GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => Car audio => Topic started by: Ashley on 02 May 2008, 13:36
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Hi Guys,
I've not really ventured into this section of the forum before, by the looks of it you all know what you're on about so it's worth a shot!
2 things;
Stealth Shelf
At the moment I've got 2 6x9's wired up to my sony cd player, no amp etc etc and I made an MDF parcelshelf with the speakers simply sitting in the wood, covered in black fabric.
How good/worth it are stealth shelf's? I've got rear tints at the moment, but I want to take them out but, not without being able to hide the fact I've got or planning on having an alright sound system in the back. Basically are they worth the money and does anyone know where i might get 1 for a decent price? (or even someone selling 1 in grey/beige second hand?)
A worthwhile 'rig'
Simple question - what would make a good 'rig' and which techniques should I go for? a wheel arch install or a false floor etc? Im wanting a kind of basic 6x9/sub with amp set-up, then get some decent speakers for the front and I'm planning on getting a better sony cd player which has a pre-out or 2.
I was thinking of the following gear: http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/5052.html , but i know this is pretty basic and i have got a little bit more money to play with.. could I get away with the 1 amp powering the sub/6x9's etc?
I really am abit of a noob when it comes to car audio, so any help would be wicked!
Cheers
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Stealth shelf - if you can find a second hand one yes. Bit overpriced new!
personally my 6x9's are on full show and have been for years with no problems!
Sub is best in wheelarch if you want to keep a usable boot!
Mine is mainly Sony gear and does me!
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To be honest running 6 x 9's in the same air space you're running a Sub is a waste of time,the Bass from the sub interferes with the 6x9's and can cause distortion problems. You're better off with good comps up front and a sub in the rear. Speakers behind also move the sound stage rearwards which is not the way music should be listened to. To put it in easy to understand terms,you don't go to a concert and stand at the back facing away from the stage do you?
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very good point yeah. But surely if i get a good pair of comps (could you recommend any please?) and this 'rig' in the back, I'm going to get a good sound in both the back and front? as you can tell im complete noob.
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Componenets are limited by your budget to be honest,I'd look at Rainbow kit myself or high end Infinity. Also may be worth checking a site I reccomend a lot www.audioethos.co.uk , they do old stock and second user kit,it is all thoroughly tested and you want find better kit for the money,ok so some of it's not as pretty as the latest kit but it is all much better than anything available for the same money.
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thanks for the link..
can anyone recommend me a good set-up then? i.e products, prices etc? what would work?
if you think i need components up front, which 1's? If i didnt have the 6x9's in the parcelshelf i wouldnt have any speakers at all in the back :embarassed:
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You're driving the car in the front,what do you need rear speakers for? If you really feel you need rears put them in the rear side panels so they are away from the sub. As for recomendations,what sort of music do you listen too? And what is your total system Budget for Headunit,Amps,Front components,subs and rears? See we could reccomend stuff but if it's out of your price range or not suitable for the music it's a bit pointless.
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i see your point bootneck..
i listen to mainly 'rock' and some drum and bass.. quite a mixture in between so not really anything specific I'm afraid.
i don't really have a budget at the moment, because anything you recommend is something I can buy piece by piece - but the headunit is sorted, I only really want some decent components for both front and rear (not the most expensive, but maybe £50 - £75?) and a decent sub and amp. I'm going to be making a boot install for the sub and the components tweeters will go along the window in that build which is stickied at the top of the car audio section.
in reality i may get slightly differently to what you recommend depending on money etc, but any help is all cool
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These sit perfectly in the rear quarters of a golf mate, and there mine, and there for sale :grin:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220230561774&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=012
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wherea abouts do they fit buddy?
ive got a mk3, does that make any dfference?
where would i fit rear components in a mk3 golf 3 door?
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Sorry friend, they are for a MK2, my fault.
MK3 rear comp's. Im not the best with MK3's as I own a MK2 but im sure MK3's have rear door speakers. If this is the case then plant the mid/woofers in there and the tweets on the B pillar. I would however get some good comps for up front and a 12" sub in the rear. If you need any help as in install please give me a PM, be more than happy to help, and your not to far from me.
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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mk3-Golf-6x9-Stealth-Shelf-MDF_W0QQitemZ120245119377QQihZ002QQcategoryZ14942QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247
LL ;)
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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mk3-Golf-6x9-Stealth-Shelf-MDF_W0QQitemZ120245119377QQihZ002QQcategoryZ14942QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247
LL ;)
i would get that but its too far to go :cry:
im sure there'll be more in the near future!
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Can you arrange courier? Collect straight from his house, although you would need to ask him if you can do it and discuss payment. Worth a try though cause i dont see many grey ones around.
LL ;)
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i spose it'd be worth a try..
ive just won http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/5529.html on ebay ( for £80, not bad imo) so im sorted for the subbage
im now after some decent components for the front (got roughly £60 - £70 to spend), any recommend anything?
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Infinity's
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cool.. ive currently got some infinity 6x9's which were (apparently) £120 new, cant seem to find them anywhere online!
anyone recommend any car audio sites apart from audioethos? the stuff on there does look pretty kl but i need to take abit of time looking through the site as it's not the easiest if you don't know what you're after
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Google search Car Audio Centre,they tend to be very competitive on price and their service is pretty good too :smiley:
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Keep the speakers the same make. If you got infinity 6x9's then get all infinity speakers.
I want alpine speakers. Looking at maybe upgrading old alpine 6x9's to type E or S or maybe even type R if i can afford it :grin: doubt it, I need coilovers first!!!
Yeah, anyway, alpine ftw but infinity are also good. If you getting all new stuff, Alpine. But if you are just getting front speakers, stick to the same make you already got, infinity. Better overall sound when all the same make.
LL ;)
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wicked. I listened to some nice infinity components last night at halfords and seemed to think they were the nicest sounding, so I'll get some of those on the net somewhere soon!
Just as an update on the 2 x 12" and amp i bought (written above) - the box is f'ing massive! Can't believe how bulky it is... If anyone is interested in a 2x12" sub box I've now got 1 for sale! Gnna have to make a boot build into the sides like other people have done.. Hoping I can get a nice build out of it!
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I just got hold of another Sub,a Rockford Fosgate 15 ich Punch,now got to find space to fit it. :laugh:
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sounds cool!
with regards to the boot builds where you build the sub into the side of the boot (using fibreglass, mdf, stuff that sets rock hard (sorry to be so vague!)), would it be worthwhile/possible of putting a 12" sub in each side of the boot facing inwards, or would you say this would 'distort' the sound etc?
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One each side should be fine,as long as the boxes are good and solid.
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In a Mk 3 you can only really do the nearside! The filler neck and central locking pump on the offside make it impractical for a sub enclosure on that side!
Also you will want to watch the depth of a 12" sub as some are too deep for that postion!
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yeah i noticed that, but i reckon i will do a build in both arches to make it look better and it means i've got somewhere, other than back of seat to house amp. Not sure how fancy it should be, would be nice to build it, so the amp sits flush, but i got a big v12 alpine, so probs not!
I reckon you could get a 12" on the nearside, but putting it on the offside is pushing it. You might have to build it so it sits out more than you like, or try two 10" subs, more kick.
LL ;)
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A problem with putting it on the offside is going to be getting the right volume isnt it? It would be nice to have them both flush, but obviously if it means the offside 1 is protruding neatly into the bootspace slightly more than wouldn't be the worst thing in the world as long as it's neat.
I'm going to put the amp on the back of the rear bench, but I've read mixed feelings about a power cap. Obviously the logic behind it makes sense, it simply stores a charge so that when/if there is a slight fluctuation then the cap will bring it back up. But is it worth it?
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Power caps are a waste of money,they put more strain on your charging system than the alleviate. Most amps will empty a 1 Farad cap in less than a second,then your alternator has to recharge it as well as keep a constant voltage supply to the battery,an uprated alternator or split charge system would be much better.
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or split charge system would be much better.
do you have any links to an example of this? How much of an effect will this have on a normal battery if i turn it up loud without any forms of uprating the power?
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To be absolutely honest unless you're running a huge build the uprated alternator will be your best bet,my system goes loud enough that you couldn't stay in the car with it and runs from the standard battery and alternator with no light dimming or any other problems.
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I made up a bracket system to mount the amp over O/S arch. You will find there is precious little metalwork that you can attach anything to on that side because of the fuel filler pipe!
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I've seen Lens bracket system, you could mount a crane on it never mind a amp :wink:
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Yeah, watch your volume if you put it in the arch. My 10" needs 22.7 litres.
LL ;)
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what would a 12" need out of interest? is it specific to type/make/model of speaker or just a rule of thumb for different dimensions? if i'd put 1 in the offside I'd need to kind of extend the fibreglass/whatever into the boot more and square it off to make up the litres?
what are all of your 'systems as it were? maybe i could start up a thread to note down your spec etc much like the mk3 'show a pic' section? it'd be pretty kl for referencing if amps work well with speakers, what people have got etc... could even put pics up?
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Enclosure volumes are specific to the sub,have a look online you should be able to find a download on the manufacturers website that will tell you what size you need. For a 12 inch it's usually around 1.5 cu ft,but as said some will require smaller or slightly larger enclosures.
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sweet.
Obviously people have said putting 6x9's on a shelf which has subs underneath it will cause kinds of distortion etc, but is it really a biggy? It's just if i cant have speakers in the back I'll have 2 infinity 6x9's which i cant really use :-(
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I have this set up and do not experience any kind of distortion whatsoever!
people on here have heard my system and complimented it!
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wicked. I know you get some people who're down to the very specifics of audio etc and physics of how the speaker moves etc etc, but I'm not wanting to sell my 6x9's etc if i dont have to.
have you got a stealth shelf len or did you say your speakers are on display/in your normal shelf?
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Just a sheet of MDF! My speakers are Sony Xplods and are red and silver so didnt want to hide them!
Did the mdf shelf as originally I had a small amp slung underneath to power the 6x9's.
But moved on to a 4 ch amp when I did the sub.
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It's only a problem if you're using very powerful,large subs then they will cause distortion. I personally don't like 6x9's though.
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I love 6x9's!!!
Got a set of Infinity's in the doors of mt 405 Mi16! Plus a set of 7x10's in the back shelf! That sounds great along with the 12" sub firing through the arm rest hole! :laugh: :evil: :laugh:
I've seen Lens bracket system, you could mount a crane on it never mind a amp :wink:
I really must get the photos of that sorted out! They used to be on here in my project page but since the forum server change they aint visible anymore!
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I can vouch for the way Lens system sounds and if it were mine I'd be well happy with it :smiley:
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Dont tell me I owe you another fiver for that! :laugh:
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So what is your system exactly len? what components etc?
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Sony Xplod H/U a face off/turn single CD player - this really needs updating but cant be arsed atm!
Sony 3 ways in the front doors and original tweeters in the dash. Would like to change those and try and fit some mids in the dash and 1 ways in the doors and amp them.
Infinity Kappa components in the rear doors. These all currently driven off the H/U.
Home made vented sub enclosure in wheelarch with 10" Sony Xplod speaker
Sony Xplod 6x9's in mdf shelf
These driven by Sony 4ch amp!
Its not great equipment but the result is good enough for me, but would like to try those tweaks and see if it improves.
Have found some 65mm JBL mids that might fit in the dash, have a tiny amp that will fit under the ashtray. As for a new H/U I really have no idea atm.
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Headunit,I'd reccommend Alpine if you like features, Blaupunkt if you want quality
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Cant be arsed with features dont use mp3! Sony was good enough for VW in the first place so might stick with them!
Oh and here's a link to my very old threads with some updated photos!
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=31055.0
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=35556.0
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That looks simple, but effective. Not this weekend, but next I'm going to give it a proper shot at making this system work..
I've got a sony h/u with aux input, but no pre out's :cry: so I know someone who is going to buy this off me for £40 and I'll get another sony with the same + preout and maybe even bluetooth if i can justify it.
Have to say I like the sony headunits because others on the market at the moment look abit "gastly" and quite plasticy..
Still no takers for my 2 x 12" box? It's just so damn heavy :sad: I wouldnt really mind if i didnt only have a little 1.4 which could do with not adding excess weight to the equation! I haven't listed it in the classified's yet, so that's my next port of call i guess..
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Believe me none of it was simple! :grin:
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haha sorry no I didn't mean it was simple to do, I meant it's not 1 of those chavtastic fibreglass builds which imo spoil a vw.
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I agree!
My objective was to make the largest volume box I could without compromising the boot space too much.
I did extend the front of the sub box to give me more depth but angled it back in at the bottom so I could still lift the carpet on that side as well.
The boot light is now poor and woul like to find an easy way of resiting that
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couldn't you somehow attach it to the parcelshelf where the rear bench comes into contact with it? That'd illuminate the whole boot quite nicely I imagine.. That's something I'm going to be attempting.
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Depends on the wiring loom, not looked so thats the next step. Could always extend the wiring to anywhere really.
Probably not the shelf though as that gets moved when I need to put a big load in.
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ANyone know a place to get a stealth shelf for a TT?