We have 2 06 verts both with Shaker 500. I'm thinking of changing the system in each car one at a time. Here's the catch; I know it's NOT the popular opinion but I want to retain the stock deck for a couple ofreasons. It's been about 4 years since I've stepped foot in a quality audio shop and I would like to know what's changed or improved.

For those that feel stock decks suck and blah blah blah (yes I know there's MUCHbetter out there butupgrading decks isNOT an option for us) Also, Well if you throw enough moneyin there afterthe stock deck it'll sound ok! LOL!
In our 03 Dodge Ram Q/C we had a very nice custom install. (if nice can be measured in $$$) Set up was something like this: complete sound mat treatment installed with complete interior removed, 2 10" Infinity Perfect, 2 12"Infinity Perfect, each set of subspowered by its own Viper 1100 amp, (rated at 1300 max wattseach) A pair of Infinity Kappa 693.7i 6x9 and a pair of Infinity Kappa 63.7i 6” both 3 way powered by Viper 550 amp. All with a stock 4 disc deck because I HATE eye candy to attract thieves! (in the vert it'll be even worse because I enjoy having and leaving the top down!)I’m sure I'm leaving things off becausethere was moreitems like; designated batteries for the system, bat caps were ‘in’ back then and some other items, includingViper 790vx alarm/remote startwith motion, poxcim (sp) &battery back up , blah blah blah.

I can say this: NOBODY that ever listened to that system in the Dodge and complained about how it sounded. Yes it could have been improved upon,but for a “budget” (LOL now that's funny right there!) systemthat system thumpedreal well and sounded pretty darn good. When tuned correctly, 12s & 10s can ‘play’ very well together when each set hastheir owndesignated amp! Yes I had quite a bit of money into this system and more thenlikely there are better sounding systems that are cheaper. But not many with the ‘shock factor’ of almost 3000 watts (claimed, but we all know it really didn’t have that kind of power) in a completely invisible system to the eye but NOT the ears OR the body.
Chances are that each of our Mustangs will end up with a system like this. YES, I understand the stock deck is a limiting factor for ANY better then half way decent system but as it’s said ‘to each their own’ and I really don’t want to attract trouble.


My long winded question is how much have the components improved in 4 years. IF a guy has $3k to drop into speakers, subsand amps wanting only a single set of 10"s this time (personal preference only) and I would prefer NOT to be able to see any visual changes to the Mustang interior. What would you recommend and where could I get it from as it’ll be mail ordered.


Thanks 05SDI

 

That was a very informative post. The 3K budget will be very very nice. A couple comments first.

I would not go back to that audio shop. I have never heard of a reputible shop installing 2 differnet sizes of subs in the same vehicle to get god results. In generall you will get cancellation based on the resonsnces from the different response times of each size of woofer. (ideally the response would be the same, but they were in enclosures not free air.) I would be really curious to how they tuned the woofers. I might be able to see 12's for very low frequencies and using 10's as midbass, but that seems a little pointless. I'm sure it sounded great. For someone like yourself I always recommend replacing the HU, but with items like the JL cleansweep and the Audiocontrol DQL 8 you can achiece good sound with a stock HU.

I would recommend an Audiocontrol DQL 8 for the source $??? (It is an LOC, EQ, and crossover)

Front Amp and sub amp (2 of these): http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/pro...products_id=47$275

Sub: http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/pro...products_id=34$175

Sound Deadening: http://www.edesignaudio.com/edv2/pro...products_id=52(About 100 ft^2)

Front comps: http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=4359$1000
or
http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=4358$800 (I just installed these and was very impressed)

If you use the package builder at the ED site you will get a discount and the whole system shoudl come in under 2 grand.

FYI, people that really know car audio don't run full range rear fill (really any rear fill at all).

 

Thanks for the quick reply! I like your advice.

fyi the shop that did the install baulked at having both the 10 & 12 at first (but I was persistant lol)but mine wasn't their last system like that. They called me a couple of times to ask if I would demo it for some other clients. In a full sized truck it was pretty darn crisp &clean! But YES it was NOT the norm!

Again my favorite part was when some stranger would see me get out and be trying to check out the deck and see it was stock and thensay, 'Man I thought you had a system in there' .... I say, "No I had the windows cracked some, its just a cheap Walmart sub and amp." Hitting the alarm (WITHOUT the chirp or light flashing) as I walked off. Learned along time ago... Don't advertize to the wrong crowd!