So my new system install is 95% complete

I have read through the threads in the audio section for a long time and had a really hard time figuring out what I wanted to do. Many people have "upgraded" their systems but not many have done large custom installs. My big want was to keep the whole thing looking super clean and factory. Well I just stopped by the shop today to take a peek and after a week's worth of work I think it is the best that it could possibly be with the equipment I chose.

First thing was that I wanted to keep the factory head unit. It isn't the best radio out there but I really like having all of the factory functions. I have a prius 3 with the non-jbl nav. So I had a JL Audio clean sweep installed. For the fronts I used Jl Audio C5 653's. The main woofer and 4" mid are in the door and the tweet is in the factory dash location. I was told that the crossovers were dialed in to provide superb staging. The rear doors hold a pair of JL Audio C3 convertible coaxial 6.5's. For the low end I had a custom carpeted box built with exact matching carpet holding a single JL Audio 10W7. Powering the whole system is a Memphis MC5.1400. Beautiful amp that is a hybrid of analog and digital tech. From what I am told...Analog signal runs front and rear door speakers but the digital side of the amp powers the sub which should help with keeping the power draw down. But with the silk dome teeters and analog signal, there is A LOT of warmth in the sound that I don't have in my tundra with all digital equipment.

The best part of the job was that the entire interior was stripped down and covered with Hush mat. Even the roof! After taking a look at the car today for a minute, the awesome solid sound that came from the thump I heard when closing the door was the most exciting part of the project! I know this thread is lame with out pics but I should get a few by tomorrow or the latest wednesday. I don't know how many install pics I can get but will definitely work on it.

 

Ok....so the first pic is of the 10W7 in the new box. The internal dimensions are built to spec but the exterior was made this large just because I didn't want a small box flopping around!




This Next pic is of the Memphis amp that while looks beautiful....it was ripped right back out due to it being a piece of garbage! It has very low headroom and the sound quality was terrible. All sorts of noises were coming from this thing.




This is my quick disconnect so that I can remove the box on the fly and do it very easily!



Here are the control knobs for the clean sweep and the bass.



And here is what replaced the Memphis amp! A JL Audio HD 600/4 for the C5 653 components in the front and the C3's in the rear doors. The other amp is a HD 750/1 for the sub.



The thing is that now I can finally mess around with tuning. I really want to replace the HU but as of right now, there really aren't any high quality SQ double din decks. There are quite a few that are expensive and have neat features, but none that are THAT much better than what we already have from the factory as long as you have a clean sweep or DSP. Now the other thing is that while I do like the sound of the C5's, they are most likely coming out and being replaced by a set of Focal 165 KRX3's. The gain on the amp is set correctly but the crossovers have a built in overload protection circuit that just cuts off the tweeters when the volume is increased. I listen to a lot of live band stuff and that type of music is just too much for the JL's.

I don't have any other pictures of the install as of right now due to the fact that I dropped the car off and picked it up completed! The installer does have some install pics and I will try to get them from him and upload them here. Any opinions on the equipment is welcome! Any advice is appreciated!!

 

Ok....lots of changes coming in the very near future. The non-jbl navi unit is just plain junk! I am switching it out for the pioneer stage 4 DEX-P99RS. I hate switching to a single din but you cannot achieve this sound quality in any other head unit right now. Not to mention that I really hate the cheap look of just adding that black plastic pocket to fill the space so something custom will be thought of. Obviously the clean sweep will be coming out! Next I will be adding an additional JL Audio 600/4 which will be giving me a total of 9 channels! Reason for this is that I will be running active with out a crossover. I will be swapping out the C5's up front for a Dynaudio Esotar 3 way set up. I will be using the E110 tweeters, E430's mid's and the 650's for mid bass. I will be leaving the C3's in the rear but eliminating the tweeter and just use the mid to fill the space in the rear. I will set up the time alignment with the C3's disconnected so that it doesn't mess up the detection and then just tune those by ear. I may have access to an RTA so that the whole system can be tuned as close to flat as possible. Hopefully this is the set up that works for me!

 

I will have 1950 watts total. So far I have the new HU and the Dynaudio speakers but I am gathering up a lot of little stuff for the instal. But what you have sounds great....especially if you love the sound it produces for you. What you have blows away what I have in my tundra but what I have in there works just fine for me.

 

Well I also have help so I can't take the credit for all of the work but I also want to point out.....those wheel covers are RIDICULOUS to install !!!!

 

Well first I can tell you that you might want to hold off on buying any speakers due to the fact that I will be selling mine with only about a half hour of use! All packaging and paperwork included. And my speakers are much better than the ones you quoted. I will also include the custom mounting plates for the doors!

Aside from a custom mounting plate....no real modifications are needed that I can remember but I will know much better when I remove these in just a week or so and will definitely get back to you!

Here is a pic of them during a mock up:

 

No I actually liked the sound very much. I wanted to go fully active and you can't do that with these speakers. The crossovers have to be used and does not work with what I am trying to do

 

check out what will fill the new open din slot on my dash once the HU has been replaced with the new single din deck: