Power's budget audio build

Power247 · Mar 15, 2014

After building some pretty elaborate audio systems through my teens and 20s... life happened and my audio itch had to be put on the back burner... Been dealing with decent factory audio setups since then but have been getting the itch to do some audio upgrades once again. I thought that the 'alpine' system in my new RAM was going to scratch the itch but all it did was remind me of what I was missing. Priorities have certainly changed since my last build... as well as the budget but I just had to do something...

Over the next several months I will use this thread to track my progress and the cost of my latest creation.

Installed
Sound deadening - $50
Amp wire kit - MTX ZN1K04 StreetWires 4 AWG Single Amplifier Installation Kit - $40
Sub amp - JBL GTO-751EZ - $165
Dash Infinity Reference 3032cf - $60
Harness - Metra 71-039 - $10
Subs - 2 - Infinity Reference 1060w - $120
Hand built fiberglass and MDF sub boxes - $100
Front doors - Infinity Reference 6030csl - $105
Adapter - Scosche SA69 - $10
Harness - Metra 72-6514 - $7
Rear doors - Infinity Reference 9632cf - $75
Harness - Metra 72-6514 - $7

Awaiting Install

Planned
More deadening
??????

Total spent..... $750

Power247 · Mar 15, 2014

Sound deadening

Today began the build. My first priority was to keep as much sound in the truck as possible and keeping as much outside noise out. You can spend tons of money on vehicle sound deadening but there are much cheaper ways that are just as effective. You need only to stop by your local hardware store and pick up some peel and stick flashing and elastomeric roof coating

Here is the truck with the storage well carpet and rear cab liner removed.

Peel and stick roof flashing strategically applied around the small amounts applied at the factory. This stuff is largely asphalt based. This is good for sound deadening but can smell pretty bad when the temps get up... even with the aluminum facing. (Tape was used to cover the places I did not want getting coated during the next step.)

Painting everything with the elastomeric roof coating adds deadening and seals the asphalt smell that would otherwise permeate from the flashing. You could skip the flashing and just use this product but i find that they work wonders together.

The cab is so quiet now. You can't even hear my exhaust with the windows rolled up. My wife has already requested i do the same on the passenger side floorboard.

Power247 · Mar 15, 2014

Installing the amp

While i had everything apart i decided to go ahead and mount and wire the amp. Sadly it will be several weeks before I can get the fiberglass boxes built for the subs

I used silicone to attach a piece of plywood to the back wall (remember the 2 strips of blue tape from before

) This gives a sturdy place to mount the amp without drilling holes in the back wall of the cab. Many thanks to UNBROKEN for the tip.

I drilled a hole in one of the plastic knock out plugs for the 4 ga power wire and amp remote wire. Both are run along the frame rail under the truck beside the brake lines and up into the engine compartment.

I reinstalled the carpet and cab liner, cutting the liner around the amp. At some point i will paint that board black to match the liner but really, no one will ever see it.

For signal to the amp I used all 4 wires that were connected to the factory sub. The JBL amp has RCA connectors with set screw terminals that you attach to the end of the wires and feed directly to the amp.

Sub Ch1
(+) Grey/Brown
(-) Dark Green/Brown

Sub Ch2
(+) Grey/White
(-) Dark Green/White

Statcher1 · Mar 15, 2014

Good luck with your build man. I used to love having a hard hitting sound system. But I guess I got old at 25 and I'm satisfied with the factory stuff now. Lol

Sent from the Rocket in my Pocket

Power247 · Mar 15, 2014

Statcher1 said:
Good luck with your build man. I used to love having a hard hitting sound system. But I guess I got old at 25 and I'm satisfied with the factory stuff now. Lol

Thanks Statcher! I was about the same age when I bought my first new truck and stepped out of the audio arena. Just know that no matter how long you stay away very little will really change and building that new system will feel just as good as the last

Statcher1 · Mar 15, 2014

Ive been debating on adding a small sub and amp to the truck. The only thing holding me back is it's a regular cab. And I will lose more of what small room I already have.

Sent from the Rocket in my Pocket

Power247 · Mar 15, 2014

Yeah, RCs do present challenges when it comes to adding a sub. The good news is that you won't need much to get great sound.

Statcher1 · Mar 15, 2014

That's what I was thinking. I believe a 10" and a small amp would hold me over. Sorry for the hijack man.

Sent from the Rocket in my Pocket

Power247 · Mar 15, 2014

Haha, no worries. That's what its for

sent thru a cloud of smoke

Informal · Mar 15, 2014

Nice job on the soundproofing!!

I assume you brushed or rolled the coating on, how thick would you say one application is?
Did you add multiple coats?

WhiteExpress · Mar 15, 2014

Looking good! I'll get that stuff boxed up tomorrow, quote on Monday.

Power247 · Mar 16, 2014

Informal said:
Nice job on the soundproofing!!

I assume you brushed or rolled the coating on, how thick would you say one application is?
Did you add multiple coats?

Thanks man!! Just 1 coat using some cheap bristle brushes. I'd guess the thickness is 1\16 to 1\8 of an inch. Just need to cover as much metal as you can and don't lat anything show through. Using a roller is hard to get in all the little corners and makes it spread too thin. If I was doing just the coating I would have done 2 coats.

sent thru a cloud of smoke

Power247 · Mar 16, 2014

WhiteExpress said:
Looking good! I'll get that stuff boxed up tomorrow, quote on Monday.

Thanks!!! I was wondering if you forgot about me

. J/K. It will be a couple weeks before I can work on it again anyway.

sent thru a cloud of smoke

Etroze86 · Mar 17, 2014

Nice build never thought of using the roof coating before thats not a bad idea.

Power247 · Mar 17, 2014

Etroze86 said:
Nice build never thought of using the roof coating before thats not a bad idea.

Thanks! It is significantly cheaper and works just as good. It is amazing how much quieter the cab is now.

Power247 · Mar 21, 2014

New dash speakers installed

My METRA harnesses came in this week so I took advantage of the nice afternoon and installed my new Infinity 3 1/2s. Install we really simple. Pop the speaker grill of, remove two screws and the factory speaker, install Metra harness and new speaker with factory screws. Total install took about 15 minutes. This is a must do for $70!!

Stock 'alpine' beside new Infinity

All nice and snug in his new home

Power247 · Apr 1, 2014

Building the fiberglass sub boxes

Inspired by all those that have done this before me (thanks to Myoung and many others!!!) I decided to build fiberglass and mdf boxes for 2 Infinity 10s. after much debate I decided to make 2 separate boxes instead of 1 big one.

Started with 1 overlapping layer of masking tape followed by 1 overlapping layer of cheap aluminum foil using more tape to seal the seams. Tape protects the carpet 'just in case' the foil ensures that the fiberglass boxes will come out easily.

Next comes the many layers of fiberglass and resin.

Power247 · Apr 1, 2014

It took me about 2.5 hours to lay the 4 layers of fiberglass. for the last batch of resin I doubled the amount of hardener mixed into the resin to help quicken the curing process. After curing for about 30 minutes the tubs were ready to be removed from the truck. Thanks to the foil they lifted right out

As the fiberglass was curing I started routing the top pieces of MDF for the subs to mount to as well as some trim rings to protect the subs when the seats are down.
(Pics to follow)

Sadly I will have to wait till the weekend before I can work on this again... stupid jobs!!!

PX8 · Apr 2, 2014

Statcher1 said:
Ive been debating on adding a small sub and amp to the truck. The only thing holding me back is it's a regular cab. And I will lose more of what small room I already have.

Sent from the Rocket in my Pocket

As he mentioned with the smaller cab, man one ten and some component speakers with a 3 channel amp would be sweet!

WhiteExpress · Apr 2, 2014

Lookin good Greg!
(That comment may have just been a note to self)

Did your fiberglass even reach over to your little wood pieces on the side of the boxes towards the middle of the truck? Mine didn't get even CLOSE.

Power's budget audio build

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