About 2 weeks ago I decided to trade in my car on a new one...
I wanted to buy a bakkie (pick-up), but wasn't really in the mood to give up the creature comforts and power of my Audi A3 3.2 quattro for a 1.6 Nissan NP200 bakkie. This made me procrastinate on the issue for just about a full year. Finally I found what I was looking for - 2009 Chev lumina SS UTE 6.0 V8 with low mileage. The previous owner did the wheels and the exhaust, leaving me with only the sound to do - what a bargain!
So, the first weekend I had it, I stipped the dash out in order to remove the centre speaker. For some unknown reason the clever people at the factory decided to put a centre speaker in the middle of the dashboard. Not that there is much in terms of stereo imaging in a car, but let me tell you - that R 7.29 centre speaker they have in there messes things up more than you can imagine. While stripping out everything to get to that speaker, I discover that there are some pretty decent Rockford Fosgate splits in the car already. Things are looking better and better - I now only need to get an amplifier and a small subwoofer to finish things up.
I need 3 channels amplification: one channel each for the RF splits, and another for the sub. Now I don't need massive power from the amp because I actually care about my hearing, so I decide to spend the money on a better quality amplifier with lower power. Same for the sub. 10" is good enoug, so let's spend the money to get better quality, not higher SPL. After much deliberation, I decided to go with some Focal goodies.
The subwoofer I decide to go with is a Focal Polyglass 27V1:
And the amplifier is a Focal Solid 4. It has 4 channels, and allows me to bridge two of those for use on the sub:
As for the installation itself, I don't want flash and bling - I want subtle and unobtrusive. I don't want to advertise that I have aftermarket sound in my car, so I need to do the install as "factory" looking as possible while still getting good sound out of it.
Picked them both up from a place near where I live on Friday afternoon. With the long weekend ahead of me, you know there is only one thing I will be concentrating on ;D
I forget to mention: I used to do car sound installs for many years in my youth, so this is not my first time taking a panel or two out of a car.
Onto some pictures then:
1. This is the inside of the cab with all the panels and carpets, etc, etc removed. I also took the passanger side seat out to make things easier.
2. This is where the subwoofer will go. There is a deep recess which was covered by the back panel which I am using to get some volume for the enclosure.
3. Some pieces of wood which I will use to fasten the new panels onto. Also note the "poor man's dynamat" on the back wall.
4. Test fit first back panel.
...continued below...
I wanted to buy a bakkie (pick-up), but wasn't really in the mood to give up the creature comforts and power of my Audi A3 3.2 quattro for a 1.6 Nissan NP200 bakkie. This made me procrastinate on the issue for just about a full year. Finally I found what I was looking for - 2009 Chev lumina SS UTE 6.0 V8 with low mileage. The previous owner did the wheels and the exhaust, leaving me with only the sound to do - what a bargain!
So, the first weekend I had it, I stipped the dash out in order to remove the centre speaker. For some unknown reason the clever people at the factory decided to put a centre speaker in the middle of the dashboard. Not that there is much in terms of stereo imaging in a car, but let me tell you - that R 7.29 centre speaker they have in there messes things up more than you can imagine. While stripping out everything to get to that speaker, I discover that there are some pretty decent Rockford Fosgate splits in the car already. Things are looking better and better - I now only need to get an amplifier and a small subwoofer to finish things up.
I need 3 channels amplification: one channel each for the RF splits, and another for the sub. Now I don't need massive power from the amp because I actually care about my hearing, so I decide to spend the money on a better quality amplifier with lower power. Same for the sub. 10" is good enoug, so let's spend the money to get better quality, not higher SPL. After much deliberation, I decided to go with some Focal goodies.
The subwoofer I decide to go with is a Focal Polyglass 27V1:
And the amplifier is a Focal Solid 4. It has 4 channels, and allows me to bridge two of those for use on the sub:
As for the installation itself, I don't want flash and bling - I want subtle and unobtrusive. I don't want to advertise that I have aftermarket sound in my car, so I need to do the install as "factory" looking as possible while still getting good sound out of it.
Picked them both up from a place near where I live on Friday afternoon. With the long weekend ahead of me, you know there is only one thing I will be concentrating on ;D
I forget to mention: I used to do car sound installs for many years in my youth, so this is not my first time taking a panel or two out of a car.
Onto some pictures then:
1. This is the inside of the cab with all the panels and carpets, etc, etc removed. I also took the passanger side seat out to make things easier.
2. This is where the subwoofer will go. There is a deep recess which was covered by the back panel which I am using to get some volume for the enclosure.
3. Some pieces of wood which I will use to fasten the new panels onto. Also note the "poor man's dynamat" on the back wall.
4. Test fit first back panel.
...continued below...