Yet again I am redoing my Stereo!

Just as the title say, I am redoing my stereo again. I am keeping the Focal Utopia Be #6 speakers and the JL Sub but the 2 Focal Amps are being replaced with one TRU TECHNOLOGY Super Billet B6-S amp. The amp is hand made/made to order. This amp will have Kimber cable and stage IV upgrade as well as all six channels will have independent line conditioners. I can't wait to get it, it is going to take six weeks to get it. When everything is installed and the new trunk cutout is all done I will post some pictures. dave-t The website with all of the specs: :: TRU Technology :: B-6

Looking forward to seeing this. What made you decide to change amps?

I wanted back some trunk space, I get half my trunk back and may put a second JL 8 on the other side of the trunk. I am only going to run one amp now no longer two(before a separate sub amp class d and another amp for my mids and tweeters class a/b). This new 6 channel a/b amp will run everything including the sub/subs. The amp is so clean sounding, no static at all. I heard a stereo with a set of Focal KRX'2 and 2 JL 6's utilizing the same amp in a old convertible impala and I was sold. dave-t

I live just down the street from TRU Technologies. Great Amps! Maybe I'll go by and watch them build your amp :taunt:

i think you should stop spending money on radios and take your salesman out to dinner again.

Casey didn't i already do that? Jodi and I will take you and this time Cory if she is around out when the next project we are working on is completed. Sound cool? dave

just bustin you balls dave. see you monday am for the new secret sauce!

Can't wait!! dave

I just got some pics from Chris of the new Tru Technology Amp and line conditioner that is going to be used in the new install. The amp comes shipped from the factory in California in a gun case, pretty cool. Install is going to happen on the 23rd of this month dave-t

Out of curiosity, why is CAT5 not implemented in the Line8 ?

I went with the JL Audio amp as it's a six channel Class D (runs cool) that fit in the original amp spot in the frunk with very very little modifications. I'm running all the speakers in the doors, dash, rear pillars, and a subwoofer in the trunk off the JL amp. I saw a totally rad tube amp in a stereo shop in San Jose, woulda bought it in a heartbeat but physically it's way too big for a Cayman.

Cat5 can be utilized instead of RCA cables as a method of connection, much easier to tuck away cat5 cable over RCA cable in tight spaces. The install is gong to have to JL 8" sub boxes in the rear hatch corners. In the stock 4" location I am going to place a set of Focal KRS100 4" speakers and tweeters for rear fill as well. The entire rear hatch is also going to be wrapped in Alcantara. This stereo is going to be competition grade when completed. dave-t

Understood. I know the amps VERY well. I tend to sell a lot of them. This is why I asked though since it seems in the pics that you do not have CAT5 on the Line8.

I thought I would list the specs of the amp because they changed a little bit from the beginning post. Instead of a stage 4 upgrade I did stage three and got the chip set upgraded to National Chip Set. SB6S- SUPER BILLET 6S (4X100 + 2 X 200W AMP) ST3 STAGE III (CH1-4) NATIONAL CHIP SET (CH 1-6) POLISHED SUPER BILLET HEATSINKS POWER SUPPLY CAP UPGRADE KIMBER CABLE UPGRADE LINE8-IS (8CH LINE-AMP CONDITIONER) NL49X8 CHANNELS (NATIONAL CHIP SET)

Great choice on the LME 49720s ! Although they may be a tad aggressive on Focals ..

Another update, some more stuff came in: 1st,2nd and 3rd pictures are the Focal Utopia Be #6 speakers with the Cross Block, picture 4 is the Focal K2 KRS100 4' speaker crossover and tweeter, picture 5 is the 5 yards of Alcantara for the rear hatch and headliner and finally the last picture is the AutoControls DQL8 processor.

Damn - wish I had that kind of coin to spend on a car stereo - hell I don't think my entire home theater setup cost as much as those speakers!

Very interested in this thread, as I pushed my stereo upgrade off until later this year. I'm curious where you're mounting the new amp to regain trunk space. Are you mounting in the frunk? Also, what are you using the AutoControls DQL8 processor for? Are you mounting the crossovers where you can access them from the driver's seat? or tucking them away somewhere? Be sure and post lots of picts!

Oliman, I was wondering what happened to your install? With the two focal amps I had before i lost 8" because they had to be stacked. The Tru Technology amp is only going to take 4" at most in height in the rear hatch. The false floor will not even come up to the oil/coolant compartment I was told. The DQL8 is a summing device that takes the factory signal and equalizes it to zero so you can tune an aftermarket amp when added. The crossover hopefully is going under the driver seat because I have the sports buckets which do not go up and down but only backwards and forwards. The Sports buckets are pretty high up as well which help to tuck something under. If the crossover does not fit under the driver seat I will try and place in the front frunck where I am putting the DQL8 and place the DQL8 under the driver seat. I am going to be in Florida while the install is happening but Chris from CASDESIGNVA who is doing the install promised to take lots of pictures which I will post.

Went to the shop today and cat5 was not offered as an option on the line conditioner. The installer (Chris) is going to use the top of the line JL Audio connects that are light blue for everything.

Here are some shots, the original prototype and then the consumer version .. TRU Line-8 pictures by 6spdcoupe - Photobucket

For this type of setup we would generally have something made specifically for the vehicle from Straightwire ( Note: NOT 'Street wires' ). Although we have played with from time to time other options .. Tara Labs, Kimber, Stealth, IXOS, etc. Same applies to speaker cabling. I have nothing against the JL products or the likes. I would not say they are 'no good', just on a bit different level here. You may want to check on that CAT5 ' not available option' thing first though.

DH Labs make very good wire and it's reasonably priced DH Labs

Figured you were going to say Straightwire, they make a really nice product. I use Straightwire on my home theater speakers. thanks, dave-t

My stereo install started on Wednesday this week. Yesterday I stopped into the shop to check out the progress. So far the interior has been removed, some Dynamatt has been done, all of the wiring, some more Alcantara wrapping( headliner and rear hatch lid) and driver side speakers have been mounted and as I was leaving the passenger side was being taken apart . The car should be completed on Friday. The factory amp was taken out and the DQL8 is going in its place under the seat. The Focal Utopia Be CrossBlock is going in the front boot behind the compartment with the air compressor. I finally found out that both of the subs and amp are going to fit in the rear hatch, space could have been a problem. If you look at the picture of the rear hatch the amp is going to fit in the entire lower section and the two Sub boxes are going to be on each side of the amp. Sorry there is not to much to see but there is definitely progress.

Money pit dave... the lack of weight in that car was not supposed to be made up with woofers so you can bump NWA through clarendon.

Here is another update I was over at the shop yesterday, things are starting to take shape and be concluded on Friday. The 2 sub boxes and the trunk cutout were done last night so I do not have pictures yet. The install so far has been top notch, here are some pictures.

Here are some more: The first picture is in the front bonnet were the Cross Block is mounted, second picture show the Cross Block covered. I can put my factory front bonnet protector back in which was a requirement so I would not loose and trunk space. The third picture is the roof dynamatted followed by the forth picture of the Alcantara headliner installed, fifth picture is the factory amp location were the DQL8 was installed in its place, The last picture is the stock location of the 4" speaker that is where the Focal 4" mid and tweeter were transformed into a coaxial speaker.

WOW, it's really looking good! Are you replacing the head unit?

Thanks Oliman, the headunit is staying intact that is why the DQL8 was installed. The DQL8 allows OEM integration with aftermarket amps and speakers, pretty sweet little device. Car should be finished today and Thursday the car should get tuned and I take delivery on Friday just in time to have it for the for the ride up to the unveiling of the 991 at Porsche of Silver Springs. I'll get some good windshield time to test it out.

ROTFLMAO! I can hear him down here in Courthouse!

Dude, you're single-handedly propping up Dynamat's business, you have a whack of it! Most excellent.. I did my engine cover but now I'm definitely feeling Dynamat envy. I'm not one to get too worried about the overall weight of the car but the Dynamat stuff is heavy

I know Dynamat is heavy put is effective in certain places. I agree to much defeats the purpose. I only put it on the outside of the door not the inside, engine cover which has huge impact, on the rear truck floor because all of the carpet and foam came out for the custom cut out and on the roof. On the roof will help reduce the headliner noise everyone talks about.

Are you using the dynamat to keep sound in, or out? With all those speakers and the engine behind your head it seems kind of pointless. Although, I've been wrong before...

It keeps sound out: engine noise, road noise, etc... and quiets down rattles and the like. Very effective product:cheers: