[Mk2] [Turbo] Calling all sound system guru's - component kit installation

[ELS]

Hi all,

About to install an Infinity Referenece 6510cs component kit (woofers are 6.5'') and wondered if anyone had any good links to a step by step installation guide, obviously pictures would be very helpful?
I've read Neil turbo's sticky on speaker fitment which im very greatful for and have ordered up some 6.5'', 25mm thick mdf spacer rings. Luckily the tweeters are a straight swop so thats nice and easy.
Planning to have these amped up via a Kenwood KAC-5205 2 channel amplifier mounted under the passenger seat.

Questions I have for all you sound system guru's are:

Best way to mount the mdf spacers free from resonance? In the past i've always used a sticky double sided foam tape. Will this suffice or is the messy silicone sealant better?

Best place to mount the crossover boxes? Dimensions (WxHxD) 81 x 35.5 x 110(mm)

Would you recommend running all new speaker cable from cabin through the doors or cutting into original speaker cable to bypass this fiddly chore of a job?

If cutting into the original speaker cables where's the best place to do this?

Any help and feedback would be much appreciated...

Kind regards Elliott

[JayUK91]

I have some rather expensive Focal components on my car so I opted to have them professionally installed.

From what I gather they fabricated custom MDF spacers and literally just bolted them in. They MAY have used some sort of tape to stop any resonance, but whatever they did I can't hear any unwanted noise during playback.

My crossover boxes were mounted in the trim in the footwell (where the bonnet release lever is) on both sides.

All new speaker cable was used in my install, but they did mention this was a bit of nightmare to do. They did say it is still far better than using the existing wiring and worth the extra effort though - but I guess they would say that

I had some sound deadening and wave diffusion stuff fitted whilst they were at it - so this may also be something worth doing. I noticed a definite sound clarity improvement

All amped up to a 5 channel amp under the driver seat, with my subwoofer running in bridged

[ELS]

Hi Jay,

Thanks for the very helpful feedback. I have thought about opting for a professional install but am a little paranoid about people working on my cars after previous bad experiences and just having a new paint job. Who did you get to install yours, and do you mind me asking what sort of money you paid? I take it you provided the speakers, wiring kit, amplifier and all the necessarys?
Indeed feel this speaker cable routing will be a mare of a job!
Good suggestion with the sound deadening, there's no point using half measures!

All feedback and people's experiences welcome...

[JayUK91]

Happy to help.

It was a small company local to me in Wellingborough who specialised in high-end audio installs. Not sure if they're still trading - this was a couple of years ago now.

I purchased the component speakers, sound deadening and wiring from them, and supplied the amp myself. They were incredibly knowledgeable and talked with me for ages working out what setup would be best. I can't remember off the top of my head what everything came to, but I think labour alone was about the £100 mark.

EDIT: Look in my garage, parts prices are listed.

I know what you mean though, I too am paranoid about people fiddling around with my car - but they did a great job

[madbasshunter]

I always screw the mdf adaptors to the door then screw the speakers to them this is a basic one I did

I have wrapped sound deadening round it on better installs
If you chop the oe speaker wires off you can then pull the new wires through the rubber pipes with them always worth putting good wire all the way, you are best to have the crossovers in the doors as close to the woofer as possible as long wire runs can change the frequencies.
It would probably be best to put the amp in the frunk to keep the power cables short. Have you got a uk car as the unused air con hole is great for running the wires through.

[ELS]

Hey Jay, indeed sounds like a very nice install you got there and good pricing too, great company!

Madbasshunter - Would I be correct in saying when you cut the oe speaker wires, you cut them off at the plugs in the foot well, soldering on new speaker cable to pull through? Sorry if it sounds like im repeating what you already told me.. just want to double check and make it as easy as possible. You know what they say, measure twice cut once.
The crossovers you mounted in the doors I can't quite see from your picture, are they stuck to the inside of the inner door skin that mounts the door handle, woofer speaker etc..? Do you have anymore pictures that could help please?

Thanks in advance for all your help guys!

[madbasshunter]

Yes I cut them off at the plugs and taped them together with duck tape if I remember right
I did stick the crossovers inside the front of the doors on that one
by the speaker on a skyline
http://www.caraudiosolutionz.co.uk/_/rs ... &width=276
but have put the crossovers on show on others

[ELS]

Nice one buddy thanks for the extra tips!

Guess its a bit of trial and era to see where fits best. Yeah with regard to an earlier question about feading the cable from the frunk through to the cabin where's best? Mine is a tubby with aircon but I removed most of it due to a chargecooler conversion i.e. aircon pump, pipes and radiator. Whats left of the aircon in the cabin I could remove to make way for these cables?

Kind regards els