Dookie's speakers & amp installed

[Dookie]

My main objective of this install is to have a kickass system without the major cost and additional weight to the car. I did a lot of shopping around to find the best "bang for the buck". A local dealer was having a huge moving sale on all inventory, and scored a great deal on competition speakers. Here's the list of my install.

4 - Arc Audio 6.5 Coaxial - reg. $260 (4) - inventory sale $200 out the door
1 - Profile amp AP750 4 ch - $135 - Crutchfield
1 - Amp wiring kit 8 ga - $30 - Parts Express
2 - Speaker spacer (front) - $8 - Parts Express
4 - Sound Dampening Sheet 10" x 10" (speakers) - $10.40 - Parts Express
1 - Lightweight Vinyl Sound Dampening Sheet 27" x 40" (doors) - $28.50 - Parts Express
1 - 30' 16ga speaker wire (Rockford Fosgate)- $15 - Best Buy
2 - 10' RCA's (Rockford Fosgate) - $20 - Best Buy
1 - Speaker connectors - $5
Total Cost - $451.90


First of all, this is not a walkthrough, just some pics of my install.

Wiring from battery through the fender well. (red wire)
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d731b3127ccebba81bde290000000036100AZtHDZo1bt2 KA

Remove plastic wheel well.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d731b3127ccebba8e5fea86f00000036100AZtHDZo1bt2 KA

Point of entry to the interior. (red wire)
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d731b3127ccebba81bae297000000036100AZtHDZo1bt2 KA

[Dookie]

Removed seats, amp installed under seat.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d731b3127ccebba8fa25e82300000036100AZtHDZo1bt2 KA


Closeup of wiring.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d731b3127ccebba81db6a85b00000036100AZtHDZo1bt2 KA

Closeup on wiring from backside.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d731b3127ccebba81276693400000036100AZtHDZo1bt2 KA

Final look with seat installed, seat is set back half way.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d731b3127ccebba8fadc69ea00000036100AZtHDZo1bt2 KA

[Dookie]

On to the doors!

Front door with everything removed
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d731b3127ccebba81986a86900000036100AZtHDZo1bt2 KA



Speaker spacer to clear window
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d731b3127ccebba81ef5e88100000036100AZtHDZo1bt2 KA

Had to shave the edges to allow the speakers to fit perfect
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d731b3127ccebba81e58691c00000036100AZtHDZo1bt2 KA

Speaker installed, covered all large opening with sound dampening
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d731b3127ccebba8e596a80700000036100AZtHDZo1bt2 KA

Closeup of the speaker spacer
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d730b3127ccebbab63ea516800000036100AZtHDZo1bt2 KA

Another closeup of the speaker installation
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d731b3127ccebba81a74693200000036100AZtHDZo1bt2 KA

[Dookie]

Rear doors

Everything removed.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p327ccd009abb2ecc1400dc80f6fe18b1/e8c40ca8.jpg

Speaker installed with sound dampening
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/pfb7ebfab64cff6314f1e8ef29e97458c/e8c40c3b.jpg


What a big difference just covering the holes in the door. Basically using the doors as an enclosure for added bass without having a sub installed. This is one of the best systems I've ever heard IMO. Specially if you like listening to rock music.

[Bskey]

Thanks for the pics Dooks! Looks great! All for a reasonable price too! So you just ran from the stock HU to the amp, then out to the speakers? No Cleansweep or the like?

[SubieChik]

Too complicated for me :eek: That is why I pay the stereo shop to do it :D :tup:

[Dookie]

Thanks for the pics Dooks! Looks great! All for a reasonable price too! So you just ran from the stock HU to the amp, then out to the speakers? No Cleansweep or the like?

No need to run a Cleansweep on our HU, since they only have 15 watts per ch. I could see using Cleansweep on an OEM system that has more than 30 watts per ch. My amp came supplied with 2 high-level speaker converters to RCAs. 1 for the front speakers and 1 for the rear speakers, making them a 4 ch. system. Then from the amp straight to the speakers.

[Dookie]

Too complicated for me :eek: That is why I pay the stereo shop to do it :D :tup:

It's a peace of cake, you just have to dedicate a lot of time for the project though. It's worth the 2 nights of no sleep than to pay another $500 for a shop to do it. Really, it is pretty easy to do and no major tools require.

That's another $500 for you to buy your man the wrx....:)

[Bskey]

That's another $500 for you to buy your man the wrx....:)

See! All the more reason to make hime a SubyMan!

[TSi+WRX]

Dang, bro, that's awesome! :D

I'm not an audio guy at all - my last DSM came pre-rigged with a pretty nice system from her previous owner (who was, himself, a car ICE installer), and I was thus never even remotely inclinded to fool with it at all.

With either of our Scoobys, I'm also quite happy with just the stock sound system - yes, my ears are that poor, and I'm that tone-deaf. :lol: :) I'll probably, some day when I have some spare cash, look to hook up a factory sub, but that's probably going to be as far as I'd go.

Great install! And thanks for the pix! I always love seeing "work in progress" pix!

[Dookie]

Thanks TSI. I plan on doing more pics, several people on .com is interested in seeing closeups on the speaker spacers on the doors. Plus, I'm gonna take pics of the wiring Dia. behind the HU for easy reference. So many people are confused as to which wire goes where.

[Bskey]

So many people are confused as to which wire goes where.

<-----:p

[Dookie]

I found the acual wiring diagram from Subaru, made my life a little easier. After the holiday I'll try to post all these.

[Bskey]

That would be helpful! Thanks!

[Dookie]

Added 2 more closeup pics of my speaker installation.

Checkout the new radio and door removal thread.

[Patagonian GT]

No need to run a Cleansweep on our HU, since they only have 15 watts per ch. I could see using Cleansweep on an OEM system that has more than 30 watts per ch. My amp came supplied with 2 high-level speaker converters to RCAs. 1 for the front speakers and 1 for the rear speakers, making them a 4 ch. system. Then from the amp straight to the speakers.

actually, it's not about power level at all but about teh EQ the OEM head unit has built-in. Taking out the EQ and providing a flat frequency response is key to proper sound reproduction. Still....a budget system, so a CS is like hunting squirrel with a .50 cal :lol:

[Dookie]

True..true. I didn't read too much into it, since I didn't want the added cost to the system. My main goal is to have cleaner sound and more volume over stock at the most reasonable price. Plus I don't know if I could really tell the difference or not, since I'm not a serious audio guy. I'm old school baby!!:lol:

[Bskey]

I wish there were more examples of aftermarket setups that I could actually listen to. No locals have any sort of real audio that I could listen to and compare.

[Patagonian GT]

most stick with stock + stock sub. Heck, I did for almost a year and in 15 years, I've never left the stock system alone in any car I've owned.

[Bskey]

I'm pretty happy with stock, except I'd like more out of the tweeters.