S14 Goes like stink but the stereo's pants!!

[DJFish]

The title says it all really, so what can I do to make it better with the least outlay of cash??

I was thinking of upgrading the standard fit door and parcel shelf speakers, but that means spending wedge(Yes I'm tight fisted but there you go!)

The other idea I had was a sub in the boot, I don't want to lose any boot space so a huge box isn't really an option and I'd prefer to keep the spare in place so the other option I thought of was to build a custom fit box in the wee space behind the rear seat.

It could be removable in case I needed to drop the seats for storage and I'm presuming an amp could be either bolted onto the box or under the rear parcel shelf.

I'm going to bung a load of questions below so if you know the answers or have an opinion please feel free to reply.

What size and type of sub should I go for?

What type of amp would I need, could I also amplify the rears at the same time

Does it matter which way the sub faces and does it need clear air round it?

Does the box need to be a certain size and should it be ported like my home system?

Will I need to sound proof the boot lining to stop it vibrating?

Will these upgrades make me better in bed?

Is it worth just buying one of those Sony Amped Boxes for £150?

Will doing all this improve the general listening experience or will it just make my teeth rattle, I've fitted 6x9s in a parcel shelf in the Almera and it sounds so much better than standard but although I really want to start fiddling with my new toy, I don't want to come over all M*x Po*er!(OOER!)

Thanks in advance for your input(sorry it's a bit long(OOER!)).
Dave

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Black Almera GTi/Blue S14

[This message has been edited by DJFish (edited 07-07-2001).]

[Actual_Ben_Taylor]

If you can afford a small amount of outlay then I'd suggest the following...

Upgrade the front speakers (fit some 6"+ mids and tweeters)

Remove the rear speakers and fit some 8" free air subs in their place.

Fit an amp, if possible get a nice powerfull one which can run the fronts and be bridged to run the subs too.

Ben

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Black '98 S14

[olly200sx]

I shall answer your questions in order :

1. go for a 10" or 12" depending on how much space you want to lose. (twelves are better all round)

2. get a four channel amp, use two channels to power the fronts and bridge the remaining two to the sub, run any rears off the head unit.

3. Its best not to fire it into something solid as it will absorb the sound, I have found mine sound best firing up and forwards, best to place it into a few places and see where it sounds best.

4. Its best to use the recommended size box that you'll get with the spec for the sub.

5. I have found on my s13 that the boot and rear bumper vibrate very badly, sound proofing those is a must.

6. no they won't, practice makes perfect.

7. I don't recommend sony subs, try something like vibe boxes, or custom build a box and get a decent sub like JL Audio.

8. If you get decent speakers up front, some half decent speakers in the rear and a single sub the sound quality will be so much better, and a single sub won't break the windows.

Hope that helps, anything else ?

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S13 - Lots of Mods

[DJFish]

Cheers folks,
I've seen an advert for a Sony amp 2x???w + 1x250w(ish) and a 400w sub for about £125 so I'm probably going to go for that.
I'll let you know how it goes.

Dave

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Black Almera GTi/Blue S14

[DJFish]

The latest is as follows;

As I had a few days off mid week I trawled round a few second hand shops and discovered a new/boxed pioneer 4x100W amp in Cash Converters for £100, that took me the best part of a day to fit, mainly due to my having to take out **** loads of interior bits and bobs and half a wheel arch to get the power and front speaker cables nicely hidden using all the original grommets.

Then realised that I had to upgrade my fronts as the power rating on the standard fits are only 35W.
So off I troted to Halfords who had a pair of 16cm JBL 3 way for £30, they went in with the aid of a pair of butchered spacers and after a rollocking from my other half for spending too much time arsing around with my car we went for a nice drive, during which time the amp stopped working!!! it turned out to be a bad connection for the remote, the only time I used a scotchlock!!)

Even with just the fronts running off the amp the sound has been improved, once I get myself a decent sub and sort out crossovers and filters and things (the bass from the fronts is making the trim rattle), I reckon it'll be quite a nice sounding system..total cost so far...£170(ish)
More to come as it happens, cheers for the original ideas.

Dave

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Black Almera GTi/Blue S14

[Stevecarter200]

Dave, if you need a hand fitting stereo stuff, give me a shout. Ive fitted loads over the years, in a purely amateur/ hobby capacity. Only ever blown one amp up! . Not my fault by the way, the amp was fecked.


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Steve
Blue '89 S13, T28,HKS IC, Mongoose (HKS soon),Pipercross.
280ish bhp, 13.77s @103mph Qutr
For legal reasons, all my posts are, in my opinion, bollocks.
TC is for girlies

[DJFish]

Cheers for the offer Steve,
Had to drive to Stanstead the other day and on the slow bits I just dropped the windows and cranked up the tunes and was truly a happy bunny!

The fast bits pi55ing off some chap in an old Rover V8 is another story entirely!!

The stereo was really the only thing about the car I could find fault with and once I get my hands on a nice punchy sub for the boot it'll be sorted(for now) .

Off topic, but I've noticed loads of people comment and ask questions about the car, most seem to think it's a Skyline!!! you just don't get that with an Escort Deisel!!

Dave

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Black Almera GTi/Blue S14

[Ripper]

But you DO get 50mph.....

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Ripper

Grey '93 S13 Auto
Mods: Uprated smelly tree
Tree uprated at Ripper laboratories, Florida.
Please, no Scrabbly Nonsense!
http-animationfactory.tripod.com/animation/miscellaneous/air_freshener_mirror_md_wht.gif

[DJFish]

Latest purchase is a pioneer 10" sub, which is currently mounted in the middle of the boot facing forwards, I've yet to experiment with locations and fiddle about with filters and the like but I'm so glad I finally got one, it makes the stereo sound so much better, I just wish I'd got one years ago.

Now I just need to find something to go in the spare din socket in the dash!!Suggestions on a post card please.

Dave

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Black Almera GTi/Blue S14

[Mannie]

How about a Pioneer DEQ-9200.

Its a nifty DIN sized graphic equaliser with time alignment which basically puts varying amounts of delay on all the speakers so that the sound signals arrive at your ears at the same time.

I'm definitely looking at getting one at some point. Found a place in Germany that does them £100 cheaper than anywhere over here. www.audiovision-shop.de Web-site is in German but you can work out most things. I emailed tham in English and got a clear reply in English too.
http://www.pioneer-eur.com/products/car/dspen.htm