IT'S ALIVE {so far}
06-28-2003, 07:19 AM
#1
50 Watt CAFz'r
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 307
Well folks, I don't know how many of you will consider the system I have built and installed in my '88 Ford Econoline van, high powered, but for me it it's a first. The Sony deck is a CDX-C4750 AM/FM/single disk. A Sony EXM 302 driving 5 1/2" Clarion 45w[165 peak] in the doors, a Jenson A600HLX driving Sony Xplode 6x9"'s 100w[200peak] out of the front channel and Pioneer 8" 175w[300 peak]subs's out of the rear. I put the amp's in a wooden box that stands between the front seats and has the twin cup/cd holder screwed to the hinged lid, and a false bottom to carry the extra cd's, cell phone, spare sun glasses, ect.It stands 2" off the floor and has 1" wide air slots front to back in the bottom. A computer power supply lost it's 12 volt cooling fan to vent air out. 10 G.supply wire w/40 amp. monster fuse to a distro. block powers and grounds the amps.[Note to Self... Don't forget to up-grade the body to batt. ground wire. What comes must out, must go back.] The next install is insulation all around, as the van body is bare steel, except for the now buzzing plastic door panel's. Yah, it's a mis-mash but total cost is less than $500, it's louder than the 7.3 L deisel and the 2x65 mph air conditioning! P.S. Anyone know where I can get hearing protection for my dog Bob?
06-28-2003, 10:04 AM
#3
50 Watt CAFz'r
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 307
Wish I could afford the factory stuff but may have to make do with whatever I can scrounge. Starifoam panels, wood, carpet ect. Planning to work in a storage box/bed combo. I'm a scuba diver also so need to haul/stash large heavy wet stuff. Amps, Volts & Watts don't mix well w/ water. [img]smile.gif[/img]
06-30-2003, 03:54 AM
#4
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Darn,[not my first choise of word but this is a family friendly board so....] but this car [van] audio is addictive stuff! Spent most of yesterday head down in the amp box! Rewiring speakers to amps in different order, setting gains, ect. Settled on the Sony amp running the Xplodes [level set to 7/8, no gain settings, darn], Clarion's outa the front channel[set to high pass] and the Pioneerer's outa the rear channels [set to low pass], so now the remote bass level works. Moved the Sony's the the back of the van body and am working on brackets to get them off the floor and up to head height, firing forward. The sub's are aimed at the back, from behind the bench seat. My thinking is the sound will travel to the rear, bounce and fill the space. I don't think I have enough power to worry about standing waves or things like that, do I? The Jenson amp is 2-4-8 ohm stable and bridgable.Oh oh, new plan, I bridge the amp, run both subs mono, and get almost 175 w to the pair. ARGHHHHHhhh. Why did I ever start this monster??? [img]smile.gif[/img] Dose it ever end? 
Oh well, stay TUNED![puny, don' ya think?]
And I got the body to batt. ground wired with 10g. also!
PLAY IT PROUD PLAY IT LOUD
[ June 30, 2003, 04:59 AM: Message edited by: Drysuit John ]
Oh well, stay TUNED![puny, don' ya think?] And I got the body to batt. ground wired with 10g. also!
PLAY IT PROUD PLAY IT LOUD
[ June 30, 2003, 04:59 AM: Message edited by: Drysuit John ]
06-30-2003, 09:42 AM
#5
As a fellow E series van owner, I can tell you a couple of things to keep an eye on... 
First off, I thought the front doors on the E series all had 5 X 7s in them, so I'm learning something new here again... [img]smile.gif[/img] I have a buddy here with yet another van which we added a pair of 6X9s in the bottom of the front doors, wired them in parallel with the 5X7s, and managed to get a strong front stage out of them. It's not accurate enough for the fanatics, but the need to overcome road noise took priority.
Next, the rear door speakers were a waste of time. I ran the wires for them in mine, put panels in to hold a pair of 6X9s and hooked up a 50X2 amp to them. Problem is, they are so far away, and the sound from the front doors drowned them out completely. I would get the front end and subs set up first, then see if you still need or want the rears.
Now for the bottom end...
You have probably already noticed there is absolutely no cabin gain at all...if anything, all that extra distance gets you is a very small low frequency extension. I have my subs slot loaded into the floor facing the rear, and the loss of SPL is frightening. If you are running a pair of 8s, I would suggest building a small enclosure between the seats, or under the bench if you have one. Face them forward or slot load them to the front or you will be disappointed with the bass. I used some closed cell 1/2" foam insulation on all the body panels I could glue the stuff to and it cut down on the 'ringing' sounds at higher volume levels.
Bottom line with a vehicle this size is keep as much of the sound up front as you can, because anything either coming from the back, or pointed towards the back, will not be audible enough to be worth the aggavation of installing it. The other option is to build a wall...this will keep all the sound up-front and give you something to mount the amps to.
If you want more details, email me and I can help you out.... [img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]
HTH
First off, I thought the front doors on the E series all had 5 X 7s in them, so I'm learning something new here again... [img]smile.gif[/img] I have a buddy here with yet another van which we added a pair of 6X9s in the bottom of the front doors, wired them in parallel with the 5X7s, and managed to get a strong front stage out of them. It's not accurate enough for the fanatics, but the need to overcome road noise took priority.
Next, the rear door speakers were a waste of time. I ran the wires for them in mine, put panels in to hold a pair of 6X9s and hooked up a 50X2 amp to them. Problem is, they are so far away, and the sound from the front doors drowned them out completely. I would get the front end and subs set up first, then see if you still need or want the rears.
Now for the bottom end...
You have probably already noticed there is absolutely no cabin gain at all...if anything, all that extra distance gets you is a very small low frequency extension. I have my subs slot loaded into the floor facing the rear, and the loss of SPL is frightening. If you are running a pair of 8s, I would suggest building a small enclosure between the seats, or under the bench if you have one. Face them forward or slot load them to the front or you will be disappointed with the bass. I used some closed cell 1/2" foam insulation on all the body panels I could glue the stuff to and it cut down on the 'ringing' sounds at higher volume levels.Bottom line with a vehicle this size is keep as much of the sound up front as you can, because anything either coming from the back, or pointed towards the back, will not be audible enough to be worth the aggavation of installing it. The other option is to build a wall...this will keep all the sound up-front and give you something to mount the amps to.
If you want more details, email me and I can help you out.... [img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]
HTH
07-09-2003, 10:54 AM
#6
50 Watt CAFz'r
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 307
I had to make an emergency trip to Kitchener, smog was killing my lady and NO part time job is worth that so.... Anyway, while I was there I picked up the proper sized non-ported twin sub box. They are single voice coil sub's so no re-wiring, Jenson amp isn't 2 ohm mono stable, rats! The sub's are faced forward, behind the bench seat. What a difference the right box makes 
The 6x9's brackets are under design and fab will start tonight, I hope [img]smile.gif[/img] They will end up tight in the top rear corner's, the amp running them is a 30w. x 2, so I maxed it and played with the front level's to get a good sound balance. I installed the Clarion 5 1/2" in the front door panel's where the ex-owner had his, but there is lots of room for 5x7's or 6x9's. I thought about putting the 6x9's in the rear door's but that would leave then to low and close to wet and heavy gear. I also picked up a sodering gun to heat cut the stari-foan[sp] sheets that a buddie gets from work to insulate the body for heat/cold and sound.
The 6x9's brackets are under design and fab will start tonight, I hope [img]smile.gif[/img] They will end up tight in the top rear corner's, the amp running them is a 30w. x 2, so I maxed it and played with the front level's to get a good sound balance. I installed the Clarion 5 1/2" in the front door panel's where the ex-owner had his, but there is lots of room for 5x7's or 6x9's. I thought about putting the 6x9's in the rear door's but that would leave then to low and close to wet and heavy gear. I also picked up a sodering gun to heat cut the stari-foan[sp] sheets that a buddie gets from work to insulate the body for heat/cold and sound.
08-05-2003, 05:36 AM
#8
50 Watt CAFz'r
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 307
Well the 6x9's are still bouncing around on the floor, no sound deadener installed yet, but I have recieved LOTS of comments about how clear and balanced the system sounds. [img]smile.gif[/img] The audio gods have smiled upon this newbie. Thank you all for your posts and links to helpful sites. Question: What are the proper definations for "SQ" and "SPL"? I see then tossed around here and haven't been able to find exactly what each means. Thanks again.
Thank you all for your posts and links to helpful sites. Question: What are the proper definations for "SQ" and "SPL"? I see then tossed around here and haven't been able to find exactly what each means. Thanks again.
08-05-2003, 08:15 AM
#9
SQ= Sound Quality, emphasis on proper staging/imaging, balanced sound. The idea is to set up your system to mimic sitting at a live concert, by having all of the instruments placed on the stage in front of you, but in your vehicle.
SPL= Sound Pressure Level, emphasis on output, loudness, heavy bass. I am sure someone else can elaborate on this more than I can.
SPL= Sound Pressure Level, emphasis on output, loudness, heavy bass. I am sure someone else can elaborate on this more than I can.
10-15-2003, 08:32 PM
#10
50 Watt CAFz'r
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 307
Well I got my Lady back from the smog and crowds of Southern Ont safely. We moved and the puter wouldn't talk to the H.S. modem untill I replaced the cable between them but I'm back online now. The 6x9's are still bouncing around in the back of the van but hope springs eternal that some day I'll get them mounted in place.
[ October 16, 2003, 08:51 PM: Message edited by: Drysuit John ]
[ October 16, 2003, 08:51 PM: Message edited by: Drysuit John ]
