Sound upgrade?

[Fat Mike]

I have always had Kickers and have always loved them!

 

[ssinstaller]

Hi

Well I know I will be putting in a 760w amp with a 600w 12" sub (both pioneer) when i get mine. I had it in my 2000 626 it it was very loud and sounded great.

I cost me about 750cdn installed at best buy where I got it and they do a great job. That was 1 year ago. I took it there the other day for them to take it out and they only charged me 50 bucks. I will take it back to them when I get my 3 to install the same again. I think they are having a sale on car audio right now but not sure. I recommended them anyways.

I do have a question. I heard the 3 has pre-outs in the stock radio is that true? I know my 626 did?

The 3 does not have any preouts on the stock deck--see sig for my audio setup

 

[blizz81]

The 3 does not have any preouts on the stock deck--see sig for my audio setup

D'OH...that's a bummer.

I should probably look around a bit more before asking, but for those of you running amps/subs, what are you doing to get around the no pre-outs? Just trying to get some ideas - if I get a 3, I'd intend on putting a nice component set in at the least, but I'd like to keep the stock radio for looks even if it wouldn't be functional.

 

[yac2727]

D'OH...that's a bummer.

I should probably look around a bit more before asking, but for those of you running amps/subs, what are you doing to get around the no pre-outs? Just trying to get some ideas - if I get a 3, I'd intend on putting a nice component set in at the least, but I'd like to keep the stock radio for looks even if it wouldn't be functional.

HI,

I had the same problem, I wanted to put a serious system in my 3 but didn't want to change the radio. I ended up buying a professional HI to LOW level converter from www.davidnavone.com. They are pricey, but make your stock stereo sound like a $1000 dollar aftermarket unit.
David Navone is the engineer that designs all of the Streetwires, and Monster Cable components.
His stuff is the best you can get. Check them out if you want the BEST sound from your 3. I'll post pics of my install later.

 

[proc]

Fronts and rears

Hey, good post. Wondering for the replacement front and rear speakers, did you have to make any mods to the stock holes?

Piero

This system is sick...already bumpin', but still working on the finishing touches.

Front Speakers:
Infinity Kappa 60.5 CS 6.5" components

Rear Speakers:
Infinity Kappa 63.5 3-way 6.5"

Subwoofers:
(2) Infinfity Kappa 100.1 SE 10"

Speaker Amp:

JL Audio 300/4 75 watts x 4

Sub Amp: (I need a better one, but I got this cheap)

MTX 4300X bridged to 150 x 2

Additionally, I am using a 1 farad cap and lots of nice wiring and terminals. All wires are either black, blue, or silver. (With the excption of the leads for the door speakers)

I am installing everything myself and have so far completed a fiberglass box in the spare tire well with an amp rack behind that. I just hooked everything up and tested all of the equipment. Other than some alternator whine, everything is great. Once I figure that out, I will finish the install by covering the enclosure and fitting an acrylic window over the amps and subs with blue neon lights. Vinyl will cover everything underneath the acrylic while the exposed box will be carpeted.

It is louder than I can stand...and there is no distortion

I'll get some pics up soon enough

 

[sndsgood]

HI,

I had the same problem, I wanted to put a serious system in my 3 but didn't want to change the radio. I ended up buying a professional HI to LOW level converter from www.davidnavone.com. They are pricey, but make your stock stereo sound like a $1000 dollar aftermarket unit.
David Navone is the engineer that designs all of the Streetwires, and Monster Cable components.
His stuff is the best you can get. Check them out if you want the BEST sound from your 3. I'll post pics of my install later.

good call right there, if your sticking with the stock deck make sure you get a high quality hi to lo converter or it won't sound very good. navone makes quality stuff. its what i'll be using since i plan on keeping the stock deck.

 

[yac2727]

good call right there, if your sticking with the stock deck make sure you get a high quality hi to lo converter or it won't sound very good. navone makes quality stuff. its what i'll be using since i plan on keeping the stock deck.

Anybody know how I can make my amps and system turn on with my stock stereo? I hate having them turn on with the ignition, sometimes i don't have the radio on and it seems like such a waste. I have three MMATS amps in my 3 SQ2150, LM2100 and SQ4070. It sounds INCREDIBLE, but like I said I'd like to make them turn on when the radio turns on. Any ideas???

 

[ssinstaller]

Try the pac tr-4.


http://www.audiooutfitter.com/store/items_html/TR-4.html

 

[DrifterStudios]

Everyone keeping the stock headunit??? I want to use my sony 7" widescreen in dash when I get my 3... Anyone find afew pics of and installed after market headunit... I'm guessing I'll have to make a kit for it or at least mod one that I buy to look good in the stock hole...

 

[yac2727]

Everyone keeping the stock headunit??? I want to use my sony 7" widescreen in dash when I get my 3... Anyone find afew pics of and installed after market headunit... I'm guessing I'll have to make a kit for it or at least mod one that I buy to look good in the stock hole...

Let me tell you the stock radio has pretty good sound quality if you use a good hi to low. There are two high to low converters that I use, the AudioLink (used a lot for bose stock systems) sounds really good, but the best sounding are the Navone engineering pieces. The link for them is available below. Finally, you can always build a custom kit using bondo and fiberglass, but you have to be pretty good, or else it will look like crap.

 

[csvencer]

I have a basslink in my car (not a Dodge 3, yet) and I second it. its small, amp and sub in one box, and if you are just looking to complement the stock system, it will do the job well with a minimum of fuss and expense.

How did you hook the Basslink into the stereo? The rear speakers I assume. Did you splice in where they left the HU or somewhere in the car? Any info would be great. Thanks.

-Svence

 

[spicyhotpeas]

do converters sound that good ? Since the stock stereo doesnt have pre-outs, i guess thats the only way to hook up a amp.
Although i could fit a custom head unit though that would cost me heaps....

 

[Trepid]

What I have planned for mine is to get is the infinity kappas 60.5 for the front, I don't know what the rear 6.5's will be yet but I'm probably going kappa there too... For my sub I like the infinity basslink in a car like the 3 because with the hatch it puts out more then enough sound inside the car and it's only like $200 for the sub and its self amped.

 

[sndsgood]

do converters sound that good ? Since the stock stereo doesnt have pre-outs, i guess thats the only way to hook up a amp.
Although i could fit a custom head unit though that would cost me heaps....

if you get a high quality converter it can sound just as good as an aftermarket head unit, if you go cheap with this piece and it will never sound as good no matter what u add after it.

 

[spicyhotpeas]

if you get a high quality converter it can sound just as good as an aftermarket head unit, if you go cheap with this piece and it will never sound as good no matter what u add after it.

so what or which convertors should i get to get my stock system sounding the best .. ?

 

[Stitch626ex]

Hey, good post. Wondering for the replacement front and rear speakers, did you have to make any mods to the stock holes?

Piero

 

[Stitch626ex]

Everyone keeping the stock headunit??? I want to use my sony 7" widescreen in dash when I get my 3... Anyone find afew pics of and installed after market headunit... I'm guessing I'll have to make a kit for it or at least mod one that I buy to look good in the stock hole...

im keeping my stock radio.

 

[Stitch626ex]

This system is sick...already bumpin', but still working on the finishing touches.

Front Speakers:
Infinity Kappa 60.5 CS 6.5" components

Rear Speakers:
Infinity Kappa 63.5 3-way 6.5"

Subwoofers:
(2) Infinfity Kappa 100.1 SE 10"

Speaker Amp:

JL Audio 300/4 75 watts x 4

Sub Amp: (I need a better one, but I got this cheap)

MTX 4300X bridged to 150 x 2

Additionally, I am using a 1 farad cap and lots of nice wiring and terminals. All wires are either black, blue, or silver. (With the excption of the leads for the door speakers)

I am installing everything myself and have so far completed a fiberglass box in the spare tire well with an amp rack behind that. I just hooked everything up and tested all of the equipment. Other than some alternator whine, everything is great. Once I figure that out, I will finish the install by covering the enclosure and fitting an acrylic window over the amps and subs with blue neon lights. Vinyl will cover everything underneath the acrylic while the exposed box will be carpeted.

It is louder than I can stand...and there is no distortion

I'll get some pics up soon enough

thats bad ass!! i wanna put a system in my 3 but i need subs, i have really crappy subs (pryamid's) and i dont wanna use those. I have a PPI 2200 amp. its pretty good.

 

[04mazda3s]

I got a rockford 1800w amp with 2 12" kicker compt subs and a custom fiberglass enclosure with cf finish is on its way I am going to order a indash dvd player with flip up screen,but I need to find out if they have a kit for the stock radio out yet, so I can remove it and it doesnt look bad inside.

 

[sndsgood]

go with a dave navone loc.