ICE infomation

[watkins]

I need some help. I am looking for an ice install but im not sure which manufacture to go for. My head unit will be the kenwood kdc8027 but for the speakers and sub im not sure, I've been looking at either Alpine, JBL or infinty. The system i'm looking for is to basicly replace the standard speakers in the front door cards, change to tweeters on the dash to two way componants, change the rear standard speakers and then put a single 12" sub or two 10" subs in the boot.

Please if you have any better sudjestions i would be greatful and also which manufacture to use for the system.

thanks

matt

 

[Wimmy]

All depends on what you want to spend. I'm Mr Budget man and you cant argue with the JBL's for the price. I have 2 x 10" JBL subs in the boot, a couple of JBL 6x9's in the parcel shel and a set of JBL components up front all powered by a JBL GTO6000 6 channel amp

Total cost - £300

 

[watkins]

thats a dam good price, i've got aroung 400 quid. did the 300 quid also pay for the suround?

 

[Wimmy]

Nope.

That is MDF covering the existing two single sub boxes.

 

[watkins]

did u do it your self?

 

[Wimmy]

Everything wired up and covered by myself. The MDF build was measured up and cut by TAFI whilst I helped (sat smoking and watched). I then covered it and put it all together myself back home

 

[watkins]

how dificult was the wireing as i would prefer to do it myself because the ICE fitters around her are stupidly over priced

 

[Wimmy]

Wiring is pretty simple.

Hardest part of it will be running your power cable from your battery to your amp. Everything else is straight forward. Just remember to use decent cabling as cheap stuff will ruin what could be a good set up

 

[Tom]

Yup, spend sensible money on a wiring kit, the usual 'xyz watt wiring kit' are ****. They are grossly under-rated and really poor quality.

 

[watkins]

do you know of any books that would help like the haynes manual for instance.

 

[Ash]

ICE

with a bit of farting a bout and metal cutting you could get 6x9s in the front doors but you might as well buy a set of good components and put them on an amp it will sound 10 times better. It doesnt matter how much money you spend on speakers if you havent got the power to run them (no head unit has) they wont sound good.

when your matching speakers to amps all you have to do is make sure the ohms are the same and match the watts up by rms not maximum power output (most 1000w amps are only puting out 300watt rms!!!)

most modern headunits say 50watts x4 but in reality the rms wattage is 15-25watts hence its not gonna run your 150watt rms speakers very well!!!

my advice to you would be to buy a set of 13cm or 16cm front speakers some 6x9s or 16cm speakers for the back then spend the rest of your money on the best 4 channel amp you can afford. worry about the sub later!!! ( make sure the amp has a high pass filter built in you will need this when you add a sub later) also buy good quality wire!!!!

i know you want a sub now! as most people do! but trust me my thing is audio ive been doing it for years the sub can wait for another month! if you dont get an amp for the internal speakers, but a sub instead, all you will have is tons of bass and no quality tone or dynamics in the music

if you need any more advice email me [email protected] tell me what you want to spend and i will help you get the best system for your money

if any one thinks im wrong by the way i will give erm a little demo at an arranged forum meeting

 

[watkins]

just another quick question, what size are the speakers in the door cards

 

[Tom]

Re: ICE

Hehe, I smell a challenge here

So come on Ash, list your system.

 

[watkins]

Re: ICE

thanks for your advice, yes you are right i do want the sub now and seeing the instal above and the prices on the net im very interested in getting a jbl system. But unfortunatly i'm not a great fan of 6x9s, been there seen it done it got the t-shirt. I was informed that the speaker in the door card are 5x7s, is this right. and also i would run the componants on seperate amp to the subs its just i've been told that wiring them up is difficult. is there any diagrams or instructions that you can by or that you can print off the net?

 

[Ash]

Wire

If you need help on the install and don't live too far away from the west midlands or Kent I might be able to give you a hand but the Haynes book is very good as long as you don't want to go off the beaten track. The thing I hate to see more than anything is a bad ice install it can ruin a whole car. dont rush it! make sure you take time to run good cables to the front doors and the back its harder than useing the origonal fiat wires but hell will it make a F*****g big difference to the sound quality.

(if your not gonna replace the fiat speaker wires dont bother buying anything because it will just sound crap no matter how much you spend!!!)

 

[Tom]

The front doors have 5x7s in them, replace them with either 13cm (adapters available off the shelf) or 16cm but you'd need to make your own mounts and you have to do some cutting of the door and trim.

Personally 16cms are better than 13cm.

Forget 6x9's entirely, they are **** **** ****! Buy good front speakers and if you don't mind loosing some boot space get a sub.

Speakers make a bigger difference than the amp so get the best speakers you can afford.

Sound deadening also makes one heck of a difference, dynamat is overpriced though.

 

[Tom]

Re: Wire

Ash, which wire do you use? You might talk the talk but can you walk the walk?

 

[Ash]

Ok tom Your on at the next meet

As you know my engine is in pieces at the moment so im not gonna make sunday but as soon as its sorted ill give you a demonstration

 

[watkins]

Re: Wire

i know what you mean, my mates are just getting a parcel shelf with 6x9s. but i am going to do it properly i've taken a week off work to get in to it and will be able to take longer if needed. unfortunatly i live in suffolk so im on my own but i may have to invest into a haynes manual. thanks for you advive and hopefully there will be some pics soon!1

 

[Tom]

Re: Ok tom Your on at the next meet

Shame.. so whats your system?