Fg Ute Install

[SimonT]

I picked up my FPV F6 Ute on New Year's Eve, having ticked the Premium Audio Upgrade box, expecting a decent stereo, only to be unpleasantly surprised at how crap it is!

So now I'm looking to upgrade it, hoping to get great Sound Quality, preferably with the option to really crank it if the mood desires.

I've had some great systems in past cars, have some experience with car sound and installing, but currently don't have much time to spend installing gear myself, so am relying on a local installer.

His suggestions, which I pretty much agree with, are:

Polk SR6500 Speakers for the front.

Earthquake 10" sub in a ported box behind the driver's seat, firing down, tuned for maximum punch.

Earthquake PH2200W/4 Amp, running the Polks off two channels, and the sub off the other two channels bridged.

Audiocontrol DQL-8 to convert the speaker-outs from the factory deck to RCA's for the Amp.

Rears to be disconnected/unused.

Dynamat everywhere, in doors, behind seats etc....

Does anyone see any problems with this? Expecting to pay under $5k installed, which is a lot of coin, but if the quality is awesome, I guess it's justified.

Any suggestions on how to improve the install? Different speakers, Amp, line-level converter etc?

Cheers!

Simon

Edited 19/01/09 10:22 AM by SimonT

[PHANTMXR6]

Smicky might be along shortly to add some advice, but I reckon it sounds like a good combo.

$5k might be just a tad steep though.

Only other thing I could suggest, unless the installer has already planned this, but to make sure the roof has an adequate dose of noise suppression material added to it also.

Otherwise, good luck.

[smicky]

hehehe thanks Phantom...

Polk SR6500 - seriously nice speaker what what the specs read! good pick!

(not cheap either from memory)

"Earthquake 10" sub in a ported box behind the driver's seat, firing down, tuned for maximum punch."

"Earthquake PH2200W/4 Amp, running the Polks off two channels, and the sub off the other two channels bridged."

Right idea running the sub of 2ch bridged! and the splits off the other 2 chs.... Just wondering which EQ sub you are referring to however...

I'm not personally a fan of EQ gear, however having said that, it is a long time since I have listened to any EQ products... Last time I did, I felt is was over spec'ed and over priced... however this may have changed and is only my personal opinion...

Audiocontrol DQL8 - not a bad bit of gear, however do you need all the features of the DQL8? Would a LC6 be enough? (not to sure of what you are trying to achieve so the DQL8 might be what you are after...

Good idea - Cann the rears... your in a UTE!!! hehehehe

And sound proofing - good idea!

One question but - you are in a ute, is this going to be your everyday drive?

and are you planning on using it as a show car, or just a happy cruiser???

Cos depending on the sub, and the way you are referring to how I think you hope it will sound - LOUD - you may have a couple of less happy ear drums pretty quickly...

$5k.. sounds a little rich to me, however I'm not to sure how much the EQ gear sells for now days... Guess is somewhere about:

Polk - $1000 for the speakers.

Amp - $750

Sub - dont know which model, but maybe about $500

Box - $150

L/C - $750 (not sure since I havent looked at a Audiocontrol for awhile.)

Sound Proofing - $450 (depending on how much "everywhere is")

Cables, fuse etc - $350.

$3950...

Edited 20/01/09 01:57 AM by smicky

[SimonT]

Thanks for your feedback Smicky!

The Polks are supposed to be an awesome speaker, but I'm worried they're overkill. I want sound quality, but can I get away with similarly good quality in a cheaper speaker perhaps?

I'm guessing a 6.5" split will install into the factory locations in the doors and A-Pillar's of the FG with no issues?

I'm not sure exactly what Earthquake 10" sub it will be yet - still waiting to hear back from the installer on that one.

The DQL8 was suggested because of its great EQ and crossover capability. The factory headunit's Treble/Bass, and 5-band EQ probably won't cut it for flattening out the frequency curve.

At over $1300RRP though it is a pretty serious piece of equipment. I would rather pay the price of the LC6i!

The car is my daily driver - I leased a UTE because of the FBT exemptions. The family car is a 300C SRT8 - but the wife drives that one. It has a factory 13 speaker Kicker system that destroys the F6's factory system.

I'm very jealous that the wife's stereo humiliates mine in every respect.

The installer is finalising the quote, and hopefully sharpening the pencil a bit, but I think I may end up sourcing some equipment from overseas, or over the internet locally. The DQL8 can be found on Ebay under $700 Australian, so even with some freight it will come under the local price by hundreds of dollars. Alternatives to Dynamat can also be sourced locally (Ebay) much cheaper than Dynamat from the installer.

smicky - you say the sub may be too loud. Of course, I don't have to turn the volume up (yeah right!) but do you think it will overpower the main speakers?

Cheers!

Edited 20/01/09 05:15 AM by SimonT

[Dirty32]

I was under the impression that most utesters with Audio setups put the Sub behind the passenger seat?

[SimonT]

I figured behind the driver would give the maximum bone-jarring spine-tiggling bass effects, as well as making it more convenient to stash stuff behind the passenger seat as you get in from the driver's side.

But maybe behind the passenger seat is better? Dunno

[Dirty32]

Im pretty sure that the logical setup is to have it behind passenger...

Just like standin too close to a massive speaker in a club, if your too close it sounds sh*t so its best to get a bit of space between the sub and yourself... (at least that's what iv been told).

I know space is limited in a ute cab so that's as far as your gonna get it lol.

[smicky]

Thanks for your feedback Smicky!

Np Mate...

The Polks are supposed to be an awesome speaker, but I'm worried they're overkill. I want sound quality, but can I get away with similarly good quality in a cheaper speaker perhaps?

Overkill - never... The better splits you have up the front the better!!!

I'm guessing a 6.5" split will install into the factory locations in the doors and A-Pillar's of the FG with no issues?

Depends what size the mounting depths are - to be honest, I'm not 100% sure on the depth of the FG stock drivers. Worst case you may need to do a small mod, even a spacer, not a biggy!

I'm not sure exactly what Earthquake 10" sub it will be yet - still waiting to hear back from the installer on that one.

The DQL8 was suggested because of its great EQ and crossover capability. The factory headunit's Treble/Bass, and 5-band EQ probably won't cut it for flattening out the frequency curve.

Yeah, that would prob be about right, I do think that Audiocontrol have a EQ box which can be installed with the LC6 but, so ask the installer if it will be cheaper...

At over $1300RRP though it is a pretty serious piece of equipment. I would rather pay the price of the LC6i!

The car is my daily driver - I leased a UTE because of the FBT exemptions. The family car is a 300C SRT8 - but the wife drives that one. It has a factory 13 speaker Kicker system that destroys the F6's factory system.

I'm very jealous that the wife's stereo humiliates mine in every respect.

Ha ha - all good mate, most AM systems will easily smash that once installed..

The installer is finalising the quote, and hopefully sharpening the pencil a bit, but I think I may end up sourcing some equipment from overseas, or over the internet locally. The DQL8 can be found on Ebay under $700 Australian, so even with some freight it will come under the local price by hundreds of dollars. Alternatives to Dynamat can also be sourced locally (Ebay) much cheaper than Dynamat from the installer.

Just be careful with ebay and imported stock as there is a lot of fake stuff floating around on the net. Dynamat is great stuff, however again if you want to try and save a little there is some stuff from Bunnings one of the guys on here said was really good and cheaper - havent used myself, however should do the job!

smicky - you say the sub may be too loud. Of course, I don't have to turn the volume up (yeah right!) but do you think it will overpower the main speakers?

Ha ha yes - I say that only as a lot of what Earthquake once produced was loud and thrash type Sub, rather then smooth, sweet subs... But yes you dont need to turn it up, however if this is the case - buy something which may be a little more cabin happy... (Again not to sure on the model your installer is looking at, or what EQ have around at the moment...) Overkill v's the splits, should happen if the installer sets everything up correctly.

Cheers!

All good mate, again its not a bad system at all, just a few things we dont know just yet, and therefore not 100% sure, but it should sound sweet and far better then the stock system any way you listen to it!

As for location of sub - bass frequencies are generally referred to as being non directional, therefore it doesnt really matter where it sits... However one reason it would be installed behind the passanger seat is it allows the sub sound waves to carry to the listener (driver) and therefore will sound better - as a figure of speaking...

It will also prevent you getting a feeling of being sucker punched in the kidneys!!!