Audio install - Honda City VTEC

[wiking]

Greetings Fellow ICEer's
I would like to share my experience on installing audio system in my car. Before finding this forum, I had no idea about ICE and what an addictive field it turned out to be. I had no idea about amplifiers (4 channel, mono, bridged), head units, power ratings, component and coaxial speakers, subwoofers (DVC/SVC), speaker impedences, crossovers, power wires (different sizes), RCA cables, preamp outs, alternator load etc.. I had not heard of the famous brands of ICE discussed here, heard of sony, pioneer, kenwood ! And let's not talk about the budget. From a measly sum to a one acheiving monstrous proportions day by day as more time is spend on the forum. Luckily, sanity prevailed and a cap was put on the budget.

After spending considerable amount of time going through the posts, albeit lurking, decided to go in for a mutli-amp install on my brand new city vtec. Fortunately, one of my friends was visiting US for a short term and he agreed to get some car audio 'stuff' for me from there (little did he know what i had in store for him). Then started a period of visting almost all online car audio sites to select what to get from there/what to buy from here and also obtain the best deal. After some sleepless nights (re-reading posts in this forum), i finalized the following to be procured from abroad..

4-channel amp (Alpine MRV-F345)
Mono subwoofer amp (Alpine MRP-M450)
Multiamp install kit with distribution blocks
RCA cables
Rear coaxial speakers (Image Dynamics CTX6 2-Way Speaker)



Rest all to be decided on the day of the install.

Here's my car


Which head unit?
I was really game for CDA-9833, but this unit in not available in market anymore. Luckily, 2006 Alpine models were available and ipod connectivity was an important requirement for me. So decided to go in for CDA-9857 with ipod cable (KCE-422i). This unit costs 21K and with exchange (with 2DIN unit of vtec), the price came upto 8K. Also had to get the box which will slot nicely into the gap that comes when you install a single DIN system (like city Gxi model). Not yet got this ipod cable, will be getting it soon.



Well, installing an aftermarket system on honda city is a painful process (for me to see my car stripped and also for the installer). The entire lower portion of the dash has to be removed, glove box/gear box cover, has to be removed, assorted bits and what not just to replace the head unit!!



And to replace the rear speakers which is in the tray, the entire rear seat has to be removed !!

Component Speakers (Front)
Well not much confusion over here Decided to go in for Inifinity Kappa 60.7cs but honda city accepts only 5" ones. No problem, add a spacer and you can fit 6" speakers easily. Is this tweeter mouting alright?



Coaxial Speakers (Rear)
Already had Image Dynamics CTX brought from US, but again this speaker did not fit properly in the rear tray. No problem, a small tray was used that would get over this problem.


Subwoofer
Well I need bass but I am not the kind that wants thumping bass. Therefore, decided on a basic subwoofer with decent power. Zeroed in on JBL GTO boxed sub, but this boxed sub is no longer available being replaced by another boxed sub. Well had a difficult time finding the specs for this sub and it turns out to be CS1204 sub(?). Anyways, the mono amp puts only 220W while the subwoofer can handle 250W(?), but I guess this is not a big issue based on my requirement !


Boot
I will let the pictures do the talking.



Engine Compartment
Is this battery conditioner helpful? The selling point being "Rudra too has it in his car". I don't mind.


Install location
Guys, the install was done at sound factor (jbl showroom) on lavelle road. Preetham was very helpful. Nasir and team has done a meticulous job. The wiring was simply superb. No cutting, splicing etc. And I realized what a tough job it is (three hours were spend only in the boot) !
Only one gripe, dust... dust.. dust everywhere and that particular day happenned to be very windy. Lack of covered space/ garage for install is really BAD. My car interiors/audio stuff are full of dust :(

How does it sound?
Well... this is my first car, first install. Never heard other systems to do a comparison. It sounds nice but can it be made to sound nicer?
I mainly listen to classic rock (dire straits, floyd, doors, led zep, aerosmith, fleetwood mac, eagles etc). How to tune this system for this kind of music, i.e., what crossover frequency to set for the sub and speakers? Currently, set it to 100Hz.
Also one concern, Infinity Kappa is 2ohm stable and can handle 90W rms. The alpine amplifier outputs 150W in channel 3/4 for 2 ohm, I have set the gain to 1.3. Will the above setting lead to clipping etc and blow my speakers.
Finally...I would like to thank the members and most of all the guru log (everybody knows them) in this forum for helping me make an informed decision on the audio system purchase.

[200mph]

hey man good setup. sounds.hope to see it in what ice @ what price also. anyways the install is neat. though i think the 2 din looked better , but iam sure the new one SOUNDS BETTER, one reason we all are hear for.

[Mugen_Power]

Hey wiking,

Congrates For The Clean And Nice Setup..

Cheers,
Mugen_Power.

[gunbir]

Originally Posted by wiking

Finally...I would like to thank the members and most of all the guru log (everybody knows them) in this forum for helping me make an informed decision on the audio system purchase.

Hey Wiking... Congrats on your new ICE setup... if this forum helped you, then we're doing something right

As for your setup... a recommendation: Try changing tweeter mounting location. Move the tweeters to the base of the A pillars (where the A Pillar meets the dash). Use the angled surface mount cup provided with the tweeters. Make each tweeter aim the opposite side seat belt harness point. This should yield better results in terms of imaging and soundstage. Play with the tweeter level switch on your crossovers to blend the tweeter as required.

Enjoy the music...

[Sam Kapasi]

Hi Wiking,

Congratulations on a good setup and a well written description. Glad we could help.

[moralfibre]

Awesome install Wiking. Congrats and enjoy your music.

[jkdas]

Congarts wiking. Nice setup and nice pix Do make a post on the what ICE@what price theard too.

Oh, I am glad that you haev that amp upside down WHen I installed mine, I could only place mine upside down and Karthik247 was eating my head coz of it.

And can anyone post something abt the 'conditioner'?

[rsjaurr]

great set-up.I like it very much wiking.
Once tuned properly,it should give u great sound coz of nice choice of components.
enjoy ur music....

[wiking]

Thanks guys!

@gunbir : thanks.. I shall try the new tweeter mounting location you mentioned when I go to get my ipod installed.

@jk: I had to install that amp upside down due to shortage of wires

Here's the cost of the system. I know... I shall post it on the other thread too..

Head Unit Alpine CDA-9857 Rs 8000 (after exchange)
4-ch Amplifier Alpine MRV-F345 Rs 11925 ($265)
Mono Amplifier Alpine MRP-M450 Rs 7155 ($159)
Front Components Infinity Kappa 60.7cs Rs 13500
Rear Coaxials Image Dynamics CTX6 Rs 3825 ($85)
Subwoofer JBL CS1204 box Rs 8000
Lightning Audio Mutli-Amp Install kit Rs 4500 ($100)
Rockford Fosgate RCA cables Rs 3325 ($75)
12 gauge speaker wire Rs 4500
Spacers Rs 1500
Damping Rs 1500
Battery Conditioner Rs 1500
Extra wires Rs 480
Install + tips Rs 3500

Total Rs 73210

[navin]

Like Gunbir said moving those tweeters to the A pillars would have been nicer.

The Kappa 60 can handle quite a bit of bass I'd consider allowing them to play as low as 80Hz (2nd order).

I'd have installed my amps on back fo the the rear seat flanking the sub. stick some velcro to the sub or tie it down so that it does not move around.

[low_bass_makker]

Originally Posted by navin

low as 80Hz (2nd order).

Before newbies ask 2nd order means a 12db slope on the head but this amp has this default 12 slope so only switch on the hpf on the amp and set the freq to 80 hz .......

[speedzak]

Great Install ! ! !
All the components are of good choice and the install looks good too.

The tweeters definitely are in the wrong position. They should be moved to A pillar base or Kickpanels. And set the HPF to 80hz and your speakers will sound more better I assume. And as NavinJi said, Put some brakes on that SUB box. They usually move around if not.

And very nice to hear about the forum being a very big help for you. That's one certain thing and we expect the same for others too.

[navin]

Originally Posted by low_bass_makker

Before newbies ask 2nd order means a 12db slope on the head but this amp has this default 12 slope so only switch on the hpf on the amp and set the freq to 80 hz .......

Nah dont do that. use all pass on the amp and use the HU to set the LPF and HPF. It is easier, cleaner and you can tune it while you are in the car!

[low_bass_makker]

ya agreed with navin ji. I dont know details about the hu thats why i said so....

[wiking]

Oops... unfortunately, this HU does not have this feature. There are very few setting in the HU by which I can tune the system to my taste. No crossover, equalizer, time-alignment. Only features being increase/decrease subwoofer output (0-17), treble (-7 to 7) , bass (-7 to 10), fader, balance. Then there is somthing called BBE (bass boost engine). Also I can set bass boost/treble boost frequency.

I guess to bring the prices down, alpine had cut down on features. Also to support the new IPOD software, ipod can be connected using a single cable which also charges the IPOD.

The main reason for selecting this system was ipod connectivity and the cable costs $30 (have not yet sourced it)