Car audio build log.

[LetThatBassDrop]

So let me just start off with this will probably be a slow process, I have two kids and I've had the majority of this stuff sitting around for 6 months waiting to go in. Lol.
Anywho, I wouldn't call this like a tutorial or anything it's just me uploading pictures if I'm not too pissed at the car and remember to take them along the way. Lol.
It's a 2018 Sonic 1.4. Some photos at the moment are stock ones because the equipment is still in the packaging. I digress.
Equipment list:
2 SoundQubed HDC3 10's, Ampere Audio 3800, 4 Sundown Neo Pro 6.5's, SoundStrean TN4.900 (watch the Dyno on this guy, clamped 283 watts x4 channels), oversised 1/0 OFC wire, NVX XPLOC4 to get signal, miscellaneous wiring, sound deadening etc etc. Probably gonna do lithium for the battery to save weight. Don't know yet. If anyone has any suggestions on where I could place a volt meter it'd be appreciated because I'm stumped on where to put one.




Equipment list with links should you have interest in any of it.

SoundQubed HDC3 10's - https://soundqubed.com/product/hdc3-1-selection/com

Ampere Audio 3800 (mine is the black model, they changed it to silver) - https://droppinhzcaraudio.com/ampere-audio-aa-3800-1-3800w-rms-monoblock-car-amplifier/

Sundown Audio NeoPro 6.5 V3 - NeoPro v3 6.5? Midrange - Down4Sound Shop

Soundstream TN4.900 - https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_79505_Soundstream-TN4.900D.html

NVX XPLOC4 - https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_46219_NVX-XPLOC4.html

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[LetThatBassDrop]

I only spent like 30 minutes out there tonight, the humidity is unreal right now and my glasses would not stop fogging. Just barely started sound deadening the wheel well and got the power wire ran. Annnnnnd that's it. Lol. I will say, GM made a perfect channel for some thick cable to fit with ease. This wire is slightly bigger in diameter than 3/0 welding cable. Also. Please forgive the complete mis matching of equipment. Lol.

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[MaD]

I did my spare tire hole about 60-70% and it made HUGE difference.... my 10 now feels like a 12... don't forget to get the back tire wells and hatch... [emoji41] [emoji106]

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[LetThatBassDrop]

I did my spare tire hole about 60-70% and it made HUGE difference.... my 10 now feels like a 12... don't forget to get the back tire wells and hatch... [emoji41] [emoji106]

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Oh yeah, I'm going for 75% coverage on the entire car. I ordered a few of those NVX bulk packs. Really quality deadener! Worth the money in my opinion.
I actually have a good idea how to remove most the panels, but if you or anyone else didn't mind and could explain how to remove the c pillar, tire well and headliner trim I'd greatly appreciate it!!

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[MaD]

I never heard of NVX, I used GTMAT and it's foiled back... killer stuff

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[MaD]

As far as the C pillars... he I just pulled them out of the way and put the strips of GTMAT in... it's a pain but worked, I have to do some of the headliner too but didn't go that crazy... floor needs to happen first, I have some ideas for the headliner [emoji6]

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[LetThatBassDrop]

Well. Built the box, think we ended up at 3.76 cubes before displacement and 3.01 cubes after displacement turned at 30hz exact. A little on the small side for these subs, but this is a test box ultimately. I've never done a port like this, so I want to play around with it. If it meets expectations I'll keep it, roundover all the edges, fill in screw holes and make it pretty. If not, I'm going to build one that's a little bigger. The main thing that hindered me was the height, I wanted to keep the cargo cover in. My daily before this was a 4th order 3 18's walled off Jeep and I have a walled 4 18's Impala so it ain't no thing if the cargo cover has to go to gain a little more room. Lol.
I finished wiring it up. In 15 minute increments over 2 days because the rain wouldn't stop. However. EXTREME sad face with some crying in there. My Ampere 3800, is dead. I bought it online used back in February and never tested it as I bought it through a trusted vendor and it was guaranteed to work. Well, it doesn't. I don't get why, the board is completely clean. If you see something I don't please let me know.
I'm also assuming since it's been so long they won't do anything so I'm out $500 on that. I have 2 kids, don't make a hell of a lot of money so not sure what to do next quite honestly. This made me feel so defeated. I've been in the car audio game with some huge builds behind me and done countless installs over the last 9 years and lately it's just been kicking me down. I emailed the vendor I bought it from. Will update on if they're willing to take care of me or not. Until then, y'all have a good one! Sorry for the long read!

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[MaD]

Sorry about the amp... you can do some simple testing with a multimeter and see where the power stops... It could be just a fuse... but really hard saying. Let us know what they do for ya [emoji16] [emoji106]

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[skurtov]

Looking to get some of the deadner for my doors and maybe a little for the trunk area. so expensive, and add so much weight.

 

[LetThatBassDrop]

Looking to get some of the deadner for my doors and maybe a little for the trunk area. so expensive, and add so much weight.

I'm huge on car audio and have been for 9+ years so those are factors I'm just kind of used to. Lol. Like for example in my walled Impala, each woofer is $900 and it has 4 of them and in total has about 2500ish pounds of added weight in it. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Lol.
The deadener Is worth it though, unless you're gonna be scraping for every tenth of a second on a track the added weight won't do a thing. I drove around with all this equipment (400 pounds or so) in my Sonic for weeks before I went to install it all and according to the car my fuel mileage is the same with or without the weight.

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[MaD]

Nice... out here in the NW... ya it would make a huge difference. .. we have a lot of hills [emoji12]

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[LetThatBassDrop]

Nice... out here in the NW... ya it would make a huge difference. .. we have a lot of hills [emoji12]

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I'm in Michigan so other than the potholes every 2 feet the roads are okay. Lol. I actually can't even recall if we even have hills we have to drive up/down. Lol. That seems like a fuel mileage killer!!


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[LetThatBassDrop]

Update: I need to get photos but I've just been messing around trying to get things situated so nothing is final yet. Got the amp to power on, but it has been cutting in and out every few minutes. I'm gonna go over the board with a fine tooth comb and see if I can find anything, maybe a bad solder joint is all it is. However when it does work hot damn I'm surprised! I still have to deaden the doors, roof and wheel wells as well as finish the box, tons more to improve this score, but so far with preliminary testing she's doing a 145.7db sealed on the dash at 39hz and I haven't even found the peak yet! This setup is gonna get pretty nasty for a daily. Goal is 148db minimum so stay tuned and let's see if I can get there! Pictures will come soon enough, lol.

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[MaD]

Can't wait to see the pics!

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[JTee2017]

Looking to get some of the deadner for my doors and maybe a little for the trunk area. so expensive, and add so much weight.

You could explore using something like these. Worked pretty well for me in my truck and not as pricey - - -


https://www.amazon.com/Low-White-Reflective-Foam-Insulation/dp/B018GMT73O/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1530807993&sr=8-10&keywords=foam+duct+insulation

https://www.amazon.com/MWS-White-Reflective-Foam-Insulation/dp/B0767VKYL1/ref=sr_1_41?ie=UTF8&qid=1530807993&sr=8-41&keywords=foam+duct+insulation

 

[MaD]

Pppsstt.... check out GTMAT... [emoji6] [emoji106]

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[LetThatBassDrop]

Alright so I genuinely want to apologize for the lack of pictures. I really thought I'd do it this time but when j get into work mode I don't stop until I'm done. Lol.
Here's the update. I fixed the amp, she's rocking. Pretty loud too. Lol. Still lots of stuff to do but I deadened the hatch. The inner and outer skin, license plate, all the clip holes, all the nooks and crannies as well as fabric taped all the wiring so they wouldn't make any noise and lastly deadened the plastic hatch panel itself. It's pretty solid now!
The rearview mirror also broke off. I don't have a video of it falling but do have a video showing the movement of the mirror beforehand, visors and seat flex etc. Whoops. Lol.

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[MaD]

Omg... sssoooo much box... [emoji50] [emoji50] [emoji50]

No wonder your mirror broke... how many watts you rollin on that pair??

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[LetThatBassDrop]

Omg... sssoooo much box... [emoji50] [emoji50] [emoji50]

No wonder your mirror broke... how many watts you rollin on that pair??

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I have it turned down right now since my extra batteries aren't here yet, it draws too much current to go full tilt right now but in the end it'll be about 4,000-4400 watts depending on if I can keep voltage up. The amp is a pretty decent size. Lol. About 40 pounds or so. Can't wait until I have this completely finished! I'm gonna do my mids/highs next. I will try to take pictures this time. Lol

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[MaD]

Wow... [emoji33] [emoji33]

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