new toys :)

[wangless]

so i finally got the new 4g ipod 20gb . along with that i have a pair of mb quart components (dsd 216), a 2 channel 360watt amp for the components, 2 channel 980 watt amp for the kicker solobaric 10" l5.



and heres a better pic of the two amps out of the box

today i started by running the power wire, remote turn on, and the rca. i shouldve waited though... i still need to run speaker wires. tomorrow i hope to make speaker plates for my components, or at least start on them. hopefully ill finish installing all this shiat within a week or two.

very quick N00B question . im running the power wire on the passenger's side. i stopped my wire at the ecu, where can i go through the firewall into the engine bay so that i can reach the battery ? i didnt see any grommets... so yeah... wanna suggest where you guys have ran it through.. thanks

and for those who dont know what im planning....

http://nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=80816
Modified by wangless at 1:05 AM 9/29/2004

[silencer.1]

You have a couple of options for gromets. I recommend the engine harness one on the passenger side but there is also the A/C one next to it. Just poke a hole and pull it through.

[ayjay]

another thing... when you run your power wire down the passenger side, run your RCA's down the oposite side so you don't get any unwanted noise

[wangless]

already did that ayjay

[wangless]

to update you guys, my system is complete . the only thing i have to work on is... cleaning up the trunk and making something to cover up the wires in the front where the ipod is.



heres a tweeter



one of my homemade speaker plates . the wood cost about $6 for a piece 2'x4', enough to make 4 pairs lol. i have plenty of spare wood now











i know its pretty messy, but everythings in and i finally have music in my car.

one major problem though. the sub box wont clear the trunk springs... and also, even if i put the box as far as i could back to the back seat, i dont think it would clear the spring either .

any suggestions on anything ? i know for sure somehow secure the amps. i have the grounds connected to the rear retractable seat belt bolt. any preferece or suggestion on where the sub should be facing ? its currently on the passengerside facing the drivers side

thanks for looking. if i dont get any replies, i guess ill make a new post then

[Simmsled]

sweet man. this is a cool more original idea. no headunit, just iPod. you should clean it up and send apple some pics. you might get a t-shirt!!

[wangless]

yeah, its really really messy . just no time on my hands to deal with it lol. ill try to get some pics of the front later

t shirt... what about a t shirt... ?

[PoorManQ45]

aany preferece or suggestion on where the sub should be facing ? its currently on the passengerside facing the drivers side

It doesn't really matter which way you orient it. Bass frequencies are not linear. Meaning that they travel in all directions.

Your system actually looks pretty clean. And it doesn't really matter how it looks. It only matters how it sounds.

[PoorManQ45]

Did you make the box yourself? To me, it looks a little small for the size "sub" that you put in it.

It looks like you matched up the carpeting on the box perfectly with the carpeting in the trunk. Looks really nice.

[wangless]

thanks simmsled and poormanq45

i bought the box from the place where i also got the sub. sub is 10 incher... good thing i didnt get a 12 or else the trunk might not close lol

should i just leave the sub where it is ?

[Rex]

Did you make the box yourself? To me, it looks a little small for the size "sub" that you put in it.

It looks like you matched up the carpeting on the box perfectly with the carpeting in the trunk. Looks really nice.

Looks like he has a Kicker SoloBaric Series LS "model", here's the specs. Those puppies are made for tight little boxes.

Model S10L5Size (IN., CM) 10, 25.4Sensitivity (dB 1W/1M) 86Frequency Response (HZ) 24-100Mounting Depth (IN., CM) 5-11/16, 14.5Mounting Cutout, Square (IN., CM) 9-1/4, 23.5Min Rec Sealed Box Vol (CU. FT., LITERS) 0.66, 18.7Max Rec Sealed Box Vol (CU. FT., LITERS) 1.0, 28.3Min Rec Vented Box Vol* (CU. FT., LITERS) 1.25, 35.4Max Rec Vented Box Vol* (CU. FT., LITERS) 2.25, 63.8

Looks like a nice system.

[PoorManQ45]

Model S10L5Sensitivity (dB 1W/1M) 86

Omg.... Do you guys not understand efficiency (excluding Rex). Your driver only has a sensitivity of 86db 1w/1m. Do you know that a driver with a sensitivity of 89db 1w/1m can play at the same DB level as your sub with half the power?

Please people, take my advice, Only get speakers/Woofers/SubWoofers with a sensitivity of 92Db 1w/1m or greater. These "high" sensitivity drivers will allow you to run a much lower wattage amplifier and still get the same loudness.

Also, you said that it's a 10in sub, right? Even if it's not.

When the driver is square, how do they measure it? Do they measure it diagonally or along the side?

[Rex]

The Specs list a 9 1/4 square cut out opening, so it's basically 10x10 or 13-ish diagonaly.

Yeah, the sensitivity is low, but I'd argue that not all manufacturers use the same "measuring protocol" and you'd be surprised at the performance of Kicker woofers. I liken it to the way Profile, Pyramid & Legacy claim huge power ratings.

Ahh for a testing standard, woudln't the world be a much better place.

[PoorManQ45]

The Specs list a 9 1/4 square cut out opening, so it's basically 10x10 or 13-ish diagonaly.

Wow. That's nice. So, your "10in" driver is actually larger than a 11in round driver. That's great.

I was gonna say, if they measured 10in diagonal, the driver is really small, but sinse they measure the sides as 10in, the driver is rather large.

Yeah, the ensitivity is low, but I'd argue that not all manufacturers use the same "measuring protocol" and you'd be surprised at the performance of Kicker woofers.

I've heard them before. They can be loud. But, I have a pair of 15in Cerwin Vegas that have a sensitivity of 98Db. I have compared them to a Solo 15in (I only used one Cerwin vega to level the playing field.). With the same amplifier putting out 125watts RMS, the Cerwin Vegas played much much louder. I didn't actually use a decibel meter, but you can easily hear/feel the difference.

I really wish that they sound industry would create a standard measuring "protocol".

I liken it to the way Profile, Pyramid & Legacy claim huge power ratings.

Hey. Don't go messing with those supposedly "cheap" brand names. Where else do you know (besides ebay) that you can get a 15in driver for under $50? Even if they don't play that loud, for that price, you could buy 4 of them and make a really bada$$ system. I actually like their amplifiers. They sell a 1000W Max Power amp for $75. It puts out 250w RMS. I like that it has 750w of more dynamic range before it burns up.

[wangless]

i have no idea what you two were talking about... sensitivity wise...

[Rex]

i have no idea what you two were talking about... sensitivity wise...

No problem, we're all here to learn more (regardless what it's about or if it's useful )

Here's the definition from http://www.the12volt.com, a great resource for learning about car audio and security.Quote »Sensitivity (loudspeaker sensitivity) - The sound pressure level a speaker produces when fed by a given input power, measured at a specific distance on axis directly in front of the speaker. Typically specified in dB SPL at 1 meter with 1 watt of input signal.[/quote]I'll try to further explain as there may be parts of the definition that don't "make sense".

Sensitivity can be thought of like MPG ( I know it's a stretch, but bare with me). It's usually measured, as PMQ stated, at 1 watt/1 meter. What that means is a measuring device (decibel meter) is placed 1 meter from the speaker and the speaker is fed 1 watt of power. The reading is the "sensitivity" of the speaker or how efficient it is. The logic being that if a speaker has a measured sensitivity of 92db, that it will always be louder than a speaker with sensitivity of 89db (or any lower number for that matter).

Keep in mind that the "general rule" is it takes a doubling of power to achieve a 3db increase, apply this to the conversation and you see PMQ's point about a better sub (sensitivity wise) will provide a louder low end (bass) portion of your system.

I think an easy arguement could be made that if you're not using the sub in the right box, you're not getting it's full efficiency. Thus, I almost always recommend working from any enclosure limitations you may have back to the best sub to use in your system.

We could easily get off on some tangents as I think Car Audio can be compared to religion and politics as some people have strong opinions.

My general rule is stay within your budget and make comparisons, then if your' happy, who cares .

[PoorManQ45]

Sensitivity can be thought of like MPG ( I know it's a stretch, but bare with me). It's usually measured, as PMQ stated, at 1 watt/1 meter. What that means is a measuring device (decibel meter) is placed 1 meter from the speaker and the speaker is fed 1 watt of power. The reading is the "sensitivity" of the speaker or how efficient it is. The logic being that if a speaker has a measured sensitivity of 92db, that it will always be louder than a speaker with sensitivity of 89db (or any lower number for that matter).

I like the way you started to compare sensitivity to MPG, but you didn't fully relate the two. You could have better made the comparison by stating that "Higher sensitivity, like MPG, is always better. You can get farther on each watt (gallon) that you put into it."

Rex: For other people's benefit (easy understanding) how about posting a link that defines some of the "hard/ More difficult" terms. This will make it alot easier for people to understand. Also, it will help to broaden people's knowledge of sound related material. I'll start posting links for terms that some people may not understand.

[Rex]

I like the way you started to compare sensitivity to MPG, but you didn't fully relate the two. You could have better made the comparison by stating that "Higher sensitivity, like MPG, is always better. You can get farther on each watt (gallon) that you put into it."

I have to agree, I did a pitiful job on drawing out the comparison, especially since one is from decreased (higher MPG) performance and the other (higher sensitivity) increases performance. My bad, in a rush at the time.

Rex: For other people's benefit (easy understanding) how about posting a link that defines some of the "hard/ More difficult" terms. This will make it alot easier for people to understand. Also, it will help to broaden people's knowledge of sound related material. I'll start posting links for terms that some people may not understand.

Good idea, I'd just suggest starting a new thread (something like - "Car Audio Terms" or "All you ever wanted to know about a Spec Sheet") and we'll get simmsled to sticky it.

[wangless]

bumpin it back up for some pics and a question





so at the bottom of the ipod there are two wires, one for the charger and one as the line out. i hooked up the charger to another cig lighter, just tapped the old cig lighter and grounded it. works great.

the line out on the other hand, im having a little trouble with a volume controller. right now its hooked up to my computer speaker's remote. ive been trying to look for another volume controller thats a knob, and no a dial. i found on cambridge's site they have replacements for my volume control in black, which is nice... but not a knob.

any suggestions on another volume controller thingie ma-jig.

i know i still have to make a cover/holder of some sort for the ipod. havent had time yet, too busy with school/work. maybe during my break ill fix something up

[wangless]

bumpin it for my question about the volume control

[Rex]

Try looking for an "L-pad", they're used for "leveling" systems ... a little hard to explina, but may fit/fill your need.

I may not have understood the question, so let me know if I screwed it up .

[wangless]

and i may not have understood your answer lol

uhh... this is what i have right now that controls the volume itself http://www.cambridgesoundworks...volzz

dunno if that would help

[Rex]

Try these ...

Maybe too big and too priceyCoolest lookingUSB??iPod accGood luck.

[wangless]

oh wow... thanks a lot

the usb ones wouldnt work in my case though, i need the input to be a 1/4" stereo

the sharkey extreme seems really good but pricey

[accel junky]

Nice stuff you got there. Progress?