My Sonics new Sound System

[skyteam11]

This is the start of my 2012 LTZ new sound system. As we all know the audio in the car is less than desirable so I wanted to upgrade the speakers and install an amplifier. After seeking out help from a local car audio shop (Sound Solutions in Belair) we decided on the following.
Alpine 5 channel PDX-5 amplifier, Powerbase 10” 300W flat sub. Alpine SPS-610 6 ½” and SPS-600C 6 ½” Speakers
I decided on keeping the existing head unit because of all the stuff that goes through it. But even keeping the head unit, there will be some adjustments that you will have to get used to.
A 4 gauge power wire was run from the battery, up the left side of the car to the amp in the rear.
The speaker wire was run from the control head up the right side of the car to the amp. This is done so you do not get any power hum in the system. Now with using a line out converter, the audio out wires from the control unit were cut and attached to the converter. This was than attached to the larger audio cable that runs to the amp, than back to the front to be attached the existing cars speaker cables that go to the car doors.
There is also a small power relay cable that goes from the amp to the front and gets attached to a "key on position" so that when the engine is running, the amp is working. There are pros and cons to this.
The main reason for doing this way is so you do not kill the battery. The problem is now all your audio runs through the car’s radio system including the door chime for the key in the ignition. So if the amp is not on, there is no chime until you fire up the vehicle. Right now I am just undecided on an alternate location to pick up the amp power on.
After everything was hooked up I will say this system sounded fantastic. There is plenty of power, the sound is crisp and there is plenty of base.
Everything is good right? No so fast. Remember when I said that all the audio goes through the factory radio. Well that also includes the seat belt alarm and the turn signal. With the amp set at 0 which is the nominal setting, the audio for the turn signal, seat belt and key is so load, it hurts your ears. I ended up turning down the channel 1&2 pot in the amp to make it bearable. The sound still sounds okay. This is a huge improvement over the factory system.

 

[aaron2874]

I am really mad about this stereo integration bs. It would not be so bad if the car had a good stereo, BUT IT DOES NOT!!! I am about ready to say bye-bye OnStar and rip it all out! I wish someone at Chevy would please explain to us "What in the hell were you people thinking?!"

 

[skyteam11]

I know what you mean. If they do not wan't to make their sound system sound great, than at least make it more user friendly for use to build on. This bit with the turn signal going throught the radio, if it could be adjusted would help.:sadbanana:

 

[CyberGreyTURBOZ]

I am no good at doing audio systems for cars myself, but my older brother is an electrical engineer and builds harnesses for some of the big three's cars. He is going to help my dial in my system and hopefully eliminate flaws in my set up. If i find anything when we do it ill post it up on the forum asap for every ones benefit. I plan to run one 8in. Sub in place of my spare tire. Since i will be removing it for the sub ill put an inflator kit in there just in case i have an unlucky day.

Another thing i was told is you cannot replace this head unit even if u wanted to because its hard wired in to much and the "head unit" in the dash is just a face plate i believe with a separate control box (brains) mounted under the dash further.

I see you have a good sized Sub in your car and i wonder how are the rattles?

Any bad target areas in your car that you have found yet?

Do you plan to add or replace sound deadening material with dynamat or something?

 

[skyteam11]

Wow: I had not thought of removing the spare tire but neet idea. As far as rattles I have none at this time but you must understand I am 58 years old so I am not pushing the system. I can get the pack window to shake if I want. As far as soundproofing, I just went to Sound Solutions today and talked to them about that. That is my next project to slow down some of the road noise. I well let you know how it goes. :banana:

 

[skyteam11]

I am no good at doing audio systems for cars myself, but my older brother is an electrical engineer and builds harnesses for some of the big three's cars. He is going to help my dial in my system and hopefully eliminate flaws in my set up. If i find anything when we do it ill post it up on the forum asap for every ones benefit. I plan to run one 8in. Sub in place of my spare tire. Since i will be removing it for the sub ill put an inflator kit in there just in case i have an unlucky day.

Another thing i was told is you cannot replace this head unit even if u wanted to because its hard wired in to much and the "head unit" in the dash is just a face plate i believe with a separate control box (brains) mounted under the dash further.?

Hey Cyber: see if your brother can add to the programing of the car radio so you can turn down the volume of the turn signal. There is a setting in the radio for normal or high volume. If that value could be turned down, the car radio would be ok.

 

[CyberGreyTURBOZ]

I like a nice loud system that can shake it good if i so choose, but i really want quality sound which is why i'm thinking no bigger then one 8 in. subwoofer in this small car. I have a 10 in. Alpine chilling in a box waiting for it's next home, but i think it will be over powering in this car.

I will ask him about the turn signal volume next time we talk. He has been working on getting the radio wiring prints for me so we could figure out the plan of attack before opening it up. I'll update when i get word of anything good.

 

[SRGilbert]

Hey, what kind of GPS mount do you have there?

 

[skyteam11]

Hey, what kind of GPS mount do you have there?

Well, what looks like a GPS on the dash is a backup camera. Sorry the picture quality but the monitor was attached to that plugon the right side.

 

[skyteam11]

My GPS is on the left side of the windshield with just a suction mountthat comes with the GarminView attachment 855

 

[skyteam11]

I also put in a dash camera. Its cheep but works well.View attachment 856

 

[skyteam11]

Now this is a dash camera that i installed as well.

 

[doreo]

I am no good at doing audio systems for cars myself, but my older brother is an electrical engineer and builds harnesses for some of the big three's cars. He is going to help my dial in my system and hopefully eliminate flaws in my set up. If i find anything when we do it ill post it up on the forum asap for every ones benefit. I plan to run one 8in. Sub in place of my spare tire. Since i will be removing it for the sub ill put an inflator kit in there just in case i have an unlucky day.

Another thing i was told is you cannot replace this head unit even if u wanted to because its hard wired in to much and the "head unit" in the dash is just a face plate i believe with a separate control box (brains) mounted under the dash further.

I see you have a good sized Sub in your car and i wonder how are the rattles?

Any bad target areas in your car that you have found yet?

Do you plan to add or replace sound deadening material with dynamat or something?

unless i and others are mistaken you can remove the system you just lose the ability to use onstar and control some of the bcm settings but if you can life without it the whole unit does pull out easy.

 

[skyteam11]

It does pull out very easy but there is more to it than just the onstar. If you check out Crutchfield, you will see there isnothing out there to replace the unit. Plus now you have to modify the front dash cover.

 

[doreo]

not to replace and get the same controls no but you can replace if you dont want them

 

[Out1aw]

I got an e-mail from Scosche recently when I inquired about a harness adapter for the cars. They said we should be seeing harnesses as early as June/July. So looks like everyone who wants an aftermarket stereo or lowering springs should start saving for the summer!

 

[sipNzipHatchT]

lol i thought i recognized that name. capt roy taylor flys over my neighborhood quite often down here in perry hall.

anyone just looking to add a sub, kicker has a new all in one sub and amp setup called the bass station. much less evasive install. very compact in size for the 10 inch. demoed it in my car and it sounded good(yup they hooked it up for me using jumpers and aux input). runs about 230 dollars. from what i understand all it requires as far as signal input is a splice into a rear speaker wire. the guys at ATO autosports( awesome place off joppa road in parkville,md. wouldnt go anywhere else) assured me that the 10 inch draws so miniscule amperage that it can simply be plugged into a 12v outlet in the car. sounds too good to be true for how good it sounded in the little car. definitely worth looking into. 230 dollars total cost!

 

[portilloryan]

that is the tiniest sub, my 12" rockford takes up more than half the trunk, that sub looks like it would fit above the spare which would cool if it was all hidden, cool setup dude

 

[Cdewell]

Adding amp to stock radio

I just purchased a PAC line out converter from amazon.com. I've heard from a lot of people that it MAY work for adding an Amp, hopefully their right. I added a system to my last car's aftermarket radio by myself but this looks a little too intense. Can anyone confirm the PAC AA-GM44 works with the factory connections before I start dismantling my dash.

 

[T ROY]

I would get an AudioControl LC6i if I were in the market, or any AudioControl for that matter.

Amazon.com: AudioControl - LC6i - Line Output Converters: Car Electronics