tC Sound Quality Build from Simplicity in Sound *pics*

lasrx · 08-22-2008, 03:29 AM

So the basic story goes I wanted my music to sound more full like it does at home. So thought I needed more bass and I was ready to have someone add a subwoofer to fix that. So I ask around the regional forum to see who could help me out. 1_kLEan_tC pointed me in the direction of a master installer named Bing.

I stopped by his shop and let him know what I wanted to do. There he introduced me to the world of sound quality. SQ is where the sound is clean enough that you can actually hear each instrument in the music (as opposed to loud even in the car next to you). In his demo / personal car you could feel the strings of a guitar being plucked coming at you. I was blown away, I wanted one!

He does a lot of show cars so a simple setup like mine was cake for him. I started backwards and told him things I didn't want and left it up to him to fill in the blanks. It usually works out better to give the expert the freedom to do as they think best.

The no-no list:

1) a ugly box
2) panels/trunk that rattle or sound ghetto
3) ditching the spare
4) using all of the trunk
5) a big bill

Parts:

CDT ES-620 Gold Components
Tweeters mounted in the A-Pillar (SRS Curtain Airbags are fine they blow toward the windshield)
Avic F900BT Nav Headunit
Image Dynamics ID8 Subwoofer in a custom enclosure
Xtant 403A Amp in custom Fiberglass enclosure

The result? Every goal met or exceeded. I have a sound system that rivals the clarity of a home theater. I have bass that you can feel when playing Timbaland. It looks super clean and we came within my budget. And it looks really cool. Thank you Bing!

He posted a description of the complete setup over at http://www.icixsound.com/vb/showthread.php?t=59535 and I'm reposting that a copy here.

Quote:

well, i know you guys love Tcs, and so do I

so here is a TC install i just completed.
i ended up clearing my closet of a few old school items i had stashed over time

goals:
1. good sound quality
2. save as much room as possible in the trunk, while still retaming at least one side plastic bin, as well as full access to the sapre tire and its tools
3. as stealthy and factory looking as possible.
lets get started:
the signal starts wtih a new pioneer avic-F900BT navi/dvd headunit.

the bluetooth mic was installed into one of hte factory knock off panels on the left side of the dash:

front stage consists of a set of CDT's ES-620 Gold two way component set. had this laying around

the midbasses were installed into the stock location, the door dampend and new wires ran into the door:

the tweeters were flsuhed into the A pillar, and the entire A pillar was reupholstered with dash matching vinyl. the stock material, whcih was like a unbacked headliner, was impossible for me to find hehe

the entire front as a whole:

moving to the hatch area, here is the normal view, as you can see, pretty stock looking, the onlything that stands out is the fiberglass side subbox on the passenger side, and i made sure to make it to blend as well as possible:

flip up the carpet, and you see that the passenger side of hte floor has been redone with a new fake floor, the box and the floor is covered in black suede. there is a cutout int he middle of the floor:

pop off the grill for hte subbox and the cover, and you see an image dynamics ID8 8" subwoofer in the box, and an old scholl xtant 403A under the floor

both imtems i had laying around too, hehe brand new

the amp sends 50 watts upfront and around 200 to the sub.

and finally a look at the action below the floor, all the wiring to the xtant amp without hte cover on:

and with the cover on:

note that the spare is still fully accessible.
and two quick pics of hte subbox as it was being molded:

overall, great little sounding system. not overly loud but blends very well, and the back looks pretty stock, already had a neighbor with a TC ask me if that was a factory option ;) hehe
enjoy

BZinn1 · 08-22-2008, 03:33 AM

Nice install........I went for a clean sound over the loud sound too.....pain in the butt to get my amp all tuned in but I got the crossovers set so well that if you use the decks points the sound does not change at all from my settings.

It still is loud as heck but clean all the way up.....love how they set your amp intothe floor liek that.......I am gonna do that with my NINe.5 soon just gotta go get some MDF.....and find that paint they use onthe boxes.

lasrx · 08-22-2008, 03:42 AM

Sound quality is awesome I wish the other cars on the road believed the same. Too many rattle boxes. With my setup I'm not going to win any SPL competitions but its loud enough for me and WAY better than stock.

BZinn1 · 08-22-2008, 03:44 AM

Yeah break in time is good........I finally got mine up to full power and glad it took me 3 months to tune it in.......the sound is awsome.....

Tcguy85 · 08-22-2008, 03:58 AM

SQ FTW!!!

Yanki01 · 08-22-2008, 04:26 AM

very clean install, CDT's ftw!

1_kLEan_tC · 08-22-2008, 04:34 AM

Bing does great.....and I know this for a fact!

Yanki01 · 08-22-2008, 04:38 AM

was their any cutting of the pannels for that sub box to fit?

**SquallLHeart** · 08-22-2008, 04:50 AM

niceee lookin!

hey.. come by tomorrow at stevens creek scion.. i wanna see!

simplicityinsound · 08-22-2008, 05:09 AM

hey guys...to answre a question.

not a signle stock panel was cut to do the subbox. its fully fiberglass molded against the stock side carpet.

Tcguy85 · 08-22-2008, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simplicityinsound

hey guys...to answre a question.

not a signle stock panel was cut to do the subbox. its fully fiberglass molded against the stock side carpet.

i've seen your work all over the place. you do great work man!

NOLA_tC · 08-22-2008, 05:48 AM

Yeah.... that is really nice. Do it to mine. lolllololol

tCtCtC · 08-22-2008, 05:49 AM

very clean

lasrx · 08-22-2008, 06:35 AM

I'm going to be in Vegas tomorrow so I won't be able to make it out to Stevens Creek. I'll be at the meet on Wednesday though.

I love this i want to go for a drive now.

**SquallLHeart** · 08-22-2008, 07:55 AM

next weds? sweeet!

i'll see it then!

simplicityinsound · 08-22-2008, 08:30 AM

well, maybe someday, i will get a TC to do a really serious SQ installs in, i think these car's interiors are really well fit for SQ. But not sure if i will ever find the right customer with the right desires and budget hehe ;)

in the mean time, i will get to do a serious SQ set up in a new civic, whcih also should be an excellent sounding platform...

**SquallLHeart** · 08-22-2008, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simplicityinsound

But not sure if i will ever find the right customer with the right desires and budget hehe ;)

well there's the kicker right there..

...

i got a friend who is a complete audiophile.. but his setup is pretty already great for SQ what he's done so far and is content in his current setup.. (you should maybe come out sometime and hear it?

)

simplicityinsound · 08-22-2008, 03:27 PM

sure, i wouldnt mind it, he can take a listen to my car as well...though i still need t do more tuning on mine

**SquallLHeart** · 08-23-2008, 03:40 AM

okay.. yea! you and him need to talk for sure.

you busy next weds night?

mike6789k · 08-23-2008, 07:23 AM

ughhh... you ____ed up by putting the tweets in the a piller.. mainly because you have no time correction going and they arent on axis as they should be since they are soft domes, no?

anyway.. slick sub box.. how much did it all cost?