Last fall I started researching a stereo upgrade for my S. Reading and viewing some of the great work on this board was very helpful. My main requirements were; a stealthy/clean install, very good sound quality, and to retain my spare tire, tools, and as much trunk space as possible for golf clubs.

It was easy for me to pick the radio, and a Modifry DCI with speed sensitive volume was a given. I listened to Focal K2P speakers, and am jealous of those that have them. In the end I decided to save a little money, and went with my second choice, which are still excellent. The amp selection was also very easy, and it helped to meet my stated goals.

My problem was the sub. I looked at a "sub in a box" under the seat, but was advised away by my installer. I then looked at boxes for sale by those on this board. While these looked excellent, I didn't feel that they would meet my trunk wishes as well as I wanted.

I then started researching box volume requirements for several brands. I did lots of thinking, and bouncing ideas around with my installer. What you see below is the product of mostly my ideas, and 100% his skill. Destruction skills I got, fabrication skills I have none. Anyway here's what we did.

Your basic Alpine 9887


With bluetooth


Boston Pro 60's with doors Dynamated inside and out (under construction here)


Alpine PDX 4.150, with 2 channels bridged to sub. Under seat install really not as visible as the pic would suggest. Basically invisible from directly above


Ipod in glove box
Sorry no pic.

And finally, thanks to my installer, board member, and all around great guy "imdarkrider", the sub install. 10 in, JL W3v3. This sub does not require lots of airspace to do it's job
Box under construction


Mr Box, meet Miss tool tray


The 2 become one


And live happily ever after in my trunk


The entire system sounds great. The sub sound is terriffic. We measured the box several times and it contains the required airspace for the W3v3. There is no stuffing in the box.

I can't emphasize enough, that this would not have been possible without "imdarkrider". His skill made the box possible.

Thanks for looking, hope this inspires others

 

Nice choice in the head unit... clean stealth install. I like it.

Did you tune the system with the "Imprint" kit? I've read some promising reviews but have yet to have heard of anyone that tried it in a 2 seater convertible cabin....

 

hows the bluetooth quality with the mic that high?

i have that module and am thinking of putting it behind teh steering wheel.

is top down bad with it up high?

 

Just wanted to re-hash for those that don't remember....

There is no point of keeping the tools in your trunk if you have a sub box. If you have a sub box, when you change your flat tire, you will have nowhere to store the flat. Yes, you "can" keep it in the passenger seat, but Murphy's law will prove that you will have a passenger when you actually get the flat. Just food for thought...it's dead weight.

 

I talked this over with my installer and decided against it, since we both felt that whatever "tune" you put on the system with Imprint, would probably be invalid once you put the top down.

There is a lot of false info out there reference the 9887. You do not have to have the imprint to run the time correction function. The manual actually gives you a way to do this manually. There is also an extensive chart of distance correction values.

Now, when you run an Imprint tune, you lock out the equilizers (it has both parametric and graphic available), and you are left with only bass/treble adjustments. I have not yet figured out if you do manual time correction, weather or not that locks out the equalizers.

I might try a manual tune, once my speakers are broken in. I do, however believe this would be a trial and error process, and I might want a "reset to original" button before I tired this. By nature, I like tinkering with the radio settings, so I think I will enjoy trying this.

My installer is a big believer in the Alpine 9886, and really thought I was wasting money on the 9887. However, after seeing all the adjustments available on the 9887, he has changed his tune, so to speak

Hope that helps

 

[QUOTE=NFRs2000NYC,Jul 30 2008, 01:13 AM]Just wanted to re-hash for those that don't remember....

There is no point of keeping the tools in your trunk if you have a sub box.

 

yea we considered this during design of the box. The box is light and easy to take out and access the tools. The box is also small enough to put inside the cab and still have a rider in.

 

The box is likely to be less of a dirty mess on a passenger's lap (or your seat) as well!

 

Yea

They will either have to hold the box, the clubs, or wait by the side of the road till I get back. Cause the clubs go no matter what

 

Good point... however, "Imprint" allows you to store 2 response curves and select them with the Multi EQ option...

Of course, the downside would be that "Imprint" only allows you select tuning from 3 preset response curves, but perhaps one of them would be suitable for a top down environment... not only that, but you could also tune a curve, with the top already down, compensating for a lack of ambience and sound reflection

I am very interested in trying it out, too bad I couldn't use you as a guinea pig