Audio System Part Collecting Has Begun

08_Denali_22 · December 31, 2008

I just picked up the 4 channel amp the other day. Its an Alpine PDX 4.100. I would have liked to go with the 4.150 but Best Buy only carries the 4.100 and I don't think its worth paying extra for the 50W rms x 4 the 4.150 would have netted me. I can't get over how small the PDX amps are. Even the 1000W 1.1000 mono amp is the same size! Ridiculous.

Here's a nice comparison pic so you can see how truely small these amps are.

I also ordered a set of component speakers online from a member over at www.diymobileaudio.com in the classified section. They are a set of brand new in box Alpine SPX-17PRO components brand new for $270 shipped. They are $650 retail. Granted they are grey market so that means no warranty from Alpine but for that kind of a deal I couldn't resist. He comes VERY highly recommended over at ca.com. As soon as they show up I'll post some pics of the actual speakers but untill then here is a link to Alpine's website so you can see what I stole.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=SPX-17PRO

I plan on fully deadening the doors and throwing in a full layer of dynamat all through the cab in the spring. Its just too cold to do it now. But we'll see if I can resist the temptation for that long. I also have a set Alpine Type-S coaxials that are going in the rear door. I have them just sitting around so I figured why not. They are just going to be filler anyway. I can't wait to get the ball rolling on this!

GARB55 · December 31, 2008

SWEET, Where do you plan to install the tweeters?

08_Denali_22 · December 31, 2008

I haven't decided yet. I figure I'm going to put some double sided tape on them and move them around till they sound the best. I'm hoping the stock locations will sound the best but my luck is never that good. I'll probably end up going with the sail panels. We'll see when the time comes.

GARB55 · December 31, 2008

I haven't decided yet. I figure I'm going to put some double sided tape on them and move them around till they sound the best. I'm hoping the stock locations will sound the best but my luck is never that good. I'll probably end up going with the sail panels. We'll see when the time comes.

Keep us updated!

08_Denali_22 · January 9, 2009

UPDATE!!

I just received the front components yesterday. I can't believe how nice these speakers look. Very high quality. Its too bad I won't be installing them for quite some time. I need to finish collect all the sound deadener and wait for the winter to let up. I'm not installing anything outside when its less than 10* outside. Brr!

Depending on the cash flow at the time uf install I might have something special up my sleeve. We'll see when the time comes.

agsbaseball09 · January 9, 2009

Hey just read your posts and I have a 99 GMC Sierra 1500 regular cab and i have that same amp powering my 10" JL 10W1 subs... its so small yet delivers great power! good choice.. i love it

Lincoln30 · January 16, 2009

Personally, I've never heard a Class-D amp that I thought sounded good on mids/highs. They are great for subs but just don't sound quite right (accurrate) for mids/highs. The JL HD series is supposed to be the shiznit but we just tried one on the mids/highs in a friends 08 Porsche Turbo (Alpine 505 HU with DynAudio 3 ways) and it sounded like a$$...we put in a tradional analog (Class A/B, I believe) JL amp and it sounds great now. I feel the same way about the "home" Class-D amps I've listened to (I made the mistake of buying a Harman Kardon DPR2005, which is now on the floor of my closet and replaced it with a similar "analog" HK recvr.

08_Denali_22 · January 21, 2009

^^ Hmm thats the first I've heard anything negative about these amps. Other than the four channel pdx's can sound a little bright to some listeners but that comment is few and far between with the people that I've talked to. I will admit that this is going to be the first time that I have used a class d amp for the mids and highs. I guess we will see how it sounds when the install day finally happens.

As far as progress goes I've picked up some more dynamat. Through work I am able to go directly through dynamat to get better prices. I think in the next couple week I'm going to get the majority of the dynamat ordered. On GMFS there is also a group buy going for raammat and ensolite. I'm probably going to jump it and pick up enough ensolite to do the entire cab. We will see. I would have already ordered all this but the fine state of Minnesota decided to bend me over to fine sum of $497.25 for tabs. That hurt.

08_Denali_22 · January 23, 2009

So it sounds like I might be stepping up my mono amp purchase a little sooner than I expected. I guess my job has decided to drop the pdx line. Well I was hoping I could hold off on picking up the 1.600 until I decided what direction I was going to go with the sub bass but I can't afford to lose this opportunity to use my discount. I think I might pick one up as soon as tomorrow. If I do pics will follow sometime soon after.

Uwilliams75 · January 24, 2009

So it sounds like I might be stepping up my mono amp purchase a little sooner than I expected. I guess my job has decided to drop the pdx line. Well I was hoping I could hold off on picking up the 1.600 until I decided what direction I was going to go with the sub bass but I can't afford to lose this opportunity to use my discount. I think I might pick one up as soon as tomorrow. If I do pics will follow sometime soon after.

What subs and enclosure are you going with? I'm in the process of doing a similar audio install but i decided on 2 image dynamics IDQ3 12 inch subs in a subthump inclosure. Like u i was considering the alpine pdx and jl hd lines but from what i hear class d amps are great for subs but not mids and highs so i went with the arc audio KAR series 300.2 bridged mono 4 ohm = 700watts for the subs and 300.4 for the front and rears . Decided on focal for front and rears just not sure what model but keep us updated on the install.

08_Denali_22 · January 25, 2009

As of right now I have a 12" P3 in a custom sealed box under the rear seat on the driver side. For now it will fit the bill. In the future I plan on pulling the rear bench, moving the front buckets to the rear, and installing a set of '09 heated/cooled Denali seats in the front. While I'm installing the front seats I'm also going to have the seats themselves modified to provide a lot more side bolstering. If you have ever sat in a new Challenger or any sports car you'll understand. I want the seats to grab you and hold you in the seats. The factory front seats that I currently have I'm going to retain the heating portion when I move them to the rear. That way I'll have heated and cooled seats in the front and heated buckets in the rear. While I'm at it I'm going to build a center console in the rear using an identicle armrest from the front console. Inside the new console I'm going to mount a 12" sub downfiring and sealed. I'm not sure if I'm going to continue to use the P3 or not. We'll see when the time comes.

As for your set up what is the required for airspace from the id subs? Those are very nice pieces of equipment I would hate to see them choked down from lack of airspace. I was looking at the focals as well but the only shop that I know of that has them to listen to in the area has not hooked up their sound boards since they moved into their new building in September. From the reviews that I've read it sounds like focals are known to be a little more on the bright side with their tweeters. After instally a set of Type-S components that turned out to be extremely bright in my girlfriends car I guess you could say I'm a little spooked.

08_Denali_22 · January 25, 2009

I decided to make a second post on my little purchase. I went ahead picked up a PDX 1.600 the other day. Being as there were only a few left in the metro area I really didn't have time wait. The birth sheet reads a little lower that I would have hoped but it is at least making the rated power. It is always nice to see a little extra.

A little stack of my current bounty. Its growing slowely but surely.

I'm also thinking about changing my plans about the rear speakers. I might not go with the Type-S coaxials but instead I might go with a set of Hybrid Audio 8's in the rear door to act as midbass. The reading that I've been doing suggests that with proper tuning, namely time alignment, I can make it seem like the midbass is right in front of me instead of in the rear. Its going to be challenging and interesting so I'm really looking forward to it.

08_Denali_22 · February 1, 2009

Well I stumbled on a killer deal tonight that I just couldn't pass up. A member on another forum was selling a Rockford 3sixty.2 processor for $295 shipped! The best part was this is a BRAND NEW unit that has NEVER been opened up. It was also purchased from Rockford so the serial number is in tact (and so is the warrenty). So I sent message asking a few questions and it turns out he lives less than 20 minutes away from me. We settled on $290 and he was going to meet me half way to pick it up. This whole thing started at 7:00pm and I was on my way home with it by 9:00pm! My luck has been way to good so far with the deals I've been finding for this build. I'm almost dreading the install since I know that I'm going to pay for all this good luck.

Any way here is the pics:

I wasn't planning on making anymore aquisitions till after I received my tax returns but I just couldn't pass this up.

08_Denali_22 · March 2, 2009

Alright it has been awhile since my last update so here I go. I picked up a set of Peerless SLS 830667 8" woofers for the rear doors. I think they are going to be a tight fit I believe they will work. I can't believe the quality of these woofers for the price. Just amazing. I can't wait to get them broken in and dialed in with the 3sixty.2. Here is a link to the site that I picked them up at. I was thoroughly pleased with their customer service and their prices. http://www.madisound.com/catalog/product_i...roducts_id=1386

Here is a couple of pics of the woofers:

A size comparison for the you guys:

My sound deadener came in that I ordered a few weeks ago. I was originally planning on using Dynamat through out but it was adding up fast so I decided to go with Raammat 60 BXT. It came in rolls of about 62.5 sqft for about $100. The Dynamat was going to be about 32 or 36 sqft for about $100. The raammat is only a few mils thinner and performs nearly aswell. I couldn't beat it for the price. I put in an order for 2 rolls equalling 125 sqft of BXT. This with the 40sqft of Dynamat I already have sitting here should make for a decently quiet ride.

While I was ordering the BXT I also put in an order for some Ensolite. About 6 yards or about 84 sqft. The ensolite is a lot like neoprene. Its a closed cell foam that inhibit mold from growing all while acting as a sound barrier from outside noises. Where the raammat (or dynamat) is their to cut down on vibrations. Combined it makes for a real silent combo. Rick at Raamaudio also suggested I pick up some of their spray adhesive. For the amount of Ensolite I was using he suggested 3 cans of spray at about $10 a piece. I'm sure its very similar to the 3m adhesive spray you can get from Home Depot but what the heck. I only need to spend at 1 place and so far Rick has been a great guy to work with. I have no problem supporting great customer service.

Raammat 60 BXT:

Ensolite:

Spray adhesive:

08_Denali_22 · March 2, 2009

Since was planning on running some decent power from the amps I decided a wire upgrade was in order. I wasn't entirely sure the 4awg wire was going to cut it. Especially since I've got a bad feeling I'm going to picking up another PDX 4.100 to bridge for my 8's in the rear. Normally I don't like going through grey market online retailers since there is normally a lack of a manufacturer's warrenty but with wire I don't feel bad going where the deals are. I was tipped off that sonicelectronix.com had a deal going on Streetwire 1/0 cable. And a deal it was! $39.99 for 20'! I couldn't pass that up. I would have rather gone with the Kicker hyper flex wire but the price on the Streetwire was too good. I noticed now that it is on backorder. I wish I would have purchased a second package of 20' wire for the Big 3 upgrade. I'm going to have to keep an eye on that one.

Here is the link to the wire. I know its blue but oh well. They can't all be winners! http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_118 ... 020BL.html

Picture of the actual wire at home:

I also managed to pickup a few odds and ends from work. Normally I wouldn't waste my time on using cables like this but where I am planning on installing the 3sixty.2 in the truck I was going to need rca's about 4 feet long. Well where I work we don't carry automotive rca's that short so I decided to go another route. Off to the home theater department I went.

4' Monster RCA's. God I love my discount at times. I can guarantee you that I paid a lot less than what I would have spent else where automotive cables the same length. Especially when you factor shipping in.

While I was in that department I decided to pick up my Y cables as well since the 3sixty.2 uses a single cable hookup for the subwoofer line. Once again the discount gods smiled on me again.