I need advice, ideas, and suggestions. The car is used as a daily driver, autocross car, show car, and for an occasional S2k meet or track day. Autocrossing, meets/track-days, and reliability, are the top priorities, while showing the car is just a byproduct of getting and keeping a little sponsorship. It is important that we not allow show modifications to interfere with the cars other functions.

A show car has to have some kind of ICE, so we decided to go with an Aurora ICPC. This allows me to do data logging including video capture, track mapping, performance measurement, and other performance related functions, so the three pounds is easily justified. At the shows, the ICPC can play DVD's or show other video formats, slide shows, play music, display build information about the car, and so on. I also have a remote pointer that lets me operate the ICPC from outside the car, so the box has plenty of bling. Eventually the ICPC will control major parts of the show display (but that's all top secret for now ).

The stock radio is coming out of the car, and the space is going to be used for gauges. With the ICPC the radio is redundant. When the radio comes out, I'm going to need an amplifier to drive the speakers, and while we're at it I want to upgrade the speakers. In addition to being lightweight, the upgrade must accomplish three goals.

First, the ICPC includes a talking GPS system, and I want to be able to hear what it says clearly. This requires telephone bandwidth and a fair amount of power, but should be easily enough to accomplish with the right speakers and an amplifier.

Second, the system needs to look good, and sound acceptable, at the shows. The stock in-door speakers in my MY00 S2000 are not up to the task, so I want to find good looking lightweight speakers to go in the doors, and I want to add two tweeters mounted up high (either high the door or on the dash). A passive crossover seems appropriate.

Third, I would like to be able to listen to music once in a while. It's not a high priority, but since I'll have a ton of MP3 and other audio files on the ICPC I might as well be able to enjoy it.

I need advice on driver selection and amplification. Source selection, volume, balance, EQ, etc., will all be handled by the ICPC.

Currently I'm thinking stock sized drivers in the doors, a pair of tweeters mounted higher on the doors, and a REMOVABLE sub in the trunk. A picture of another members setup will illustrate what I have in mind.



My idea is to put a smaller sub in the trunk and mount a smaller amp on the same board that mounts the sub; both could then be removed by simply taking out the panel. The sub and amp for the sub need to be removable for autocrossing and track days, but should also be sealed when installed. Any suggestions?

Keeping in mind that low weight is important ...

1) What drivers would you suggest for the doors.

2) What tweeters? Mounted where?

3) What amp for the main speakers?

4) What amp and small-sub? Mounted how? Sealed?

What do you guys suggest?

 

I can drop in or remove my WLAURENT box in a matter of seconds:



The amp is mounted where the spare tire used to be, but could be placed where you have it shown above. Either are available pre-made from PAS2Knut:



If you had a good 4 channel amp, you could drive the fronts off of two channels, then bridge the other two channels for the sub. This would get you down to only needing one amp. If you really want two amps, Pas2knut also makes an amp rack that goes over the entire rear of the trunk for two amps.

I have been VERY pleased with my Boston Acoustic speakers. YMMV, so I would definatly check out speakers for yourself at local shops. Listen to as many options as you can.

I have seen tweeters mounted in all sorts of places. Mine are in the stock '03 location, but this may not be ideal. I think one of the cleanest I have seen is in front of the mirror controls on the door, facing back at the passenger compartment. Mounted in the a-pillar has also been a strong suggestion, IMHO.

I don't know how big the ICPC is so I cannot offer suggestions on placement of that.

 

Thanks Ruexp67 - I like it! Much better than what I had envisioned.

As for the ICPC, it's tiny, and already installed (under the drivers seat). The hard part has been finding a neat way to install the 8" touch screen, but we've got that nailed down now too.

Our Lexus RX300 has tweeters mounted on the dash, facing the passenger area, and I like the way the system sounds, so I may try to find similar tweets for my dash. If I can't find something that will look decent on the dash I'll probably just mount the tweets as high in the door as I can.

Does PAS2Knut have a Web site, or should I just PM him?

 

Where can i get this box? The WLAURENT site provided in the FAQ isn't working any more.

 

WLAURENT's web site is now:
http://www.darksidesubs.com/