Anyone into car audio?

[Jose]

Oh I forgot to mention a love affair I had with HiFonic amps back in the early to mid 90's. There was a stereo shop in Oak Cliff (Sampson Car Audio) that turned me onto them and me and a buddy of mine got into them. My buddy bought into the high current competition amps (Isis I believe) while I bought into a dedicate subwoofer amp (Hercules) and a stereo amp for my mids and tweets (can't remember the model). EW will probably admit to laughing when I showed up at his shop with a pair of them that I bought on eBay back in 2002-2003. The laugh was probably warrantied when they failed on my not to long after that and I resold them back on eBay for a loss. But it was all good as he introduced me to the JL Audio Slash Series and I bought two JL 500/5's for each of my vehicles at the time. I still have one of them in my SuperCirew and couldn't be happier.

[Jose]

I just wanted to start by saying this is an awesome thread that brings back a lot of memories when I first got into car audio. Sorta wish this thread was in the Media Forum so it would be easier to find but I have it subscribed now so it's just a little bit of a hassle.

I started off back in the late 80's attending competitions and subscribing/buying all the magazines (I think I still have a lot of them in boxes at the house). My first setup, a Pioneer cassette deck Super Tuner III with a Pyramid PB600 (pretty sure on the model) with some 6x9's and a pre built-box with some Petra 10" subwoofers.

This kept my interested for a year before I changed vehicles and switched to some RF Punch amps. I had two Punch 150's powering two 15" Petra subwoofers in a box me and my friends built along with a pair of 8" subwoofers with some 6.5 mids and tweets powered by a Punch 75. It was ghetto but it was loud. Got some pictures somewhere if I can ever find the box I have them in.

Anyway this thread brings back a lot of memories. I've gotten a lot more conservative in the years although EW still keeps me interested. After having my truck broken into a few times, I really appreciate a stock lock in a vehicle.

07, same door panel. I like that, but that'd mean I'd have to leave it there when I sell it.

Or pick up a set of spare door panels or sell it with the holes in there.

It is worth it if you are keeping the vehicle.

My thoughts exactly.

If you plan on keeping the vehicle any length of time, than I would say do it and deal with it later when you decide to sell it. How much do you think it would devalue the vehicle if you sold it like that (with or without the speakers) when you do??

[Z06killinsbf]

Anyone need an older Eclipse unit?

[dblack1]

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113DDX271/Kenwood-DDX271.html?tp=20217

This is kinda on the list, has back up camera. I do like the AVIC, just kinda high, and don't need GPS honestly. This has 4v pre.

NVM, gotta get to a little over $300 on that before bluetooth, shit.

[LaserSVT]

SEB, I got that 10" box from ebay for like $40 shipped. The sub was about the same price give or take. Was alright but a better 10" shallow sub would have been the better choice.

They also make a 12" downfire that fits on the driver side and still allows the seat to fold and doesn't take up much room for $65 and it has bedliner on it. So no worries of hurting the cone or the box when throwing stuff back there.

[LaserSVT]

At that price you only have crap products or low end of the name brands to chose from new.
You can find Pioneer AVIC Z110 for around that used but in like new condition. You can even do the software update so it performs like the Z140 which is the same deck just with better software.
AVIC Z1 is also nice but the interface isn't nearly as good. Does have an internal hard drive that automatically rips your CD in uncompressed format (well minimal) every time you put a new non MP3 CD in it. Yeah, kinda old.

[dblack1]

https://picasaweb.google.com/autosou...namatAndSystem

I think on this one I had to grind a half-moon area into the cast midrange basket to mount the tweeter there. In the closeup shot of the grille, you can see that the tweeter is almost under the solid area of the panel unless you modify the mid basket to mount it lower.

Man, I like that.

Thank you. Any recs on a deck? Something under $250 preferably. I'm debating on a double din since it fits and throwing on a back up camera.

[SEB]

Welllll, I didn't know that MB Quart went to total crap. Just one day I asked myself if I could install a small system for under $350 considering my factory deck had no CD player and was, well, stock. When I worked at Tsunamis Electronics MB Quart was all good, even their Discuss line. So when I saw new MB Quart amp for $80 and a new MB Quart sub amp for $70 and new MB Quart components for $60 and new MB Quart subwoofer for $40. Then I found a Pioneer refurb for $30 with warranty and another $60 for a box and wires I knew I could build a $350 system that wasn't crap.
And really it was 100x better than OEM but that's not saying a whole lot.
I was then bit by the mod bug like happens every damn time and I kept upgrading.

Its like throwing some nitrous on your Stang and then deciding to get a blower and then wanting more boost so you have to forge the engine, same kinda thing.


So here is my super cheap stuff that all together (excluding the ESP2):

I wouldnt mind having some boom in the work truck. But need something small like your box so I dont take up much room

[EW]

It is worth it if you are keeping the vehicle.

[LaserSVT]

Nice job! I want to do my roof and floor as well but its just so much more work and expense. I know its worth it though so I am sure I will end up doing it.

[EW]

https://picasaweb.google.com/autosoundbedford/2005F250DynamatAndSystem

I think on this one I had to grind a half-moon area into the cast midrange basket to mount the tweeter there. In the closeup shot of the grille, you can see that the tweeter is almost under the solid area of the panel unless you modify the mid basket to mount it lower.

[LaserSVT]

EW is spot on. I have had luck using the Metra 6x8/5x7 adapter in those trucks as well. Sometimes making a tweeter pod near the mirror mounts and sometimes just flushing it in the door like the pic posted.

As for decks, I love my Pioneer and it does USB, MP3, Bluetooth, Pandora, HD radio, SAT and has a fair amount of audio control. Mine is 6 or 7 months old and I still have its box..... I think and all its manuals. Was gonna sell it for a bill and get the more audiophile Pioneer 99PRS or 80PRS.

[dblack1]

07, same door panel. I like that, but that'd mean I'd have to leave it there when I sell it.

[EW]

What year F350?

https://picasaweb.google.com/autosoundbedford/BlueF250WorkTruck#5862382412596184866

Older. The door panel is very close to the speaker so a thin adapter plate is needed. I router out 5x7 adapter plates to 17cm and mount the mid in them. You may end up having to cut a little sheet metal.

https://picasaweb.google.com/autosoundbedford/LoudF350

This one has more involved pictures. The thin bars on the door panel may bow out from the tweeter depending upon how it is installed.

[dblack1]

Someone can advise on my stereo I'm putting in my work truck.

It consists of.

MB Quart Q series component set for front doors, 300/2 to power them.

Two of the slim line Pioneer 12" woofers in a sealed box behind back seat with a 500/1 powering them.

I need a deck for this set up that still has a CD player, is blue tooth compatible, and doesn't break the bank. Whats good these days? Best way to mount the 6.5" speaker where the factory 5x7 goes in the door? Where should I mount the tweeter? This is going in a F350.