So, at this stage, the audio install looks like this...

Headunit - Pioneer AVH-P3350BT. (http://www.pioneer.com.au/au/products/25/109/281/AVH-P3350BT/index.html)
Front Splits - Focal 165KRX3. (http://www.focalaustralia.com.au/k2_power.html#165krx3)
Rear 6x9's - Focal 690CVX. (http://www.focalaustralia.com.au/polyglass.html#690cvx)
AMP - FPS 4.160. (http://www.focalaustralia.com.au/amplifiers.html#4.160)

Rear view camera, integrated steering wheel controls, full Dynamat.

They are going to do the double din fascia piece, and make a custom pod for the mid + tweeters to go on the top of the dash where the current speaker grills are.

I didn't go with a GPS headunit because I'll use the iPhone Tom Tom app. I do have the option of the Eclipse AVN827GA (http://www.eclipse-web.com/au/products/navigation/avn/827ga/) but it will add around $1200 to the total install.

Thoughts?

so pissed! ive been on that eclipse website2 or 3 times a month for 6 months or so waiting for the 726s replacement. i bite the bullet buy the 726 and bam less than 2 weeks later website made over and new headunit available :(

Why not ditch the 6x9s and go for a similarly priced sub/enclosure and just run it off the amp? Sure, it's not as good as a beasty sub off its own mono, but 380w is more than enough....

Why not ditch the 6x9s and go for a similarly priced sub/enclosure and just run it off the amp? Sure, it's not as good as a beasty sub off its own mono, but 380w is more than enough....

sub would also be bootspace. may be that for this car which as i understand it is to be very daily that space is required.

Boot space is not really required, but I don't wanna buy a cheap sub. The one I'm looking at is this one (http://www.focalaustralia.com.au/subwoofers.html#27kx), then an AMP at another $700 to run it, plus cabling, plus sub enclosure, plus install - The 6x9's installed are like $450, the sub installed will be closer to $2k...

Edit: Or, something more like this (http://www.focalaustralia.com.au/subwoofers.html#27v2), forget the 6x9's and bridge the AMP to run the sub too?

I don't know a lot about car audio, will that give a more crisp sound ditching the 6x9's, just going with the stock 6x9's that are there, and going to the AMP I just mentioned?

The 6x9s seem like a waste of money to me. Sure, they are good but if they are running at 20% nominal whats the point?

The 6x9s seem like a waste of money to me. Sure, they are good but if they are running at 20% nominal whats the point?

Eh? The amp I'm looking at is 4x120W, and the 6x9's are 80W nominal.

I just don't know if I need anything in the back, whether it be a sub or 6x9's or another set of splits or leave the stock ones there. I don't know enough about car audio. :confused:

Well its all down to taste. Some audiophiles i know say its good to have some rear balance and others say nothing up back or very low levels. I personally think its good to have some rear fill. Its up to you :)

so pissed! ive been on that eclipse website2 or 3 times a month for 6 months or so waiting for the 726s replacement. i bite the bullet buy the 726 and bam less than 2 weeks later website made over and new headunit available :(

I've been looking at the specs of the new headunit, they claim steering wheel controls are compatible (built in), but the one thing that doesn't look right is the res of the screen, 480 X 272 pixels? That seems awfully low to me. Even the base model xtrons which is 1/4 of the price has a res of 800x480.

Eh? The amp I'm looking at is 4x120W, and the 6x9's are 80W nominal.
What Dave means is that most audiophiles leave the rear speakers faded out, so that you can barely hear them from the front. The idea is that since sound is directional, you only need to listen to the speakers aimed at you.

If you're going to fade out your 6x9s, there's no point in replacing them. I like a little bit of rear fill too, but if it came down to rear fill or a sub, I'd go the sub.

You don't need to go overboard with your sub either. My dad runs a 10" Alpine Type S (bottom of the range) in a tiny sealed box in his Territory, with Type X (top of the Alpine range) splits in the front. Even though it's a cheap sub ($180 or so), it really finishes off the listening experience (for lack of a better term) - unless you're a serious audiophile, you wouldn't rubbish it.

So that this stage, it looks like I'm going to go with this...

Headunit - Eclipse AVN827GA. (http://www.eclipse-web.com/au/products/navigation/avn/827ga/)
Front Splits - Focal 165KRX3. (http://www.focalaustralia.com.au/k2_power.html#165krx3)
AMP - FPS 4.160. (http://www.focalaustralia.com.au/amplifiers.html#4.160)

Rear view camera, integrated steering wheel controls (comes with the headunit), full Dynamat.

I'm not going to worry about rear 6x9's or a sub just yet. I'll run the stock 6x9's off the new headunit, and if I feel I need a sub down the track I'll get one.

Thoughts?

You'll definitely be happy with that.

Great mid range and vocals from the KRX3s..
Running the 6x9s off the HU will balance things out quite nicely and if need be you can cross them over a little to clean things up.

All in all.. Top docks!

SuFz :ninja:

You'll definitely be happy with that.

Great mid range and vocals from the KRX3s..
Running the 6x9s off the HU will balance things out quite nicely and if need be you can cross them over a little to clean things up.

All in all.. Top docks!

SuFz :ninja:

Sweet, thanks man.

The Focals' sound friggen amazing in the shop. I can't wait to hear them in the more confined space of my car! I'm thinking I might get this all done next week. Can't wait!

Those focals are Exactly the speaker I would chose for a Top Install on a 380, With all that real estate at the base of the a Pillar, you might be lucky to get mid speakers up there too.
Did you discuss speaker placement with the installer? I would install them, if possible, not in the OEM tweeter positions, but at the base of the a pillar, angled in. With the mids right next to them.
I have the the KR2's

They're going in the tweeter position he said. They're making up a custom housing for the mid + tweeter. They said that would be the best place for them, so I gotta go with them, lol.

Mind if we ask who's doing the install..?

SuFz

Mind if we ask who's doing the install..?

SuFz

Maroochy Car Sound.

http://www.maroochycarsound.com.au/

Ahh.. Nice!

I've heard good things about their work.. I'd love to see pics of the finished product!

SuFz :ninja:

So I forgot to mention, the splits aren't the 165KRX3. That's all I could find that was close enough to them when I was finding the links. The speakers I'm getting are actually a mix of 165KBE + 100KP (6.5 midbass, 4 mid, TN52 tweet). Apparently this is a pretty potent setup and is what guys use if they aren't going to use the Focal Utopia Be series. :D

Just to give you an idea on price, the equivalent Utopia Be series 3 way splits cost $4,899. (http://www.focalaustralia.com.au/utopia-be.html#spkr_3)

Haha dont forget to update your insurance details ;)

Haha dont forget to update your insurance details ;)

Yer, I will.

I've just been doing some reading, and a lot of people suggest to mount the 6.5" door speakers in an enclosed pod of some sort?

Would this be beneficial? And what sort of price do you think I'd be looking at to get that done?

Sounds Great. I hope you are really happy the results.
In car dynamics vary a bit from the sound boards.
Looks like thorough install is on the cards, 4 Crossovers for the fronts.
May I ask, is there only two channels running the fronts, into the first crossover, then on to the second.....?????
120 watts will be good, adequate for sure, more would be so cool, if you wanted to deafen yo'self.


Have you booked in for the install yet?

Just one thing, I am sure you didn't mean the to use the word Equivalent with much weight. Next Best may be more accurate.
But, maybe, just possibly enough, to envoke a few thoughts into someone who's about to drop some Seas Splits (http://www.seaslotus.com.au/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=1&category_id=2&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1)into their 380.........

Sounds Great. I hope you are really happy the results.
In car dynamics vary a bit from the sound boards.
Looks like thorough install is on the cards, 4 Crossovers for the fronts.
May I ask, is there only two channels running the fronts, into the first crossover, then on to the second.....?????
120 watts will be good, adequate for sure, more would be so cool, if you wanted to deafen yo'self.


Have you booked in for the install yet?

Just one thing, I am sure you didn't mean the to use the word Equivalent with much weight. Next Best may be more accurate.
But, maybe, just possibly enough, to envoke a few thoughts into someone who's about to drop some Seas Splits (http://www.seaslotus.com.au/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=1&category_id=2&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1)into their 380.........

I'm no audiophile, nor do I pretend to know a lot about car audio, so bare with me while I try to answer.

I have no idea on the crossover etc etc. I think they'll run the amp in 2 channel bridged mode? So it'll be 2x380W? I don't quite understand it all really, just going off the shops advice. Does that sound right or not?

Booked in for this Wednesday, pick the car up Thursday afternoon.

Equivalent in the way that the 165KBE + 100KP = 3 way, as does the Utopia Be Kit 7. I was just highlighting that there is a MASSIVE price difference between the two, and for my ears, probably no real difference.

I did read a bit about those Seas speakers - no doubt they'll be a solid choice.

I've just been doing some reading, and a lot of people suggest to mount the 6.5" door speakers in an enclosed pod of some sort?
It would prove to be beneficial for tight bass response, I used to have the 165KBE kit in my old car, which while it worked quite well just into the parcel shelf as a sub supplement, was a hell of a lot more responsive in an sealed box. Cost wise I wouldn't have a clue, as I'd assume you'd be mounting it into the front door so it'd need to be fibreglass to the right capacity fitting into the door. Maybe speak to a few installers about the idea?

Yeah, the bridged powerthethe 2 sounds right, add the 2 Ohm values of two channels to get a 4 ohm bridged total. If they do it that way, you'll have 6x9.s off the headunit, and no sub amp.
Whatever they do, I reckon it sound astonishingly clear, with a really, really nice front stage.
I'd drive up just to hear it.

Yeah, the bridged powerthethe 2 sounds right, add the 2 Ohm values of two channels to get a 4 ohm bridged total. If they do it that way, you'll have 6x9.s off the headunit, and no sub amp.
Whatever they do, I reckon it sound astonishingly clear, with a really, really nice front stage.
I'd drive up just to hear it.

I'm not going with a sub at the moment, maybe later, and if I do, it'll get its own amp most likely. Stock 380 6x9's off the headunit for the moment too, if I feel I need more at the back I'll probably get a set of the Focal 690CVX Polyglass 6x9s and run them off the amp.

So the plan at this stage is to start small and if I need to, work from there. I'd hate to spend like $10k and then regret spending so much money because it's too bassy or whatever.

I might ring them tomorrow and speak to them about putting the 165KBE's into a small closed pod of some sort if we can - if it's not much more money wise, and it's going to sound a lot better, then it's probably worth it.