The beginning of my sound system

[4runningyoda]

I just picked up
1 Alpine PDX F4 four channel amp
1 pair of Alpine SPR 60C component speakers
1 pair of Alpine SPR 60 coaxial speakers
lots of sound deadening material
I have already installed the Pioneer Avic Z110 BT (with the software update that converted it to a Z120BT)

Hopefully I will have some extra time tomorrow to install the stuff.

The next stage will probably be a thin mount Type R 10 inch sub with an Alpine PDX M12 Mono amp and that should be the sound system.

 

[BucknutBob]

Looks like fun! You'll have to take pics of your mounting locations and such. What are the goodies going in? I hope you didn't stop at just the components, and got some serious wiring and cables for smooth signal/power flow--don't skimp on those. Best of luck!

 

[4runningyoda]

Oh Trust me I will not skimp on the cabling. I work at a stereo shop so I will be using the best cables that we carry. I will post up pictures of as I do the install.

 

[Anonymous4Runner]

Before you do the install, buy a GoPro HERO2 Camera and videotape yourself doing the install!

 

[kjn457]

Subscribed!

 

[Liq]

Do Coat Hangers Sound As Good Monster Cables? - The Consumerist

don't waste your money on fancy cables. Spend the time to run them neatly and never parallel them to other power wires. Anytime you have to come near other wires try to intersect them at as close to a 90° angle as possible.
I too used to work at a shop, but i'm also an engineer. Science, it works *****es.

 

[BucknutBob]

Nothing personal, Liq, but I heartily disagree with your advice regarding cables. There is way too much research and testing proving the importance of getting good quality wiring, especially in the hostile environment of an automobile. Yes, the routing is very important, but so is the construction of the wires and cables. Use hangers and lampcords all you like, if that's what you believe--I'll stick to the PROVEN science of superior materials and construction. Peace, friend.

 

[Liq]

Nothing personal, Liq, but I heartily disagree with your advice regarding cables. There is way too much research and testing proving the importance of getting good quality wiring, especially in the hostile environment of an automobile. Yes, the routing is very important, but so is the construction of the wires and cables. Use hangers and lampcords all you like, if that's what you believe--I'll stick to the PROVEN science of superior materials and construction. Peace, friend.

Unfortunately there are no proven gains by using expensive premium cables, thats the biggest problem. Its all marketing gimmicks and smoke. There are in-fact countless studies proving just the opposite. However if by good quality you mean proper gauge and insulation with molded connectors, I absolutely agree. Also a nice high strand count wire so it can bend easily, cant argue there. But spending money on Monster or any other "premium" brand cables thinking that because they cost more and the packaging says they "transmit 99.99% cleaner sound" that they are worth the price, is false. They are no better than any other copper cable or something from monoprice.com (which i highly recommend btw).

"Directional" RCA's, or any cable for that matter, is one of the biggest gimmicks out there. Without getting too technical, trust me when I say a piece of wire cannot be directional no matter how its twisted, shielded or marked. They honestly just mark the cables to try and justify the outrageous price to uninformed buyers. You can connect that cable in any direction you want and will get exactly the same result.

All in all nobody can argue the psychoacoustic properties of expensive cables, so if you think they sound better by all means get what you think sounds best!
Cheers

PS. the wiki entry on speaker wire is a very informative article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speaker_wire#Quality_debate

and here is a link to Roger Russells article:
http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

 

[4runningyoda]

wow,

Basically don't use crap rca's that you would get from Walmart and cheapo amp kits that you can get online. I have done countless installs with countless brands of cable, and while quality does matter, paying 3x extra for ultra high end RCA's isn't necessary either. If they are insulated properly and the connectors are of a decent quality (where the connectors won't break after you have ran and routed the RCA's and such) matters. Where I work we use Streetwires and it does the job. I have no alternator whine, no engine noise no weird pops and hisses. Of course what matters also is the quality of the equipment. If you buy cheapo amplifiers and head units the chance of noise entering the sound system goes up significantly. Example I installed an almost identical system in a customers 2007 Toyota 4runner Sport. I installed Polk MM Series speakers and a polk PA1100.5 (5 channel AMP) Now I installed the same amp in my 2007 Dodge Magnum and I had major problems with engine noise entering the system. I had nice cables, no crossing of wires solid ground and the engine noise was just absurd. The exact same thing happend with this 4runner. We convinced the customer to get Alpine PDX amps and poof the engine noise was gone and the system instantly sounded better. if he ever gets decent speakers then the system would sound even better.

Anyways I finished the install in my 4runner over the weekend and it sounds great I did take some pictures of the install I will post them up as soon as I become get off my lazy ass and pull the pictures off of my phone.

 

[axxman]

Oh Trust me I will not skimp on the cabling. I work at a stereo shop so I will be using the best cables that we carry. I will post up pictures of as I do the install.

Did you ever do this install?

 

[rebelbowtie]

Did you ever do this install?

he finished the install on February 7th, but has been too lazy to post pictures.

 

[sovamind]

Alpine SPR 60C component speakers fit?

Crutchfield is saying that Alpine SPR 60C component speakers won't fit in my 2007 4Runner with JBL speakers. Anyone know if he had to do something special to get them to fit?