STEREO WOW WE !

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TheCleanToy @ Jul 10 2007, 02:30 AM) [snapback]475995[/snapback]</div>

Your install looks pretty darn cool, not very flashy. The fiber enclosures have the right shapes.

Hope it sound "thunder" in the compete arena. Can you hear, yaH!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(morpheusx @ Jul 10 2007, 03:09 PM) [snapback]476408[/snapback]</div>

:lol: Yeah, I did that too! :lol: Had an old Subaru wagon that I thought looked fine, got a bunch of used & sweet-deal parts, built my own carefully-tuned speaker boxes for all 4 doors and the subs into every nook & cranny I could. I ended up beating out quite a few $5K-$10K systems in the Sound Accuracy category at a local competition but the system was stripped out by thieves the following week

It's nice to see such a sweet job on an early Prius. Looks like it's got some real "wow factor" when that trunk lid comes up!

Just because someone spends serious money on a sound system doesn't mean they are attacking you and your neighborhood, and not everyone who puts in killer sound is going for Sound Pressure Level. The lameness of the Prius low-end (like almost all cars) is well known, and the overall sound spectrum has plenty of room for improvement. If I spend a few $K improving the sound system for my Pri, how is that different from a classical-music buff who gets all-tube amps, floor-standing speakers and a built-into-the-basement subwoofer system?

 

I find that when another driver pulls up beside me at a light with their audio cranked up that the sound level is often beyond my pain threshhold. The folks who do this are in fact hurting other people.
Certainly there are many enthusiasts who only crank it up among those with similar tastes. I have no beef with them. If they are being responsible, the rest of us won't even know when they pull up beside us. So I will assume that most car audio buffs are responsible. Good for you, I hope you are enjoying your hobby.
Please, don't give me a demonstration if I haven't asked for one. Loud music makes my head hurt, literally. If you want me to admire your creation, post a picture of it on the internet.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TheCleanToy @ Jul 14 2007, 01:42 PM) [snapback]478703[/snapback]</div>

Me, competition? Heavens No!

I listen to classical mostly, that's why I need more clarity, power and precision than what the "premium"
JBL system provides. And when I do rock out (Todd Rundgren, Kraftwerk, etc.) I like it crisp and clean.

Yes, I have the JBL HU with the amp under passenger seat. No Nav though. I have the following
aftermarket equipment waiting to be installed: JL SSI, JL DSP, JL A4300, JL ZR650s components
(for front, nothing for rear yet), and a Kenwood KSC-SW1 minisub to go under driver seat.

I enjoy working with my hands and building things. I don't know a whole lot about electronics etc.
and have considered getting my system installed by "the experts". But I think it'll be more fun and
satisfying personally if I learned to do it myself. It'll give me a better understanding of the Prius, that's
for sure. Besides, I've taken the car to several big names (Earmark, Car Toys, etc.) and did not get
a comfortable feeling talking to any of them. They all sounded so sleazy.

Today I finished sound dampening the driver's side front door with SecondSkin's Damplifier.
It took me a good three hours but it was actually fun to learn something new. In the process I
noticed that there were two sets of pink/purple wires going to the woofer and tweeter in the door.
Made me wonder: when I put the JL component speakers in, how will I tell which speaker wires
to connect to which outputs from the crossover??

 

I like the mod! I appreciate anyone who love to do mods, IT'S FUN. and quite frankly it's safer than drugs, parties and gangs. (well that's an extreme) but I know if I knew of my obsession with cars at an earlier age I may have been a much happier kid. anyway, I LOVE IT.

Now if you turn it up too loud, that's a problem, at least if it's in my 'hood. but I'm sure you are responsible with it. <wink>

 

"There is reliable evidence that prolonged exposure to noise levels at or above 80 decibels can cause deafness. The amount of deafness depends upon the degree of exposure. The louder the noise, the less time it takes to cause hearing loss. "

" Any sound above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss, and the loss is related both to the power of the sound as well as the length of exposure. Eight hours of 90 decibels can cause damage to your ears; any exposure to 140 decibels causes immediate damage."

Are you as smart as a fourth grader?

"Noise not only affects hearing. It affects other parts of the body and body systems . It is now known that noise:

Increases blood pressure
Has negative cardiovascular effects such as changing the way the heart beats
Increases breathing rate
Disturbs digestion
Can cause an upset stomach or ulcer
Can negatively impact a developing fetus, perhaps contributing to premature birth
Makes it difficult to sleep, even after the noise stops
Intensifies the effects of factors like drugs, alcohol, aging and carbon monoxide"

Noise and hearing loss

"The currently suggested level at which hearing protection should begin on a voluntary basis (no laws about it) is 85 dB. According to ear specialists it should be mandatory at 90 dB. "

Protect your hearing.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(zenMachine @ Jul 14 2007, 08:40 PM) [snapback]478923[/snapback]</div>

Once you have the speaker hooked up, stick a 9V battery on the crossover side and see which part of the speaker responds...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mr. Zorg @ Jul 16 2007, 02:00 AM) [snapback]479502[/snapback]</div>

Not sure I understand what you mean. Could you elaborate? Thx.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(zenMachine @ Jul 16 2007, 11:53 AM) [snapback]479728[/snapback]</div>

It's an old trick for tracing wires. If you take your speaker wires and touch them to the terminals on a 9V battery, the speaker will pop and crackle, allowing you identify which speaker those wires go to. Since you said there are two sets of identically colored wires running to the speakers in the door, my suggestion is to just arbitrarily pick them and hook them up. Then, on the other side of the wire, use the battery to see which cable is which and then hook it up appropriately.

P.S. This is assuming you are changing the crossover/amp/receiver whatever too and are going to be messing with the other side anyway.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mr. Zorg @ Jul 16 2007, 03:04 PM) [snapback]479768[/snapback]</div>

Understand. Cool trick. Thanks!

 

It does look cool. But I am with all those who say people should not actually drive around blasting other people. Just like cigarett smoke should not be shared.

What if my thing was to spay urine on people when I am stoped by them at a light or when I walk by them. Would that be migh freedom?

 

For all those that assume that the original poster's stereo bothers people. Maybe you should ask first instead of assuming. I worked with a guy who had a a Civic HB w/ 2 JL 15" subs and around 1000 watts. He also installed Dynamat throughout the vehicle. You could BARELY hear the sounds outside of the car, even when it was pretty damn loud. We drove around, nobody even looked over.

Looks like a neat install!! Enjoy the tunes!!

 

I just came back to this thread after leaving it alone for weeks now, and all I can say is...Wow, what a bunch of haters.

If the music is too loud, your too old.
Welcome to being in public.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Slair @ Jul 17 2007, 03:44 PM) [snapback]480417[/snapback]</div>

Man, do you want to start an "I hate you thread "?, .....open the umbrella, thunder will come.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Slair @ Jul 17 2007, 02:44 PM) [snapback]480417[/snapback]</div>

No Kidding...

I do empathize a bit with those who claim to be pained by the noise coming from cars, but generally, I don't think that's very realistic.

You may be "annoyed" or "concerned" or whatever, but give the guy a break!

I am annoyed by lots of things, but have come to the conclusion that life is more or less a series of annoyances that you can either A ) moan and groan about how much you dislike, or B ) move on and realize that there are bigger fish to fry (sorry to the vegans... lol).

We're going to put a custom fiberglass enclosure with a 550W Rockford Amp and two 8" Rockford Subs in the compartment in the rear hatch. Mounting depth should be about 5", but I'm hoping to get it flush with a little modding =). Should sound pretty wicked.

I don't hope it annoys people. I'm sure it will though. I bet theres something about everyone that would annoy someone else. Welcome to FREEDOM If I go deaf it will have been from doing something I ENJOY... and that's one of the many wonderful things about freedom.

People have the right to smoke, tell me why I should be vegan, spout off about where I'm going to go when I die, and put bumper stickers on their car about who I should vote for... lots of things that could possibly have grave implications on my life and theirs (up to but not necessarily including, eternity lol).

It annoys me. I get over it...

Life is still worth living!

 

Tough crowd. Maybe, I'm old, but I'd rather have the trunk space than bleeding ear drums. To each their own.