IDEAL SETUP

I'm planning on installing my audio gear myself in my 2002 sable so I would like some setup suggestions from you guys.
OK first off my HU is a JVC KD-LX111,
Amps are:

Audiobahn 2300hi current amp
4 ohms stereo 300 x 2
2 ohms stereo 600 x 2
1 ohms stereo 1200 x 2

RF Power550S 137.5 x 2 into 4 ohms
275 x 2 into 2 ohms

RF Punch160.2 40 x 2 into 4 ohms
80 x 2 into 2 ohms

Two 1 farad dhd caps

Two 12" AW1200Q audiobahn subs
two 6 x 9 200 watt rms 3-way speakers
two 5.25 120 watt rms component speakers
four 6 x 8 110 watt rms 3-way speakers

clarion 9 band equalizer.

OK I guess that's all the info right there. I was thinking since I bought the 6x9's & 5.25's before I bought the car, I want to try to put the 5.25's in the rear doors and put the 6x9's in the rear deck along with the 6x8's(maybe it's too much or maybe it's perfect, you guys let me know) The front doors also get the 6x8's.
So what would the ideal setup scheme here be. Thanks in advance.
Peace

Replies (11)

xplicitblitzboi on 04/13/2003 01:08:17
i wouldnt recommend oval speakers for your front sound stage, it would work better to put the 5.25s in the front doors. In reality you only need 2 speakers in the back, and if you put too much back there, you might end up pulling the soundstage to the rear. so i wouldnt recommend it.

Blitz

Swez on 04/13/2003 12:07:01
I would tend to agree with Blitz on this one as well. Your front stage speakers are the primary part of what you will hear in mids and highs. The rear stage is more or less a fill and can be full range or midbass only. More like a preference... not a hard and fast rule.

However, if you try installing several speakers all over the cabin, phase cancellation and mismatches are likely. Not usually a good plan for high SQ and may even hinder SPL as well.

Also, all those amps are going to be a major drain on your power plant as well. That Bahn amp alone is going to draw close to 300 amps at full power. Then add whatever your RF amps need... that's a lot of expense and upgrades to your electrical system.

The Caps mentioned may help a bit on light dimming issues, but my guess... you'll get a few weeks or months before the present alternator and battery take a dive.

So, think this install through carefully. You may want to research high output Alts and high CCA rated battery packs. A lot of SPL COMP guys use a 2nd BIG Alt and a bank of batteries to power their systems. The original stock electricals can run the car and perhaps a smaller amp (40-60A) w/o any real problems. But for huge sub systems, gotta have lots of current to power them.

Comments?

Swez

blacktallon2000 on 04/13/2003 14:03:06
OK But the problem is that the car comes with those 6x8 openings in both the front doors and rear deck. And I just thought that a lot of different speaker locations would fill up the cabin with nice rich sound. What about the back doors. Do you guys think that I can have openings cut into them or better not. See thing is I already had the 6x9's and 5.25's, and I don't want them to go to waste. And also if power is gonna be such a big issue here, is it possible to run just the big amp to the front doors,rear deck ,and woofers and if not which one of the RF amps do you guys reccomend I use and where

xplicitblitzboi on 04/13/2003 14:53:59
it is not fully necessary to have any rear fill at all in a car, like swez said, its just a preference, so what you could do, is make some plates for those 5.25s and put them in the front 6x8 area, and put those 6x9s in the back like you were planning.

Swez on 04/13/2003 16:05:30
With some clever planning, can make thin plates for the front for your 5/4" speaks. See thishttp://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-6HRBrE57aJS/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=11&g=103200&I=142SA68&o=m&a=1&cc=01&avf=Y

Then, same idea in the rear.... just shim the plate to get your 6x9's in the rear deck locations.

Yes, you may be able to install the 6x9's in the rear doors... but would have to pull the door panels and see what your install options look like.

A 3rd option, use prefab 6x9 boxes, surface mounted to the rear deck. That would be the easiest thing to do, if there is adequate space there.

As for amps... use the 2300HC for your subs only and can use only 1 of the RF amps to drive front and rear speakers. A better choice would be to sell/trade the RF amps and get a good 4 channel amp. That way, you have fade control to balance F&R speakers as needed and filter as well.

RF amps are great, but they do tend to draw larger amounts of current, compared to other brands. The US Acoustics USX 4065 or -4085 are very nice and not overly expensive either.

Have a look: www.thezeb.com

Swez

blacktallon2000 on 04/14/2003 12:43:23
Thanks a lot guys. Great link Swez.
One more quik question though.
As you guys may know, the radio and the AC controls in the sable are like attached by one piece. Is there anywhere I can get a facepanel that would allow me to put my jvc in there and still have it look nice.In other words, do they sell two piece face panels or a one piece that comes with the space in it for an aftermarket install.

ttocs on 04/14/2003 13:06:41
there is a kit that is made specifically for that make, model, and year. You will pull the radio and heater controls out of the dash, then pull the heater/ac controls from the radio(two screws I think). These will simply mount into the kit that looks exactly the same, but has a din size cutout in it. It is important to make sure that the kit year matches the car. Ford has been doing stupid little things like changing the rear window defroster hrns so that different years will not match. After all this is done you will have to run all the wires to the trunk to hit the main portion of the radio that is mounted back there. The part in the dash is just a display. With all the amps you are running it will be easier as all the factory speaker wires are back there...

It is easy to put the 5.25"'s in the front if you wish. Just need a jigsaw....

blacktallon2000 on 04/14/2003 13:39:36
do you know of a website that sells that kit by the way ?

xplicitblitzboi on 04/14/2003 13:53:46
are you sure you want to get it online? you could just go to your local wal-mart or schucks and get the kit, it doesnt really matter where you get it. I think that the manufacturer is sosche. Just look for the kit for the make and model of your car, and read the directions. It will tell you how to take your dash apart also. There are very good step by step instructions.

blacktallon2000 on 04/14/2003 13:57:25
Ok thanks for the info

Swez on 04/14/2003 19:35:57
If you cannot find a kit at WalMart, may have to go to a good audio installer shop and buy from them. Good luck!

Swez