Car audio install in progress (pics)

[Captainobvious]

I sold the 2005 and upgraded to a 2013 MS3 a little while back. I'm working on the audio install now. I have well over 500 pics of all the work leading up until where I'm at now so I'll just throw a few in here to speed it up. Ask any questions and I can tell you what I did.

Kicks:





Kicks (midrange/tweeter):







Still have some trimming and framing to do to complete these.



Trunk/Sub:









Test fitting

[CWP_MS3]

Looks fuckin sweet from my view! -__-


#fuckinternetblockers

[Captainobvious]

The plan:
















Wiring- Yes it's overkill, but I appreciate a really clean wiring job.


Needed to extend some wiring in the kick area to accomodate the kick pods.



Wiring junction.



DSP/Line driver/Source wiring





Ground wire



Under the hood. Techflexed, heat shrinked and tie wrapped in place. (Still have to make the battery connections)

[soul.survivor]

Zapco makes really nice amps...used to have a couple of them. Not sure why you're using plywood for the sub box though, seems like MDF would be a much better choice due to resonance.

Oh yea, might be a little late but you can remove the cowl pretty easily and run the power under it for a cleaner look.

[Captainobvious]

Originally Posted by CWP_MS3 Looks fuckin sweet from my view! -__- #fuckinternetblockers

Hmmm...refresh? They are photobucket pics and I see them when I refresh the page...?

[CWP_MS3]

Originally Posted by Captainobvious Hmmm...refresh? They are photobucket pics and I see them when I refresh the page...?

No, my work blocks photobucket. Its not you. Its gay.

[ThatGuy]

Damn nice work! Way to much weight for my taste but it looks like you know your shit.

[Captainobvious]

Originally Posted by soul.survivor Zapco makes really nice amps...used to have a couple of them. Not sure why you're using plywood for the sub box though, seems like MDF would be a much better choice due to resonance. Oh yea, might be a little late but you can remove the cowl pretty easily and run the power under it for a cleaner look.

MDF is horrible in any area where it could be exposed to water. Since I live in the northeast and there could be times when things with snow on them might make it back there, I don't want that crap swelling up. This is solid Birch ply so should be fine. I can always add some internal bracing if it's required. It's not a very large enclosure so I'm not overly concerned with flex. Plus, it was glued, clamped and screwed and additional braces added at the corners.


As for the cowl- hmm, I didn't even consider that. Thanks for that heads up though !

[Captainobvious]

Trunk wiring- (Not complete yet, but very close). Making the enclosure and back board removable allows you to do some of this tedious work outside of the car. It really saves your back as it's a pain in the nutz to do it in those tight quarters.

[Block8head]

Wow,

[JTMS3]

You'll need a turbo upgrade just to hit stock #s again. Either way, it's clean but I would say overkill for this car. That's what honduhs are for.


Sent using stupid fucking Swype!

[RdotQelo]

Looks good man. Real clean.

[Captainobvious]

Originally Posted by JTMS3 You'll need a turbo upgrade just to hit stock #s again. Either way, it's clean but I would say overkill for this car. That's what honduhs are for. Sent using stupid fucking Swype!

I'm actually not too concerned about the added weight (or making more power to account for the slight drop in power:weight ratio). The MS3 moves plenty quick and is still a blast to drive either way. I don't/won't be tracking my car and I enjoy a nice audio system (will likely compete in SQL) so it's definitely worth it for me. It's overkill for the average Joe, sure. But for a competition worthy system I think it's about right.

[silvapain]

I typically don't care for ridiculous sound systems, but I appreciate and respect the level of craftsmanship. Quite nice!

[Lancer-AM]

Way to go man, I love to see people taking their time on an audio install. It really pays off in the final product.

[Captainobvious]

Thanks guys. I'll post up more as it progresses.

[rdjr74]

Can I come over hang out drink beer and watch this magic in action? I love me some projects but this is something have not an once of experience with. Well done man!

[helmetface]

Went through your whole thread on DIYMA a while back Capt, very nice work.

You should link the DIYMA thread, there are lots of nice pics there.

[Captainobvious]

Originally Posted by rdjr74 Can I come over hang out drink beer and watch this magic in action? I love me some projects but this is something have not an once of experience with. Well done man!

Hah, thanks man, much appreciated

Originally Posted by helmetface Went through your whole thread on DIYMA a while back Capt, very nice work. You should link the DIYMA thread, there are lots of nice pics there.

Thanks, and here it is:

2013 Mazdaspeed 3 - Car Audio | DiyMobileAudio.com | Car Stereo Forum



BTW, there are more updates there for those interested.

[Pseudonym]

glad to see you brought a condensed version of this over here. hurry up and finish.

[Captainobvious]

Hah, thanks Pseudo.

I'm trying to work out the tune for this weekend, and then after that the cosmetic pieces and touch-ups begin.

[RBMS3]

holy jesus christ... looks awsome man! great job! imo you should of wrapped the boxing in the same carpet cloth. but still looks great ! cant wait to see the finished product man !

[RallySportDirect]

WOW very nice, I can appreciate a high quality car stereo install. Is this just a hobby of yours? If I had to guess I'd say you do or have worked at a stereo install shop at one point with the level of expertise shown here.

[5doorsoffury]

I am a little confused with your kick panels. On the driver side kick panel there is a speaker provision that you made in the fist picture but then the pictures further down the passenger side has mids and tweets (square grills)?

Your wires are nicely covered. I went with the black loom taped going over the radiator since i was scared or the heat from the turbo. Amp rack looks sweet gj.

[Jsn_Rob]

Looks good. Well done. Zappco amps thump!

[Lostmytune]

Looks awesome. I've done some el cheapo installs in my day this is 110% legit. Should hit solid

[Mizzle]

plywood?

[The Nut]

I too don't get the custom kick panel for a 6.5" mid bass driver on one side and mid & tweet on the other. I speak from experience that using the factory locations for components sounds great with upgraded speakers. (And requires a lot less time.) But the idea of spreading 1 channel to 2 sides if the vehicle in the first place makes no sense to me.

Your amp board looks clean as hell I will say. Way to go!

[Jeremy M]

the idea behind using kick panels for a 6.5" midbass, means he will be actually enclosing the mid in a sealed box, which nets you stronger midbass and u can give the midbass more power usually. Also the custom location for his mid/tweet allow him to either aim the tweet/mid on axis or off axis depending on what they need to sound "more" accurate. remember, he's going for a SQL system and may compete. he does not want just a system that is loud, it has to get loud but sound good doing it too

[The Nut]

Originally Posted by Jeremy M the idea behind using kick panels for a 6.5" midbass, means he will be actually enclosing the mid in a sealed box, which nets you stronger midbass and u can give the midbass more power usually. Also the custom location for his mid/tweet allow him to either aim the tweet/mid on axis or off axis depending on what they need to sound "more" accurate. remember, he's going for a SQL system and may compete. he does not want just a system that is loud, it has to get loud but sound good doing it too

I invite anyone that wants to, to come hear my system. I built mine over a long period of time using a lot of research into what types of speakers, their locations, and their sound curves when putting mine together. My stereo is fully sound staged for the driver and is of the best audio quality (for the money) that I've heard. I used sound deadening in the doors and custom magnet cups in the factory locations to produce the best possible tonal clarity and still keep a stealth look. The tweets are direction adjustable beneath the factory grills. Because of the way sound waves propogate above 1Khtz, there is nothing to be gained by placing them on the floor, and only on one side. Your highs will get swallowed by the carpet, center console, passengers seat & a passenger.
You can ask any members of this forum that live in L.A. and has heard my system. My stereo may not break my windows, but the work I've put in will rival any system costing twice as much.

[JTMS3]

My pu has clear and quality sound at low volume and sounds just as sweet at high volume. All I did was rip and replace the shitty Bose's speakers and amp to accomplish this and add some bass in the hatch to level it off. To me this car is too much like tin can with all the rattling from my engine mounts, I can't imagine turning it into one huge speaker with these builds. To each their own and I applaud the build/work and look but its overkill in my opinion.



Sent using stupid fucking Swype!

[The Nut]

Originally Posted by JTMS3 My pu has clear and quality sound at low volume and sounds just as sweet at high volume. All I did was rip and replace the shitty Bose's speakers and amp to accomplish this and add some bass in the hatch to level it off. To me this car is too much like tin can with all the rattling from my engine mounts, I can't imagine turning it into one huge speaker with these builds. To each their own and I applaud the build/work and look but its overkill in my opinion. Sent using stupid fucking Swype!

No rattles in my car. Unless I have sunglasses in the sunglass holder,

[Pseudonym]

Originally Posted by The Nut I invite anyone that wants to, to come hear my system. I built mine over a long period of time using a lot of research into what types of speakers, their locations, and their sound curves when putting mine together. My stereo is fully sound staged for the driver and is of the best audio quality (for the money) that I've heard. I used sound deadening in the doors and custom magnet cups in the factory locations to produce the best possible tonal clarity and still keep a stealth look. The tweets are direction adjustable beneath the factory grills. Because of the way sound waves propogate above 1Khtz, there is nothing to be gained by placing them on the floor, and only on one side. Your highs will get swallowed by the carpet, center console, passengers seat & a passenger. You can ask any members of this forum that live in L.A. and has heard my system. My stereo may not break my windows, but the work I've put in will rival any system costing twice as much.

what are magnet cups and what do they do?

[The Nut]

Originally Posted by Pseudonym what are magnet cups and what do they do?

A small speaker enclosure.

[Pseudonym]

Originally Posted by The Nut A small speaker enclosure.

ahh, that makes more sense. you really dont understand the benefits of having your speakers an equal distance to the ear as well as aimed uniformly to create a proper soundstage?

[JTMS3]

Originally Posted by The Nut No rattles in my car. Unless I have sunglasses in the sunglass holder,

I'm not talking about rattles from my sound system.

Sent using stupid fucking Swype!

[The Nut]

Originally Posted by Pseudonym ahh, that makes more sense. you really dont understand the benefits of having your speakers an equal distance to the ear as well as aimed uniformly to create a proper soundstage?

Are you asking me?

Originally Posted by JTMS3 I'm not talking about rattles from my sound system. Sent using stupid fucking Swype!

Neither was I.

[krispyskustoms]

I love the work here but don't have a clue whats going on with the kicks. Am I understanding right that the driver side has a mid bass and the passenger side has a mid bass and tweet? Kick panels are the prefered location for drivers because you can get both sides as close as possible to being the same distance apart. That way the music is reaching your ears at the same time. Someone help me wrap my head around this.
Also it's not the flexing of plywood that's the problem. It's that it resonates at the same frequencies as a subwoofer plays. Some competitors use plywood , but will poor resin in the enclosure on each wall to stop the resonating. Just my two cents. Keep up the good work.

[Mizzle]

Just a side-note, you can buy sealer for MDF to prevent water issues.
That said, birch should work out OK but I'd use resin or something to reinforce for sure.
I'm also lost on the mid on the left, tweeter on the right.

[Jeremy M]

Originally Posted by Mizzle Just a side-note, you can buy sealer for MDF to prevent water issues. That said, birch should work out OK but I'd use resin or something to reinforce for sure. I'm also lost on the mid on the left, tweeter on the right.

i've never heard of people putting resin inside a MDF or wood box to prevent resonation(sp?) but i have heard of people running resin around the box to insure their corners are air tight.

he made two sets of molds for each side of the car for the tweet/mid

he showed us a pic of how the woofer mold came out, then how the tweeter would look on the other side...he will have a woofer, mid, and tweet on each side.