[FujativeOCR]

So the fake Boston to real Boston upgrade is still in effect. Just got this today that will be making it's way into the Pat soon enough :-)





Boston Acoustics G3 1044...10" DVC Sub.

Still need the amp, box and processor. We're working on it.

[Elihawk]

Not sure what you mean by fake BA? Are the systems equiped with some cheap knock off of BA stereo? Of just a cheaper model of BA speaker?
How big of an improvement have you seen with the changes so far?

[FujativeOCR]

The "Boston" speakers that come with that option in the car are not a real Boston speaker you would find in the store. They are cheap dual cone paper speakers just like you might find on any stock system. There are pictures of them side by side with real Boston 6x9 and 3 1/2" in my other two stereo update threads. The Boston system also has a 2 1/2" tweeter in the dash which is too small to be a good midrange and too large to be a good tweeter.

The stock 8 channel amplifier that comes with the Boston system has the exact same power ratings as the "Kicker" 8 channel amp that MOPAR sells as an upgrade. Its rated at 28 watts per channel. So most likely not a Boston product either.

As far as performance, I noticed a bigger improvement from the 3 1/2" in the hatch than the rear door 6x9". I'm sure they tweaked the stock processors in the amp to hold back on certain bandwidths that the stock speakers couldn't handle well, so they eq certain frequencies down so you can't blow them. If it's in the processing then adding speakers alone won't change the sound much. I intend to add a 12 band equalizer of my own between the stock amp and the amp I'm adding to fix all the dead spots.

[FujativeOCR]

Just ordered an Equalizer for the future install. Audiocontrol LCQ-1. It's an 11 band equalizer, and will install between both factory amps, and the future 3 channel Sub/Front Amp. It will combine the crossed over tweeter outputs and front door outputs from the factory amp into a normal full range signal, and convert it to RCA outputs for aftermarket amps. It will also convert the factory sub amp signal to RCA, which will go to the sub portion of the 3 channel amp. That will boost me from 90 watts from factory 8" sub, to 400 watts to new Boston 10". The future amp will also take that full range signal, and be 80x2 to some front component speakers, vs the 28x2 factory amp.

I'll post pics of the EQ when it comes in, and probably order the Amp next month.

http://www.audiocontrol.com/17612/71...-AccuBASS.html

[FujativeOCR]

Sweet.

[FujativeOCR]

Ordered the Amp yesterday. Arc Audio XDi803 3 channel. 80x2 and 400x1. Gonna be out of town til next week so I'll post pics then when it comes in.

http://www.arcaudio.com/product-page...ies/xdi803.asp

[FujativeOCR]

Picked the amp up today....this thing is tiny!!













I like it. Even came with a remote bass/volume control that is like half the size of the Audiocontrol one. I'm hoping to hide it in that cubby just below the shifter.

[IRSmart]

Originally Posted by FujativeOCR

Picked the amp up today....this thing is tiny!!

that's what she said

[FujativeOCR]

Truf :-(

[Gramps]

LOL!! I am waiting until you get this project finished so I can put it up in a sticky. Just keeping tabs on it. Mine may get the same treatment. My hearing is far from perfect and my ears can use all of the help they can get.

[FujativeOCR]

Hoping to have it in by Thanksgiving. Would have been faster but trying to pay for a wedding at the same time.

All I need is the component set and a sub box and its ready to go in.

[FujativeOCR]

So i got the Audiocontrol LCQ-1, 3 channel amp, components and sub in, and it sounds like @$$. I've run in to technical difficulties. The Audiocontrol didn't intigrate into the stock system like I thought it would. Apparently the front door 6X9's and Dash 2.5's do not sum to make a full range signal. The plan was to run each signal from those into the Audiocontrol, combine them to full range, and run that back out to the amp and components. Well evidently the 6x9's stock are crossed over low, like playing below 500hz, and the dash 2.5's are crossed over high, like playing above 1500hz. Theres a gap in the middle.

So the only useable full range signal was from the rear channels. Which means no fading ability since I'm using it for front speakers. On top of that, the overall resulting SQ is really not that good. I'd hoped that with the recent popularity of products like the JL Cleansweap, JBL MS8, and my Audiocontrol, that system integration with factory decks would be better. Theres also an annoying pop when the system shuts off that is coming from the Audiocontrol too. It uses speaker signal sensing turn on. Only thing that might fix it is ground it to something else.

So probably, I'm going to ditch the audiocontrol EQ, and add an aftermarket deck and second amp. It was a $300 Effort to try the EQ, but I'm simply not happy with it. With a Deck I'll have to buy a CANbus and Satellite tuner along with it, but at least Sirius said my subscription is transferrable to a new radio. Even if it is XM only or SiriusXM. I'm looking at a JVC deck that would stick with Sirius only though.

So here is one picture at least of the component install. Tweeter near the side mirror. Looks good at least. I'll post pics of the sub box, amp and deck when the dust settles.

[FujativeOCR]

Ordered a Clarion CX501 today. The knobs look like they were thinking of the Patriot when they designed it. Chrome accent etc. will put it in next week.

[FujativeOCR]

Finally! Took a year to get this done. End results...











Clarion CX501 w/Sirius/AUX In/iPod control and charging










Arc Audio Xdi 803 Amp
80x2 to rear door 6x9's and 400x1 to Sub





Remote Bass Controller for Arc Amp






Phoenix Gold Octane-R 8.0:4
Bridged 250x2 to front Component set








Hertz HSK165 6.5" Component Set
Custom 6x9 Baffle





Boston SC95 6x9










Boston G3 1044 - 10" Sub in Custom Vented Box

[FujativeOCR]

And many thanks to Audio Innovations in Fresno for doing all the hard parts (most of it). I tried to do this with the factory deck and an EQ/Line Driver and it sounded aweful. Couldn't find a clean full range signal anywhere. Lost fader ability, and an annoying pop during turnoff. All is well now.

The Clarion is also running the factory Dash 2.5's and Boston SE35's in the hatch off it's own power. Dash 2.5's blend very well with components.

Steering wheel controls are still functional, albeit different than factory settings. This was via a PAC Canbus module. Volume and track changing switched sides. And the former preset changing button is now a mute.