Speaker Upgrade Complete (NOW WITH PICS)

After much research and contemplation, I decided to upgrade the sound in my P-car. I went the full Focal route from Car Audio Innovations (Thanks Rod!). I pulled my dash and rear speakers and sent them to California for Rod to pre-mount the Focal components in the front (highs and mids) and coaxials for the rear. He also pre-mounted the door speakers with a nice 5" mid-bass driver. (I had the hi-fi system already). He sent me all of the speakers, a sweet Audison 5 channel amp, and all of the wiring components I would need to do the install myself - including wire [speaker and power], fuses, mounting clips, stereo removal keys, RCA cables, and some other odds and ends. After getting everything delivered, I came to the conclusion that I didn't want to do the install (figures lol) So I hauled everything to a nearby Car Toys that had an installer with mucho P-car experience (Thanks Dave!). He gladly installed it all - and having the speakers pre-mounted by Rod saved a bundle on the install. Dave even built a nice false floor with matching carpet for the amp in the trunk. Since I am using the factory head unit for now, he also pre-wired extra RCA cables so I could "plug in" a new head unit at any time. I also ordered the custom sub-woofer box with JL woofers and had the car pre-wired for those (since they are still en route to me). The system sounds UNBELIEVABLE. I can't explain the difference - you just have to hear it (and that's without the subs in yet!!). If anyone wants to have a listen (and is in the DFW metroplex) let me know. And if there's another Saturday Starbucks get together in the future, I'll bring the car by. Here are the pics of the False Floor in the trunk. [EDIT] CLICK HERE FOR WOOFER BOX PICS Floor Closed Floor Closed Closeup Floor Open #1 Floor Open #2 Floor Open Side View Cross Overs Mounted where old amp was

False Floor Pics Added

Nice.....The Audison/Focal combo is VERY sweet....

Very nice..

Do you think it will sound funny with the subs in the truck up front? I'm going to put a system in, just havent figrued out where to put the sub.

People tend to not be able to locate the source/direction/location of low frequencies, so it typically does not matter.

I have a sub in the passenger footwell.....takes up VERY little room...my wife was in the car and literally didnt notice it...oh...and it sounds AMAZING...fat low end...

Newport, Is that an Ultimate Cup Holder I see peeking over the edge of your passenger seat? -td

The amp in the trunk is that enough air flow? I would think that space would bake without any air movement.

No problems yet - even in this Texas heat! -td

td, How did you do the rears as the speakers are 'cemented' in to the speaker grill? VMT Dean Do you have pics of rears?

I had a stereo shop detact the speakers from the grills and replace the speakers reusing the original grills. I don't know how it was done, but I know it can be done.

I sent the speakers (fronts and rears) to Rod at Car Audio Innovations. He premounted and sealed them for me. -td

Dremel

Looks like something is not connected/protected in the amp picture?

You're absolutely correct. But as noted in the text of the orignal post: "Since I am using the factory head unit for now, he also pre-wired extra RCA cables so I could "plug in" a new head unit at any time." -td

I'm about to go with the same amp, MB quart 6.5's in mounted in panels behind the standard grilles - Might drop the rears speakers now that I know they're cemented! Question: Did you use the factory wiring to the speakers? (I see the crossovers are in the bonnet, not in the doors). I was thinking of rewiring everything but I'm stumped at the rear quarter panels off the car and getting the wires through the rubber wiring tubes in the doors. The airbag connections/wires there were a concern. Any thoguhts on the speaker wiring? Terry 2003 996 C4S, Singapore

td873 - I have not installed any new speakers in my car but I have installed a Kenwood head unit from the 5000 series and the Infinity Basslink (10" sub w/10" passive radiator). Once the stereo came on with the factory speakers, I was blown away on how much better it sounded! I felt that 95% of the sound difference was made from the HEAD UNIT swap. I had the HI-FI CDR-220. So my point is, if you think that the speakers made a huge difference in sound, wait until you put a good sounding head unit! I think that combo of speakers and head unit is going to be unbelievably better! The head unit would a fraction of the speaker cost anyway and I believe will top it off. I recommend Kenwood, although I am not a expert ( I am huge into music though ) but over the years, I have compared Kenwood to just about everything else and Kenwood just seems to have the best sound!!! Tippy

The wire going to the speakers was better guage than I expected so I ended up just using it when I installed new speakers. I did have a fitment problem when I put my Focal 100CA's in the front speaker bays. The speaker magnet on the right hits the dash bolt that sticks up at the bottom of the bay. I may have to cut some of the rubber off the bottom of the magnet to get the speaker to sit flush in the hole: seems like I just need about 2-3mm of extra clearance.