So I'm thinking of upgrading my P5's stock audio system. Here's what I want to do. I want to replace the stock speakers with a nice full range set (front only - rears can stay the same). I really need the space in the hatch for my equipment, so a sub back there isn't an option - no spare tire subs either. That leaves me with few options in the sub dept. I'm considering the Clarion SRV303, which is a compact sub that will fit under the front seat and includes speaker level inputs to use in conjunction with a stock HU. I would like to keep the factory HU just as a theft deterent. If after installing these speaker upgrades I'm still unhappy then I'll consider upgrading the head unit. And if I'm still unhappy after that I'll consider external amps. But I want to keep this simple. Anyone on here use the Clarion sub or have heard it? I'm curious to know if it does as good a job as the stock spare tire sub. I currently have no sub at all, so anything will probably be an improvement. Any suggestions on the full range speakers for the front (considering I'll be using them with the stock HU - at least initially)? Anyone happen to know the signal to noise ratio on the stock CD player? Thanks for any suggestions and/or info.
Front seat sub?
- Thread starter rjmhotrod
- Start date
WetsuitxNinja
Member
- :
- Mz3
Im thinking about taking the stock sub out, glassing an enclosure to sit in the spare tire to house a 10" sub facing up....hell even a decent 8" sub would blow the stock one away in both output and sq...
There weren't many good reviews for that sub. Find a place to mount a small box and use a JL6W0. It's an awesome speaker for its size. It only needs .15 cuft of space. 12"x7.25"x7" box. It would fit in the little indented space on the drivers side of the trunk where the light is.
I'd recommend getting a nice set of components for the front and a 2 channel amp (35-50 watts per channel). Install that off the stock head unit and listen to it for a few weeks. If you decide you need more bass, then you can get a second amp and find room for a subwoofer. My guess is that you will be happy with how the components sound.
If you really think you're going to need that sub then I would suggest a 4-channel amp. That way, when you are ready for the bass you can bridge the rear channels for the sub. If you don't think you need the bass, then you can bridge both front and rear to send more power to your components.
If you really think you're going to need that sub then I would suggest a 4-channel amp. That way, when you are ready for the bass you can bridge the rear channels for the sub. If you don't think you need the bass, then you can bridge both front and rear to send more power to your components.
rmj: Try sound advice right here in sarasota on clark and tamiami trl. They used to have that clarion sub in their demo area. If you want something simple and not so much booming bass i would try a powered sub with line speaker level in. If you need some help im right here in sarasota and would be glad to give you a hand. I might even have some options with some used equipment i have laying around.
Let me know I would be glad to help you
Let me know I would be glad to help you
Thanks to all who've responded. I'm rethinking my approach. I think I will pursue a component/loc/amp solution. And maybe I can fit a sub in the back. I was thinking of a 8" or 10" in a box that I could mount to one side of the hatch area. This way I can still lay one of the seats down for getting big stuff in and out when necessary. Perhaps JL audio for the amp, not sure about the components - I was thinking of something with silk tweeters. BTW - anybody making ribbon tweeters for component speakers? I've heard ribbon tweeters in the ADAMs studio monitors and they sound very nice. In fact I'll be mixing on some next week. The sub - I'm too ignorant of subs to know which one to go with.
I do plan on going to Sound Advice when I get over this cold and I get back from my trip next week. Maybe then I'll have some more ideas.
I do plan on going to Sound Advice when I get over this cold and I get back from my trip next week. Maybe then I'll have some more ideas.
rjmhotrod said:
If you are set on a sub under the seat, look at the Kewood wOOx if it is still available (I haven't checked). I was able to mount this to the bottom of the passenger seat facing down. It's not quite as nice as a conventional sub setup (due to the vibrating seat, which could be distracting, or not..., to the person sitting on it). I have had this for almost 3 years, and have been really happy with it. I need to upgrade my door speakers, which I haven't bothered to do, but I kept the stock deck, added a LOC and 4 channel amp I had for the doors, and used the amp line out to feed the powered sub. It's plenty loud and good sounding unless you are trying to wake the neighbors.
Good luck!
Dale.
carsandguitars5
Member
- :
- 2002 Mazda Protege5
DaleK said:
What kind of setup do you have? And how did you hook it up? Im thinking about either that or the Infinity Basslink to mount under my front passenger seat.
carsandguitars5 said:
The Basslink won't fit under the seat, I'm pretty sure.
My setup is:
Stock Deck > Line Output converters (2 pairs) > 4 channel amp mounted under the driver seat > Speaker outputs from amp to the doors using the factory harness, and line out from the amp to the wOOx mounted to the passenger seat using the brackets that come with it (you'll have to bend them a wee bit), and short sheet metal screws.
I used a Scosche MA03 and MA03R harness I believe (you need both pieces to do this without cutting any wires). Also, when doing this, if the harness adapter doesn't have the deck dimmer wiring, you may want to get a second set of them to have some extra pins to connect up these wires. I used AudioLink Line Output Converters. My amp is an old Alpine V12, 4x30W, which happened to fit just right under the seat.
Good: Completely stealth, and I mean completely. No loss of room in the car. I can revert this back to stock. No cutting or holes, other than 8 small holes for mounting the equipment which has no impact.
Bad - Vibrating seat (see comments above....), and the box is just big enough to make it so that the seat won't go forward as far by about 2 inches. That's about it.
I spent a lot of time measuring and looking for what would fit under the seat in my P5. I haven't looked at that Clarion one mentioned above, as it came out after I put my setup in, but there isn't much space there - I wasn't even sure about the wOOX when I got it because it was so close to my expected measurements.
Good Luck!
Dale.
I had a Kenwood WOOX for awhile, but the bass wasn't deep enough. I mounted that little ****** everywhere till I found the perfect spot. I had it in the footwell on the passenger side, but it was in the way, I had it on the back deck for a while, and it was cool cause the sound bounced off the glass, but everyone could see it (not good if you work in hartford) and so finally I had it mounted in the middle of the back seat, upright, firing towards the front windsheild. The thing was awesome and it had a controler so I could adjust it on the fly.
the bass wasn't deep enough, so I traded up to a single RF bandpass 12. I got the deep bass that I wanted, but now I'm going deft in my right ear. Ahhh well, I'll just have to crank it a little louder.
the bass wasn't deep enough, so I traded up to a single RF bandpass 12. I got the deep bass that I wanted, but now I'm going deft in my right ear. Ahhh well, I'll just have to crank it a little louder.
SlowPro98 said:I had a Kenwood WOOX for awhile, but the bass wasn't deep enough. I mounted that little ****** everywhere till I found the perfect spot. I had it in the footwell on the passenger side, but it was in the way, I had it on the back deck for a while, and it was cool cause the sound bounced off the glass, but everyone could see it (not good if you work in hartford) and so finally I had it mounted in the middle of the back seat, upright, firing towards the front windsheild. The thing was awesome and it had a controler so I could adjust it on the fly.
the bass wasn't deep enough, so I traded up to a single RF bandpass 12. I got the deep bass that I wanted, but now I'm going deft in my right ear. Ahhh well, I'll just have to crank it a little louder.
Hard to get 15Hz from a 6 inch speaker
Considering the construction of the wOOx, I think it works really well. By mounting it to the passenger seat facing down, it seems to use the footwell nicely to direct the sound.Dale.
I went to Sound Advice yesterday to audition components, and wouldn't you know it, I had to pick some of the most expensive to like. My choice after listening to just about everything in the store was the Focal 165K2P, but at $875 I might have to get used to something else. I had to stop at Best Buy for a printer cartridge so I figured why not give a listen to what they had. Of all the brands they had, I liked the Alpine (full range and components) the best. It would be nice to A/B the Focal and the Alpine but I guess that won't happen. Also thinking about the JLAudio 10W3 for the sub. Still not sure about the amp yet. Definitely looking at a 4 channel that would fit under the front seat.
I still have a lot to decide, but at least I'm a little closer to figuring out what I want.
I still have a lot to decide, but at least I'm a little closer to figuring out what I want.
Went to Circuit City today and tested Infinity vs. Polk components. After much listening I'm leaning more towards the Infinity speakers (reference series). They seemed to have more mid range punch to them. I liked the way the Polks sounded in the highs and lows, but they seemed to be missing the mids a bit. So now I'm seriously considering going all Infinity.
Infinity 7541A 4-channel amp $245
Infinity 5010CS components speakers $180
Infinity 1042W 10" sub in sealed box $90
Amp wiring kit (8 gauge) $50
Installation will be about $115.
Plus 2 year warranty on all for about $110.
Grand total with tax about $850.
Prices seem reasonable to me. What do you guys/gals think?
I have to say I had my best listening experience at Circuit City. The guys at Sound Advice are on commission so it felt like they were squeezing me for every cent they could get (my quote from there was $3100, but that was using Focal speakers and JLAudio sub and amp). Trying to audition speakers at Best Buy is about as effective as spitting into the wind. I liked the sales guy at C.C. but I haven't seen any of their installs.
So far I've listened to:
Focal, Boston Acoustic and Polk at Sound Advice.
Alpine, Pioneer, Rockford and others at Best Buy.
Infinity and Polk at Circuit City.
Clarion and others at Autotronics (local store).
Like I said I'm leaning towards Infinity now. Any others I should try to audition before I make my decision? Total price needs to be under $1K.
Infinity 7541A 4-channel amp $245
Infinity 5010CS components speakers $180
Infinity 1042W 10" sub in sealed box $90
Amp wiring kit (8 gauge) $50
Installation will be about $115.
Plus 2 year warranty on all for about $110.
Grand total with tax about $850.
Prices seem reasonable to me. What do you guys/gals think?
I have to say I had my best listening experience at Circuit City. The guys at Sound Advice are on commission so it felt like they were squeezing me for every cent they could get (my quote from there was $3100, but that was using Focal speakers and JLAudio sub and amp). Trying to audition speakers at Best Buy is about as effective as spitting into the wind. I liked the sales guy at C.C. but I haven't seen any of their installs.
So far I've listened to:
Focal, Boston Acoustic and Polk at Sound Advice.
Alpine, Pioneer, Rockford and others at Best Buy.
Infinity and Polk at Circuit City.
Clarion and others at Autotronics (local store).
Like I said I'm leaning towards Infinity now. Any others I should try to audition before I make my decision? Total price needs to be under $1K.
jersey_emt
Member
- :
- 04 MSM #1089
rjmhotrod said:
I work part-time for Circuit City as a 2nd job....let me tell you...the quality of installs varies GREATLY from store to store...the in-house training the techs get is s***. It all depends on their manager's and their coworker's experience and knowledge.
The 2-year warranty from CC is actually pretty good...if something goes wrong, it will be replaced. If that particular product is no longer available, you'll get a gift card for your purchase price. It's pretty much no questions asked...I bought it for the amp I purchased from them.
jersey_emt said:
Thanks for the info jersey. The last thing I want is some newb installer screwing up my car. I would try to do the install myself, but then I would be the newb installer. Of course we're talking about my baby, and I would take extra precautions. It's my lack of experience of car audio installations that worries me though.
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