Hey all, I've been sorta lurking for a bit and reading, got the part numbers for the A-pillars with tweeter pods in them, and I'm about to get started building up my setup.

To begin with, I have a set of CDT Eurosport components which I'll be using for the fronts. What I'm uncertain about is whether I want to even bother running a subwoofer or not. I'm not at the point where I care about having a lot of bass, let alone the extra weight in a car this small.

I'm sure the consensus will be to just try it out replacing the components and the rears, plus an amp. However, deciding which amp to use with so many elements undecided is where it gets hairy. I've seen some suggestions for the Alpine pdx-5, though I'm not convinced I'll need five channels yet either.

Anyway, any suggestions for a way to approach this? I've done car audio installs for years and for some reason, the size constraints have me a little uncertain how to proceed.

Thanks.

 

If you are worried about space/weight, JL makes a stealthbox that fits the car with a single 8 inch. it's not going to be overpowering but really makes a difference.

Alpine amps are ok, but not my favorite. I am partial to JL Audison or Memphis amps (in the reasonable range that is)

You can get a 75x4 Memphis amp for a few hundred that will drive all the main speakers just fine.

For the fronts, go with a decent quality Component set, I am partial to Focal or Hertz, the Hertz have better midbass response IMHO but the Focal's have better low end.

Speaking of which, what are you going to drive all this with? Stock radio/signal processor or replacing the head unit???

 

Thanks for the advice, but since that time a couple months ago I have since done nothing but research. I've done installs in the past (using mostly Alpine and Memphis gear), but none on a car so space constrained.

To that end, I think I've decided to go a DIY route with some front components. I'm also going to experiment with some 6.5" subs in some sort of PVC enclosure in place of the factory 6x9s. We'll see, this all seems to change daily. :D

Thanks for the advice though.

As far as signal processing, you can't really do anything with the stock head unit so I've got a JL CleanSweep to clean up the signal and give me a good starting point.

 

Yeah, the head unit sucks but there are many ways to clean it up.

I was considering the Clean Sweep myself it's a nice unit, but recently I got to demo the Audison Bit One and was floored. I used to be an installer myself and I've head some good and bad system, but my friend who sells them built a system in his car just to prove a point.

He put one of these in a 99 Chevy Caviler with the base CD player, added some Hertz components, a pair of Alpine's in the back, a single Memphis amp and no sub..

All I can say was HOLY CRAP! a FACTORY CD player (and a crappy one at that) sounded phenominal!!

 

I Googled "Audison Bit One" to find info and price and was floored.

 

Yeah it's not cheap, but it's fantastic with what it can do!

 

yeah the bit one is amazing, perhaps I'll watch the used classifieds for one someday. Truthfully, I'm fairly certain the CleanSweep will be sufficient for now.

 

I might be willing to sell you my cleansweep...i am debating weather to pull it or not from my system.

 

Have they fixed all the issues they has with the Bit One? When they came out I remember all of the units had something wrong with them.

Having used Audison ,Jl and many other amps: I can say hands down the best amp I have come in contact with (at a resonable cost) is the Steg K series .

I had some VRX series Audison in my old car and replaced them with the Steg which retails for almost 1/2 the cost of the Audison VRX and they sounded much better.

just my .02

 

Thanks, but I already have one.

 

As far as I know they have fixed it with a software update (Have to make sure you have the latest software)

As I said, they took a bone stock chevy CD and made it sound as good as the setup that was in my previous car