Car stereo installation questions

[Una]

You seem to know the deck, and like it. I guess that's all that matters. I know the deck and hate it, so I'd be in hell if I bought it by accident. That's why I was trying to warn you. Anyways.. Your plan for the speakers is great. 3.5's in the dash, you'll have to run new wires to them, as the factory shared the wires between the doors and dash. Don't run new wires into the doors, it's sooo not worth the hassle. The factory speaker wires are pretty heavy duty anyways.
The 3.5's in the dash, yes, it's kind of bad for imaging, but if you were an audiophile nut, you wouldn't be using the deck's internal amp for any reason, and you wouldn't be running oval speakers (you sure they're 6x9's and not 5x7's like all the other TD's got?) as oval speakers produce distorted sound.

[Subliminal]

Where's a shaking head in sadness smiley emoticon when you need one?

[iTurbo]

Una, why don't you like the DEH-P77DH?

Subliminal, I'm going to follow your suggestion and not use the 3.5" at first, and use the recievers amp to run the 5.25" door speakers and 6"x9" in the rear and see how it sounds with no crossovers. After I get used to it, I'll probably connect the 3.5" dash speakers to try them out and see what happens.

At any rate, I'm definately going to upgrade the wiring. I don't plan to cut any of the factory wiring out. But the factory wiring looks pretty old/crappy to me. Since the reciever's amp isnt' all that powerful, I'd like to make it as efficient as possible with good wiring.

On my Lancer, you can use 5"x7"s in the rear or 6"x9"s. I have 6"x9"s in there now that are really cheap 1-way Pioneers that sound very midrangy. The front doors will accept 5.25" or 4" with the plastic adapter plate that came with the original Pioneer system.

[Una]

Why don't I like it? It's UGLY.. It looks exactly like Pioneer decks did, WAY back when that thing first came out. Pioneer has had some REALLY nice looking decks since then, you wouldn't know it by looking at this clunker.
I use a set of Memphis 3.5" power reference speakers in the dash of my Daytona, a set of Memphis component oversized 6.5" M class speakers in my front doors, and a set of Memphis power reference 5x7's in the back of my Daytona. Along with a pair of 12" Memphis PR subs in a custom box. Everything runs off deck power (Clarion 545 deck, if I remember right), except of course the subs, which were running off an old tank of an amplifier, till that amp died.. Gotta get it repaired.. But anyways.. The memphis stuff is cool because of the lifetime warranty (except the subs, 3 year on them, and I think the 6.5's are 3 year too).. Also helps that we sell it at work so I get a killer deal on it..
Like I said, if the deck is cool with you, go for it. I just think for the price, you'd be far better off with some modern deck.

[iTurbo]

I decided against getting the GM/Chrysler fit Pioneer DEH-P77DH. It was on back-order anyway.

Instead, I'm getting a Pioneer DEH-P6800MP. It has full control of the iPod, plays WMA/MP3/AAC discs, built-in front panel aux-in, much better display, more power etc....all for the same price as the DEH-P77DH.

Biggest factor in changing my mind was the iPod control capability. I just got a 60GB iPod and have been sorting through my 30+ GB library of music organizing and tagging everything so it's very organized. The last thing I want is to have to press a million buttons to get to the song or directory I want.

[Una]

Sweet, glad to see you got a modern deck that does everything you want for the same price. That old clunker really needs to get a redesign..

[iTurbo]

Well I got my new reciever in. Except they mixed up and sent me a DEH-P8600MP and not the DEH-P6800MP like I ordered. The 8600 is way nicer and has more features but doesn't play AAC files and they iPod control isn't as good. I figured it was a toss-up so I went ahead and installed the 8600. It retails for over twice as much as the one I ordered.

The color OEL display is VERY nice, except I don't like the screen-savers, background pics and stuff. I keep the visual entertainment off and everything is super easy to read and navigate through the menus. It even came with a little microphone that plugs into the front of the unit to automatically calibrate the 13-band graphic EQ!

I have it installed now and I love it so far. The iPod control isn't as good as I was hoping. It doens't have 'full control' like the newest Pioneer models and controls the iPod as an 'external unit'. It's easy to use, but navigating through a huge iPod library like mine can be a pain. It also only displays the first eight characters of the song title. Sound quality is excellent though and access to the iPod is farily quick.

[iTurbo]

Also, I attempted to install my new speakers.

The new 6"x9"s (TS-A6991 5-way coaxial) were a major PITA to get in. They barely cleared the plastic trim and I ended up breaking a small chunk of the interior plastic off on the driver's side. One of the screws is so close to the rear window I had to use a 90' phillips screwdriver to get it in. The stock grilles fit back into place just fine and thankfully the factory sound deadening material was still intact.

The 5.25"s (TS-A1371R 3-way coaxial) would not fit at all. They are about 1/4" too deep and the magnet hits the power window mechanism. The speakers that have been in there since '99 are TS-A1345s and it looks like clearance is so tight with those that the magnet might actually be touching the window mechanism. Maybe I can get these to fit with some kind of shim, I dunno.

I haven't tried to install the 3.5" (TS-878), but it doesn't look like they will fit either. The magnet is so large that it will surely hit the gauge cluster on the driver's side. Plenty of room on the passenger side though. Also, fastening these to the stock grilles will require some minor grinding.

I get my XM tuner tomorrow. I plan on installing it under the front seat so it's out of sight and routing the antenna will be easier. I had hoped to install it right next to the iPod interface below/in front of the shifter console, but it would be slightly visible then.

[layapatch]

yeah I just put some spacers in for my 5 1/4's and then it cleared the door mechanisms. You should have no problem making them fit.

[CletusJones]

For those of you who run the 3.5" dash speakers in addition to the 5.25" door speakers, how does it sound? I'm going to be installing a stereo in my daytona in the next couple of weeks. I have everything already except the time to do it.

I've heard mixed reviews on dash speakers and whether to use or not use them. Am I going to be missing anything without them, or will I like it better? I don't want to try them and not like them because then I can't return them. Although, they were only $40 on sale so I guess it's not that big of a deal.

edit: I'll be running 2 10" MTX subs on ~300wrms in a small sealed box as well.

[iTurbo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by layapatch yeah I just put some spacers in for my 5 1/4's and then it cleared the door mechanisms. You should have no problem making them fit.

Yesterday I found a sheet of 1/2" thick dense foam in some packing material I was saving for shipping things. I'm going to cut a circular gasket out of it to make an air tight seal/shim for the 5.25"s. It should space them out just enough to clear the window mechanism.