Benno's Audio Install thread

[benno]

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[Greg Roles]

Sweet, now I can hijack yours!

Great minds think alike, my front tweeters are exactly the same, but I've still yet to hear it! Arrrgh!

I put a few big pieces of Dynamat onto each door outer, especially opposite the driver. My rear passenger outer stock sound deadener was a crumpled heap in the bottom of the door, so it was just as well I got into them.

So far I've found the outer door handles rattle the worst, but it's only noticable outside the car.

[benno]

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[HOLEIN1]

hi there mate, looks as if youve done a good job there...

i would suggest however making up some MDF rings to mount the speakers on and ditching the standard items as this would give a much more dense/solid surface to mount the speakers on...

dont be too scared with taking the door apart, its rather straight forward. just remember to support the window with some tape to hold it up while you remove the regulator (its attached to the door skin)

theres plenty of DIY guides on VW Vortex if youwant more information

as for the under seat mounting of amps and subs, you will find that there is next to no room under there, not even enough for a small amp. best and only place to mount this sort fo thing would be the boot.

keep up the good work!

dan

[Greg Roles]

A digital amp, such as the Jaycar or Alpine units would fit, but I had to go the spare tyre well with my hefty Van Gough amp. As for swarf, I just vacced what I could then sprayed some tar into the bottom of the doors. Enjoy taking skins off, no way I'm going there mate!

Never tried an underseat, but I expect it will sound like you think, just that little bit more, but just not what you'd hoped for.

[572]

I don't know how much room you guys have under the seat, but even the tiny Alpine PDX amplifiers wouldn't fit under a Polo seat (my seat is all the way back and down).

I ended up going with an Audiosystem F2-130 (Link - RRP $399) - made in Italy, very high quality SQ amplifiers, only 50mm high. Also do a more powerful version (the 190).
Arc Audio also do one the size of a DVD case which I was originally looking at (Link), however you're look at upwards of $700 for just the 2 channel!

Food for thought anyway...

[benno]

Well I ended up at the beach today so didn't get all that much done - but I did rip into the passenger side this arvo and it's dynamatted and ready for a speaker installation tomorrow. Should go fairly smooth now.

i would suggest however making up some MDF rings to mount the speakers on and ditching the standard items as this would give a much more dense/solid surface to mount the speakers on...

Cheers mate, I did think about that and even bought some MDF but got lazy and decided to use the factory mount - I added heaps of dynamat to try and control any resonance issues though.

Jon - ta for that, doing a bit of reading now

[benno]

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[572]

Jon - that Audio Systems amp looks like it could be a goer. Did you pay RRP?

Nope, I haven't paid RRP for anything for a very long time

Which Focal series were you looking at - the SOLID's? I have heard alot of bad reports about their sound quality, nothing better than "run of the mill" products - I had my eyes set on a black SOLID 2 until told otherwise. I'd want something a bit 'special' behind a set of Hertz speakers, but that's just me (and Kenwood is a different kind of special haha!).

PDX 2.150 for sale here - http://www.mobileelectronics.com.au/...owtopic=546141 Offers $300+

[benno]

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[572]

I got mine for $330. Wouldn't mind a 4 channel now I've decided to replace the front speakers as well - argh!

I competed in SQ competitions about 18 months ago, retired, and now I'm getting back into it - so I understand the 'sucking money out of me' part!!

I can find out about the Alpine for you if you'd like?

[benno]

Yeah cheers mate, that'd be great. Or if you are going to let your F2 go cheap let me know

[572]

Would have to find speakers I enjoy the sound of that don't cost over $1k LOL! Then get the 4 channel.

I'll be in touch.

[Mr ©harisma]

Those audio system amps are great. Other decent small footprint amps can be found in the form of JVC ( I know it's JVC but they are actually good ) and Blaupunkt.

Definately make an MDF ring.
Definately amp them
Definately be a bit more un-forgiving with the Dynamat. You should just leave it as one big sheet and put in on in one piece only cutting out the window motor and to allow wires to come out that need to.

You should try putting the tweeters high in the kick panels or higher on the dash, that should help your sound stage unless you have time alignment.

[benno]

Cheers for the tips mate. Yeah I got a bit better with the dynamat on the passenger side door. Not super keen on moving the tweeters though given I just cut some big f*** off holes in the trim panels! The headunit in my old car has time alignment stuff, but my new one won't unfortunately.

What do you think of the Blaupunkt THA series amps? Vs the JVC?


And I just saw these:

http://english.gttrading.it/easysite/scheda3.asp?livello=3&Marchio=ADSSPK&Gamma=X--ION%20line&Modello=SPECIAL%20SYSTEMS&pg=1

Hmm. Just as I finish getting my splits in! What do people think of Audio System speakers? Not that I'm buying, particularly without listening to them, but it would be interesting to know.