As the title says, my audio install is finally finished.
Well finished as far as I expect it ever to be. I doubt I'd change or add anything else.
It was finished on Tuesday but I’ve been too busy to take some pics and post it up.

Looks wise, she’s nothing spectacular. Didn’t go for the show look, more for functionality & hidden (for security). However, having said that, it’s a neat pro install.

The end result is very nice but not mind blowing either.
Slightly mixed feelings but overall I’m happy with it all.

The sound quality is great, nice clear sounds – even heard some bits in a song I hadn’t noticed before.

Gotta admit, I was slightly disappointed there was no huge WOW factor when I first turned it up. I thought she’d be louder than it turned out. I thought with the additional Amps, the volume level increase would be more than it is. I thought I wouldn’t need to turn the volume up as much as before when I had no amps. I may have had unrealistic expectations, not sure.

Although, (just for fun), the ability to sometimes turn it up louder would be good; to be honest I wouldn’t do it often or for very long, as I’d get a headache and go deaf! As it is, I’ve turned the subs down a bit – I found them to be a bit overpowering – maybe because they’re in the cabin with me rather than being in a boot.

Makes me wonder how much $$$ some people spend when you hear the Duff Duff coming from some cars as they drive past. Although my stuff isn’t ridiculous, it’s not low end stuff either, and the outside noise is nothing like some people have it. But I have sound deadening etc. too. They must be deaf or at least be going deaf now.

Overall I’m a very happy man. It’s nice and clear without being ridiculous.
In fact I think the longer I have it, the more happy I’m getting. :D


Final install included the following components…
- Headunit: Pioneer DEH_P1Y
- Front Speakers: Hertz - 3 Way Splits - HSK163 - 150w RMS
- Rear Speakers: Soundstream – 2 Way Splits - LOS LS.60C - 130w RMS
- Subs (x2): Soundstream - XS-12/2 - 300w RMS
- Amp for front & rear speakers: Alpine - V12 MRV-F545 - 125w RMS x4 @ 4ohms
- Amp for subs: Soundstream - XStream XTA480.4 – Bridged to 240w RMS x2 @ 4ohm Mono
- Soundstream Capacitor.

All the bits...
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q65/DoddsFamily/Graeme/Car%20Clubs/PuckICESetupsmall-1.jpg

Anyway, here’s the pics (part 1)…

Headunit

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q65/DoddsFamily/Graeme/Car%20Clubs/Headunit.jpg

Hertz 1” tweeters are under the stock dash speaker grilles.
No pic for this, everyone has the dash grilles and you can’t see the tweeters.

Hertz 4” mids and 6.5” woofers in front doors.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q65/DoddsFamily/Graeme/Car%20Clubs/FrontDoor6.jpg

Rear Speakers & Subs
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q65/DoddsFamily/Graeme/Car%20Clubs/Rear6.jpg
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q65/DoddsFamily/Graeme/Car%20Clubs/RearSubs2.jpg
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q65/DoddsFamily/Graeme/Car%20Clubs/rearSubs.jpg

Pics (part 2)…

Amps, Cap & Fuse box (between the back seat and the dickie seat)
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q65/DoddsFamily/Graeme/Car%20Clubs/Amps.jpg
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q65/DoddsFamily/Graeme/Car%20Clubs/Capacitor.jpg

Fuse in engine bay
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q65/DoddsFamily/Graeme/Car%20Clubs/Fuseinenginebay.jpg

I just find it weird how you say its not incredibly loud.
With that setup (specs similar to mine, actually yours on paper would be more powerful) it should be damn loud! As most of my mates can vouch its pretty deafning, The again the way you have your speakers pointed may contribute to some of it....

Those front 3 ways look nuts!
:cool:

HSK's should go damn loud.. maybe the installer was really weak on the gains, could be a lot more potential left in the amp.. but if your not confident in setting this yourself, take it to someone to do.

well done on the install buddy
looks good :thumbsup:
but yeah gonna have to say that it hasnt been tuned right

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm... love your front stage!!!..nice specs on the equipment too

did you end up going to that guy i told u about?

looks like the same soundstream gear

did you end up going to that guy i told u about?Yup :thumbsup:

oh, and as for the volume/loudness, maybe I just expected more. To be honest when she's turned up, it's louder than you would want it.
It's just that I thought I'd only have to have the headunit turned to about 30-40 rather than 40-50 to get a nice listening volume while driving. (the headunit's volume goes from 0-62). I'll ask the install place what they set the amps at to see if the gains are low. If they are set low to 'protect' the speakers, then they will remain low.

The rear-view mirror shakes when the subs kick in and when the subs are turned right up I can feel my hair move while sitting in the front. (with my hands over my ears)
So, yeah, maybe she's okay. lol

I know the sound quality is nice - and that's more important to me.
So I guess she may be loud enough too.

I just have nothing to compare it too or anyone else who has amps, subs, etc. who can listen too it and let me know. I need to ask around at work to see if anyone has had a nice audio setup before.
My brother in law is coming up this weekend, he used to have a nice old Monaro with a good system and he knows a fair amount about this stuff. I'll get him to have a listen.

Thanks to all for your comments and ideas.

the way your gains should be set is that at max ie 62 your speakers are getting there rms maximum power on loud songs. this way you will never overheat your amps (killing the mosfet or transistor amplifiers) and blowing the coils in your speakers/subs.

the way your gains should be set is that at max ie 62 your speakers are getting there rms maximum power on loud songs... ...and this is measure by what/how or maybe it's a who?

Nice install mate, i got da same head unit i love it with da 60watts a channel insted of the regular 50watts. do u really turn it up to 40 i cant go ova 14 on mine b4 i cant hear or feel anything, once again nice install.

Hey, Puck. Hubby says to turn your hearing aid up!:bowrofl: He also says to ask his walking partner because he thinks he's got a good setup and hubby's not in for another week.:)

Hey, Puck. Hubby says to turn your hearing aid up!:bowrofl: He also says to ask his walking partner because he thinks he's got a good setup and hubby's not in for another week.:)ahh, that's the problem - maybe I need new batteries in the ol' hearing aid. :bowrofl:
Tell ya hubby, I'll ask his "walking partner" next week. Although I'm not sure why a walking stick has an audio setup lol

Nice install mate, i got da same head unit i love it with da 60watts a channel insted of the regular 50watts. do u really turn it up to 40 i cant go ova 14 on mine b4 i cant hear or feel anything, once again nice install.Okay, now I know somethings wrong. A trip to the audio pros is needed me thinks. Mine at 14 is very low - like I turn it down to 14 so I can talk on a mobile.

Awesome!!!! :D

Thats one sweet setup there mate! Most of that gear is top notch.

Quick question for ya; how do you like those subs? sound good as duals? i have the single 12" of those and am considering a 2nd one, just wanted to know your opinion on them. :)



Okay, now I know somethings wrong. A trip to the audio pros is needed me thinks. Mine at 14 is very low - like I turn it down to 14 so I can talk on a mobile.

Yeh those HSK's should definately be screamin.. try turn the gains on the amps up a tad mate.. if it was Michael (at RL&R) that tuned it, it seems he likes to keep things pretty conservative for the sake of reliability so yeh.. turning the gains up a tad wouldnt hurt at all before you go back to visit him.

Shaggin wagon! NICE :D

Hope you sort out those audio issues though...

Yup :thumbsup:


awesome :)

good to see someone got good use out of his stuff

You have done a top job, it looks great.... so when can I book my car in?

Can't wait to somthing similar. Does the door pocket 1/2 covering the speaker dull the sound at all?

dont listen to these people, that bloke who has his at level 14 has NOTHING to do with your setup, no 2 setups are the same. you can set the gains so it clips if you put it past 3 on the loud button, or so that at maximum (62), it doesnt clip.

the audio stores tend to set amps with an oscolliscope so that, at maximum volume, no hard will be done to any components, and no clipping is introduced. because these stores EXPECT your average joe to go turning it as far as it will go, and wont notice/know/care if its distorting and clipping like crazy. otherwise they get morons coming in and crying that their new speakers blew, and expect warrenty.

half the time the customer goes home and shows his best mate Trev his sik new setup, and and Trev is quick to educate him that the installers are idiots, and forgot to set the gains as far as they will go, and the bass boost on max to make them pump, now thats sikkkk bro!

but yea, if your doubting the installers, and feel that there is more potential in your system, go to a store that has an oscolliscope (because most shops just tune it by ear), and get them to level set it for you, then watch out for the smell of burning coil former :)

oh the joys of working for a company that installs uhf cb radios.... i have about 5 oscilliscopes and every other tuning tool i could ever want at my disposal haha... to bad i dont really need them lol