The AU audio thread - ideas, products and advice.

[hendoau99]

i put a clarion hu with aux/ipod compatibility in my au, still running stock speakers but the hu has loads of settings and i played around and it's made the 5x7's 10x better than when i had the original tape deck in. i'm buying a kenwood sub and amp next week and wont be changing the speakers. great thread because i don't know much about car audio and owning an au it's going to be very helpful.

[TheSneakiness]

In my AU ute I had two setups...

First one was a JVC DVD with 7.5" screen, standard 5x7"s, 1 4 channel Kenwood amp and 1 12" Kenwood sub. Even with the standard 5x7"s amped the sub would still overpower them.

Second time round I ditched the DVD and went with a Kenwood CD unit (at the time was about $500), replaced the front speakers with 6" component splits (mounted with 10mm spacer) in behind the door trim, and had got hold of some A Pillar covers with the tweeter grill so that's where they went, bought another 2 channel amp and a second 12" Kenwood sub the same as the first one. That setup was a hell of alot better than the first time round.

If I can remember the brand of the 6" component splits I'll post it up.

[Bobman]

Also, some head units keep the electric antenna raised even with a CD in due to the wiring on them.

I have a Clarion HU and just disconnected the antenna wiring so it stays in it's hole.

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by Polyal

So single vs double DIN, are they any good double DINS that suit the AU? Its hard with the shape of the fascia..is that why everyone went with a single?

I bought one of the ebay double din dvd/tv/gps/touch screen/all singing/all dancing units and must say the picture (watching dvd) was brilliant. The sound was crap.
There was a reason (I can't rem what) that I couldn't hook it up to my amp and the drop in sound quality through its own preamp was too big a price to pay for something which wouldn't get a lot of use (the visuals, that is).

The other problem was that I really didn't like the way the bottom protruded past the dash. Kumineko made a surround for his that was brilliant but not being that talented plus the sound q made me opt for a reasonable single din unit.
blackers10 bought a Kenwood (I think) double din touch screen at the same time I did and iirc he was very happy with all aspects of it.

[Donny]

Iv finally fitted up all mine now..
Just used my older Pioneer 5750 in the Aerpro Pocket thingo and the factory speakers for now.. Gettin the orig unit out was a pig of a job.
Im still enjoying radio Weezor more than MP3 tunes at the mo, so it will do for now till I decide what else to upgrade..

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by Bobman

Also, some head units keep the electric antenna raised even with a CD in due to the wiring on them.

I have a Clarion HU and just disconnected the antenna wiring so it stays in it's hole.

Yes Pioneers do this. Donny did yours do it when you put it in?

[Dave_Obsession]

Well I'm quite happy with my audio setup (see my signature below). I wanted a setup that matched the stock fittings so I didn't have to worry about spacers or lack of boot space etc. It's easily loud and punchy enough for me whilst driving, and yet you can't hear me coming from 2km away with subs blaring etc....My 50w 5x7 Fusions were only $40 a pair, but BFYB they are terrific. They are quite punchy and handle all music types with ease.

I got my 8" sub second hand, and it does the job really well! Phoenix Gold is an excellent old-school brand!

After having had my bluetooth-enabled headunit for a while now, I will never ever buy another HU that doesn't have bluetooth built in. I've set up my mobile to automaticaly pair with it when I start BT on it when I'm in the car - hey presto instant hands-free telephone that plays through the speakers! And if you have music on your phone (as I do), you can use it like an iPod as well! Bucketloads of win.

As far as places to get gear - I got my Fusion speakers from www.ryda.com.au - they have quite a lot of 5x7 speakers, and you can compare the specs as well! Postage wasn't too bad either!!

[Polyal]

Dave your much like me, Im more into trying to keep it stock and clean as possible.

Got a pic of your HU and how it sits?

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by dave93761

I got my Fusion speakers from www.ryda.com.au - they have quite a lot of 5x7 speakers, and you can compare the specs as well! Postage wasn't too bad either!!

Ryda is a very reliable supplier. I've bought a few things from there - the latest was a heart monitor watch for our s-i-l's xmas pressie. Ordered and paid online lunchtime Monday and it arrived on our doorstep 10am Tues morning.
Hard to beat that from the comfort of your chair

[Donny]

Originally Posted by b2tf

Yes Pioneers do this. Donny did yours do it when you put it in?

I didnt have a problem with this on mine..
On the wires out the back, apart from the usuals, there wasnt a seperate feed for electric ariels, only a illumination feed for dropping brightness when you turn on dash lights and a mute feed for a mobile phone hands free.
I tried the radio reception in the garage while wiring speakers up and its ok with the head deck out of the dash, and lousy with it fitted (ariel down), but I dont care about that as I never listen to the radio anyway, I only use CD's..

Bout the only other thing I may have to look at is the Aerpro kit dosent sit in the dash as tight or firm as Id have liked. You can wiggle it around a little, and I will see once I go out for a drive if it makes any noises or rattles etc.. I didnt put that thread bit and rubber boot thing on at the back either, and that may also help the fit and movement issue some.
The screw head mounting the headunit to the mount frame catches on the dash inner frame and was a bit tricky to fit too.. Apart from that, a fairly painless install compared to some Iv done in the past..

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by Donny

Bout the only other thing I may have to look at is the Aerpro kit dosent sit in the dash as tight or firm as Id have liked. You can wiggle it around a little, and I will see once I go out for a drive if it makes any noises or rattles etc.. I didnt put that thread bit and rubber boot thing on at the back either, and that may also help the fit and movement issue some.
The screw head mounting the headunit to the mount frame catches on the dash inner frame and was a bit tricky to fit too.. Apart from that, a fairly painless install compared to some Iv done in the past..

Did you go with the FP9140? Mine is perfect - doesnt move an inch.

[Donny]

Yep I used the 9140 model..

[Donny]

Heres a pic of the headunit fitted..

[Dave_Obsession]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Dave your much like me, Im more into trying to keep it stock and clean as possible.

Got a pic of your HU and how it sits?

Taken from my build thread:

Originally Posted by Dave's build thread

APOLOGIES FOR THE POOR QUALITY PICS - CAMERA PHONES...ugh!

Stereo install:

Pioneer DEH-P7050BT headunit
Fusion EN-FR5720 fonr & rear speakers (50w RMS)
Fusion AM-6004 4 channel amp (for speakers) (4x75w RMS)
Phoenix Gold SW408 8" sub (120 - 150w RMS)
Boss Audio BA-2210 2 channel amp (for sub) (200w RMS)

Front door shot:


Headunit:


Amplifiers:


Parcel Shelf 1:


Parcel Shelf 2:


Now my installer actually cut out a small hole in the parcel shelf for the sub - and made a cool little cover for it - very impressive!

He also resprayed the rear speakers covers in Matt Black, as one of them had become very faded...





There is a little crease in the material that I can't get rid of, it would have been from when he glued the material to the wooden frame of the cover, but it's still a cool little addition!

[XR6SQ]

Falcons have some pros and cons when it comes to installing a good sound system. I have a ute and as far as utes go it is great with all the room due to the supercab, im planning on doing a floor loaded sub-enclosure between the seats and should easily get a good 1.2 cubic feet of volume.

The one problem is fitting decent sized speakers in the doors due to the 5x7 holes, putting a spacer anything over 9mm thick (I believe, someone correct me if I am wrong) often results in the speaker surround and cone hitting the door trim/speaker grill.

I originally had some peerless 7 inch mids which deffinately did not want to fit in the door, this makes it difficult to get mid-range/mid-bass speakers on axis, for this reason I am considering going for a 3 way front stage and running mids and tweets in the a-pillars as there is plenty of room here.

[greenguzzler]

I just bought a set of these for the Fairlane: http://www.optionaudio.com.au/lcd_sc...oa72hrdvdv.php
A bargain at $599 with both being master screens, not a master and a slave, as i have seen for a lot more money.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by greenguzzler

I just bought a set of these for the Fairlane: http://www.optionaudio.com.au/lcd_sc...oa72hrdvdv.php
A bargain at $599 with both being master screens, not a master and a slave, as i have seen for a lot more money.

We sell a lot of option audio gear at work, it is good stuff and very well priced for what you get.

[b2tf]

On another note i am DESPERATELY chasing a passenger side speaker grille for the door trim in black. If anybody has one please let me know?

[bartsau]

Originally Posted by XR6SQ

Falcons have some pros and cons when it comes to installing a good sound system. I have a ute and as far as utes go it is great with all the room due to the supercab, im planning on doing a floor loaded sub-enclosure between the seats and should easily get a good 1.2 cubic feet of volume.

The one problem is fitting decent sized speakers in the doors due to the 5x7 holes, putting a spacer anything over 9mm thick (I believe, someone correct me if I am wrong) often results in the speaker surround and cone hitting the door trim/speaker grill.

I originally had some peerless 7 inch mids which deffinately did not want to fit in the door, this makes it difficult to get mid-range/mid-bass speakers on axis, for this reason I am considering going for a 3 way front stage and running mids and tweets in the a-pillars as there is plenty of room here.

Well I am not sure on the exact measurements but not too long ago I had a lot of trouble fitting a set of Alpine Type R 5x7's. I ended up making up my own spacers which were thinner at the bottom where the window leans out towards the door skin. I also had to cut and sand back the speaker cover and the inside of the door trim. They have about 1-2mm clearance between the window and the same between the door trim and speaker surround.

Rhys

[JC]

Originally Posted by b2tf

On another note i am DESPERATELY chasing a passenger side speaker grille for the door trim in black. If anybody has one please let me know?

I have one. Happy to do a swap for yours (assuming yours is cracked only and not smashed?). It will only cost you as pair of nudgebar brackets in addition.

[JC]

Originally Posted by greenguzzler

I just bought a set of these for the Fairlane: http://www.optionaudio.com.au/lcd_sc...oa72hrdvdv.php
A bargain at $599 with both being master screens, not a master and a slave, as i have seen for a lot more money.

I have a set similar to that to go in mine (from Wednesday, I'm off for 2 weeks, so probably time to install them in something). Mine are a different brand and were half that price (eBay is your friend). I have each connected to each and a splitter for the LH one to go to my front screen as well. So each can play a video to their own unit, or the LH one can play to the RH one, or vice versa and whatever appears on the LH one goes to the front screen.

Only connection I couldn't do was front DVD to both rear screens (ran out of inputs on the rear screens - there is only 1).

[WAR40T]

I made custom door pods using the standard speaker grills to run a pioneer 6 inch in my AU when i had it.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by JC

I have one. Happy to do a swap for yours (assuming yours is cracked only and not smashed?). It will only cost you as pair of nudgebar brackets in addition.

It is, only cracked in a spot but just enough to annoy me. Pics if you need it.

The rate I am going it is probably easier if I just bring the car over to you and we take the brackets off there and then. Might be the go.

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by XR6SQ

The one problem is fitting decent sized speakers in the doors due to the 5x7 holes, putting a spacer anything over 9mm thick (I believe, someone correct me if I am wrong) often results in the speaker surround and cone hitting the door trim/speaker grill.

It's a bit of a fiddle if you want to mount deeper speakers. I made these spacers for the Hertz 6.5" splits I fitted. I then got Alpine Type X 6.5" and used the same spacers but had to open up the rebate a little. There's not much room between speaker and window at the back and speaker and grill at the front.... literally a few thou each side.
The spacers are 12mm MDF but I can't rem how deep the rebate is so would only be guessing the max spacer thickness without the rebate.

[ronwest]

Found a couple more pics for this thread...

Hertz speakers in door



Umineko's double din surround (yes, he made it!)



My 12" Alpine subbie in custom box

[2002au]

just picked up this for my xr6:

[JC]

Originally Posted by b2tf

It is, only cracked in a spot but just enough to annoy me. Pics if you need it.

The rate I am going it is probably easier if I just bring the car over to you and we take the brackets off there and then. Might be the go.

LOL.

Mate, happy to do a swap of the door grilles then.

Also happy to do the bracket work. If you're in town betweeb now and 9 Jan, let me know (I'm off work that whole time).

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by JC

LOL.

Mate, happy to do a swap of the door grilles then.

Also happy to do the bracket work. If you're in town betweeb now and 9 Jan, let me know (I'm off work that whole time).

Yeah reckon I might be - I'm over there boxing day but doing the family thing all day so no go there. We'll arrange something.

[pulpist]

Due to budget constraints atm I went with a Kenwood KDC 138 to replace the original headunit in the ute.

Fitted it up last weekend, but it looks a bit ordinary , so one of those Aeropro pockets looks like just the trick

[irdonn]

For anyone interested when I purchased my XR the six stacker was on the back seat and an after market deck was in it's place. I was keen to go back to the stock look (bit of a hack install job on the deck) but the stacker was shagged.... wouldn't take CDs and half of the lights were U/S. 430 dollars later after a few days at A1 in Perth it was back to it's original self. I was actually pleasantly surprised with the sound from the standard set up (small sub etc.) and it's still working fine although I don't think I'd spend that again if it dies. I am babying it as much as possible.

Cheers.