Needed some tunes in the turd

[PureSound15]

The Cobra is stupid loud - but, as apparent by my username, I couldn't take the horrific Mach 460 system that was in it anymore. I had to turn it up REALLY loud to hear anything and by that point everything was muddy. :crying

Because I already blew my budget away for the car this winter, I figured I would throw something together with stuff I already had and see how cheap I could get this done.

Replaced the head unit with an Alpine that caters to USB drives or an IPOD. I can't remember the last time I used a CD anyway. I really like it now that I'm used to it.

http://www.audiospecialist.gr/images/Alpine%20-%20iDA-X303.jpg

I ripped out all of the factory amplifiers and speakers. I added my own Alpine amp. I've had a hard on for the Alpine PDX series amps since they're incredibly TINY and stackable

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/SSPX0020.jpg
http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/images/var/ALPINE-PDX-5-extra5.jpg

I'm using the 5 channel version. My birth certificate for the amp says that it tested at 463 watts @ 2 for the sub and 121/channel for the 4 channel portion. Definitely good enough for what I needed.

I added a Diamond 10" sub that I already had with the box to the trunk...

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i34/puresound15/e3252161.jpg

IN order for that to fit, I had to remove the amplifiers that were mounted under the deck. With those came the enclosed 6x9s from the 460 system.

http://www.flemworld.com/Mach460/images/m15.jpg

It worked out really well actually. I used the mounting locations for the factory amplifiers to secure my box from moving at all.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i34/puresound15/adddf0b8.jpg

I don't care about rear fill at all. So I'm not adding anything in the back of the car.

For the front stage I took a risk and used Phoenix Gold RSD6S Components in the factory locations. I'm on various audio geek board and these components are DIRT cheap ($60 SHIPPED on Amazon) and supposedly sounded great - i figured I'd try them.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i34/puresound15/e7880f38.jpg

Made my plates for the factory woofer. Installed the tweeter in the factory location.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i34/puresound15/ad808e9b.jpg

The Amp is going to end up being mounted facing the rear of the vehicle to a piece of ovaled Carbon Fibre that will float 1" away from the face of the box. I haven't got the far yet.


Over all - MUCH BETTER! Don't get me wrong, the $60 components do NOT sound anything liek the $3000 3 way set I have used - but they seriously sound MUCH better than a lot of the 200-500 dollar component sets. I couldn't be happier. They're running passive (I.e. utilizing the crossovers that came with the sets) since I don't have any other kind of processing in the car - it's not worth it.

Just though I'd share my project this past week. :thumbsup

[Cjburn]

$3000 3-ways? Dyn Audio 3-ways? I remember when my group was into stereos, it was Diamond 3-ways, Butler tubes, and Premier P1-R back in the day for me, all stuck in my too cool for school Corolla. I miss the old stereo days, just can't bring myself to spend the money for the stuff like I used too.

[PureSound15]

I had dyn audio 3 ways, diamond hex 3 ways and focal 3 ways run active.

You're right though - it's sick how much money it costs an the value to me is starting to deminish.

[Reverend Cooper]

looks fricking awesome

[twicks69]

Ahhhh... the good ole days of car audio... The install looks nice!

Funny, I just sold my P98R and my P1R Premier decks this week.... And you guys know how old those darn head units are! I held onto them for so long, and decided to sell off all of my car audio leftovers for scraps to get them gone.

I wish I still had a few pieces of the collection from years back including my Image Dynamics 31-band EQ's, and my a/d/s P-series 6.5" components and 12" DVC subwoofers. They were my favorites!

[PureSound15]

I had ADS 6.5s as well - phenomenal components. When they sold to directed there was a buyout and I missed it.

I'd love to replace the Diamond woofer with an ID10! Sounds like you had some nice stuff, twicks.

I didn't really do this built because it needed it - but the stock stereo sucked horridly. I have less than $400 into this since I had most of the stuff anyway.

[GTSLOW]

Ryan if you don't mind me asking how much does a complete setup like that run?

[PureSound15]

You can easily get decent stuff used off various forums on the internet.

Joe's system was done for less than $600, If I had to buy wiring and connectors/fuse block and what not I would have been Around $550.

Install and tuning make a huge difference.

It's easy to save some cash by buying stuff off the net - KnuKoncepts is AWESOME wiring - and it's dirt cheap compared to any of the big store crap.

http://www.knukonceptz.com/

[Josepy]

Yeah I scored 1 hell of deal all my JL audio speakers. The local audio guy in town must of been hurting for business. He matched prices of ebay auctions that were not even finished. Crazy Love how my car sounds now. I sold my MTX sub and bought a JL 10W3. Also added a 2nd amp that I had to my spare tire area. Turned out awesome. LIke Ryan said I have only $600 into my setup. There are tons of deals on audio equipment.

[Cjburn]

I'm surprised Phoenix Power has stuff that cheap. They used to make some higher end transistor amps back in the day. Sometimes, when my friends talk, we talk about building a stereo again just to have fun, then look at the prices and immediately talk about mortgages and more important things. I just don't jump in the car and drive around like I used to either. There were nights in my early 20's we'd go for a drive all over the city, which is something I just don't do anymore. This whole getting old thing is just weird...

[Yooformula]

What was the model number of that deck Joe/Ryan? from what Joe was saying it seems to be a decently priced unit if you arent using cds all the time. I only usually use my mp3 player and a jump drive player would work for me too.

[PureSound15]

Model is Apline - iDa-X303. About $150 online.

[Yooformula]

wow pretty cheap for a capable deck it seems. you think it would play mp3s from a portable hd? its nice to use my phone for the slacker radio too.

[PureSound15]

Plays from any USB device - it worked with my external hard drive.

[Yooformula]

nice! did you get the tuning accessories as well?

[PureSound15]

No. Not worth it in that car. There's easily 80db of noise inside with the exhaust/blower and lack of sound deadening.

I definitely would have if it were in my DD - but that's an Active setup too (no crossovers).

[Lash]

the value to me is starting to deminish.

Tell me about it......

I've had my type R components and 8" tang bands in my truck for almost 3 years now as a temporary set-up. :durr