Audio Upgrade for 2015

[Eestee70]

Alright, took your guys advice and drew this out on a piece of paper
That really helped get me get my wrapped around this.

From the cheap seats it seems like a single 6 channel amp is the most effective approach ?

Called up the vendor and explained the situation and they sent me a label to return the RD400/4 amp and 4 gauge 4 channel wiring kit

So now I bought a JL XD600/6v2 amp and got the NVX 6 channel 4 gauge kit for free

https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_81598_JL-Audio-XD600-6v2.html

I am hoping this simplifies my life as I can keep the sub amp intact and simply need to add two more speaker wires from the new amp to the factory amp location to connect up the dash speakers to the additional channels

Just a question, what type of sound stage are you trying to achieve.

 

[TomT]

I am hoping this simplifies my life as I can keep the sub amp intact and simply need to add two more speaker wires from the new amp to the factory amp location to connect up the dash speakers to the additional channels

Good call on moving to the 6 channel. One thing I would suggest, since you're already running speaker wires, is to run the new wires all the way to the speakers and not try to tie into the factory wires from the harness. It adds one less point of failure and gives you peace of mind that the wire will be able to handle the power you are throwing at it.

Also remember to leave plenty of extra wire at the back until you get your final amp layout done. Nothing sucks more than having to either re-run or splice wire because you had to move one amp a foot over.

 

[Witch]

Sound stage ?
I guess I just want it to sound good
From what I have read in the threads here is front is most important and the rear speakers are just filling the space ?

Thanks
After drawing it out the six Chanel amp seemed like a no brainer
Helped it was on sale
Hopefully the JL XD amp is a good amp
Appreciate all the insight

 

[Eestee70]

Sound stage ?
I guess I just want it to sound good
From what I have read in the threads here is front is most important and the rear speakers are just filling the space ?

Thanks
After drawing it out the six Chanel amp seemed like a no brainer
Helped it was on sale
Hopefully the JL XD amp is a good amp
Appreciate all the insight

With that being said then your focus should be on front stage. If you want rear fill that’s ok. When you listen to music be it concert, live band all of the sound is coming from the front. The true experience is being able to pinpoint exactly where sound is coming from. Just imagine listening to a live band and the drummer is to your left and guitar is to your right and the singer is in the middle of the stage. With your sytem you want to be able to recreate that same experience as best as possibly.

 

[Witch]

That makes sense, then the 3.5" speakers are a big part of the formula ?

Good thing I will be able to control them better having them on their own channel now instead of capping them at a static frequency.

I am new to this so hoping the for best, I am old, last time I messed with this stuff it was my 1970 Ford Torino

Had an 8-track player, under dash pioneer super tuner, 6" Jensen coaxels & an Audiovox 40 watt power booster.

It sounded like hell, but it was loud as all get out ....... lol

 

[toejam]

My Alpine stereo major upgrade:

Money may or may not be an issue to some, but for me it is and all

things considered I went for budget / sound quality.
I did alot of web searching on different components, specs, price,

etc...

Ordered some of the things in my list (even had to return a couple do to

fitment issues) and
eventually came up with what I have now. Here's the details:

Dash speakers (corners): Infinity Kappa Perfect 300m 3.5" Mid-ranges

(center left as-is)
Front doors: CDT Audio CL-69S 6X9” mid-bass woofers
Rear doors: Infinity Reference REF-9622IX
Sub box under rear seat: (MTX dual 10" enclosure) with JL Audio 10w3's (I know, the pic shows 10w1's, but they were bought after the sketch).
Front door pillars and overhead: Hertz Energy ET 26.5 Tweeters

For processing, interfacing, and amps:

JL Audio HD 900/5 (Already had)
Kenwood Excelon XR600-6DSP
iDataLink Maestro ADS-MAR
iDataLink Maestro AR-CH2

Power distribution and wiring:

MESA AKCO 0 Gauge OFC Amp Kit
MESA FDBUQM Dual Power/Ground Distribution Kit
Stinger SHW516B-500 16GA Speaker wire
Stinger SHW512B-250 12GA Speaker wire
MESA RM6 6' M-Series Twisted RCA Cables
MESA PWCB4 4AWG OFC Power Wire
MESA RM1F2M 1F-2M M-Series Twisted Y-Adapters

Right at $2k in parts - not including what labor would cost while

retaining the stock head unit and all functionality of the factory

controls/systems.

Here's a basic layout of the system:

 

[TomT]

That makes sense, then the 3.5" speakers are a big part of the formula ?

Good thing I will be able to control them better having them on their own channel now instead of capping them at a static frequency.

I am new to this so hoping the for best, I am old, last time I messed with this stuff it was my 1970 Ford Torino

Had an 8-track player, under dash pioneer super tuner, 6" Jensen coaxels & an Audiovox 40 watt power booster.

It sounded like hell, but it was loud as all get out ....... lol

I forget, have you already bought the speakers? If not, these truck are uniquely suited to a three way component system. 3.5” midrange in the dash and then tweeters in the sail panels.

 

[Witch]

Holy crap toejam , that looks insane, Hoping to get out under a grand, that include my local car audio shop bailing me out if I get in over my head .......... lol
I would put my drawing up but it is on paper not the computer

Yea I did buy the speakers already, if I new then what I know now that really isn't that much

I got the Infinity Reference 6x9 co-axles in the doors and the Reference 3.5" in the the dash, all three ..... not even going to be using the center channel , go figure

Not the best, but night and day over the factory speakers, also put and 8" Pioneer in the factory sub box , going to be lining it with sound deadening,
Wish i could dump the factor box for one of those groovy net Audio solutions, But the wife would kill me as she uses it when she goes to Costco

What do you guys think of the JL amps ? are they pretty decent ?

 

[SyN]

Witch: pardon my ignorance but I have not read all the way back through page 1.
You say you installed the 6 x 9 Infinity in your front door did you require the quarter inch spacer or did they fit without the spacer?

I never Listen to loud music but I do enjoy crisp clean clear music with a little bit a base.

I will be Going with 8 inch pioneer sub since it is reasonably priced and very easy to install. (Replacing the cheap Alpine paper sub).
Possibly going with the Infinity reference Speakers in the dash & the 6x9s in all 4 doors.

 

[Witch]

Witch: pardon my ignorance but I have not read all the way back through page 1.
You say you installed the 6 x 9 Infinity in your front door did you require the quarter inch spacer or did they fit without the spacer?

I never Listen to loud music but I do enjoy crisp clean clear music with a little bit a base.

I will be Going with 8 inch pioneer sub since it is reasonably priced and very easy to install. (Replacing the cheap Alpine paper sub).
Possibly going with the Infinity reference Speakers in the dash & the 6x9s in all 4 doors.

Yes I did, the front doors requires a 1/4" spacers. The rear doors do not

https://www.amazon.com/Speaker-Spacers-Depth-Extender-Extending/dp/B01J4Y00KC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522189224&sr=8-1&keywords=6x9+spacer+1/4

I did that very upgrade, it does make the system considerably better,
I would sound deaden the inside of the enclosure as well as fill it with Pillow stuffing.

You will see it is not much of a lower or louder bass , but way tighter and more defined.

I ended up using a LC21 and a Rockford R250X1 amp , fits tight, if you go with a mono amp I would look at something smaller

Something like this would fit back there nicely

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Jx500-...ie=UTF8&qid=1522189523&sr=1-4&keywords=jl+amp

you can see how tight the Rockford fits , if you are thinking of that I will have an LC2i up for sale very soon

 

[SyN]

Thank you!
I will only replace the alpine speakers & sub! I was wanting to stay as close to 2 ohms as I could due to I’m keeping the factory head unit.
I have no future plans of adding amps.


Dash:
https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_145781_Infinity-REF-3032cfx.html

Front & Rear doors:
https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_112229_Infinity-REF-9622ix.html

Might go with these for the doors.
https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_137757_Infinity-Primus-PR9613is.html

Also: The 8” Pioneer sub.


Question:
1. Is it a good decision to buy another set of the 3.5” for the dash and replace the center speaker with another infinity reference?

2. Or just leave the stock Alpine?

3. Remove the stock Alpine & Do not replace?

$$ will be going towards new toy hauler & tri-toon.

Thanks again.

 

[BWL]

Sound stage ?
I guess I just want it to sound good
From what I have read in the threads here is front is most important and the rear speakers are just filling the space ?

Thanks
After drawing it out the six Chanel amp seemed like a no brainer
Helped it was on sale
Hopefully the JL XD amp is a good amp
Appreciate all the insight

You should be pretty happy with that. The XD is a step up from the RD so no problem there. I was told with proper tuning I'll get the staging right with my 2 way set up, but if it doesn't sound as good as I hope I can add the matching 3.5 mids in the dash with the tweeter with some modification and with the power I'm running simply add a passive X0 for the tweeter and run them off the same channel vs upgrading to a 9 channel plus dsp. Would have to retune and do some custom dash pad work, but that's it so I'm skipping it for now. Good add on for down the road that'll work with what I have.

 

[Witch]

9 channel that is nuts , Sounds like you will be rockin

Just hope the DSR1 works out , guess if it doesn't the AmpPro would be the next step and run into the DSR1 with high level inputs

Now just waiting it out till the warmer weather arrives

 

[Witch]

Update:
I finalized all the equipment and have everything I need to get rolling, have the two front doors sound deadened and rings installed on the speakers
It is a slow process to say the least, waiting for another nice Saturday to do the two rear doors, and speaker rings

The Final specs will be a combination of what I already have and the new stuff I have selected to go with it,
Hopefully between reading and all the help I got on the forum the system will turn out ok

New:

NVX sound deadening
https://www.sonicelectronix.com/ite...d-Deadening-Entire-Car-90mil-2.3mm-THICK.html

Roadkill Fast 6x9 fast rings
https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_137649_Roadkill-6X9-FAST-Rings-RKFR69.html

JL600/6.2v2 Amp
https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_81598_JL-Audio-XD600-6v2.html

NVX 4 gauge, 6 channel Amp Kit
https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_81598_JL-Audio-XD600-6v2.html

JL 4 gauge Fused Distribution block
https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_33832_JL-Audio-XD-FDBU-2.html

Rockford Fosgate DSR1 w/ 4 meter externti90n cable and AR-CH2 wiring harness
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079G5LM9L?tag=viglink21284-20

12" x 24" x 1/4" ABS sheet stock form amp board and a fuse holder
https://www.amazon.com/AUTOMATION-PLASTIC-TEXTURED-FORMING-THERMOFORMING/dp/B00CF2YFJ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523909453&sr=8-1&keywords=12"+x+24"+1/4"+ABS

LED Glow add on kit just for the fun of it
https://www.ledunderbody.com/2pc-9-7-color-expandable-tubes/

Existing:

Infinity Reference 3.5" Dash Speakers
https://www.amazon.com/Infinity-REF...=1-1&keywords=infinity+3.5+reference+speakers

Infinity Reference 6" x 9" in all 4 Doors
https://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Ref...=1-3&keywords=infinity+6x9+reference+speakers

Pioneer 8" shallow mount in factory box
https://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Ref...=1-3&keywords=infinity+6x9+reference+speakers

Rockford Fosgate R250X1 Amp
https://www.amazon.com/Rockford-Fos...id=1523910253&sr=1-1&keywords=rockford+R250X1

 

[TomT]

Excellent pile of stuff. Now the fun starts. LOL

 

[Witch]

No doubt, hopefully the electronics go in easier than the dam sound dampening stuff. it is horrible , but makes a lot of difference so I guess it is worth the hassle.

I think the biggest challenge will be setting up the DSR1 with the door chimes, parking sensors, GPS and phone calls ?

We will see, hoping to get rolling on the electronics by mid May after all the sound dampening is done, but am very dependent on the weather as I have to work outside.

 

[BWL]

You have to beat me to the DSR1 so I don't have to be the guinea pig.

 

[Witch]

 

[TomT]

No doubt, hopefully the electronics go in easier than the dam sound dampening stuff. it is horrible , but makes a lot of difference so I guess it is worth the hassle.

I think the biggest challenge will be setting up the DSR1 with the door chimes, parking sensors, GPS and phone calls?

Yes, the sound deadening is the biggest pain in the ass part (unless you wind up with some intermittent electrical gremlin) in the whole deal. I haven't dug into the DSR1 yet, does it use the iDataLink Maestro to interface with the on board systems/controls?

 

[Witch]

Yes, It is an integrated piece that has the IdataLink Maestro to tie into the CANBUS in front of the amp for a flat signal and on board system controls such as door chimes and the other stuff that need volume and speakers assigned, then it shoots the audio thru the Rockford 360 for DSP duties before outputting the RCA's to the amps, has eight output, so it should work nice as I have 6 channels for mids and highs and two channels for the sub. The nice thing is if for some reason I hit the wall I can always roll with the AmpPro and use the DSR1 as a High level input to utilize it as a DSP stand alone with 8 outputs

This at least is the understanding i have of this ? hopefully I am on the right track ......... lol