Custom install - Hertz, eD, JL - lots of pics

[The Spectacle]

I am having a local shop (http://www.blvdcustoms.com/) install a custom setup in to my LB. Components consist of the following:

HU: JVC KW-AVX800
Front stage: Hertz HSK 163
Sub: JL W6v2
Amps: Elemental Designs nine.4 4ch for speakers, Alpine PDX 1.600 for sub

Hertz is an Italian company that I'd never heard of. I demo'd the speakers they had setup in house and I was convinced. Great sounding stuff! http://www.hertzaudiovideo.com/

If you've never heard of Elemental Designs, you might want to check them out to. Made right here in the USA, great quality and even better prices: http://www.edesignaudio.com/

The Hertz's are a 3 way setup containing a 6.5" woofer, 3 inch mid & 1" tweeter. The woofer will be placed in the door and the mid and tweeter are being installed inside of custom kickpanels. My main focus on this setup are clarity and staging and after talking with the install guys, we agreed that this should work best. The HU I am using is a few years old, I picked up it last year for like $200 off a guy on a local forum. I also have a roll of eDead that is going in the doors and in the rear trunk area where the amp rack and sub are being installed.

Here a some pics of the car as of yesterday. Excuse the quality, these were all taken with my iPhone:

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_01571.JPG

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_01631.JPG

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_01521.JPG

The bubble wrapped amp is the nine.4
http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_0153.JPG

Passenger door completed with sound deadening. The area behind the woofer location is also filled with foam absorber. Makes a big difference.
http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_0149.JPG

If you haven't been to the shops website, take a few mins and click the link. These guys work on everything from your Yaris type Econobox to million dollar Ferrari's and stuff like that. Here are some pics of the cars right next to mine in the bay:

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_0169.JPG

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_0158.JPG

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_0162.JPG

Uh huh, that's a GT500. Not sure of the year.
http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_01611.JPG

But I am sure of the owner :eek:
http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_01601.JPG

Then next to the Shelby, you have this beast:
http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_01642.JPG

And they're having a slow week. LOL

Venture out into the lobby, and there's some curious stuff going on. Again if you clicked the link to their shop, you'd recognize this car:
http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_01712.JPG

Check out da wheeeeeeeeeeeeelzzzzzzzzzzz. 26's sittin high lol
http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_01701.JPG

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_0172.JPG

Yea, they don't come from MB like that. lol

Then there's this one on the other side of the lobby:
http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_0173.JPG

In case you're wondering what type of car it is:
http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_0174.JPG

Yes, that's a 300C. Without a top. Talk about custom! :respekt:

Oh it doesn't end there! Check out the parking lot:

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_01651.JPG

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_0166.JPG

Bentley, Lambo, Ford GT...you get the point.

Then there's my lonely little ride I drove to the shop in :thumbdown:
http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_0175.JPG

Car should be done tomorrow (hopefully). I'll take better pics and let you guys know how it sounds. I can't wait!:headbang:

- The Spectacle

[YarisSedan]

I wish there was a shop like that down here in california. I been having trouble finding a really good shop to do my stereo that i can trust. After having several hacks jobs on my cars over the years.

[marcus]

wow high end supercars..nice. i want the shelby.

[dccurrent]

I wish there was a shop like that down here in california. I been having trouble finding a really good shop to do my stereo that i can trust. After having several hacks jobs on my cars over the years.

Just do it yourself. You'll learn a new skill and you don't have to worry about what shortcuts they are taking behind closed doors.

[sqcomp]

Why out of curiosity did they not dynamat (or whatever brand) the ENTIRE door panel? Those holes need to be covered and the outer skin needs attention.

Aside from that, I love the Hertz line AND the parent company! I'll be picking up an Audison bit one for my Yaris. Gotta have a good processor!

More pics with the process and finished product!

[The Spectacle]

Why out of curiosity did they not dynamat (or whatever brand) the ENTIRE door panel? Those holes need to be covered and the outer skin needs attention.

Aside from that, I love the Hertz line AND the parent company! I'll be picking up an Audison bit one for my Yaris. Gotta have a good processor!

More pics with the process and finished product!

What part of the panel did you NOT see dampened? The eDead is applied to both inner and outer skins of the door panel. Why would you cover any holes? The deadening is designed to absorb vibration...its not like bondo lol

They shop tried to get me to switch out for an Alpine HU so they could install one of those fancy $150 processors that work directly with it for time alignment tuning. I'm waiting to see if I think its necessary before I spend that kind of money.


Word.

Well aren't you a super sleuth. You like my homie G pose??? I got more of them I can send you personally, since you like e-stalking me and all. Let me know speed racer.

[custom Lftback]

the shelby looks like a '67. what a gorgeous car. my DREAM muscle car...aka..."Eleanor"

[sqcomp]

...Well...

Aren't I a beginner? I don't see the outer skin having any of the *grumble* E-dead on it. Perhaps it's the reflection off the moisture barrier that was put back on the car. Those gaps in the door should be covered. You'd not need the moisture barrier in that case. You'd have better noise floor reduction as well. Cover that e-dead with ensolite and it'll be even quieter.

This is what a REAL sound dampening jobbie SHOULD look like:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/andyandyandyandy/Altima/rebuild/DSC00802.jpg

That's a door...No holes left. This door is DEAD.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/andyandyandyandy/Altima/rebuild/DSC00781.jpg

That's the passenger's side floor pan. Second Skin Damplifier pro, Second Skin Luxury Liner Pro, AND Overkill Pro. This is on the entire bottom pan of the car.

THIS is a sound deadening job. This is from an acquaintence of mine who competes in MECA and IASCA. If you don't know what those are then I won't tell you much more.

It's easy to kill the holes on the Yaris. I would tell someone who wants to listen on how to do it...

[Gideon]

^ ....aaaaaand how much weight did that add? :confused:

[sqcomp]

oooh...That's not the point. The point was to show a competition quality sound deadening job.

Over a whole car (floor, doors, firewall, trunk, and roof), two layers of premium sound deadening and at least one damping layer like Luxury Liner or Ensolite, you're looking at around 100 lbs.

...all you need to do is diet or stop dating fat chicks and you've made up the difference right there.

Okay, I apologize. That was off color. The point is made though. Our Yarii are VERY noisy, a proper deadening job will take car of that.

[PETERPOOP]

lol

[WolfWings]

What SQComp said is 100% true. My outside door skin on my front drivers-side door looked like that, two layers of deadening over most of it, then had a double-layer of Ensolite put on behind the speakers, then I used panels of 20-mil plastic sheeting (basically the stuff they make for-sale real estate signs out of) cut to fit the openings and layed in place with silicone sealant. Let that set, then another double-layer of the mat on top of the plastic sheeting, one layer of ensolite there, and another layer of ensolite on the hidden-side of the plastic door panel as well. It added close to 8lbs the door just by itself, but the difference between the drivers-side and passenger-side door is frightening now. Just have to do the front floorpan, passenger-side door, firewall, and roof now. :thumbup:

[Gideon]

oooh...That's not the point. The point was to show a competition quality sound deadening job.

To compare to this consumer, non-competition job? gj you won the pissing match

Anywho, it looks like the point of the job was to stop rattling from the new sound system, and not to isolate the car from road noise.

[The Spectacle]

The moisture barrier was removed and eDead was applied behind it everywhere on both inner and outer skin. I guess it doesn't show up well in the pics. With that said, Gideon is right on...I don't, and probably never will, compete in any type of competition so of course the deadening job is going to be less substantial. Kudos to you and your friend for all that hard work, but this is my DD...I'm not trying to take it that far.

Car may or may not be done today. Installer stayed late last night to work on it. I have to run a part over there today anyway, so I'm going to assess where it is and go from there. I should have updated pics a little later today.

[sqcomp]

Don't get me wrong, I sincerely think this is an interesting project. I want to see what happens with this.

Well...didn't gideon just show me!

If rattling was the only problem that vehicles had, we could simply attempt to decouple all the car's suspect pieces. Unfortunately one of the main points of deadening is to reduce road noise. Just because a panel doesn't rattle doesn't mean that the car is quieter over all...the noise is still able to get into the cabin.

If you don't lower the noise floor...your vehicle's system is still working just as hard get get to a certain loudness.

*meh*

[WolfWings]

Again agreeing with SQComp. Even the stock speakers can sound pretty awesome if they're playing in near-silence. This degree of soundproofing is more akin to saying you have as much soundproofing as a Lexus, competition-quality soundproofing for me at least refers to audiophile-competition, not 'db drag racing' or any other maximum-volume sillyness. I'm all about actually hearing every little warble and squeak in my music as if I was wearing headphones. :-)

[Gideon]

Well...didn't gideon just show me!

Sure did, loser (http://www.ifilmdb.com/Crunchyroll/Pictures/ArguingOnTheInternet-Special%20Olympics.jpg)! :thumbsup:

[YAR1S]

Sure did, loser (http://www.ifilmdb.com/Crunchyroll/Pictures/ArguingOnTheInternet-Special%20Olympics.jpg)! :thumbsup:

haha..:headbang:

[sqcomp]

:rolleyes:

Yeah okay

Too bad you have nothing to back it up anyway :iono:

Why not be constructive and add your experience with sound deadening vehicles...if you have any that is...

[The Spectacle]

Car is 90% done. I picked it up yesterday and will be bringing it back Monday to get the rest of the details ironed out.

Sound is PHENOMENAL. The W6 is wayyyyyy more than I was looking for but I've turned it down to suit my needs.

Will post pics maybe tomorrow. Too tired/lazy to go outside and take them now. That and hungover lol

[sqcomp]

Nice! Pics are definately in order!

[The Spectacle]

Alright here you go....

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_1432.JPG

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_1434.JPG

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_1436.JPG

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_1435.JPG

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_1441.JPG

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_1438.JPG

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_14401.JPG

And a quick outside shot of the dirty car:

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_1443.JPG

Things to be done:

- Cover needs to be finished for amp rack/sub box
- Crossovers need to be secured (currently under seats)
- Carpeting on kickpanels will be removed on the door sill so it doesn't stand out as much
- iPod adapter installed on HU

[PETERPOOP]

Let's hope you don't step on your speakers.

[schleppy]

I bet that sounds phenomenal. Those are awesome kick pods.

[talnlnky]

i'm surprised the carpet on the kicks is that far off the stock carpet, otherwise... looks good.

[The Spectacle]

I'm on the fence a about the carpeting on the kicks. I'm thinking about getting them recovered in black or grey vinyl to get them to blend in more. I'm going to sleep on it and see how I feel about it in the morning when I go back.

[sqcomp]

Stepping on the kicks shouldn't be a problem. You'll learn to adjust your foot positioning. That is pretty much traditional positioning for mids an tweets in the kick. I'll agree with Taln about the carpet match. I figure the shop asked you about using a close match on the carpet or waiting to get specific carpet for an exact match before they did it.

Are you going to finish the back with carpet?

Last questions, who consulted you on the positioning of the tweeters and mids? What options did the shop offer?

[WolfWings]

Kicks did turn out really well shaped and positioned, but as you said yourself, carpet is so-so. The sub and amps layout certainly isn't the traditional one I'm used to seeing, but it actually looks a lot more sturdy and durable than most installs I've seen too. Certainly more servicable like that. Incredibly clean install, no question there.

I assume you're going to get some kind of cover, even if just a metal mesh shelf over the rear equipment? Nice rims too, for some reason I'm thinking hit the sub-box wood bits with a walnut stain like old classic speakers used to all have, as it would be close to your rims if done right, then go with metal open mesh shelf pieces fitted just over the side-wings to protect that gear and fill in the gaps.

[The Spectacle]

I told the shop what I wanted and let them figure out the rest. I said, "I want really good staging" and was originally going to do tweeters in the A piller or something similar. One guy countered and said he could put the whole 3 way in the dash and I was like no no lol that's way to extreme, I want something simple. Another guy came back with the kickpanel idea and I went for it. All I picked where the components and gave general direction about how I wanted it all installed.

The carpet....eh. The carpet doesn't match because the Yaris has some off color cheapo carpet...the carpet that's on the kicks is going to be the same thats used on the amp rack cover I'm about to get installed today. It does stand out as much as it doesn't in the pics, but its not really all that bad. I mean, who stares down there anyway? You can't see it unless you're looking for it. And it certainly won't look that off in the rear where the seats are the same color right in front of the amp rack/sub box.

As for stepping on the kicks, PeterPoop was just doing his job attempting to be funny. I could "kick" the kickpanels if I wanted to and it wouldn't do anything to them, notice the grilles installed over them.

I'm going to also consult with them today about my time alignment options. Now that I've had the weekend to sample everything, I curious as to how much of a difference a properly setup processor will do.

[WolfWings]

The carpet....eh. The carpet doesn't match because the Yaris has some off color cheapo carpet...the carpet that's on the kicks is going to be the same thats used on the amp rack cover I'm about to get installed today. It does stand out as much as it doesn't in the pics, but its not really all that bad. I mean, who stares down there anyway? You can't see it unless you're looking for it. And it certainly won't look that off in the rear where the seats are the same color right in front of the amp rack/sub box.

Yeah, the carpet they used is a good carpet, the Yaris isn't exactly a Lexus despite my work to make mine sound like one on the inside. And that works too, wasn't sure if you intended to hide the amp and other gear on the side-shelves in the back, or wanted to leave all that gear exposed a bit yet. And it's not bad at all, it's good construction they did back there too. :thumbup:

I'm going to also consult with them today about my time alignment options. Now that I've had the weekend to sample everything, I curious as to how much of a difference a properly setup processor will do.

It makes a world of difference once you hear it in action. Instead of just shoving the positioning around crudely, suddenly things will be 'exactly THERE' and playing with the fade/balance on the head unit will just sound like you're turning down the volume in one area instead of moving the sound around. At least, that's been my experience with a well-tuned time alignment processor in play, but that was riding in a friend's 911.

[sqcomp]

I hear you on the strength of glassed kicks. I've still got my first pair of kicks from 1995 in my storage shed. They could easily be put back into service again...anyone have an extra three way ODR set that I can use?

As for your time alignment, what piece are you going to use for that?

How's the soundstage...better question, WHERE is the soundstage on this?

I'd ask about tonality, ambiance, and imaging but that comes later with some critical listening time put into the car...

You know, this would be a good chance to take a day trip over to South Daytona and visit the IASCA headquarters for you. It'd be the beginning of a vice that you'd never get rid of. NOW I'm jealous! It's take me at least 5 days to get to South Daytona.

[The Spectacle]

I hear you on the strength of glassed kicks. I've still got my first pair of kicks from 1995 in my storage shed. They could easily be put back into service again...anyone have an extra three way ODR set that I can use?

As for your time alignment, what piece are you going to use for that?

How's the soundstage...better question, WHERE is the soundstage on this?

I'd ask about tonality, ambiance, and imaging but that comes later with some critical listening time put into the car...

You know, this would be a good chance to take a day trip over to South Daytona and visit the IASCA headquarters for you. It'd be the beginning of a vice that you'd never get rid of. NOW I'm jealous! It's take me at least 5 days to get to South Daytona.

I'm about to post up the rest of the finished pics but I want to touch on a few of these questions. First, the soundstage does feel like its coming up from the floor and coming at you from that perspective but it is very "filling" as far as the sound hitting your ears. However, I had a female passenger this past Friday and that definitely affects the soundstage quite a bit. When its just me in the car, it sounds just as I want it.

On that note, with the fader/balance set to favor the front & center at it is now, the stage does tend to lean more to my right. It doesn't feel quite as "centered" as it could. I think tomorrow I'll attempt to play with the balance a little and see if I can get some of the driver side boosted to settle things a little more to my taste. Perhaps a TE module could do the trick, but to be honest I don't believe its worth the trouble at this point. I'll drive around on it for a few weeks and see if it really bothers me that much. If it doesn't, I'll more than likely replace the HU with one that has those features already built in. Eclipse/Alpine/Pioneer all come to mind.

I found out today that my nine.4 is bridged to run the 3way setup. This setup makes tuning via the amp's crossover a little tricky because each you have to get the dials the exact same to ensure everything is the same from left to right. I think we've got it close, but I'm sure there's some more tweaking that can be done. My installer believes the nine.4 doesn't have fine enough octave rolloff/dropoff setttings in its HPF that would make getting this just right that much easier. The EQ and filters settings in the JVC HU are rudimentary at best. But, as I've said before, right now it sounds PHENOMENAL. :headbang: Compared to the stock speakers, its downright colossal in terms of sheer volume.

Sorry, no trips to Daytona for me. I'm not quite into it like that lol.

[The Spectacle]

Please excuse the sun.

So here's what I started with (this picture I actually took today) as far as what the hatch area looks like:

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_1448.JPG

Nothing to see right? WRONG!!!

Cover removed:
http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_1450.JPG

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_1451.JPG

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_1453.JPG

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_1452.JPG

The stock rug cover CANNOT stay on without some type of modification being done (I'm going to leave it off). Its a pretty thick pile with rubber backing that sounds like absolute crap when the W6 is doing its thug dizzle.

Some better shots of the HU with iPod interface installed:

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_1457.JPG

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/3741/medium/IMG_14561.JPG

iPod is stashed in the glovebox for now. Hertz xovers are hidden under the carpet under the seats and are virtually invisible. The carpeting on the door sills that connect to the kickpanels was left alone...my installer had to sand down those areas to get the carpet to stick and when the carpet was removed it looked worse than just leaving it the way it was.

I'm surprised no one asked this yet so I'll answer it ahead of time...total price for all this out the door was just north of 4k. Not cheap, but it doesn't sound that way either.:thumbsup:

- The Spectacle

[sqcomp]

That's BETTER! I can appreciate the trim panel on the amps and sub.

Yeah, the tweet mid on the floor is definately affected by passengers and even your own legs. You'll notice in a lot of competition vehicles and more and more daily drivers that the tweeter at least is off the floor.

I'm wondering how those Hertz' speakers sound off axis.

What time alignment piece are you thinking about at this point?

Regardless...take this time, as you planned, and ENJOY the step up in sound quality! Don't overdrive your system though. Slap in an IASCA CD and see how the vehicle does.

[PETERPOOP]

oh snap wurd to my mutha.