DavidRam's 1st Audio Build... EVER! :)

[papasin]

Long story, but things got a little heated in a thread and I was a little less diplomatic that I usually am...

I don't pay attention or post there as much as I used to, but I have noticed how they seem to let certain things go but are quick to ban on the other hand these days. Oh well, guess times do change.

 

[DavidRam]

VERY nice stuff man!! top notch install!

Thanks man!

I don't pay attention or post there as much as I used to, but I have noticed how they seem to let certain things go but are quick to ban on the other hand these days. Oh well, guess times do change.

It's a temporary ban, so not that big of deal... I have never been banned from anything, so I feel like a drunk guy getting kicked out of a bar for picking a fight! Lol

Why aren't you on diyma much anymore?

 

[papasin]

Why aren't you on diyma much anymore?

I still post when I have events mostly to let the community know. But to answer your question, there's a couple things that I sort of have taken issue with. First, I guess you could say I am quite disappointed in how things have become with the new management. People were quick to complain when Ant owned the forum and while I didn't know the guy personally, he seemed to at least care about making sure things functioned which is far from the current owners. One of my major beefs is I paid for a platinum membership, and one of the benefits was supposed to be able to have your classified ads be displayed at the top. Instead, that function broke, was never repaired and ultimately removed. In its place, the whole forum is littered with ads which I get the new owners use to generate revenue, but they utterly could care less of its members as I seem to have noticed. Second and perhaps the bigger reason is I seem to have outgrown the place. I used to go to DIYMA to try to learn, and it seems like it has gotten to be just a place where lots of people bicker or complain and the really good tidbits of information are those posted from long ago and it's getting harder and harder to dig those up since you have more things to sift through that aren't those nuggets. Other than the meet or event threads, really haven't seen anything lately. Maybe if you see something I should pay attention to, let me know.

 

[DavidRam]

I still post when I have events mostly to let the community know. But to answer your question, there's a couple things that I sort of have taken issue with. First, I guess you could say I am quite disappointed in how things have become with the new management. People were quick to complain when Ant owned the forum and while I didn't know the guy personally, he seemed to at least care about making sure things functioned which is far from the current owners. One of my major beefs is I paid for a platinum membership, and one of the benefits was supposed to be able to have your classified ads be displayed at the top. Instead, that function broke, was never repaired and ultimately removed. In its place, the whole forum is littered with ads which I get the new owners use to generate revenue, but they utterly could care less of its members as I seem to have noticed. Second and perhaps the bigger reason is I seem to have outgrown the place. I used to go to DIYMA to try to learn, and it seems like it has gotten to be just a place where lots of people bicker or complain and the really good tidbits of information are those posted from long ago and it's getting harder and harder to dig those up since you have more things to sift through that aren't those nuggets. Other than the meet or event threads, really haven't seen anything lately. Maybe if you see something I should pay attention to, let me know.

I couldn't agree with you more on the first issue... The ads are out of control and consequently it has slowed the site down considerably (I have an Adblocker and it shows that it blocks about 50 ads in every page that I click on). I was a supporting member, but when it came time to renew I refused to pay because of all the ads... Like Pandora, when you pay you should get an ad-free environment, imho.
I have got years before I outgrow the place, though. But I can see how that can be an issue for you...

My favorite threads are the build logs, I thoroughly enjoy them and they are the main reason I visit the site.

 

[moregrip]

Are there any good threads you could link me too that are 4th GEN RAM specific?

 

[DavidRam]

Are there any good threads you could link me too that are 4th GEN RAM specific?

Sure thing.

2014 Ram 1500 Sport Build Log - Car Audio | DiyMobileAudio.com | Car Stereo Forum

2016 Ram Laramie Crew Cab install - Car Audio | DiyMobileAudio.com | Car Stereo Forum

2015 Ram build log - Car Audio | DiyMobileAudio.com | Car Stereo Forum

 

[DavidRam]

It's starting to take shape...

 

[moregrip]

really nice man!

 

[DavidRam]

A little bit about the work that has gone into this (don't judge me for my OCD )...

Other than the obvious - plywood, painted, carpeted, LEDs (about 4'), here are some of the fun things:

I got a 12"x12" piece of perforated aluminum, cut it bent with my brake. I had to go really slow because it is so thick, kept it really hot and still ended up with some tiny stress fractures on the back. No big deal it is really strong still... Had I made a little less sharp of a bend, there would have no fractures. There is frosted Lexan behind the perforated pieces, to spread the light a little better and so you don't see the LED dots.

Then I beveled the edges and sanded it into a brushed look. I used some Q-tips in my drill and Mother's polish to polish inside each individual hole, so it was shiny and contrasting against the brushed surface.

The wire conduits were made from aluminum tubing that I bent and cut to fit, then polished them to a mirror finish. The ideas was that they reflect the light The blue sleeves are obviously automotive parts, but I felt it needed that little splash of color...

The back cover is just sheet metal that I cut, shaped and wrapped with the vinyl CF.
I removed the Arc logo, made that little aluminum backing for it, and then wrapped the underside in the CF as well. Being raised it allows the LEDs below to make a halo effect.

Also made those little aluminum shapes under the screws that hold the CF cover in place, because I learned a long time ago that vinyl wrap bunches up when you screw directly against it (even with a washer). The screw heads were polished with Mother's to a mirror finish...

 

[sbarron]

What OCD? Wouldn't everyone do it that way?

Seriously, nice job.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Etroze86]

David, man that's great work!!!!

 

[Bigfoots03hd]

Ideas david.

I like that setup is that your truck Graygoose?

 

[adurm]

I don't really know what I'm looking at but it looks nice. Looking forward to seeing it in its home.

 

[DavidRam]

I don't really know what I'm looking at but it looks nice. Looking forward to seeing it in its home.

It's just a fancy amp rack I built for fun...

 

[troutspinner]

That is pretty sweet David. I enjoy your style. A modern industrial look for sure.

 

[DavidRam]

That is pretty sweet David. I enjoy your style. A modern industrial look for sure.

Thanks Craig! You are spot on with your description...

Btw, I am getting a good handle on the basics of using REW, right now I am trying to learn how to import from REW into DSP... Like you said, I am starting to get into it and enjoy it!

 

[DavidRam]

I picked up some Morel MT250 tweeters. Nothing wrong with the Milles, just wanting to try something different, and I really like the sound of the Morel midbass I am running...

I am still dealing with the issue of the sound falling apart with the windows open, and I think that putting the tweeters at least closer to on axis could help with that.

 

[DavidRam]

I decided I will have two sets of tweeters: One set with the tweeters visible, on axis on the dash, and the other set completely hidden for when the top is off.

So now I have to figure out a way to put the new Morel tweeters on the dash, with the ability to remove and replace them with the Milles, WITHOUT leaving any marks or holes in the dash or A pillar...

On a side note, I like these connectors from the RC world, so I ordered some: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/co...&m=Y&c3api=1876,91438732682,&is=REG&A=details

 

[DavidRam]

I decided to put the new Morel tweeters on the dash, on axis and attach them to a removal base.
This will allow me to swap my tweeters back to the concealed, factory look for when I take the top off. I'll wire them using EC3 connectors.

I'm making the base out of 1/8" Lexan polycarbonate. It's easy to work with, and it will allow some cool lighting effects, too.
Made a cardboard template, traced it onto the Lexan and then cut it with a jigsaw. Then cleaned and beveled the edges.

I'll probably use a pod of some sort, maybe like the aluminum one's I used in the Ram...

 

[DavidRam]

Making progress on tweeters mounts for the Morels...

- heated and shaped the Lexan to the contours of the dash
- wrapped in vinyl
- cut out the shapes for the lighting
- wrapped in dash mat material