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| Xanth's Audio Build (Page 1/8) |
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Xanth
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JAN 20, 08:05 PM
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I'm going to be slowly putting together my audio system, and figured I'd start a thread to keep track of it.
My goal is to get a decent sounding system that looks fairly stock, and no obvious signs of being anything other than stock. Fancy looking systems are all fine and good till someone smashes out your windows to try and get it, don't feel like having that happen again.
I am not going for a competition sound system, just something that sounds better than the stock system.
Here's the headunit, a late model Pontiac CD Player. You may recognize the speakers from my Speaker install video, I will be replacing them but that will come later. The harness in the middle is the high-level input harness for my amplifier.
So, in keeping with my intentions to stay close to stock in form and function, I bought some connectors at RadioShack I'll be using as well as red/black speaker wiring matching the factory speaker connector. Nevermind the blue splices, I had those in but couldn't bring myself to leave it like that, they're going in the trash.
First off I added a 4-pin connector onto the high-level amp adapter, you can see my home-made wire holder 
Here's the connector assembled, as you may notice I have the wrong pins in there, reason being I accidentally used the wrong connector the first time, so I just changed the connector and left those pins. The other connector isolates each pin, which I wanted to make sure I had on the power end, since this is the receiving connector I'm not concerned about it.
Next off I'll be installing 2-pin connectors on the speaker harnesses. From what I've been told it is fine to splice in the Amp input harness and continue to use the speakers. I stripped open a short section of each wire and soldered leads onto them:
Here's the add-on 2-pin connector and the factory connector. Now I can use the stock wiring harness, and have the plug to connect the amplifier too.
When I have the amplifier in the car again, I'll measure out the wire I need, and connect the remaining 4-pin connector for the Amp input and the 2-pin connectors for the speaker wires.
The amp will be going behind the passenger seat, I'll be modifying the rear "batwing" carpet piece to conceal the amp and all wiring. I have one of these amplifiers: http://www.sonicelectronix...._Kicker+KX150.2.html
At the moment I have a factory subwoofer housing, with what I think is a Rodney Dickman speaker, the magnet on it is huge. I'm planning on doing a 8" under dash sub.
Also, I will be working on modifiying a Performance Sound light housing to control the amp, probably by adding a volume control of some sort to the high-level inputs.
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"If any car is both the parade and the rain, it is the Fiero"
Upload and Share Fiero Photos! http://Gallery.FieroDomain.com[This message has been edited by Xanth (edited 01-20-2008).]
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NeoNot
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JAN 21, 06:21 AM
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Not sure if that units comes with it or not, but a lot of the Kicker amps come with a remote mount sub knob. If you dont mind a round knob instead of a slider you should be able to connect a Sub control to the amp and install it anywhere in the car for controlling your sub output.
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Xanth
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JAN 26, 07:05 PM
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avengador1
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JAN 26, 07:35 PM
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What are you doing with the upper cover for the sheetmetal back there? Are you going to use it to hide the amp or are you going to mount the amp over it?
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Xanth
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JAN 26, 07:37 PM
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The upper cover will be modified and reinforced to cover/secure the amp. I have it installed right now temporarily, actually works quite well. I'll have some pics of it up soon. [This message has been edited by Xanth (edited 01-26-2008).]
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Xanth
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JAN 26, 07:40 PM
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Routing power and ground to the amp, you can also see the high-level speaker connections:
Here the wire goes through the firewall, at an existing hole from a previous owner:
I don't have an image of the power connection yet, I am not happy with it. I need to find a proper place to mount the fuse holder, preferably out of the rain, but still close to the battery.
Now the amp is setup, time to check out the sub.
Front of the box, facing you when it is mounted:
Rear of box, facing the front of the car as it is mounted:
Down-firing subwoofer:
Subwoofer, in all its glory, I do not know what sub this is, maybe a Rodney Dickman sub? Its freakin huge:
Phew! Not from China:
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Xanth
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JAN 26, 08:21 PM
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Box interior:
I've heard you can fill the stock speaker box to further improve the sound, though I will not be messing with that at the moment.
Here's how the sub fits under the dash:
From above, I need to install a screw to the convenience center bracket:
Getting that thing in there was a PITA the first few times, cracked my dash doing it  Fortunately the cracks are not in a visible location.
Connected the speaker wire to the farthest lead on the amp, to begin estimating the wire needed for the sub:
Wire will be hidden under the carpet and trim when finished:
Once I got the wires measured out, I cut them and tested out the amp:
Tested out OK!
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Xanth
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JAN 26, 09:33 PM
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Here's how I ended up connecting to the sub, not happy with it but it will work until I find a stock connector:
Back panel back in place, I cut and scored the back of the panel so it would flap over the amp:
Peeled the carpet up and scored the front so it would flap down again:
Car cleaned up and ready to go:
Next will be finishing off the rear panel. I need to reinforce and cover the area over the amp, as well as recover the entire panel with vinyl.
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Xanth
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JAN 27, 12:19 AM
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craigsfiero2007
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JAN 27, 12:47 AM
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Looks great, where was the stock amp located or is there even a stock amp? I plan on hooking my amp up to the Performance Sound switch, so I will come back for info, when I get ready to do it. [This message has been edited by craigsfiero2007 (edited 01-27-2008).]
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