Last Audio Build.

This one is pretty much done. Waiting on a control knob for one of the current amps but its done otherwise.
It started off as a $350 Budget build. It is a work truck and my shop truck but the stock stereo sounded like crap. It is what kick started me into the audio world again. And like everything I do, I went overboard.

Started nice and simple, little 10" MB Quart sub, couple cheap MB Quart amps and some MB Quart components with an old Pioneer I borrowed from my friend. All going in my shop truck, a 1996 Chevrolet Silverado.

Well that was very short lived. The amps were under powered and just not clean amps. Found a guy on craigslist with an unreal deal on a pair of JL Audio amps for $225 each. I went to see the amps and he had all their paperwork and when I asked how much for both he said $200....? Huh? Yup, $225 for one or the pair for $200. I paid and ran. LOL



During this time I also experimented with several combos. I yanked the Quart tweeters and installed Infiniy EMIT tweeters but they just didnt work in my application. I pulled those and then installed some Boston Acoustics Pro components and those really made the system come alive.. Problem was the bass could not keep up. I wanted to keep my tire change box in the original location so I swapped the single 10" box out for a single downfire 12". I first tried an Infinity Kappa SSi sub and then a Polk Momo sub but both were just inadequate. Some friends on an audio site said I should try Dayton so I ordered one of their HO 12" subs. Now I had the deep clean bass I wanted but wanted more. So out went the tool box and thery the jack and stuff in the bed tool box and installed a dual downfire 12" box.







I also updated the deck since I wanted BT and USB:



Well at this point I ended up blowig one of the Boston tweeters and thats when it all went downhill........

I decided I wanted something really killer for the front stage. I was urged to try out Illusion Audios new Carbon line with Beyrellium tweeters. At $1000 a pair I just could not swing it but then was offered a low use set for $500 and jumped on it. They were very impressive looking speakers.








Simce I was spending the cash on great speakers I knew it was time to start to sound deaden the truck.








I also decided to get serious with the source unit and added a Pioneer PRS80. Has multiple 16 band EQs as well as digital time alignment and a nice user interface.






Unfortunatly this was a very short lived setup. The Illusion audio speakers were complete garbage. If a fat kid farted in a German vault then the tweeters would fail. Then the mids started acting funny and I just gave up. I do still use the speakers though.

So on to the next changes. This time I decided on Hertz ML1600 midranges and PHD AF1.c tweeters and ran the system active. This combo was really great and the sound stage was just spot on. The new mids and tweeters sounded so great they did show the subs weaknesses.






And upgraded the subs to the Stereo Integrity BM MK IV 12" shallow subs.





I also decided to double the power going to them and pulled the 500/1 for a 1000/1



These subwoofers are nothing short of extraordinary. They have an XBL2 motor design and are just super clean and accurate. Bonus is they can hit 7hz with authority. 7 hz makes my dash move over an 1"


Now this is where I get a little stupid. I was 100% happy with what I had. Sounded great and performed great. The company that made my subwoofers though was introducing some 6.5" speakers using the same tech. I had to try them. I also saw a new auto tech in the AMT tweeter market and decided to try them as well so once again the doors were torn apart. In went the new SI TM65 mid-bass and the Dayton AMT tweeters.





Well this setup had great kick and the tweeters sounded spectacular but their output changed depending on humidity and temperature. Plus the midbass didnt do well after 1500 hz and needed to be in a 3-way setup.

Argh

Getting sick of all the changes I just went balls out and on the advice of someone I trusted I dropped nearly $2000 on some Sinfoni components.
Best purchase ever. These are quite simply the absolute best sounding car speakers I have ever heard. Their detail and clarity is second to none. The midbass impact is very impressive and the silk dome tweeters have a sparkle I have never heard in a soft dome tweeter before. I am a die hard Sinfoni fan now.







Being that I now had the perfect speaker combination I felt the crazy urge to give them the absolute best signal I could. Out went the JL amps and I put in a new Mosconi Zero4 for the fronts and a Zero3 for the subs. That allowed for 210 watts to each mid, 100 watts to each tweeter and 1850 watts available for the subwoofers. At the same time I also did a 100% sound mat coverage on the roof with an 80% coverage on the floor and a 100% layer on the rear firewall. Truck is as quiet as a Benz inside now.






And then the cherry on top. A Pioneer P99 deck. Pure copper chasis, 31 band EQ for each speaker, 4 24 bit DA converters, sophisticated digital time alignment and just a pretty face. I love this deck and its sound quality is fantastic. I can see whay its a $1300 deck.






So thats it. $350 budget way blown. There isnt a single component in my system under $350 now. LOL Now all of this stuff I hunted hard for and paid anywhaere from .30 to .60 on the dollar for all of it. The stereos sound is just spectacular. Live music sounds like you are right there. Detail and clarity is spectacular. So I think I will call this one done.