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03-10-2013, 08:47 AM | #1 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280744
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Vehicle:2009 CTSV 1,216whp Black Raven |
From Stock to Passive to Active: My 2011 WRX Audio Story
I have always been an audio geek. There hasn't been one car that I have owned in my lifetime that wasn't stripped and redone to get rid of the horrible mess that manufacturers call audio. Here is now everything progressed since I bought the car in June of 2011.
The first thing I did was get rid of the stock head unit in favor of the Pioneer Premiere F90BT. Given that the 2011+ cars came with actual 2-way speakers in the doors, the aftermarket HU actually did a lot to prove sound. The factory HU has almost zero power to it and you can tell as soon as you pick one up. They weigh nothing. The first speaker swap was for the Hertz 165XL 2 way components with passive crossovers. A friend of mine made and wrapped the a pillars to accept the tweeter and move the front stage forward in the car. They were powered with a DLS RA30 3 way amp under the driver's seat. That also went to a Dayton HF 10" subwoofer in an Audio Integrations box. After messing with the F90BT for awhile, I didn't really like the overall look in the car. I got rid the F90BT head unit in favor of the Pioneer X930BT. It was the head unit that most resembled the interior and had the best functions at the time. Ironically enough, Subaru thought so too and the Canada spec WRX's and STI's got this head unit as the factory option for navigation. I then swapped out the DLS RA30 for the new (at the time) Hertz HDP4 4 way amp for more power on a smaller footprint. The additional power to the sub started heating the voice coil of the Dayton, so I switched that out for a JL Audio 10" W3v2.
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03-10-2013, 08:48 AM | #2 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280744
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Vehicle:2009 CTSV 1,216whp Black Raven |
I actually stayed with this setup for awhile. It wasn't until a friend offered me custom 3 way setup a-pillars that I decided to start working on the audio again. At first, I just added some Tang Band 3.5" Bamboo drivers to the Hertz 165XL components and hooked up a JBL MS-8 for the processing. The Tang's and the Hertz tweeters were being powered off of the MS-8 while the Hertz HDP4 handled the power for the midbass Hertz drivers in the doors and the JL Audio W3 sub.
This setup was ok but the tweeters and mids really needed more power. Then...when the car got wrecked (thanks to a guy running a red light and t-boning my car)...insurance was covering new speakers. That is when things got a little nuts and here is now the car is sitting now. |
03-10-2013, 08:48 AM | #3 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280744
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Vehicle:2009 CTSV 1,216whp Black Raven |
The is the audio system that is completely installed at this point. To recap, I wanted audiophile grade sound in my car without losing a bit of function. To accomplish this, an Audio Integrations box was used for the hatch and the amps/processors were installed underneath both front seats. That doesn't make for the prettiest "show off" install, but it does get the job done without any sacrifice in the car's interior.
Here is the new layout as it is installed now. The Pioneer X930BT Source Unit The Hertz HDP4 (powers Peerless SLS 6.5" Midbasses and JL 8" W3v2) and Power Block Rockford Fosgate 3.sixty.3 Processor Massive BX4 (powers Scanspeak Discovery 10F 4" midranges and LPG Tweeters) LPG Aluminum Dome Tweeters and Scanspeak Discovery 10F 4" Midranges in fiberglassed a-pillars covered in black Alcantara by JPM Coachworks Last edited by rsutton1223; 03-11-2013 at 07:13 AM. |
03-10-2013, 08:48 AM | #4 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280744
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Vehicle:2009 CTSV 1,216whp Black Raven |
1-1/4" Spacer for Peerless SLS made by friend on DIYMA
Peerless SLS 6.5" Midbasses installed with duct sealant and sealed doors JL Audio 10" W3v2 Subwoofer in Audio Integrations Box Rockford Fosgate 3.sixty.3 Controller Now the fun part...the tuning begins... |
03-10-2013, 02:25 PM | #5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 346203
Join Date: Feb 2013
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: North Jersey
Vehicle:2011 WRX Premium Hat SWP |
wow man, fantastic job. That looks dope and I can only imagine how it sounds. Did you add dynamat or a similar product to the trunk or other places? Or just in the door?
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03-10-2013, 02:59 PM | #6 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280744
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Vehicle:2009 CTSV 1,216whp Black Raven |
I basically lined the car. I still have a couple more rattles to hunt down but that helped tremendously.
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03-10-2013, 03:32 PM | #7 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 333583
Join Date: Sep 2012
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: South Jersey
Vehicle:2010 Legacy GT Limit OB |
Great job on your stereo integration. I have a nib a massive BX4 that I'm going to use for my Vw build. I also had a BX2 that I was going to bridge to power my Kenwood Excelon flat subwoofer, but I sold them both to another Legacy owner.
My Subaru is set as follows, Alpine IVE W530 as my source Pioneer stage4 6.5 components with the tweeters of axis in my A pillars Powering those is my Mosconi AS100.4 amp No rear fill CDT QES1220 SQ subwoofer Powering that is my Mosconi Zero3 amp bridged As far as processing since I run active is my Zapco DSP Z8... |
03-10-2013, 04:06 PM | #8 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 144421
Join Date: Mar 2007
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: San Diego
Vehicle:2012 STi ltd DGM |
This is cool. Seeing your pillars makes me want to chop up mine and put my HAT L4's up there.
How do you like the that 3.sixty.3 as compared the the MS-8? I've been contemplating redoing my entire setup and not sure what I want to try next for tuning. My STi sits like this: Stock Nav H/U, JBL MS-8 HAT L1R2's 90deg off axis in stock sails location. Hat L4's in kick pods Hat L6's Stock door location. 2 Dayton HO 10's in a 1.3cu 30hz ported box Alpine PDX 4.100 - runs the tweets and mid ranges Alpine PDx 4.100 - Bridged and runs the L6's Alpine M12 for the subs. Wouldn't mind getting my hands on some Mosconi/Zapco/Audison products myself lol. |
03-10-2013, 04:17 PM | #9 | ||
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280744
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Vehicle:2009 CTSV 1,216whp Black Raven |
Quote:
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03-10-2013, 04:34 PM | #10 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 144421
Join Date: Mar 2007
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: San Diego
Vehicle:2012 STi ltd DGM |
I got a build thread some where in here lol. Never did really finish the trunk and I guess it could use some updates. My fab skillz are nothing great, but it gets the job done. Anyway here ya go.
Kicks Tweets: |
03-11-2013, 09:20 AM | #11 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 279660
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: STL
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good lord robb, when you do things you really do them. jesus.
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03-11-2013, 04:44 PM | #12 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 309481
Join Date: Feb 2012
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Granite Falls, WA
Vehicle:2011 OBSwirl WRX 2004 FXT "Tucker" |
Quote:
Rsutton, what is the little JBL screen? Also, does the HU come factory with the start up screen that says Subaru WRX? I assume it would be only ones that were installed in the Canada spec cars? Little things like that make me all giddy haha Last edited by imac6471; 03-11-2013 at 04:53 PM. |
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03-11-2013, 05:51 PM | #13 | ||
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280744
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Vehicle:2009 CTSV 1,216whp Black Raven |
Quote:
Quote:
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03-12-2013, 07:54 AM | #14 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 334780
Join Date: Oct 2012
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Atlanta
Vehicle:2013 STi Limited 4dr Crystal Black Silica |
u wild man, I want to hear what some of my self-produced tracks sound like in there |
03-12-2013, 08:14 AM | #15 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 335013
Join Date: Oct 2012
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
Location: SL,UT
Vehicle:2013 Premium WRX 5dr WRB |
Man that's some legit sound upgrades.
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03-12-2013, 08:59 AM | #16 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 334780
Join Date: Oct 2012
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Atlanta
Vehicle:2013 STi Limited 4dr Crystal Black Silica |
sup luan!
Yeah I sat in his car last week (before he tuned the audio setup) and it was life changing. although, going for a ride around some twisties with that turbo / motor setup was also a trip |
03-12-2013, 09:24 AM | #17 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 335013
Join Date: Oct 2012
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
Location: SL,UT
Vehicle:2013 Premium WRX 5dr WRB |
I wouldn't sit in his car because that'll make me hate my own car afterward lol.
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03-13-2013, 08:03 AM | #18 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 290734
Join Date: Aug 2011
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Pittsburgh. PA
Vehicle:2012 WRB WRX Hatch 2015 Forester XT |
Are the stock HF speakers still active? I see in one pic that something is still in there.
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03-13-2013, 08:23 AM | #19 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280744
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Vehicle:2009 CTSV 1,216whp Black Raven |
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03-14-2013, 11:41 AM | #20 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 318219
Join Date: Apr 2012
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Vehicle:2012 Impreza WRX Obsidian Black Pearl |
Any reason you chose the X930BT over the AV84000 from pioneer? I am in the market for a new H/U and am having some difficulty choosing between the to. You're input would be greatly appreciated.
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03-20-2013, 01:13 PM | #21 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280744
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Vehicle:2009 CTSV 1,216whp Black Raven |
I ended up going to a car audio meet this past weekend, and it has given me the bug to expand.
I started work on the trunk last night... First, the setup you see here is really just a proof of concept. I was hoping that I could just use MDF for the subwoofer enclosure and build around that...but I am just losing too much airspace under the enclosure. It ends up making the floor higher than I want and I don't like being inefficient with space. It looks like I am going to have to learn how to make a fiberglass enclosure after all. This will, however, give me a chance to test the staging in the car before diving head first into the deep end, so it isn't a complete waste of time. Let me start by saying that this is not the prettiest box I have ever made. I am almost embarrassed to post pictures of it. I think after my brain went "this is not the final product" quality took a hike. That said, there are four things this box does do.
I ended up using more duct sealant around the mount and now the driver is almost impossible to push in the box is sealed so well. Here is my new JL Audio 13TW5v2-4 in the enclosure. I have always wanted a hatch with an upward firing sub ever since a friend of mine had a Civic with that setup back in the 90's. |
03-20-2013, 01:14 PM | #22 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280744
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Vehicle:2009 CTSV 1,216whp Black Raven |
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03-20-2013, 01:49 PM | #23 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 335013
Join Date: Oct 2012
Chapter/Region:
RMIC
Location: SL,UT
Vehicle:2013 Premium WRX 5dr WRB |
Thinking about wrapping some of my interior piece in CF wrap. And where did you get taht Subaru WRX start up screen? I want it for my OEM NAV unit.
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03-20-2013, 02:22 PM | #24 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280744
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Vehicle:2009 CTSV 1,216whp Black Raven |
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03-24-2013, 02:52 PM | #25 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 280744
Join Date: Apr 2011
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Vehicle:2009 CTSV 1,216whp Black Raven |
Yeah...time to kick it up to a whole new level...
Productive weekend on the new audio setup. The trunk is prepped for the fiberglass work as well. |
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