JL Audio full install in 08 G35 sedan

[timmy0257]

This thread will be the home to a write-up I am going to do on the install of my JL Audio system.

Components include:

JL Audio TR650-CXi 6.5" 2-way speakers in doors
- required spacers to ensure fitment were purchased from Zenclosures.

JL Audio 10W3v3-4 subwoofer
- customer box to be built to fit in passenger side of trunk

JL Audio Slash V2 500/1 monoblock amplifier
- tray mounted under rear deck in trunk

All parts are ordered and should be arriving within a few weeks.

I am not much of a picture taker, but I will try to document as much of this as possible.

As I receive the parts I will post pictures, as well as throughout the installation. I am forever pressed on "free" time, so I will most likely work this install throughout the course of several weeks (probably even months, who knows).

I am open to ideas, suggestions and general smack-talk.

Thanks to everyone who has already given input on this install and to those who have answered my questions throughout my research process.

I am looking forward to getting this done.

[timmy0257]

good timing. my spacers arrived today. so before someone posts the famous "this thread is worthless without pictures" smilies, here are my spacers:




They are made with 1" thick MDF and came with the hardware for mounting. $19.95/set and will allow for the fitment of door speakers of greater mounting depth. I ordered mine with a 5.5" mounting hole to fit my JL TR650-CXi 6.5" coaxials. IF the mounting depth of your speakers will be greater than 2", I recommend getting a set to be ready for the install.

They were ordered, as stated above, from Zenclosures. Right here: http://www.zenclosures.com/Nissan_Infin ... nitisp.htm

[timmy0257]

Today the 6.5" door speakers came in.



I went with coaxials, rather than components, as it did not want to have to run wires to the trunk area where I am installing amps. Possibly in the future, but chose not to now. So I went with JL Audio TR650-CXi.





This was a mid priced set, and I got two sets for all four spots. I like the make-up of these speakers and I have heard them in a few other installs. I should be happy. For what I spent on them I am sure they will not disappoint.
The speakers are 2-way so I should get a nice range of highs and lows from them.

[joe603]

So you're using the factory deck for the power? They look like they need some juice to sound good.

[timmy0257]

i am using the factor deck. they sound amazing. super clear, no distortion, nice and deep on low frequencies and crisp on higher. i have pictures of the install ready to be posted. just gotta write it up.

amp and sub should be in soon.

[timmy0257]

JL Audio TRX650-CXi 6.5" midrange door speakers were installed today.

Started with removing door panel. You will need a interior tool for this. You can improvise, but be careful. I put a sock over mine so as not to scratch our "high-quality" interior paints.

Here we go with a picture book...
1. Pry here to remove. There is a bolt back there you need to remove.




2. Pry here to get the door controls off. Remove all wire hardnesses. Driver side has several more than passenger side for mirrors and door locks.



3. Remove two bolts that secure door panel to door. Then pull door panel off. There are several push pins that keep it secure.

4. For the front, there is already an adapter there. You will need to obviously remove the OEM speaker and then remove the adapater. You will re-use the existing holes that secured it to the door. The holes that mounted the speaker to the adapter will also be reused, but you need to drill through them to open them up in the back so that the bolts for the spacer can accept a washer and nut on the back.



5. Attach spacer with supplied hardware.





6. I cut the OEM connector off the speaker wire and ran it through behind the spacer before i really tightened it down. The wire is tight, but it is bundled up with tape. Just pull it closer, you will need the length. I crimped female connectors onto the end as I did not want to solder due to the lack of space (for fear of damaging speaker).



7. Connect the speaker outputs and then affix the speaker where you want to mount it. I used self tapping screws to secure it into place. BE CAREFUL when you drive these in. Dont F your speakers up!



8. Re-attach everything as you unhooked it, put door finisher back on and there you have it.

Rear speakers were exactly the same, without the factory adapater.





Total time: ~3 hrs with a trip to O'Reilly's to get wire connectors, as I fouled one of the factory ones up and only had large gauge - and my buddy stopped by to watch and kept giving me beer.



Sounds beautiful even on stock headunit.

Next up, JL10W3 and JL 500/1. Please post thoughts on how/where to mount amp!

Thanks!

[Tim30250]

Awesome write-up! I've been considering upgrading the audio system since I bought my car 1.5 yrs ago, but have simply been too lazy to research the best way. Obviously a full-blown professionally installed ridiculously priced custom system would provide the best sound, but for my time and money I think I may follow in your footsteps and perform this relatively simple and inexpensive upgrade. Thanks for the inspiration!

[timmy0257]

Awesome write-up! I've been considering upgrading the audio system since I bought my car 1.5 yrs ago, but have simply been too lazy to research the best way. Obviously a full-blown professionally installed ridiculously priced custom system would provide the best sound, but for my time and money I think I may follow in your footsteps and perform this relatively simple and inexpensive upgrade. Thanks for the inspiration!

Tim, thanks for the props. I am going to build a custom sub enclosure next. my sub and amp should be in today or early next week, but i want the enclosure built first before i move forward. then i can decide how i want to mount the map. i will continue to update this as i go along.

installation of the door speakers was pretty simple and i have found that i have been missing out on alot of audio quality.

[Tim30250]

Can't wait to see more updates. I've been thinking about this all day, and I'm definitely gonna move forward with the upgrade soon. Before I do, I thought of 3 questions I was hoping you could answer...

You used the coaxial speakers, did you keep the small tweeters up by the door handle connected also?

I noticed today my car has the "Bose" sound system. Is this the same system your car came equipped with?

Is there an improvement across the entire spectrum (bass, mid, treb) vs. the factory speakers or are there any areas the OEM units outperform the JL's?

[timmy0257]

You used the coaxial speakers, did you keep the small tweeters up by the door handle connected also?

Yes i did. I have explored replacing these with something after market, but have not foudn anything worth pursuing. since these speakers most likely do not have the same audible frequency range, there is probably not much improvement to be gained

Is there an improvement across the entire spectrum (bass, mid, treb) vs. the factory speakers or are there any areas the OEM units outperform the JL's?

Absolutely. I can tell a superior sound quality. in fact, i think my door panels rattle less. sometimes the factory speakers would just hit that right frequency that caused all kinds of crazy rattles. i do not hear them anymore (yet, at least.) the bass is nice and clean. i am very happy.

I noticed today my car has the "Bose" sound system. Is this the same system your car came equipped with?

No i have base audio, which was the cause for my desire to upgrade. i have heard mixed review on the bose. i have never heard it so i cannot chime in.

[Tim30250]

Great information. I'm rather underwhelmed with the Bose sound. It's not bad, but the sounds all seem to meld together. It's not very dynamic; bass is okay for little speakers, but midrange vocals don't really jump out at me and the highs are dim and somewhat muted. I looked at the same speakers you selected, and for the price, it's definitely worth it for me to give em a try. I'll be sure to post up my impressions after the install.

[timmy0257]

Great information. I'm rather underwhelmed with the Bose sound. It's not bad, but the sounds all seem to meld together. It's not very dynamic; bass is okay for little speakers, but midrange vocals don't really jump out at me and the highs are dim and somewhat muted. I looked at the same speakers you selected, and for the price, it's definitely worth it for me to give em a try. I'll be sure to post up my impressions after the install.

i am sure you can get similar quality from other manufacturers of speakers. in fact, i hoped to get more input here about what others have used. i have used JL is most of my vehicles that had professional installs, but i wanted to do this myself. so far so good, and i am very, very happy. let me know how it goes, and if you have questions, feel free to reach out to me.

[timmy0257]

JL10W3 came in.

[joe603]

Looks great man!

The issue with the Bose system is impedance mismatching and dedicated frequencies for each speaker. You have to do seperates that match...

[timmy0257]

Thanks, Joe. I am excited to get everything installed. There will be some time before I get the sub in as I want to carefully consider the designing of the box. It will sound awesome when its done.

[joe603]

Cool!

To get your design juices flowing, here's some pics of my 05 G35 coupe setup:

[timmy0257]

thats looks nice, Joe. i really do not want to sacrifice my spare tire so im apprehensive to do that.

i am also envious that the coupes have such a large back seat pass thru, and the sedans do not. =(

[timmy0257]

JL 500/1 amp is in



I am in the process of moving and transferring with my job so the sub enclosure may take a back seat, or i will buy one. updates to follow!

[audtatious]

JL10W3 came in.

cute little sub

I've always like JL speakers...well, I'm old school so I like JL subs, MB Quart separates, PPI/SoundStream/a.d.s amps

[timmy0257]

yeh i have been a fan of JL since I was in highschool.

i just need a box to throw it in. I have been working with the owner of Boxology, formerly 4080 enclosures.http://www.mysosinc.com/boxology_about.html

it is really good stuff. i just dont have the time to build it, and this is exactly what i want.

i also contemplated getting the amp kit and taking it to a show to have them run the wiring - just looking to save some time.

i may slow down eventually and put it all in, but im waiting on my box.

depending on how loud it all is, i may need to dynamat the trunk

[audtatious]

My first JL was a original 12w6. I had it up until a couple years ago when I gave it away after having the surround redone. It was replaced by another 12" sub that was a bit more masculine.



I ended up not using it for the car because it weighed so damn much. I went with my old (and original) Kicker C10 (circa 1995)



Look at that box. 1.25cf plus stuffing. Today most are so used to speakers needing small enclosures they don't know there was a day when huge was all there was. I think Petras was one of the first companies to actively market a sub for a small box.

[timmy0257]

Yeh and the JL subs, esp that W6 of yours, do required a bit more space in the box.

[audtatious]

12w6 required the same space as the Kicker C10 actually.

[timmy0257]

im ready to get mine in,,,

[timmy0257]

sub & amp install this weekend!! I will post results once it is complete. I picked up a custom made box from a member of another forum. the previous owner ugraded to a 12" sub and wanted to get rid of the box.

it was made by Chris Pate @ Mobile Toys Inc.

http://mobiletoysinc.com/

http://caraudiomag.com/category/topics/chris-pate

[timmy0257]

line out convertor and amp kit. i went with 4 gauge power and ground wire

LOC is Stinger and amp kit is Kicker branded equipment

[timmy0257]

pics of the box....



yes i mounted the speaker upside down. i got excited and hurried through it before i went to the gym. obviously this will get fixed when i install.

[audtatious]

Looks good.

Where did you mount the amp?

[timmy0257]

it is not installed yet. i am doing that this weekend. i have no idea where to put the amp, so i may put it on top of the box at first. i would like to tray mount it under the rear dash. i was hoping to get lots of input on that.. any ideas?

[audtatious]

You could hang it under the package tray. Grab a threaded bar, some matching nuts and some Loctite (or more nuts to keep things snug). Measure, cut, drill, install. Just make sure there is enough space for it to breathe.