Cerbera Stereo Upgrade

[OutlawFlat4]

After nearly a year of Cerb ownership and working through all the important and expensive things that needed taking care of, I finally got round to ripping out the shocking stereo and speakers and putting in a new Alpine head unit, JL Audio speakers front (6.5" and tweeter components), rear (4") and in the centre (6x9), as well as a 8" amplified bass tube in the boot (fits nicely into the passenger wheel arch and can be removed as its on a multi plug) which I can control from a remote dial located under the steering column for when I want to turn it up or down depending on the music.

The results are much better than I expected. It's an order of magnitude better than the old setup with crystal clear sound that is loud enough to play over the ACT sports exhaust and the AJP whilst stationary, which I didn't really expect. The sub also performs better than I expected in a fibreglass car.

Bluetooth phone connectivity through it with a hidden mic in the visors is also a nice touch.

I'm sure whilst out for a blast the engine noise will override but it was too dark and icy by the time I finished today to try it out.

I now have the option to listen to the AJP or great music if I fancy a change.

Good riddance to the old tinny crap that was in there (and a terrible TVR crossover box!), a good job jobbed!

Anyone else got a good setup in their Cerbs?

Edited by OutlawFlat4 on Tuesday 30th December 20:55

Edited by OutlawFlat4 on Tuesday 30th December 20:57

[Jon12345]

Where is the crossover located on the cerb?

[OutlawFlat4]

Mine was behind the 6x9 in the centre console. I left it in for the first setup to see if it did anything and it drastically hindered both the quality of the sound (although this could have been because the original wires were also being used) and the ability to balance the speakers left/right & back/front.

My car is a 96 4.2

[OutlawFlat4]

Just been told that they were only in pre 98 cars...

[Steve_T]

I have a Carl Baker setup in mine - amp in the boot, MB Quart speakers in the car (4 x 2-way + 2 Woofers). The emphasis is on sound quality rather window rattling bass although it goes louder than I need and with the engine off you appreciate just how good the system actually sounds. The woofers make a big difference and I'd say you need amplification to cope with noise levels of the car, but you don't need massive power output with good quality speakers that have appropriate sensitivity.

[OutlawFlat4]

Completely agree. Mine was done for sound quality with good JL Audio component speakers and just enough amplification to suit the setup. Nice to have decent sound that is loud enough to crank up over the engine when I want to.

[Cerberaherts]

Any pics? I'm interesting in upgrading mine. The head unit is fine, but the speakers are aweful.

[OutlawFlat4]

I will take some pics when I get the fronts fitted properly tomorrow. Good speakers will make a big improvement but a good head unit is also key.

The old wiring was also pretty shocking so might be worth replacing that too whilst you have the speakers out, it was pretty easy to run.

[PoleDriver]

OutlawFlat4 said:

I will take some pics when I get the fronts fitted properly tomorrow. Good speakers will make a big improvement but a good head unit is also key.

The old wiring was also pretty shocking so might be worth replacing that too whilst you have the speakers out, it was pretty easy to run.

I've been having problems routing new wires to the rear speakers. Can't get new ones to feed through and the old ones seem trapped so can't get them to pull the new ones through.
Any thoughts? (1998 4.5)

[OutlawFlat4]

PoleDriver said:

I've been having problems routing new wires to the rear speakers. Can't get new ones to feed through and the old ones seem trapped so can't get them to pull the new ones through.
Any thoughts? (1998 4.5)

I left the old ones in place as they are wrapped into parts of the loom and wouldn't budge. I ran the rears down under the tunnel (you dont need to remove it, tuck the wires up underneath it) and removed the helmet holder so I could feed the wires round behind each rear seat and through the speaker holes. It was a bit tight but not too fiddly. I have also seen people run them under the door rubber (one each side) and up under the small flap of leather that the hides the seatbelt mechanism directly under the speakers. This would be a much quicker and less fiddly way if you get stuck with the tight turns on the first option.

[Cerberaherts]

I'm going for decent speaker wire and four speakers. I'm interested in your base-tube approach as I was going to put a sub in place of the helmet holder, but if your approach works well whilst the car is on the move I'd prefer to do it that way.

[Mad Mark]

I've got a pair of 10" subs in the boot with an amp mounted in a box. The standard pioneers still in the rear (I may change these at some point but as i don't sit in the back don't see the point) and a pair of components in the doors. And a Pioneer dab unit up front.
I've not heard a better system in a cerb. I am a bass junky tho but there is quality there for when I want to listen to more 'normal' music lol
Mind you a pair of tens a box and an amp do add a lot of weight to the car and takes up the majority of boot space but i have made it removable. But i do love my tunes.

edited to add... and the beauty of it is the inside still looks pretty standard.

Edited by Mad Mark on Sunday 4th January 00:57