Greetings!
Im new to the club and to magna/verada ownership.
Just bought my verada last week and am now planning to rip all the stock gear out (bar the 6x9s for soft rear fill) (i carry plenty of back seat passangers).
My plan is to utilise the pre-existing speaker locations and was just wondering if any experienced magna/verada installers have any tips for making the job run smoothly...

Whats the easiest way to remove the factory double din face? The best way to get to those dash mounted tweeters? And the midbass drivers in the doors...
I havent looked yet but are there any obvious spots to run 4ga power cable thru the firewall and cabin to the boot?

Its not a massive system im putting in just a nice SQ upgrade (6"splits, 12inch sealed sub and 4chanel amp) so any help on the easiest way to remove and refit all the gear would be muchly appreciated!

Thanks
Alex

What verada is it? Older ones will just have clip on the back of the facia. Where the cigger lighter / tray is there are 2 clips in the top corners. Take the centre console out first ( where the gear knob is, just lift ) then the ask tray out and pull the bottom bit toward you. Then the middle facia on the older one are held on by 4 clips, 2 at the top 2 on the bottom. Pull the bottom toward you first. You will then need to unscrew 2 screw up the top to free the climate / air con. Pop that out. Undo the 4 screw that hold the metal bracket in and out will come you console ready for a new headunit.

Newer veradas are more difficult. Not sure how to get them off without breaking a side clip.

Door are easy, unscrew the screw in the round thing, the one behind the door handle and the one under the plastic cover in the door sill ( where you put your hand to shut the door ). Take out the power window thing and pull out the harness. Get a big screwdriver and wedge it up through the bottom of the door ( small gap ). Pull the driver toward you gently and after a big pop the clips should start to break free. Lift and take off.

There is a grommet thru the firewall on the passenger side ( almost in the middle ) about half way down. You can see wires dissappear, feel to make sure it is not a hose, you should find it. 4 ga will fit through not worries.

Take the grill off the back speakers by unscrewing the nuts you see in the boot ( 3 per grill ). You will need an L shaped phillips head to unscrew the speakers screws. Take it out then replace with new ones.

Thanks MrCharisma
The Verada is a KF (late 97 model)...soo is that a newer one or an older one in terms of your advice? (its all relative...) thanks again for the helpfull info - cant wait to install this sucker!

Ha it falls in the "older" catergory, i think it is from 2002 that i am thinking of. Before that the centre bit is really easy to get off ( like mine :D ).

Have you had experience with working wires through the door gromments? For better staging it is worth have the tweeters in the kicks and the mids in the factory door location. Do you plan to deaden you doors? Sorry if you need me to explain anything in more detail just let me know, was in a hurry to go the FIFA club semi which the mighty Mariners won 4-0 over adeliade :bowrofl:

Hey Alex Welcome to the forums!

Sounds like you've got the right idea. Good splits, four channel amp and sub.

As for Verada's I've never touched them before, but I'm sure someone can help you out with the specifics.

Running wire through is easy. Fuse within 18" of the battery. THere are a few grommets in the firewall tat you can go through.Just ensure the cable is secure through the engine bay.

And that it doesnt go near any moving parts or hot parts.

Peace

Tim

Thanks Tim and Mr C...
I have a reasonable amount of install experience, just never in a Magna/Verada! The hardware side of it doesnt fase me i was just wondering on the best way to go about installing everything into the KF...its always better to be forewarned than go breaking clips etc!

As far as Staging, image and timing- im aware of the advantages of the kick mounts but am trying to keep everything behind stock covers with as little mods and fabrication as poss.
I feel the standard possy for the tweeter actually stages quite well and the timing is good (enuff for me). Just lookin forward to crisper cleaner cruisin tunes...

Am definately sound deadening the doors - i havent even had time to look at whats in there yet but im sure its fairly inadequate...on that note any recommendations on the best products to use? Im chasing a natural but warm sound without doing a complete custom install...

What are opinions on the following products? (just to chew the fat...)
Clarion DXZ846MC (bought from Autobarn $499 last one!!!)
JL VR600CSi splits (6" to bolt straight in to factory location..no messing!) (can get for $309)
JL 12W3 in a sealed box (A steal (i reckon) at $369)
JL "slasher" 300/4 (rrp$1k - am getting for under $650)

Thanks for all your help gents...i would welcome any other replies from anyone too:P
Cheers All! :D

PS
Nuff Said bout Adelaide United!!! :redface: :cry:

Sound deadening - Serenity - G-Spot - Stinger Roadkill - Sound off etc Aim to spend around $100 per door for good results.

Seal up ur doors too using Duct tape and MDF. And mount ur speakers onto a solid mount eg mdf baffle.

Any particular reason ur going for the full JL setup?

It's cool to have one system, but I generally find that certain companies specialise in certain areas. JL make great subs and amps for instance. There are much better companies out there though to have a listen to.

Audison, Soundstream, Diamond, Focal, Dynaudio, Morel for starters...

Peace

Tim

Sound deadening - Serenity - G-Spot - Stinger Roadkill - Sound off etc Aim to spend around $100 per door for good results.

Seal up ur doors too using Duct tape and MDF. And mount ur speakers onto a solid mount eg mdf baffle.

Any particular reason ur going for the full JL setup?

It's cool to have one system, but I generally find that certain companies specialise in certain areas. JL make great subs and amps for instance. There are much better companies out there though to have a listen to.

Audison, Soundstream, Diamond, Focal, Dynaudio, Morel for starters...

Peace

Tim


Thanks for the suggestions Tim - what do u think of Dynamat damping materials (ive never used them but am told good things...)

Theres a few reasons why i like the all JL setup and not really because its all 1 brand (after all im not sponsored!)...that said i figure any brands products are going to be engineered to work well with each other.

I agree that Audison, Soundstream Focal, Dynaudio etc all make top gear but im on a bit of buget here...

I can get the JLs for around $300 even and The only focals in that range are the 165As ($350) which are certainly talented but sounded no better to my ears than the JLs. I also prefer JLs external xover to the inline cap that these focals use (and my budget doesnt stretch to utopias:( :cry: )

I auditioned Alpines Type S 6.5in splits also at $300 and found them to be pretty good...warm but still crisp and timed well but again (maybe im predjudiced and a lil pro JL?..) didnt give me anything above and beyond the JLs

Nothing from the Mainstream manufacturers came close to any of these 3 (Clarion, Pioneer..Yucky Sony) at the price point IMHO and i figured Morels, MBs Etc all to be well above the $300ish ive set aside...(i'm already approaching my $2k budget without wiring, cables, fuse blocks, deadening etc...an i dont wanna skimp on any of that)

I also have a preference for fabric dome tweeters (silk in Jls case) over their brighter metal colleagues and the Jls were all i found that are 6" not 6.5 and can drop straight in to the factory mount (although i like ur mdf baffle idea - i may plaguerise it!)

All that said however..im still open to suggestions? Any ideas on a great pair of 6" splits @$300? - im all ears lol

Cheers,
Al


P.S - cant wait to buy all this stuff (half the fun) and install it next weekend (run out of time for this one already! and its not even friday yet)... LOVE MY TUNES!!!:P

PS
Nuff Said bout Adelaide United!!! :redface: :cry:

I gather you are from SA then.. will be hard to audition many other speakers down there. I swear i have seen those JL splits for $199 at Autobarn on special.. think yo might need to bargin there. Amp you choose is quite a good one, can't really fault it except the price but since the Audison SRx3 wont be much cheaper than $650 then yeah go the JL amp. No a bad set up if your ears like it. Maybe the Hertz HSK-165 would be better siuted to you but dont think of anywhere where you can here them.

Ha the "Marinators" support group won that game, the shyt they where putting on Adelaide is what won the game.. an yeah home final now against Sydney FC. With around 500+ marinators in attendance, should be scary for any team. Fooouuuurrrrr nnniiiilllllllllll, fffoooouuuurrrrrr nnniiiillllll. :bowrofl:

Dynamat is the best deadener imo. Also expensive. If you can afford it do it. But you would get similar results with the other brands for cheaper.

If I ever did my car again I'd go the Dynamat route throughout if possible.

I agree with the soft dome tweets, I love the sound of them.

As has been said the Hertz HSK-165 rrp b/w $330 and $360 are an awesome high powered speaker (200w) Lots of midbass and can take a beating.

MDF baffles are a must, they are like $6 and also foam diffusers (acoustic tiles) behind your midbass drivers to stop any reflections. (generic ones are around $8 for 2, high end ones are over $50)

Peace

Tim

Where can i source the accoustic tiles?
Also those $6 baffles...are they bought ones or is that just your material cost? (i have a router and a jigsaw.so i dont mind gettin my hands dirty?)

Mr. C - i tried Autobarn first but they dont stock those splits anymore...Focal are the only audiophile quality brand splits they sell now..i figured $300 is a fair enuff price as retail is at $399

Thanks for all your help guys...gonna take my time with this one (do it once and do it right!)
Should make for a pretty cruisy ride me thinks...
...now just gotta lower it, black out the windows, chip it (ne recommendations?) and roll on some 17s!!!

Not to bad for a big family car eh? (gets me out to work comfortably every day)

Cheers All
Thanks for the helpful advice

No problems, i know piota is in the same boat and look as well, FHRX sells them and posts them Aust. wide... you would just have to take our word for it that they sound good he he.

Deadening and tiles can also be had from FHRX.

Acoustic tiles from places like Jaycar or specialist car audio shops.
$6 baffles are prefabbed and unpainted, if you've got the gear just as easy to diy. Make sure you get the depth right otherwise your speaker will protrude into the trim.

i definetly recommend taking ur time with it. *Cries* I took a year on mine... Still not happy with it though

Spend right... do it right the first time.
If you take time on the install you will never have any problems with it.

Peace

Tim