The Install '08

audiobliss

I hear ya. I actually kinda enjoyed the install in the Jeep. Of course, it was very simple and straight forward...and I did have help...and I did go through a little spell where I was ready to pull my hair out...

At some point I'd like to get a better car audio system. However, I'm not sure if I want it in the Jeep, and I KNOW that now's not the time to splurge that much dough on one.

But for the most part, I'm pretty happy.


How'd you get a hold of those Polk amps? Are they already being distributed in the US?

MacLeod

Yeah, Crutchfield has em now and the local shops that carry the upper end Polk gear should have them as well.

audiobliss

Sweet. Well, I'll stop hogging your thread now.

audiobliss

Maybe.

audiobliss

If you're lucky.

black magic

Looks good! I like practical installs which still let you make use of your trunk space as opposed to a flashy install taking up all the room.

ps. its very clean as well!

Topper

MacLeod wrote: »

After carpeting the Ai-Net cable didnt stick out too bad and although its noticeable its not terrible. The one thing Im not happy about is that the panel is about 1/8th of an inch too tall for the processor. I wanted it to poke out just a smidge but intsead it sits flush. Between the Ai-Net cable and the carpet it just wont go down that one little bit but Im not about to pull the carpet off and start cutting again.

It looks great bud! Giving me a few ideas to steal for my own setup .

As for the 1/8th thing on the processor, how about raising the processor 1/8th instead so that you achieve the look your going for?

MacLeod

DONE!

Well 99% done at least. All I have now is little touch up stuff that Ill do over the course of the next few months. But all the big stuff is in and everything is working.

As for the processor, this is how the cable fits into the jack. This is the only way the cable will fit in there so no matter where the processor is mounted, the cable will always be a little bit above it.



All I had left were the side panels and they were actually the easiest panels to make. As with the other panels I made a template out of cardboard and then cut it out onto 1/4" MDF and then cut strips of 3/4" MDF to height.

This is the left one and then test fitted.





Right one and then test fitted. The left side is a different shape than the right side. Not sure why Honda does that other than Im positive they did it just to make me more work.





And here they are carpeted and installed.





Believe it or not, they fit perfectly on the first try! Couldnt believe it!! Im actually proud of this job! Again, its never going to win any awards or anything but it looks neat and presentable and worthy of having the trunk open at competitions. Best yet I can still get to my spare tire by only removing the top trim panel and lifting the amp rack.

Im going to use or make some sort of grill later on that will fit in the grooves of the amp rack and cover the amps for hauling luggage and Im going to make a trim piece to go on bottom of the back deck so everything inside the trunk will be carpeted. Ill work on that later tho as I get the energy.

I did a half **** patch job on the sub panel gaps. I cut out some cardboard in the shape of the side of the trunk and wrapped it in carpet and then stuck it behind the panel. It looks worse in this picture because of the camera's flash. In real light its not as noticeable and blends better with the side of the trunk. Its not a permanent fix but itll hold til I can get something a little better in there.

candaddy

You've done awesome work! I'm anxious to hear how you do in competition.

One way to make the cover pieces better is to make them first before attaching the amps and whatnot to the mounting piece. Then you can place everything in the trunk so it fits, lift off the cover and mount the amps (hopefully that made sense?). Usually that's easier than trying to make the cover piece fit the already solidly mounted amps.

You done good! Looks at least as nice as most shops would do.

black magic

I like very much. Nice work Mac!

exalted512

Fantastic. If you want a clean looking subwoofer grill, try one of these:
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=260-443
-Cody

MacLeod

Thanks for the kind words fellas. I am actually kinda proud of this one. First install Ive EVER been proud of!

Fantastic. If you want a clean looking subwoofer grill, try one of these:
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=260-443
-Cody

Thats exactly what I was wanting. Something to protect the sub but not hide it. I just ordered it along with some battery terminals. $6.80 compared to the $20 ones in shops!! Hell even Knuconceptz terminals are $13! Thanks for the link, Im gonna have to shop there more often!

I also found what Ill use to cover my amps. http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=262-878

Its meant for pro audio speaker cabinets. 22" x 30" which would cover my amps and processor exactly! Its black so it wouldnt stand out as much. Its $40 tho so Im going to hit Lowes and Home Depot and see if I can find a cheaper alternative.

exalted512

chicken wire!
-Cody

addikt

nice install mate i like it

thumpin07

great job mac i dont think i could ever do a install that clean, but with what im going to put in it would be impossible also with kids my amps and stuff have to be tucked out of the way to make use of my trunk , there might even be time ill be with out the subs when i have to haul something but oh well, any way great job.

Kinetic

Mac, what the size of your sub enclosure? without the driver.

busterapco

very nice clean install. I like it a lot and will try it out on my car. I like a ported box and I have two speakers, but Ill make it work. I wounder if my little del sol will look as good!

MacLeod

Um...I cant really remember. Im pretty sure its something like 1.26 ft3. Ive slept since then.

I was aiming for 1.25

Kinetic

isn´t too small?

mine is 1.4 with the driver on.

maybe i should go smaller, but the polk audio tech support guys told me that the bigger the better.

but ive heard here, that the smaller the boomier.

black magic

Kinetic wrote: »

isn´t too small?

mine is 1.4 with the driver on.

maybe i should go smaller, but the polk audio tech support guys told me that the bigger the better.

but ive heard here, that the smaller the boomier.

it depends what you want out of your sub. the smaller the boomier, but a larger box will play lower.

if you want to experiment, since your box is 1.4, you can add a small piece of wood inside your enclosure of a volume of .2 (for example).The total volume in your sub box will then be 1.2 sq ft as opposed to 1.4. Then see what you like most. I think a larger box decreases power handling, so you might want to take that into consideration as well. Polk recommends up to 1.5 sq. ft. so i don't think you should have too worry too much about that.

MacLeod

All I know is that when Car Audio and Electronics reviewed the SR12, they called up Polk Paul DiComo and asked him what size and type box he recommended he said 1.25 ft3 sealed. I figure if thats the size box they want a national magazine to review the sound of their sub in, then thats the size box I want SQ judges listening to.

Toxis

overall opinions after you've had some experience with it and it's loosened up a bit, Mac?

Kinetic

MacLeod wrote: »

All I know is that when Car Audio and Electronics reviewed the SR12, they called up Polk Paul DiComo and asked him what size and type box he recommended he said 1.25 ft3 sealed. I figure if thats the size box they want a national magazine to review the sound of their sub in, then thats the size box I want SQ judges listening to.

woow i will try to build another one in a few weeks

MacLeod

Toxis wrote: »

overall opinions after you've had some experience with it and it's loosened up a bit, Mac?

I love it dude! The only tuning this thing required was tuning DOWN the output so it wouldnt drown out the front stage!

With the EQ set completely flat, this thing belts out the 18 Hz note on the IASCA disc with ease and the 25 Hz note on the MECA disc will part your hair! Whats even more is that the response is virtually ruler flat even down to 20 Hz!!!

I cant afford an RTA so I tune with a 1/3 octave filtered pink noise CD and an SPL meter. I measure the ouput, write it down and look for peaks or dips to smooth out. These are the in car measurements I took just last night with the sub EQ totally flat and low passed at 40 Hz @ 30 db.

20 = 102 db
25 = 102
31.5 = 104
40 = 102
50 = 96
63 = 87

Thats pretty damn impressive to be that flat, that low with no EQ or boost. I havent measured it with the crossover set any higher because I dont need to go any higher. Even with weak bass heavy metal I listen to, I cant get this thing any higher than 56 Hz before it starts to overwhelm the front stage! I love it!

Dont get me wrong - Im not saying this thing will blow your windshield out or anything just that the SR12 will easily reproduce all the sub bass frequencies even the sub sonic ones easily, cleanly and linear all with excellent output. What more can you ask?

Toxis

Good point! I'm getting anxious to get mine in!!

Kinetic

MacLeod wrote: »

I love it dude! The only tuning this thing required was tuning DOWN the output so it wouldnt drown out the front stage!

With the EQ set completely flat, this thing belts out the 18 Hz note on the IASCA disc with ease and the 25 Hz note on the MECA disc will part your hair! Whats even more is that the response is virtually ruler flat even down to 20 Hz!!!

I cant afford an RTA so I tune with a 1/3 octave filtered pink noise CD and an SPL meter. I measure the ouput, write it down and look for peaks or dips to smooth out. These are the in car measurements I took just last night with the sub EQ totally flat and low passed at 40 Hz @ 30 db.

20 = 102 db
25 = 102
31.5 = 104
40 = 102
50 = 96
63 = 87

Thats pretty damn impressive to be that flat, that low with no EQ or boost. I havent measured it with the crossover set any higher because I dont need to go any higher. Even with weak bass heavy metal I listen to, I cant get this thing any higher than 56 Hz before it starts to overwhelm the front stage! I love it!

Dont get me wrong - Im not saying this thing will blow your windshield out or anything just that the SR12 will easily reproduce all the sub bass frequencies even the sub sonic ones easily, cleanly and linear all with excellent output. What more can you ask?

is it a good idea for me to buy another SR124DVC ?
i have a PDX-1.1000 so i can easily run 2 SR subs on my car, but what about SQ, would improve, or decrese?

MacLeod

SQ would probably be the same. The biggest difference would be in output - youd get more of it running 2 subs off 1000 watts as opposed to 1.

Might not be a bad idea tho for those times when you want to crank up the bass. Always good to have some in reserve.

Kinetic

MacLeod wrote: »

SQ would probably be the same. The biggest difference would be in output - youd get more of it running 2 subs off 1000 watts as opposed to 1.

Might not be a bad idea tho for those times when you want to crank up the bass. Always good to have some in reserve.

thanks a lot Mac, i will have to put another SR sub on my wish list..

Toxis

as if a single 12 and 1kw of power is not enough... lol I bet I'll have plenty of back massaging, mirror shaking umph.

black magic

Does the PA1200.1 put out 800 watts at 2 ohms or 600? because I've seen both stats posted, but I don't know which is correct.

Thanks