directedby
Sounds like I should keep the 2 way 5x7 Infinity Kappas in the rear.

I went with the 2-way Infinity at all 4 and couldn't be happier. The best feature there is the tweeter that swivels so you can aim the rears towards the front and the doors up & back.

[T-90K]

Originally posted by Directedby
Sounds like I should keep the 2 way 5x7 Infinity Kappas in the rear.

Right, it will be better than rear components. Use them in your another car (if not yet).

[T-90K]

Originally posted by TAF
I went with the 2-way Infinity at all 4 and couldn't be happier. The best feature there is the tweeter that swivels so you can aim the rears towards the front and the doors up & back.

His Kappas have this feature too.
But with components in front you will have ability put tweeters in good positions and the main elements (6.5"-s) itself larger than 2-3 ways 5x7/6x8-s.
But no doubt solutions like yours are price/quality killers. I can't imagine most effective upgrade of MM's stock audio system than that.

[Directedby]

Originally posted by T-90K
His Kappas have this feature too.
But with components in front you will have ability put tweeters in good positions and the main elements (6.5"-s) itself larger than 2-3 ways 5x7/6x8-s.


6.5 Kappas are instaled already as are the 5x7 Kappas in rear.

I love the tweeters because the sound is not burried behind the door panel.

Head unit sucks and can't tell real high end sound until I install new head unit. Won't happen for 2 weeks, because MM goes into body shop. I am having my trunk repainted sans badge holes and a custom spoiler is being made.

Here's a pic of the tweeters.

[Directedby]

Sorry forgot to attach pic, here it is.

[#1MarauderFan]

So the factory speakers on the front doors r 6.5 size and 6 x 8's in the rear. What about the sub does anybody know?

[Logan]

Subwoofer is 6.5 inches. Kenwood makes a direct replacement mid-woofer that fits in the factory enclosure.

[Directedby]

Originally posted by #1MarauderFan
So the factory speakers on the front doors r 6.5 size and 6 x 8's in the rear. What about the sub does anybody know?

Factory is 6x8 all around.

6.5 rounds are a custom install in the front.

[#1MarauderFan]

So the car has 6 x 8's all around! I did not know that at all. For the sub, that is a great idea logan. Is the sub just a regular kenwood sub or excelon or something else?

[03SILVERSTREAK]

Originally posted by Logan
Subwoofer is 6.5 inches. Kenwood makes a direct replacement mid-woofer that fits in the factory enclosure.

I have ordered the replacement sub from onlinestero.com a week ago and this was the response I received in lieu of the delivery-
(We apologize for the inconvenience, but we are having difficulty getting this
item/s for you. Should you wish to check other items that we might have in
stock on the website, pls. let us know. And we should be able to help you change
your order. Therefore, your order will be cancelled.

We appreciate your patience.

Thank you very much).

[#1MarauderFan]

That stinks! Why is that happening?

[03SILVERSTREAK]

Just got off the phone with onlinecarstereo and their response was that It is very hard to get that sub for you however we have a nice selection of 8 inch subs if you want to reorder . needless to say I hung up with that rep . If anyone knows of another website , I've already started searching . :shake: :argue:

[#1MarauderFan]

Well let us know if u find any good sites.

[T-90K]

Originally posted by Directedby
Sorry forgot to attach pic, here it is.
Great, thanks!
I though about the same place for them.

Did you fit 6.5"-s by yourself?

[Directedby]

Originally posted by T-90K
Great, thanks!
I though about the same place for them.

Did you fit 6.5"-s by yourself?

No, had them done at a Car Steroe shop.

[joflewbyu2]

here is a thought. if you replace the radio with an aftermarket one w/ RCAs, just replace the OEM amp and box with a 8" sub in the original hole and put a class D mono amp in the trunk somewhere. hopefully a 8" sub will fit the whole without enlarging it.