Car Stereo / Speaker Install
 

So, I’ve decided to upgrade my stock system. About a month or so ago, my radio locked up due to replacing the battery and the dealer wants $150 to pull it out and look at the info on the back to reset it.
**** that.

Based on principle of that being a reeruned idea/requirement, and my stubbornness, I figured “**** it..I might as well spend a few bucks and get a better system”.

Obviously, I’m getting a new head-unit. Nothing major, probably in the $150-200 range (double din). However, I’m also going to replace the 4 x 6.5” speakers as well. Over the last week or so, I ‘ve been kicking around the idea of a single 8” sub in the back. I saw a pretty cool stealth box that would fit under my carpet/mat in the spare tire well. I have a Rabbit / hatchback.

Overall – how much of a PITA would it be for a novice to install this crap on their own? I bought all the crap at Best Buy a week ago and paid for installation etc, only to arrive and find out that my car (according to them) required extra work to get everything in - $180 worth of ‘extra’ after I had paid $100 for install. So I told them to stick it in their collective asses and give me my money back. Which they did……after the guy had already begun installing it. Then gave me some shit about a restocking fee and the product already being opened. Long story short, I got it all back.

Should I take it to a smaller, more customer oriented shop and just pay to have the shit installed? Or is that going to cost an arm and a leg? Budget wise, I’m not looking to spend a ton; and I’m not worried about blowing out windows either. I just want something with a great sound in the car, with a nice thump on the low end when listening to rock etc.

Would a high quality set of 6.5”s provide enough ‘oomph’ for the lows? My stock speakers suck ass in this regard. Should I just stick with the 4 speakers and not screw with the sub?. Is a sub something I could easily add at a later time?

Here is what the stealth box looks like....but it's ****ing expensive.
http://www.uberstealthaudio.com/Prod...#!photogallery
http://mikepfeiffer.org/bak/gti/gti-37.jpg

Installing HU and speakers is easy. The hardest part is disassembling your car, though you should be able to find instructions on the net. Running wires for the sub is a lot trickier. Is the sub powered or do you have to install an extra amp?

no idea. I haven't bought a sub yet. not sure what 'loaded' is.

Loaded? Is that in the description of the stealth sub?

shit...I meant to say "Powered". no idea WTF I got 'loaded' from

Some sub boxes have a built-in amp while others contain just a speaker and you have to have an external amp to drive it.

Hmm. Good to know.
from what I've read, it would be external.
I'm in a pickle because there's really nowhere else to put the sucker. "IF" I go that route. I may just do the receiver and 4 x 6.5"s to see how they sound. I suppose I could always install a sub at a later date with minimal pain.

If you're a novice at removing interior panels, buy a cheap set of panel remover tools (the plastic ones on Amazon will work if you don't plan on using them repeatedly). Buy some extra clips too. You'll probably snap a few.

Other than that should be a piece of cake.

Sounds good. I recently replaced the HU in my wife's CR-V along with all four 6.5" speakers. Despite doing it on the cheap, it has surprising decent sound. It isn't going to thump but there is enough low end to sound good. I did soundproof the doors when I put the speakers in, which probably helped.

Harbor Freight has a decent set too if you need one on the quick.

That would work too. I don't need them as I've broken enough clips to know how to pull panels without killing clips now.

Also, be sure to get a wiring harness adapter when you install the HU (they make adapters for the speakers, too). That way you can wire the adapter to the HU and then just plug the whole thing into the stock harness.

For wiring, a lot of people recommend soldering the wires and then covering them with shrinktube. That's nice but it's a giant pain in the ass and if you aren't used to soldering, you can easily get cold solder joints. When I installed professionally, we used "snowcone" crimp connectors.

http://www.amazon.com/Install-CCL161..._bxgy_hi_img_y

Just make sure you have crimpers with the little tit in them and not the ones that just squish the connector.

http://www.amazon.com/GB-GS-388-8-In...ywords=crimper

We never had any fail.

man, I'm bumping this thread when I get the shit. lol
thanks dude.

If you buy your stuff from Crutchfield, you'll get all of the adapters and harnesses you need, along with guides showing how to open up the dash and doors (you need your own tools though). It's a nice package.

The downside is that it is usually more expensive than buying the stuff elsewhere. For a novice installer, though, the peace of mind can be valuable.

Crutchfield...:hmmm:. I didn't even know about that.

They also have a guide on their site for what fits in your car.

dude, that Crutchfield site kicks ass. Thanks man.

No problem. Good luck.

This shit is easy.

You can always try roping a friend or relative into helping you.

Installing an amp and sub in the rear can be a pain in the butt.

You need to run power, RCA's, etc, and that requires a lot of disassembly.

4 6.5's won't touch a good 8 for low end unless you are using 6.5's with a lot of Xmax.

If you are going to put a stereo in yourself why not just get the code off your stock one yourself?
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3.5" depth is not a lot to work with for a sub, so the low end will not add a lot. You can get it to sound really smooth, but it's not going to be enough for "bumping".

An Image Dynamics ID 8" will knock your socks off, but it's too deep.

I always love seeing the idiots with the RCAs laying on the floor between seats
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LMAO


I have seen a lot of garbage in my days.

"My girlfriends brother is a professional installer, he hooked me up!"


:facepalm:

I have seen a lot horrible installs come out of the big stores, too.

because I'm stubborn. lol.
If I go through that shit, I might as well spend the same $ on a new radio at a minimum. I could do the radio, and slowly buy the other speakers.

the radio I'm wanting is $149 with free shipping.

Me too - installs where they just twisted wires together and covered them with masking tape, speakers just sitting in the rear deck or on the floor, wires left to hang in a tangle under the dash, etc.

Of course, I've also seen installers do stupid shit. One of them cut part way through the door skin of a BWM with a hole saw (from the inside). Another (might have been the same one) drilled into the heater core.

Fortunately, I never did anything quite that bad. :)

yeah, we'll see what I'm up against when I give it a shot. I think my plan is to get the stereo first and install it (at least attempt to). Seems like that Crutchfield site has everything I'd need. Should I get one of those cheap sets of .....whatever they're called that help with popping off panels and trim?

Absolutely. It will help a lot to keep from busting clips.

http://www.amazon.com/Astro-Pneumati...+removal+tools

good deal. thanks dude.

Looking at possibly going with one of these.

Kenwood DNX571HD


Kenwood Excelon DNX691HD

I'm not an expert on these things so I thought I'd see if anyone has opinions on brands.

Things I want -

Bluetooth - calling and streaming
Navigation (the fact that Kenwood has Garmin is a plus for me, I'm used to Garmin and it seems to be the best overall, imo)
HD Radio
Backup camera capable

It would be cool to be able to use the controls on the steering wheel. I won't be installing it myself.

Nevermind.

Want.

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