Complete sound system overhaul

The Sound system has always been the biggest thing about my car. The problem is up until my Stealth R/T twin turbo, my car have been 4 bangers excluding my 87 cavalier convertible.

I had my next system all but installed that was to go in my 01 Saturn SC2.

It was slated to be a 6,000 watt RMS SPL / loud SQ monster.
5.1 DTS mobile theater, active x-over for all channels, 3-way front stage, and 30 bands of digital equalization for all channels.

Then the Stealth came into the picture, for the first time the weight of the system became a concern. So first I sold the two 60+ LBS subwoofers (12" Orion HCCA 12.2's) and the two 25-30 LBS amplifiers (HCCA-D5000) that was to power them.

From there I have been mulling over what exactly to do in my Stealth to satisfy my stereo needs.

I still want the:
5.1 DTS mobile theater
3-way front stage
30 bands of digital equalization for all channels.

I am torn about the active vs. passive x-overs. The need to want all channels active has passed, that would require six to seven amplifiers (yes I have seven amps)....that is ALLOT of weight for the sake of sound quality.

Where I am torn is whether or not to just run the front active. Mainly be cause I have an awesome digital X-over from AudioControl. But would involve three amps just for the front stage, making the total amplifier count five or six depending how I power my rear and center channel. At that point I might as well run full active. I think the K.I.S.S. will be applied here once the install happens.

Here is my set up so far for the Stealth. (yet to be installed)

H/U:
Pioneer AVH-P6000DVD

5.1 DTS processor:
Pioneer DEQ-P8000

Equalization:
AudioControl DQS 30 band digital EQ (with remote display)

Extra additions:
Pioneer Blue-tooth interface
Pioneer AVG-VDP1 (A neat little vehicle dynamics display)
Pioneer 6 disc changer
Pioneer I-pod interface

Amplifiers:
Orion HCCA-D2400 (subs)
Orion HP-4800 (front)
Orion HP-4800 (rear & center)
Two channels bridged to the center, speakers wired as an 8 Ohm load to keep the wattage low.

Front:
Eclipse SC8365 3-way component speakers.

Rear:
Eclipse SP6900

Center:
Tang Band W23-1287SI (two will be used)

Sub:
Tang Band W8-1363SB (four will be used)

I started by just seeing how the mid / tweeter pod sat on the dash:

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/PICT3924.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/PICT3918.jpg

I didn't not like how that looked, so I started to install each speaker individually, so far i have the mids installed just not hooked up. This is how they turned out:

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/PICT3984.jpg

As for the tweeter, I will be installing the surface mount pod to the base of the "A" pillars and the Blue-tooth mic at the top of the driver's side, along with a gauge pod.

After that I will have the "A" pillars re-wrapped in matching vinyl so the whole thing looks stock.

WHY do you want a theater in your car?

You can't use it while driving. Any sound quality is negated when the engine is running. The car is a terrible SQ/5.1 environment.

Just curious.

My advice to anyone looking to upgrade is to get a good PAIR of speakers up front and a good sub (and the appropriate power components) and be done.

IF you have the power, road and engine noise is not a problem. All you need is sound deadening and sound proofing.

I would NEVER watch a movie while driving
I would never play a movie while driving :suspect:

Wow, that's a crazy set-up. Keep us updated on progress. I'd love to know what it sounds like when you get it all done. Too bad you don't live closer or i would just come over and check out the progress and lend a hand.

Thanks, perhaps by NG11 I will have it installed, then maybe an audition could happen.

What eclipse speaker is that in your tweeter location? That is possibly one of the best looking/fitting speakers I have seen there thus far. Did it mount up alright?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MADMarc

What eclipse speaker is that in your tweeter location? That is possibly one of the best looking/fitting speakers I have seen there thus far. Did it mount up alright?

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That is the mid from the SC8365 speakers. You will be hard pressed to find a nice place to mount the tweeter that comes with the SC8365's. That is why I swapped the tweeters from the SP6900's, That tweeter comes with a surface mount pod that will allow a nice tidy install to the "A" pillar. Once I have the pod plus a few other things how I want them on my "A" pillars, I will re-wrap them in a matching vinyl so they will look stock.

As far as air tight, it does have a real snug fit but prolly not air tight. But the speaker is sealed in it's own chamber, so it really will not matter.

Very curious to see the end product. Thanks for the info.

With the weather finally starting to warm up enough, I am able to start working on this project again.

With the hatch plastic out for the installation of my rear strut bar, I decided to start to sound deadening the hatch and hatch floor.

I went with the 25% coverage approach in order to save weight. Also when you are using products like this the main intent is to eliminate the resonance from the metal.
It has been proven that 25% coverage does this properly. I will elaborate:

I pulled my resources from Sound Deaner Showdown:

The owner of SDS Don Sambrook, has been extremely helpful answering my barrage of questions. I came from the old mindset that you cover everything with the aluminum stuff and if it wasn't cutting it you just added another layer.

He isn't the cheapest, but his prices are in line with the competition, plus his website started as a info about sound deadeners before he had is own product line.

Here is what sold me on why 25% coverage is more than enough:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by From SDS website

Time for a demonstration. This is a 12 inch square of 22 gauge steel suspended by the top corner and struck in the center of the side facing away from the camera with a xylophone mallet. The piece on the left has no vibration damper applied and the piece on the right has a 6 inch square applied to the center (25% coverage). You can see the measurement microphone jutting in to the photos from the left. Play the two sound files and tell me there is any point in adding more vibration damper.

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undamped | dampened

The next step is Closed Cell Foam and Mass Loaded Vinyl (CCF & MLV):

I am undecided if I want to go this far yet in the hatch, the MLV adds allot of weight...like 1lbs per square foot. I inquired about just using the CCF but Bob explained to me that the CCF doesn't really do much by itself, it mainly acts like a vibration dampener between the MLV and metal surface you are wanting to soundproof.

Anyways enough of explaining my decision.... on to the pictures:

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...g/PICT4272.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...g/PICT4273.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...g/PICT4271.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...g/PICT4270.jpg

As you can see I have more than 25% coverage on the hatch floor....oh well

I found his web side very contradicting. Saying we have gone about it all wrong with sound deadening. Multi layers produce poor results wtf. Yes his idea of putting the deadening in the areas of a larger panel (not needed on heavy curving) as this will stop most of the metal ringing/resonating. Best money vs results. But sound deadening in multi layers (say three) will achieve double the dampening through mass. Closed Cell Foam and Mass Loaded Vinyl I've been using for years along with multilayers of deadening- I think he should of been a little more clear on what he was saying.

Are you gonna have this done for the NG? I'd love to check it out and compare it with my system.

I am trying but it will be a tall order to achieve.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2fnloud

I am trying but it will be a tall order to achieve.

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Tell me about it. My list of things to do to get ready for the NG is huge right now.