Last night I installed a new Kenwood KDC-W7537U with USB for Ipod control and Bluetooth. The old Symphony had to go.

I have two tips:

• Remove all CDs from the changer BEFORE fitting nice new stereo!
  
• 
  
• Remove the Glove box before installing the new HU. I don't know how I would have got all the wires to fit in without being able to get at them from the side.

I read that a power adaptor would be needed for the ariel. Was this advice given for the hatchback version, as my estate can pick up signal no problem without it?

I also swapped out the OEM speakers in the front for a set of Infinity Ref 6522si Shallow Mount 16.5cm. They fit perfectly both in diameter and depth and also sound so much better than the stock speakers.

Sadly, due to the poor speaker enclosure, the bass is minimal. I know about the membrane cutting, but am reticent to do that. So I think I'll be taking the car in to have the doors 'stiffened' as per another thread that I can't find at the mo.

Regardless of that, I'm chuffed with the improvement already. It was great to answer my first phone call from the headunit and just talk. Just need more bass now!

Chris

Good tips Chris:thumbup:

Have you considered sub/amp in the boot for more bass?

I was wondering about fitting something small under one of the seats. Something like this perhaps:

Kenwood KSC-SW1

I'm not a bass head. Just want extra low end to give the tunes some weight.

When I was putting the stereo in I noticed that there was not much room unser the seats though. I would prefer something under there as I regularly use the boot of my estate for mucky stuff.

Any suggestions / tips?

Chris

Chris i fitted something not unlike that a fews years back for a friend(ironically it was made by Pioneer) and if i am brutally honest the effect was more "vibrating seat!!" than bass,granted they may have improved the output but i still feel you will have better results with seperate sub/amp,is there not any way you could make room/protect the sub when doing the mucky stuff?

Mark

I've read about an Alpine active sub being attached to the CD changer access panel at back left (looking in from boot door). This may work, but the panel seems a little flimsy. Will need to look into it more.

Regarding under seat locations, it appears that the seat rails and fixtures make it very difficult to fix one under the seat (not that I've tried yet). I may get the sub and see where it goes. I've neither the skill nor the motivation (replace with 'lazy') to think of custom install. Just was a little bass reinforcement required is all.

Also worried about security.

Chris

Chris

A couple of other possibilities may be the good old bass tube,easy to fit(amp already combined) and easy to remove,with very little space taken up,i did a few in Capris(shows how long i have been away!!) and the results were really quite good,you will never win any shows,but that is not the point,an example might be the Pioneer TS-WX20 LPA(

Yeh an active sub (built in amp) is a good option for simplicity. I have quite a big install really but i find one advantage of having an amp seperate from the sub box is that it is only speaker cable to disconnect when you want to remove the sub for extra space. Instead of Power, Ground, Remote and RCAs that would be connected to an Active sub. With a bit of planning you can fit your install around what your common luggage is, my bmx fits perfectly next to two amps and a sub in an octy hatch.

A ported sub box will give lower bass but the box will take up more room than a sealed one.

Thanks for the advice. I'm really keen to leave the boot of my estate as clear as possible though.

For that reason I have ordered a Pioneer TS-WX11A - Active Bass Tube. I will try it under a seat, or, failing that I'll try in the passneger footwell. I don't need mega bass. Just enough to add some low end punch will be fine.

I'll post my (mis)adventures with this as it happens. I'm sure at some stage I'll be tearing out a clump of hair.

Chris

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

I finished installing everything last night and put the centre console back together. The cabin now looks serene again after the chaos of removed trim and tangled wires.

THe sound is so much better now. Using the kenwood's internal crossovers for the speakers and subs I've got mid and high coming out of the door speakers (I'm even using the rear tweeters a bit as well - About 75% front - 25% rear - Really helps the sound staging I believe) and the sub is taking all lows up to about 110 hz. It sounds respectable.

I'm now going through all my CDs to hear how they sound. So much more powerful with even that little sub in the footwell (the fuse on the supplied cable was for 10 amps only!!)

Only thing missing now is the Ipod Nano, then I'm done (for now!!!)

Chris

Good news

Glad it all went well,now to think about the next project;)