Well, I finally got my stereo install done by a local shop. $5000 and a week later--I have a pretty awesome stereo.

When deciding on what I wanted for the stereo, I came up with some criteria that I thought I had to acomplish. I wanted a stereo that sounded fantastic with the top down, loud enough that I could hear everything clearly. I wanted the subs in the trunk to be removable, so that I could still have some storage space if I needed it. I also wanted it to be practical for every day use, like going to the grocery store, etc. So I had to be able to sit stuff on the subs. I wanted to retain the stock dash controls. And last, I wanted everything inside the car to look factory.

The dealer recommended I go with the following:

Custom fiberglass sub box
Alpine CDA-7969
Rainbow CS265p2 6.25" Component set
A/D/S P650 6X50watt amp
2 x Image Dynamics 10" subs
Stinger for all the wires/connects


Alpine CDA-7969 Head Unit (notice the infrared unit in the right a/c vent) The dash controls setup they did is the only thing that sucks about my install. They don't work with the door closed and the guy couldn't get the mode/channel buttons to work. Pinky, I might need some help in this area


There's the trunk install, with the A/D/S amp, the subs are under the cover.


There they are


There's the Stinger amp connects.


Stinger battery connect.


Lastly, the bottom side of the sub cover. There is a metal mesh strong enough to hold 150lbs. So I can easily set things on my subs, and the sound still flows through.

I'm really pleased with the sound I get now. The subs are slightly muffled, but I've only had the setup for a few hours now, and I've yet to tweek my volume/sub settings to get all the sound right. I can crank this setup to max volume (it hurts my ears) and I have no distortion. So no problem hearing the radio with the top down. That's mostly thanks to the $800 Rainbow speakers and a good amp. The tweeters are mounted on a bridge over the 6.25's and they're angled up at the driver. The sub box has some quick release connectors, so I can slip the box out and use the full trunk space if I need to. All the tools were relocated to the spare tire area, they fit with the tire there. So, mission acomplished. Again, my only problem is the dash controls right now. They've told me they can relocate the infrared piece, but that woln't fix the fact that half the controls don't work. Also the Alpine unit folds the faceplate inside itself for security, I have to have the stereo door open for this to work. Aside from those two minor things I like everything about this setup.

 

nice system. 5k is a bit much for me. what were the 3 most expensive items?

 

The breakdown was basically like this:

Alpine cda7969 = $1100
Rainbow Professional Line Component set = $800
A/D/S amp = $650
2 x Image Dynamics 10" subs = $458
Labor for the box = $1414

The rest was misc stuff like all the wiring, dash control mod, etc.

I got jipped on all the hardware, it was all MSRP. But they did a fantastic job, so i'm happy.

 

1414.00 labor for the box????????? man i am not charging enough for anything-----------wait a minute------so you got rainbows for 800---ok ill give you that----alpine 7969---ok ill give you that one too------idq v2 for 450 ish? way too high-------ads amp---ill give you that one-------1414 for box???? man they saw you coming------and the rest for misc stuff???----ummm thats almost 900 dollars by my quick calculations------and a week worths of time----------wow------i seriously think you got robbed------sorry if you get upset-that is not my intention----but geeeeez---did you shop around first?????

 

I did shop around...the first places all said about the same thing, they'd build me a box for $600 or so, and fit me in on a Saturday with three other installs. I said forget it. So I went with these guys who made the box out of fiberglass. The install took, thursday, friday, saturday, and a monday. Then they detailed my car for free. (or not, depending on how you look at the numbers)

I had the dash controlls that cost $100, the rca's to the amp cost $100, other wires/connects etc. cost the rest, oh yeah tax $250. Almost forgot $200 for a rent car.

This place was the most expensive I went to, but also the only place willing to put in the work to get what I wanted. The "other guys" were going to throw together a cheap install, and I didn't want that. I've had shoddy installs done before, and I hate them. Loose wires, showing wires, sound that cuts out, cheap looking box, all kinds of crap that I was prepared to pay a little extra to not have to deal with.

So, I'm not upset by what I spent. I knew what I was getting into when I pulled up and there was a Ferrari 550 Maranello sitting out front.

 

That sub box looks a lot like the box being offered in this forum for $250.

 

Yep, I can't argue that I didn't pay a lot. $1414 was for the box fiberglass, and labor to install the entire system. 4 days of work. But I do like how it all turned out.

 

$5k is WAAAAAY to high for all of that. PAC unit on it too? Should have gotten a S/C for that much!

I'm trying to help people find $100 rear speaker solutions. Its amazing how wide the spectrum of consumers are out there. Cool setup though, neat, powerful and non intrustive. I hope you put your jack and tows in you spare though!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mandrew
[B]Yep, I can't argue that I didn't pay a lot.

 

As a fellow extreme car audio owner, let me first say "congratulations" and "nice job"... what you got was a very professional well done installation... so you paid a little extra for "peace of mind". Just don't give up on the PAC controller with them... for that kind of money they should work until everything is perfect and to your liking.

Now knowing the going rate for high-quality installs... I'm glad I do my own work because it would cost me ~$16000 (or more) to buy the pieces AND have everything installed...

Most of all... I'm glad you're happy with your system!