New sound system done! Almost. (pics!)

[cult4d5]

I would like to thank Hurricane Irene for my new sound system. No power for a few days finally bored me enough to begin, what I knew would be, a long stressful build. But with it being 95% done I'm sure glad I did it .

Speakers:
2 - 6x9 Kicker KS693 coax speakers in sealed enclosures
2 - 5.25 Kicker KS525 coax speakers
2 - 6.5 Alpine SPS-610C component speakers w/ tweeters
2 - 3.5 Polk Audio coax speakers (on order)

Subs:
2 - 10" Memphis 15-PR10D4 DVC

Amplifiers:
Kenwood KAC-9105D 1800w mono
Sony Xplod 600w 4/3 Channel



Started by removing all rear interior parts




Marked where the 6x9 enclosures will drop into the back dash


Angle grinder!


Reupholstering the back dash: fabric removed

Marked where to cut out of the dash for the 6x9 enclosures


$6 a yard!


Sorry about the blur. That is the speaker covers in the back dash. Upholstering those


Not a perfect circle but the speakers will cover it






Ok, this may raise some controversy but I decided to do something completely unheard of (at least I nor Audio One have ever seen anything like it). I decided to have the subs mounted in the back seats, not free air subs mounted behind the seats but actually IN the seats. As you will see, the subs are the only things showing...you can actually see the subs from inside the car. This required more angle grinding of the frame for the sub enclosures to protrude into the trunk.

Now before anyone rips me a new one as to why that was a stupid thing to do, I am going to be adding reinforcing bars in the trunk to keep the frame rigid.





12" concrete tubing from home depot


The enclosure was originally 12x12

Was able to cut with a hammer hitting the razor around the tube



prefit


Glueing

This had to be done in order to fit into the trunk due to the wheel wells


Marked where the enclosures were going to sit. I practiced this on a salvage back seat first

cut that metal rod

CAREFULLY check and recheck and recheck and recheck when cutting the sub outline

[cult4d5]

time for the kick panels

Finally got a dremmel. by far the best $50 I spent for this project!


driver side kick panel


Speaker grill should be ready for pick-up tomorrow


Wiring from the head unit I ran under the center console

back dash and c pillars back in

6x9 boxes packed with stuffing

5.25 Kicker's






Don't know if this is doing much but I decided to block the small whole behind the speakers that goes into the trunk




6x9 Kicker KS693





Going outside to get finished pics!

[Steve547i]

not a fan of the grills on the speakers, and i dont like the speaker fitment in the seats, but whatever you are into.

[cult4d5]

not a fan of the grills on the speakers, and i dont like the speaker fitment in the seats, but whatever you are into.

to each his own.

btw to all - I will be working on some sort of fitment to go just over, but to the sides of, the subs so sitting in the back will be possible

[mikemxbike4]

Odd choice for speakers. And seat fitment?! But I appreciate the work! Those speakers will not seal properly though screwed into the back of the seat. Thats why all mounting surfaces are usually flat and hard

[cult4d5]

Odd choice for speakers. And seat fitment?! But I appreciate the work!

I am by no means an audio expert but what I have done works really well (to my liking). Any suggestions as to speaker choice?





















Still need to clean up the wires lol

[mikemxbike4]

Well, you have 2 midrange pairs out back( one pair 2-way and one pair 3-way?) from what it looks like. That's overkill if you ask me. Most high sound quality systems will have only front components for natural soundstage, with tweeters up high, as close to ear level as possible. If you are going to run rears as well, I would stick to one component pair at the most.

[cult4d5]

Well, you have 2 midrange pairs out back( one pair 2-way and one pair 3-way?) from what it looks like. That's overkill if you ask me. Most high sound quality systems will have only front components for natural soundstage, with tweeters up high, as close to ear level as possible. If you are going to run rears as well, I would stick to one component pair at the most.

besides the tweeters at ear level isn't that what I have? one pair of components up front? I know what you mean about the overkill in the rear but it doesn't seem to be too much. The sound quality is there. it's a lot in the rear but thats because I havent put the 3.5's in the front dash. I know that will even things out somewhat.

but given what I have at the moment any recommendations in addition to what you already said? TIA

[Schneider]

You just turned your four door sedan into a 2 seater.

[Kyler Relyk]

uhm and say goodbye to the rear seat

[cult4d5]

You just turned your four door sedan into a 2 seater.

uhm and say goodbye to the rear seat

I will be making some sort of cover that goes just pass and on either side of the subs but wont be blocking them at all. I don't mind temporarily making this 5 seater a 3 seater for a while, 90% of the time I have one passenger and sometimes 3 so I'm all good

[mikemxbike4]

besides the tweeters at ear level isn't that what I have? one pair of components up front? I know what you mean about the overkill in the rear but it doesn't seem to be too much. The sound quality is there. it's a lot in the rear but thats because I havent put the 3.5's in the front dash. I know that will even things out somewhat.

but given what I have at the moment any recommendations in addition to what you already said? TIA

Move front tweets higher. That low location location will muffle out a lot of higher frequencies if you don't. Also, how do you have all those speakers hooked up to your 4-channel? Rear ones sharing same channel?

PS: You could get a lot of good advice on the Car audio subforum as well

[cult4d5]

Move front tweets higher. That low location location will muffle out a lot of higher frequencies if you don't. Also, how do you have all those speakers hooked up to your 4-channel? Rear ones sharing same channel?

PS: You could get a lot of good advice on the Car audio subforum as well

Actually just the front 6.5's and rear 6x9's are powered by the 4 channel amp. the rear 5.25's are powered by the head unit but I will be amping all of them soon, gotta save for another amp

[eightynine535]

You cut the seats to fit speakers?!?? i guess this means you don'e take more than one passenger as sitting with a speaker in your back would be very uncomfortable.

FWIW the ski hole makes a perfect spot to fire a ported enclosure into the cabin.

[cult4d5]

You cut the seats to fit speakers?!?? i guess this means you don'e take more than one passenger as sitting with a speaker in your back would be very uncomfortable.

FWIW the ski hole makes a perfect spot to fire a ported enclosure into the cabin.

lol as I've posted a few times now you will eventually be able to sit in those seats. and believe me i tried the ski hole. it was ok but with one sub I wasn't getting what I wanted out of the bass. I know I could have gotten a more powerful sub but I already had the 2 subs and the amp and I'm all about custom and doing the odd so this was perfect for me. And it hits pretty dam hard too.

[eightynine535]

lol as I've posted a few times now you will eventually be able to sit in those seats. and believe me i tried the ski hole. it was ok but with one sub I wasn't getting what I wanted out of the bass. I know I could have gotten a more powerful sub but I already had the 2 subs and the amp and I'm all about custom and doing the odd so this was perfect for me. And it hits pretty dam hard too.

Back in the day, my cousin and I fit 2 15" subs in the rear deck. We used the trunk as the sub box. Trust me when i say it was loud!

[darrenforeal]

I like the creativity! Maybe your girlfriend will like sitting in the back seats and getting felt up by the sub

I would concerned about the flex of those drums that the subs are in. Play around with the front stage and see if you like the sound of the tweeters in the OE location. ANd like others have said the rear fill, isn't exactly fill. But hey, whatever you think sounds good to you! Where you sent the frequencies and volumes of each speaker will be important but also a bigger PITA with this setup. Just make it so you are happy with it. In the end that is all that matters.

lol as I've posted a few times now you will eventually be able to sit in those seats. and believe me i tried the ski hole. it was ok but with one sub I wasn't getting what I wanted out of the bass. I know I could have gotten a more powerful sub but I already had the 2 subs and the amp and I'm all about custom and doing the odd so this was perfect for me. And it hits pretty dam hard too.

yeah for my taste even one high quality 10 in there doesn't cut it as a substitue for 2 10s. The only single I have found satisfactory is a sub like the 12 inch IDMAX that I have in a GermanAudioSpecialties ported box.

[cult4d5]

I like the creativity! Maybe your girlfriend will like sitting in the back seats and getting felt up by the sub

I would concerned about the flex of those drums that the subs are in. Play around with the front stage and see if you like the sound of the tweeters in the OE location. ANd like others have said the rear fill, isn't exactly fill. But hey, whatever you think sounds good to you! Where you sent the frequencies and volumes of each speaker will be important but also a bigger PITA with this setup. Just make it so you are happy with it. In the end that is all that matters.



yeah for my taste even one high quality 10 in there doesn't cut it as a substitue for 2 10s. The only single I have found satisfactory is a sub like the 12 inch IDMAX that I have in a GermanAudioSpecialties ported box.

You have no idea how many people have said something about that...hmm next project when I get new seats will be flat subs built into the bottom of the seats? oh. yes. I could obtain total control over my lovely fiance. gentlemen, I think I've got something here

I will definitely mess around with the front some, move the tweeters possibly to the b pillars right at ear level

Back in the day, my cousin and I fit 2 15" subs in the rear deck. We used the trunk as the sub box. Trust me when i say it was loud!

That sounds sweet! I had thought of adding an 8 inch sub in the read dash in addition to everything else but I dont think I should. I like my idea of flat subs under my new seats when I get them

[WhoNew]

Why build a "cover" when you could have just left the leather on the seat. The ear can't tell where the bass comes from ... I don't even know what else to say about that.

[cult4d5]

Why build a "cover" when you could have just left the leather on the seat. The ear can't tell where the bass comes from ... I don't even know what else to say about that.

I completely understand what you are saying and you are absolutely correct. I would have done that expect for the fact that I did this for looks as well. I love being able to see the subs sitting in the seat as they are now.

[richinvan]

I think it looks pretty well done for a home job.
I can count on one hand the number of times I've had passengers in my rear seats.

[cult4d5]

I think it looks pretty well done for a home job.
I can count on one hand the number of times I've had passengers in my rear seats.

Thank you! It was a lot of work. I can't think of many times I've had rear passengers either

[bmwwheelman]

I do like how you mounted the subs into the seats. Very cool! But as for anyone sitting in them, doesn't low sound frequencies ruin kidneys? lol

[Bwaterman]

I hope you live in a nice area otherwise someone will break into your car and steal all your speakers.

Looking forward to seeing the finished product... I think.

[avics]

Looks insane! You have some serious skills. I bet it sounds awesome.