Stereo upgrades

[ec1 eex]

When I was looking around a while ago I saw that someone had a pod custom made for two speakers and finished in the same leather as the rest of their car. This sat behind and inbetween the seats, and didn't obstruct the rear windscreen vent. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Also, has anyone installed a CD changer themselves? Where is it fitted when you get have it installed when buying the car new? At present, I'm thinking of using the standard pioneer kit as I don't think other head units can use the DAB tuner (unless someone can tell me otherwise?). Come to think of it, can anyone tell me where the DAB tuner is?

Thanks,

Phil

[R666 TUS]

I think it was probably me your thinking of.
The box is made from MDF then covered
in Portland hide and contains two
5 inch Focal subs www.incarmedia.com/index.html?target=Focal_Stock_Ut_sub.html&lang=en-gb
They are very small for subs but sound like
something twice the size.Let me know if you want
me to mail you a pic and I will take a decent one tomorrow.

Col.

[J_S_G]

R666 TUS said:

I think it was probably me your thinking of. The box is made from MDF then covered in Portland hide and contains two 5 inch Focal subs www.incarmedia.com/index.html?target=Focal_Stock_Ut_sub.html&lang=en-gb They are very small for subs but sound like something twice the size.Let me know if you want me to mail you a pic and I will take a decent one tomorrow.

I'd be interested in a pic of that, cheers.

[ec1 eex]

That sounds like the one. I'd appreciate a pic thanks. (my email has been sent to you off the board, but I'll be happy to host the picture for posting here if you've no objection)
Phil

[TUS 373]

You may like to check out what this company does. They did Brendan O'Connor's Tuscan (A £6K job IIRC) and show it on their website. They have also done a little modification for me. Top notch stuff. Not cheap, but probably the best. It should give you some ideas of what is possible.

Help it helps,
Bryan

www.sqplus.com/htdocs/index2.html

Go to 'installs', 'wild' then find TVR Tuscan second one down.

>> Edited by TUS 373 on Thursday 15th April 09:32

[powerlord]

just a suggestion, but if you get a head unit that plays mp3s, you don't really need a changer.. 10 albums on a CD... so you've got all you'll get in a changer already.. plus a wee wallet of 10 more mp3 cds, and you have 100 albums in your car.

just a thought.

[Plotloss]

Get some plywood, some MDF, an old t-shirt, some fibreglass resin and matting and save yourself a small fortune.

Stereo installation is mostly money for jam until you get up into the BIG money...

[Del Boy]

Mines an 03 too, so your DAB tuner will 'probably' be in the same place as mine, in the boot. As you look in, against the outer wall, on your right hand side. You should just be able to notice a square cut in the carpet and its been screwed back.

Any head unit you buy that has the DAB facility should work. I have an up graded Pioneer with a DAB tuner and it works. The reception is not great though and I have just asked Castles (where to car is again!) to find the actual aerial for me, so that I can move this to where I can get a better recetion.

If you have the same reception problem, let me know and once Castles have found the aerial I'll share this with you.

Del

>> Edited by Del Boy on Thursday 15th April 09:57

[ec1 eex]

for those interested, here are Colin's speakers:




Forgive my ignorance, but I'm not sure what the silver dome is on the top of the enclosure... Colin?

Phil

>> Edited by ec1 eex on Wednesday 9th March 18:45

[R666 TUS]

That's a critical part of any system.
A lemon air freshener

Col.

[basil brush]

powerlord said:

just a suggestion, but if you get a head unit that plays mp3s, you don't really need a changer.. 10 albums on a CD... so you've got all you'll get in a changer already.. plus a wee wallet of 10 more mp3 cds, and you have 100 albums in your car. just a thought.

I´ve gone that route as it saves you losing 6 cds when some b*stard breaks into your car and nicks the head unit and the changer. Not that I´m bitter.

[j_s_g]

basil brush said:

powerlord said: just a suggestion, but if you get a head unit that plays mp3s, you don't really need a changer.. 10 albums on a CD... so you've got all you'll get in a changer already.. plus a wee wallet of 10 more mp3 cds, and you have 100 albums in your car. just a thought. I´ve gone that route as it saves you losing 6 cds when some b*stard breaks into your car and nicks the head unit and the changer. Not that I´m bitter.

I can highly recommend the Pioneer DEH-8400 headunit - plays both MP3s & WMAs, and the chrome effect matches the car nicely. You can get them new off EBay for half the high street price, too.

[ec1 eex]

A lot of the head units that appear good value on ebay are shipped from the states.
If you got yours shipped from the US, Can you tell me the following:
Is the XM radio control compatible with the UK DAB tuner?
Does your AM radio tune up in 10khz(US) or 9kHz(UK) steps ?
Does your FM radio tune up in 0.05Mhz steps ?

Phil

[R666 TUS]

I have to agree about the MP3 head unit.
Just changed my Alpine for this Sony unit
www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product.asp?product=19632
Nice display and the aluminium faceplate fits in
with the style of the Tuscan interior better than
the Alpine.

Col.

[basil brush]

ec1 eex said:

A lot of the head units that appear good value on ebay are shipped from the states. If you got yours shipped from the US, Can you tell me the following: Is the XM radio control compatible with the UK DAB tuner? Does your AM radio tune up in 10khz(US) or 9kHz(UK) steps ? Does your FM radio tune up in 0.05Mhz steps ? Phil

I don´t think they are compatible. I looked at buying one when I was over in Canada as the Pioneer 7500mp was about 280 US dollars against 210 quid here.

[powerlord]

Col, nice. I like sonys.. no stupid features generally like you get on kenwoods, pioneers, etc.

How easy is it to fit ? does it sit in a standard DIN case inside that binacle ? is it a chop the plug off and wire it up by hand job ? etc ?

stu

[custardkid]

Any got the skills to make one of these?

cheers
Custard

[ec1 eex]

I was the one who started this thread asking about the pictures above. This is what I ended up making:


I made it from fibreglass and had someone stretch the leather over the box. Took me a hell of a long time to get done, so even though I can do it, I can't offer to make you one!

Phil