Thoughts On System Components

[Roy]

So I was going to go to a car audio specialist in Vic and get the work done but have decided I would roll up my sleeves and give it a go myself. The main reason I wanted the help of the experts was their assistance in piecing together a nice setup...but after a few poeple recently molesting my new car I would just rather do it myself.

So peoples thoughts on these components:

Deck:

Pioneer DEH-8350SD

http://www.pioneer.com.au/au/products/22/121/61/DEH-8350SD/index.html

Amps:

Either of the following 5 channel L5.1110 - http://www.soundstream.com/los/lil-wonder_amp.htm

Kicker ZX700.5 http://www.kicker.com/ZX_Amplifiers

Speakers:

Front - Rockford T2652-S : http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products/product_details.aspx?itemid=112907 If I get them out of the US they fall inside muy $350 budget. If I go local I am thinking T1S652 http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products/product_details.aspx?itemid=112896

Rear - Rockford T1693 6x9s. http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products/product_details.aspx?itemid=112902

Subs - I am still trying to work out a good quality 12" pre-boxed sub that will fit in the rear of the car. Rather go with a proven boxed sub from its manufacturer, as going custom puts me back looking at talking to a shop to fabricate the box for me.

The car is an 87 Sierra Cosworth so will be getting custom pods for the front kick panels and new tray in the hatch to support the weight of the new speakers and hide the sub. I want to avoid installing the front speakers in the doors as I dont want to cut up immaculate door trims on an old car. Is that going to affect the sound I can expect from a reasonable quality front split setup?

Budget is around $1100 plus sub box + materials and bits for install.

[BeastVS]

If you adding subs there is no need for 6x9's. just put cheaper coaxials in the rear and save the money.

[Carbon 34]

dont do that.

use 6X9 if the hole is cut for them or dont install any speakers in back , I think the rear hatch covers had 6x9 cutouts from factory on US models. or some other weird size on the side panels in the rear ?

ford used 5x7 and 5.25 and lots of 4" during those years, crutchfield DB shows 4" front and rear but I dont think that right for rears so all speakers will need custom mounts and cutting of steel /plastic

think the doors are thin as hell and the magnets hit the glass , I only worked on one in all the years

I cant remember cosworth seirra speaker sizes in the rear .... in USA the ford /mercury XRT model cars self destructed inside and out and ended production ended quick smart less then 3 years ,they used a turbo 2.3 Pinto engine, while the euro model had a v6 2.9 ltr , now there on the collectable list , go figure ?

go rockford, good stuff , just protect the rear magnet from water on that car.or corrosion will be bad on the fords thin doors

and once again on some fords in that time frame you need a radio fit kit, to fill the gaps, back then the radio was the size of a lunchbox,, come to think of it they returned to that now.on the full electronic radios/ac etc..haha

and some fords didnt come with wires in the speaker locations back then either, so be warned you would be best to rerun some new and not link behind the dash to factory wires.

sending audio from usa , shipping can eat up the benefit of the cost, and you loose your warranty in most cases. watch radios some wont work here . Pandora on pioneer wont work either in OZ without some hacking to mask IP and creating US account for itunes.... some are dodgy dealers ,credit fraud is rapant right now in online companies during hard times in the job market , try to use paypal for safety sake

amp wise I wouldnt buy either one on a budget !!! , but if thats the choice I'd buy soundstream.

I guess if I read your whole post you asked about custom fabrication, so go splits up front, forget the rears and spend the money on amp/sub. the rear hatch lid can be upgraded easy and cheap without hacking it up , just port the bass thru the holes if it has some already

option audio makes a good choice for prefab boxes and subs

try to stear clear of the aeropro boxes or simalar , the sound can be pretty average unless you select the right driver to fit the generic box

up front you can buy prefab split setups from autobarn , and you can reuse your current door panels without cutting, just reuse the screw holes from factory speakers to hold them on. as long as the magnet doesnt hit the factory door panel your in biz. its worth buying sound baffles for the door speakers just cut them to fit , protects from water and channels the sound into door cavity , you can do some trick work on those to tweek your sound. pm me once you have the gear if you want to know how ?

Edited January 26, 2012 by Carbon 34