Notes:- Initial Days.
Getting an audio for yourself and getting it for a long time buddy are two things poles apart.
Earlier days were spent in taking off Gill's mind from a "
Bill bhi hai, Warranty bhi hai" Sony setup. It was tough, but in the end, he complied.
Gill sahab also wasnt comfortable when I told him that he shouldn't be much concerned about the rear speakers as they will act as mere fillers. I even suggested dropping the idea of rear speakers at all since they wont be put to much use. Anyways, the money spender's satisfaction is paramount and thus, we go for a co-axial at rear. Powered through HU.
Planning Stage
This surely HAS to be the longest time I've dreamt of audio day and night. In class. At work. In bathroom. At dinner table. At movies with GF. Wherever damn possible. Audio Audio and more Audio.
A period of frantic browsing of various car audio forums. Interacting with many known persons. Chatting till late in nights thru to early mornings discussing all possible system options in the budget.
Finally, the dream began to take shape and Gill and Me would exchange notes on whatever component we had finalised based on our research during the day. Around 1 week before the install, we had the final spec sheet in front of us. Time to order then.
BUT WAIT!
This is Punjab. I wouldnt get any professional help here. Nor any professional equipement/accesories.
So, I guess our spec sheet isnt so much final afterall. Accesories part is still pending.
So, off I went spending hours and hours everyday in this Sound Off Show Off section. This was the MOST FRUSTRATING part of my research since I'm using a SLOW 64kbps connection. So each thread takes LOTS OF TIME to load. Simple workarounds were to open a thread just before going for dinner or bathroom or market. Slowly, it was turning to be enjoyable as I would always be thinking what I would see when I go back to my PC.
Anyways, it all finally paid off with me realizing, I didnt have any good connector for the Sub enclosure. Connection Audison AT25 terminal ordered.
I should be making any tape joints. WEURTH bullet type connectors ordered.
Self tapping screws also requested for.
Implementation Stage
Final spec sheet prepared and the stuff is ordered.
Next day, I recieve Sub Box calculations for the ID.
Finally, the time has come to get down to work.
I get reading on the internet on various sites on how to Best make the box.
With a few basics cleared, I'm confident.
Search begins to find a shop selling Nuwud "green stamped" MDF. This turns out to be tougher than expected. Most shops have some unbranded MDF.
Others have Nuwud MDF, but it is unstamped. Then sometime after an agonizing search through the day, I get the required grade of MDF. Pay the guy, and cart over the sheet to my friend's speaker box building facility.
My friend is not here. He's in Mumbai getting his rally license made, so I need to get down to work on the Jigsaw.
Firstly. I try and work with waste wood lying around. Ply, particle board and other varieties. After learning basics on how to operate the machine, I get down to cutting the MDF.
Turns out, it blows too much dust. Within 15min, I'm covered from head to toe in it. Anyways, over the next two days, I try to juggle schedule of my classes, work, family appointements to try and squeeze time for the Box.
Help arrives in shape of my friend, who comes back and helps me build the box.
I waste a LOT of material bought from Gill's money (Sorry yaar) in my aim to get the internal volumes perfect.
Lesson learnt:- Think before you cut/fix the MDF. A wrong placement means that a 3/4" of MDF is NOT where it is supposed to be and thus messing up the Goal of the required internal volume.
Meanwhile, equipement arrives. I'm very very impressed with the quality. I love it. So much infact, that I open all boxes and take the stuff with me to my bedroom. All the stuff is placed around my bed and I take a "sound" sleep
With 1 day to spare for the install, the Box is finally complete. Measurements indicate everything to be perfect. Box is sealed with MDF dust mixed with Fevicol. Then that is topped off with a silicone sealant after a few hours. Box is carpeted by evening. I also try and fabricate the spacer rings with some success (They were accurate size, but cutting was a bit wavy and not perfectly round). Anyways, I'm happy with the effort and I take it everything home.
Install day notes
Turns out, it was wise to get help of the my installer's guys. They open doors and dashboards everyday and thus are better at this than us.
I show them initially on how to exactly stick the damping and where and how to use the heat gun. They continue with me overlooking them.
As soon as Clip arrives, I heave a sigh of relief. I can finally concentrate more on the administration part, While dear Clip gets his hands dirty with the install. Meanwhile, Gill is helps us track down every nut and bolt that we have been throwing around. Very cumbersome job, But he does it perfect :-)
It is soon learnt that installer's guys or not, THEY NEED TO BE ADMINISTERED. They are crude and not professional. I wouldnt blame them though. They are non-educated and get equally ignorant employees and customers everyday.
Clip does the crucial job of speaker, Sub, amplifier mounting. Very well done. I meanwhile need to administer the guys.
One of them overzealous ones, cuts through the stock speaker wiring to power the front midbasses. And then tapes up the joints. I somehow catch the sight of a tape joint as he is putting back the door. Alarm raised! Not damage done.
Audison speaker cables are used which prove SUPER SUPER tough to route through the doors. I got a few cuts myself on the hands trying to shove them in somehow. Finally, the bullet type connectors come in for connecting the crossover wires to the speaker cables.
Installer is surprised and thinks I'm a stupid guys spending 80 bucks on EACH of this connector, but no worries. I wouldnt blame the poor guy
All set and done, system is test fired.
I must make a point not to sit in the car next time Clip is playing one of his test tone Cd's. I had a severe ear ringing when he was testing the components for clipping.
Another thing to be kept in mind is that each system needs to be tuned independently and with an OPEN MIND. We realised this when we Clip was tuning the amp.
We had taken regular breaks for listening sessions in Clip's car during the install and got accustomed to the punch of a 15" Sub.
Thus with the same level of expectation, the gains were set too high causing the Sub to bottom out on heavy bass notes.
Mistake realised and amp retuned according to Gill's taste now.
The sound is Sweet now. Superb integration of the sub with the front soundstage. No more bottoming out. Just smooth and accurate bass.
End of a happy install.
Some more notes. Off Topic.
Gill sahab, please dont free wheel around so much in neutral. Always best to take corners with the gear ENGAGED. I understand that it's a new car and adjusting to response of a turbo diesel engine for a petrol head takes some time. So, I'm hopeful that you will adjust to it soon.
Clip, PLEASE REDUCE SMOKING. QUIT IF YOU CAN MANAGE THE COURAGE.
So much smoke, I could hardly stand near you (I'm allergic to cigarette smoke). That is why I was happy to take camera instead and click your cute face working :-)
PLease Quit brother. Honest request.
I need to apologize to Gill and Clip for trying to cut corners and hurry up the install later in the day. Had a very important family appointement at 9PM.
In the same breath, Thanks to Clip for being a little harsh and bringing back sanity, and thus my heart and soul back into the install. Thanks Brother.