08 STA Audio System Project Log

[Carey Frennier]

I just got my JL Audio XR570CSI Component Set in today. I have my box plans and wiring plans ready.



This is my plan write-up:



Front Stage:

-Alpine CDA 9883 HU ($200)

-JL Audio XR570CSI Component Set

-Stock Rear Fill.

-JBL CS60.4 Front Stage Amp ($149)

-Dynamat Extreme in front doors.

Sub stage:

-JBL GTO 1202D x2 ($198)

-JBL CS300.1 Sub Stage Amp ($159)

-Custom Amp Rack and Sealed Sub Enclosure ($90)



11/14/07: I purchased everything except the XR570CSI comp set from Lance Drinkwine at Alpha Stereo in Plattsburgh, NY. It was originally installed in my 2005 F150. Obviously the pricing will seem decent on the stuff perchased in 2007 compaired to what they go for now in 2008. Truth is that I "stole" the 07 purchased equipment when you consider their pricing from a year ago.



9/29/08: I recently purchased JL Audio XR570CSI Component Set from TweeterDirect.com from Lawrence Cooper ([email protected]). I got such a good deal on these! If you mention my cardomain page, you will get a discount!



Full installation of my system should take place within this month.



Pics coming soon!



Thoughts or comments?

 

[Carey Frennier]

Right now I'm trying to decide if I want to run the rear fill off the HU power or run them all of the 60.4 amp.



I believe I can get more power the front stage if I run the comps off the 60.4 and the rear fill off the HU but wouldn't I lose the ability to adjust some settings?

 

[Jacob Dryer]

You would lose the crossover settings on the amp by not using it for rear-fill.

 

[Carey Frennier]

After some time of researching and test fitting I've decided on the following setup:



Front Stage:

-Alpine CDA 9883 HU



Sub stage:

-JBL GTO 1202D x1

-JL Audio 500.1v2 Sub Stage Amp

-Custom Amp Rack and Slot Ported Wedge Sub Enclosure 1.75 ft^3 @ 34 Hz



I will be adding my full front stage a little later. For now, just the substage and the HU.

 

[Rahul Sharma]

Are you planning on hooking up an ipod in your system? if so, I'd recommend spending a bit more on the head unit and getting a nice double din unit with a 7" display. they ahve really come down in price and are expandable in terms of things you can add to them...ipod, usb players, multi-outs, cnet etc.....

 

[Carey Frennier]

My 9883 has an Ipod cable. I bought it because I wanted to play my Ipod in my 05 F150.



I'd love to upgrade the HU someday but it's not going to happen anytime soon.

 

[Rahul Sharma]

i could live without my subs and my components now...even the sound deadener.....but i would never have a vehicle without my clarion headunit!! i have the same one in my Altima - the first day i bought the trac, i went and bought the matching head unit and another ipod and downloaded my entire library onto it as well. car or truck, same head unit, same interface, same selection of over 15,000 songs, all arranged in perfection and it takes no longer than about 10 seconds to play what's on my mind.....just sayin'

 

[Carey Frennier]

Alrighty,



My installer and I went over some numbers for the ported box volume for a single 1202D sub. The sub requires 10" of depth for the port alone. This means I can't port it. I don't want to run just a single sealed 12" sub. The Gen1 ST would actually fit these 1202D subs better than the Gen2 STs.



I'm back to square one again.



I think what I'm going to do is run two JL Audio Ported 8" W3 pre-loaded enclosures CP108LG-W3v3. I'm going to either power them with my 300.1 at 150w each or buy a used JL 500.1 and run them 250w each (their max rms).



I can fit two of these and both front and sub stage amps behind the seat with absolutely no issues.



With the cost of labor. I would get two new subs and enclosures for the price it would have cost me just to install one of my 1202Ds in a custom ported enclosure. The used amp is going to put me out a little more money, about $150, but I can use my 300.1 for the time being. I could probably do this myself. I'm going to try.



The other advantage is that they don't hinder the use of the child seat anchors. This means a lot to both Amanda and I because we want to start a family in a couple years.

 

[Carey Frennier]

So my install is happening tomorrow 4/23/09!



Front Stage:

-Alpine CDA 9883 HU

-JL Audio XR570CSI Component Set

-Stock Rear Fill.

-JBL CS60.4 Front Stage Amp



Sub stage:

-JL Audio CP108LG-W3v3

-JL Audio 500/1v2 Sub Stage Amp (250w RMS per sub)

-Custom Amp Rack



I almost backed out on the entire thing on the phone with my installer because I wanted the money for other inspections on the house Amanda and I are buying. He gave me a 25% discount on labor and kept my business for 10am Thursday morning.



I will have him do a basic custom platform for my sub enclosures to sit on and a small rear wall amp rack for the 500/1. I'm not sure where he is going to put the front stage 60.4 yet. I will remove my rear plastic panel until I figure out what I want to do with it.

 

[Carey Frennier]

My front stage comps, amp and the rear wall amp rack all go in tomorrow. I can't wait to get the crossovers working and get an extra hipass from the front stage amp. It's really going to clean up the sound.



I've decided to run the rear stock speakers off the Alpine CDA. This will allow me to bridge my front stage amp and double the power going to my component set. Instead of 60w rms It will be 120w rms. This is slightly over the top rms range of the speakers. I'll probably raise the gain on the mono amp so I don't need to turn the volume up as much to get the bass I want.





I'm VERY happy with my loaded sub enclosures. Those things pound like mad and their sound quality is better than my two 12" subs I had in a custom sealed enclosure at 150w rms each.



I've noticed that my gen2 STA has a ton of rattles. Rattles I'd never hear without these subs playing lol.



I'm absolutely going to have sound deaden my doors and my dash. Everything else seems pretty good. I'm going to buy enough to do my truck and Amanda's WRX at once. That should be a fun project for us to do together and it will really enhance our systems. Of course, by the time we have the funds and time to do this we will probably be in our new home doing renovations