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Old 02-11-2013, 03:48 PM   #1
swoyekr
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Question Guru's - Guide me! 13 wrx - Nav & Amps insight encouraged

Okay, so I'm looking for some additional input from the guys that really know their audio setups. Before you jump all over me, I have searched, scoured here and the internet and still have no decision for a basically opinion based question. With that said... I'm looking for more sound quality than loudness, the stock system is junk. I'd love to save money where possible, but I'll pay for quality / trouble free.

Here's what I have.

.Focal 165-A1 Components (Front Doors)
.Focal 165-CA1 Coaxial (Rear Doors)

.Axxess Interface Steering Wheel Control
.Rammat & Ensolite for doors + Misc.
.JL Audio 6gage amp install kit (1) - For door speaker amp
.Harness from svxDC, keeping all oem usb connections and inputs.


On the list to buy in the next week:

.JL Audio w3v3 10
.Audio integrations 10" Box - Or anything decent that is out of the way.
.Door speaker amp - Alpine MRP-300 or similar
.Sub amp - Alpine MRP-500 mono or similarly priced
.Sony xav-601BT (I like this the best, but won't buy it unless I can track down a tomtom nav unit for it) , OR a pioneer AVIC, OR a pioneer appradio..
.Decent Backup camera


Help!

.What speaker wire to run for the door speakers?
.Other sub-box options? I missed the group buy
.WHAT Navigation unit? They all seem to have their issues, I personally like the sony the best but I know Pioneer is the is-all-be-all so please don't chime in on the sony unless you have one.
.Anything I've missed?



Anyone willing to help a new Subaru guy out?
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Old 02-11-2013, 04:11 PM   #2
luan87us
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The factory speaker wires should be sufficient enough for your set up. But if you want the absoblute best for the car then I read 14-16 awg wires are good for speakers. That's all I can really tell you. For the other stuff you should hit up some local car audio store and listen and test thing out to see what you like better. I don't know jack about subwoofer boxes.
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Old 02-11-2013, 04:49 PM   #3
dsn112
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No need to run wire to the doors, Subaru already did that for you. You can debate it all you want, but for the average amp, you are more than fine unless you only listen to it at max output all the time. I run my JL amp through my factory wiring and have done that on a ton of installs. Most people would have no idea which way you installed if unless they were told.
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Old 02-11-2013, 05:54 PM   #4
mulagain
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swoyekr View Post

Help!

.What speaker wire to run for the door speakers?
.Other sub-box options? I missed the group buy
.WHAT Navigation unit? They all seem to have their issues, I personally like the sony the best but I know Pioneer is the is-all-be-all so please don't chime in on the sony unless you have one.
.Anything I've missed?
Knukonceptz closeouts - 10 GA is overkill but at this price you won't find better wire. While I won't debate that OEM wiring will work 'fine' it depends on your long term goals. This wire is cheap and gives you a ton of headroom in the event you ever start putting real power in your can.

Subthump is 10x better than the AI box, and 1/3rd the price. Mine is modded



Assuming you don't have OEM Nav? I actually have nothing but good things to say about the FW602US (2012+), minus the DSP which isn't great.

I'm partial to Macintosh and Eclipse, but I'd recommend looking for something with built in Param EQ, Time Alignment, Xover, etc. All depends on your budget but if you aren't planning on getting a DSP, get a well known brand with DSP onboard.
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Old 02-11-2013, 07:09 PM   #5
swoyekr
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Exclamation

Thanks guys. That box is a way better deal, but I have a sedan.

For wiring the amp inline, do I just run my wires up behind the receiver?

Any input on a good head unit. Seems like other than navigation holding me back I should just go with a good single din. Any recommendations on a nav? I've used them all at the stores and they all seem pretty clunky and just ok at best.
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Old 02-11-2013, 07:34 PM   #6
tmburke
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swoyekr do you have a smartphone? That could play a factor in your choice of HU....
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Old 02-11-2013, 08:32 PM   #7
swoyekr
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iPhone 5. The appradio seems legit, I don't like the idea of being ties to my iPhone though... What if I loose service? That 1 time is going to irritate me more than the 100% it works fine around town. What are you running?
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Old 02-12-2013, 03:55 AM   #8
mulagain
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swoyekr View Post
Thanks guys. That box is a way better deal, but I have a sedan.

For wiring the amp inline, do I just run my wires up behind the receiver?

Any input on a good head unit. Seems like other than navigation holding me back I should just go with a good single din. Any recommendations on a nav? I've used them all at the stores and they all seem pretty clunky and just ok at best.
Check subthump.com. Pretty sure they make a box for the sedan for about the same price.
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Old 02-12-2013, 11:01 AM   #9
Badtiming
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swoyekr View Post
iPhone 5. The appradio seems legit, I don't like the idea of being ties to my iPhone though... What if I loose service? That 1 time is going to irritate me more than the 100% it works fine around town. What are you running?
The app radio has a lot of bad reviews.
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Old 02-12-2013, 09:14 PM   #10
mikereiser
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I ran an mrp450 amp for about 2.5 years maxed out and always pushing it and never had an issue, except once it went in to protect mode on me in the middle of the summer on a hot day with max volume, and it kicked back on in about 5 min. Great amp for the price. Cant really go wrong with alpine. You may also want to look at some 5 channels, JL makes some pretty solid amps also.

As far as speaker wiring, any 14-16 gauge will work, you could cheat and tap in to factory wiring behind the head unit, but if your gonna have everything apart and installed at the same time, i would suggest just doing direct wiring from the speaker to the amp.

For a headunit, i would suggest looking at pioneer or eclipse, i would stay away from sonys car audio products.

Also, you may want to look into some sound deadening, i would do the doors while the panels are off, fatmat is a good company, cheaper and thicker than dynamat.
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Old 02-13-2013, 11:20 AM   #11
phenryiv1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dsn112 View Post
No need to run wire to the doors, Subaru already did that for you. You can debate it all you want, but for the average amp, you are more than fine unless you only listen to it at max output all the time. I run my JL amp through my factory wiring and have done that on a ton of installs. Most people would have no idea which way you installed if unless they were told.
I agree. I have a thread in here discussing it and I did a writeup on how to do it on my website once I get to a computer I will post a link.
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Old 02-13-2013, 03:42 PM   #12
Mike 01Hawk
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swoyekr View Post
.What speaker wire to run for the door speakers?
18g Wally World special routed to the harness which will then use OEM wire to the doors. Cheap, effective, and you can go back to stock w/o ANY fuss. I'm bumpin 150w thru stock wire, pounds just fine.

Quote:
Originally Posted by swoyekr View Post
.Other sub-box options? I missed the group buy
http://www.wickedcas.com/home.php?cat=5
I went getto though and got a cheap ass $20 PE box cause I needed to hit $100 for free shipping. #WINNING!!!


More info: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...0&postcount=36

Quote:
Originally Posted by swoyekr View Post
.WHAT Navigation unit? They all seem to have their issues, I personally like the sony the best but I know Pioneer is the is-all-be-all so please don't chime in on the sony unless you have one.
No idea, that's what my smartphone is for. Nav HUs = $$$$$$$

Quote:
Originally Posted by swoyekr View Post
.Anything I've missed?
Metra speaker connects for the front. This way you don't have to cut into your door wiring. Just hook these up and then run wires to your x-overs
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002BBP7Y
PAC LC1 Bass knob for the sub:


Personally I'd ditch the multi amp setup and the rear speakers. Just power your stock OEM's off the HU. This little puppy is AWESSSSSOME. I <3 it so. Powers my fronts and bridged the rears to power my sub.


More info: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=2446810
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