Upgrading MK3 speakers etc...

[grimbo]

Hi there.

I want to install a sub/amp in my boot and possibly change my speakers based on your advice.

The car came with a Sony cdx-m730 HU which is listed as having: Speaker Impedance 4-8Ohms and a Max power output of 52W x 4(at 4 ohms). It has the following inputs/outputs:



Speakers wise, I have pioneer 2-way speakers in each door. I think they are TS-G1748, I can't be sure as they aren't marked with a model number, but certainly look the same as these speakers. Also the original speakers are still wired up in the dash.

I have read in various places that it is better to use component speakers in the front with tweeters in the dash. Would I see significant improvements by doing this and if so what speakers would you recommend.

I'd like to put a sub in the boot and am looking at a box that fits in the wheel arch with a 10" sub. Would this be big enough and would my headunit run it ok or would I need to have a amp? if so what type?

Now for my biggest problem... the wiring.

Currently:




  I very nearly cried when I pulled the Headunit out.

The person who put it in seems to have really gone out of their way to do a bad job. How can I recover from this? I intended to run new wires to the speakers anyway.

I would appreciate any advice you can give me!

Thanks to all.

Graham.

[Bazza]

Graham,

Since you posted this a while ago, have you sorted it out yet? Looks a mess mate, could give you some advice if you still need it. A 10" would be good, but you won't get a box to go in the wheel arch that'll be cheap, they go for about £180 just for the box.

 You need to get what they call chock blocks to join them wire's and get rid of those taped joint's. You could solder the joint's but it too fiddly.  It is better to use component's, for good sound stageing. You couls always get some Audiobahn 2 ways, cause usually the tweeter's come away and can be mounted else where. You could also use a hole saw on your door card's to mount the tweeter's high up in the doors. Some tweeter's have swivel mount's to help with stageing.

No your head unit won't run a sub of any size!!!!! You can usually get a sub and amp package that includes a wiring kit. Try these sites.

http://www.alphacaraudio.co.uk

http://www.bassjunkies.com

http://caraudiosecurity.com

http://www.caraudioplus.co.uk

Reply if you want/need anymore advice.

[Len]

Box in the wheel arch can be done yourself. I did it and wouldnt do it the same again! But I can now give you ideas to allow you to do it easier.

I have a Sony 10" sub and a bridged Sony 4 channel amp, only because I also have 6 x 9's on the parcel shelf! So cant really say how it will sound on its own!

[grimbo]

I ended up getting a 12" Vibe sub, Vibe SA60 components for up front and a FLI Loaded 800s 4 channel Amplifier to run the sub and components. My sony headunit died so I replaced it with a pioneer DEH P75BT. Which meant that I removed most that awful wiring with the new harness/adapter. It was great to pull all that out!! 

All in all a bit more expensive than I initially planned, but it now sounds really good.

I have the sub in a normal box at the minute but it takes up most of the boot so I still want to construct something to fit into the N/S wheel arch - so any advice on that would be great.

Thanks fellas!

[Bazza]

Usually end up paying more than you think, but as long as it sound's good and you enjoy it that's all that matters.

There is a link somewhere on here about building a sub enclosure into the wheel arch. Here is my limited understanding of it. You need to build the front, top, bottom and sides from mdf. It needs to be a snug fit, the best you can do. Put cling film on the wheel arch wall and slowly build up layer's of fibre glass. You need to make this quite thick to stop it flexing when the sub is working.

Hope this helps and good luck building.

[Len]

Nah Bazza - dont bother with the cling film! Thats the way I did it and its naff!

Best way is to make a card template of the back wall, i.e. against the back of the compartment. Then cut a piece of MDF to suit, make the base in same way. Then go from there. I brought the front out at an angle for the first 100mm then vertical, to give me a bit of depth. Then make the top to suit. Then make up the sides.

I will go find my piece so you can see some of the things NOT to do!
Then post the link.

[Len]

This is the sub box one

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=31055.0

And this is my amp mount.

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=35556.0

[Bazza]

Thanks Len405

Didn't know if it was the best way to do it. Not a problem for me though. Got one from ebay for £50

Have a look

http://bazza051169.onesite.com/images/thumb/image007.jpg

[grimbo]

Len405,

What did you mount the bracket to for the amp? I haven't looked too close TBH but I didn't think there was much over there to connect it on to?!

How did you secure the sub? Is it just a snug fit and therefore won't move?

Thanks!

[Len]

The sub box is secured into the 3 screw holes in the metal behind. Those holes were for some bracket that was there. Dunno what the bracket is for, some say a First Aid kit??
Any way its a strong enough fixing - only trouble is if you need to take it out you have to remove the speaker first!

The amp bracket is secured on one side only, with a brace going across to the other side. There is a metal plate you can screw or bolt into to the rear of the wheelarch.