Opinions on stealth amp install.
So far in my quest, I've actually reduced the overall weight of the car because the speakers I bought (Polk SR6500's) use neodium magnets and are smaller than the 8 inch woofer and 3 inch mid/tweeter that were in there (saved about a pound per door or 2 pounds total).
I've just ordered an Alpine PDX4.150 digital amplifier and it comes in at a mere 3.11kg (6.86 lbs.) and at about 10X7.5X2.5 inches, which is the smallest quality amp I could find, it should be relatively easy to hide. I weighed the factory amp in the footwell and it came in at a whopping 2.5 lbs. 6.86 - 2.5lbs - 2.0lbs = +2.36 lbs added. Not bad so far.
I'm looking for opions on where people have hidden the amp in their car. The new amp is larger than the factory amp so it won't fit back in the footwell. I don't know what other electronics might already be under the passenger or drivers seat.
One thing I noticed when I installed my vent screens in the front fenders was that there is a cavernous amount of space inside the fender up towards the top. There is a bracket already there that separates the engine compartment from the fender area in which several items in the engine compartment are attached. Why couldn't a person mount an amp on the fender side of that bracket?
I know it sounds ridiculous to attach the amp in there and it goes against everything I've ever been told about audio installs, but there are several benefits that I can see to attaching an amp there:
#1. It's less than a foot from the battery (zero grounding issues).
#2. It's right by the firewall so it would be easy to run the audio wires inside.
#3. It's actually protected from the elements by its locaton high up in the fender behind the fenderwell (the main computer is in the bottom of this fender area protected by a piece of rubber).
#4. Hidden.
#5. You have to take the fender off to steal it!
I can only think of 3 drawbacks:
#1. There is always the possibility that it might get wet, even if I shield it very well.
#2. The fender has to be removed for installation and tuning.
#3. Very difficult to adjust after installation.
I can deal with the drawbacks if those are the only ones.
If anyone knows of a better place to hide an amp in the C6, I am more than open to suggestions. Like I said, I don't know what's under the seats and I don't want to pull them just to find out.
So far in my quest, I've actually reduced the overall weight of the car because the speakers I bought (Polk SR6500's) use neodium magnets and are smaller than the 8 inch woofer and 3 inch mid/tweeter that were in there (saved about a pound per door or 2 pounds total).
I've just ordered an Alpine PDX4.150 digital amplifier and it comes in at a mere 3.11kg (6.86 lbs.) and at about 10X7.5X2.5 inches, which is the smallest quality amp I could find, it should be relatively easy to hide. I weighed the factory amp in the footwell and it came in at a whopping 2.5 lbs. 6.86 - 2.5lbs - 2.0lbs = +2.36 lbs added. Not bad so far.
I'm looking for opions on where people have hidden the amp in their car. The new amp is larger than the factory amp so it won't fit back in the footwell. I don't know what other electronics might already be under the passenger or drivers seat.
One thing I noticed when I installed my vent screens in the front fenders was that there is a cavernous amount of space inside the fender up towards the top. There is a bracket already there that separates the engine compartment from the fender area in which several items in the engine compartment are attached. Why couldn't a person mount an amp on the fender side of that bracket?
I know it sounds ridiculous to attach the amp in there and it goes against everything I've ever been told about audio installs, but there are several benefits that I can see to attaching an amp there:
#1. It's less than a foot from the battery (zero grounding issues).
#2. It's right by the firewall so it would be easy to run the audio wires inside.
#3. It's actually protected from the elements by its locaton high up in the fender behind the fenderwell (the main computer is in the bottom of this fender area protected by a piece of rubber).
#4. Hidden.
#5. You have to take the fender off to steal it!
I can only think of 3 drawbacks:
#1. There is always the possibility that it might get wet, even if I shield it very well.
#2. The fender has to be removed for installation and tuning.
#3. Very difficult to adjust after installation.
I can deal with the drawbacks if those are the only ones.
If anyone knows of a better place to hide an amp in the C6, I am more than open to suggestions. Like I said, I don't know what's under the seats and I don't want to pull them just to find out.
I recently replaced the 5 Bose speakers with Boston Acoustics. Now I have highs, but still no lows. So I am looking at the best next step.
G'luck
Fej
The area in the footwell where the amp is located is about 11" X 5 5/8" X 3 1/2" (In some spots it's as large as 6 1/2" wide and 4" deep).
I've looked and looked for a really nice, small, 4 channel amp and the Alpine was the only one I could find. It's only as small as it is because it is straight class D, which isn't supposed to be good for anything but subs. Alpine has supposedly figured out a way to make it sound as good as a class AB...we'll see.
Factory (non Bose) - ? X 4: 7 3/8" X 2" X 5 3/8"
Alpine PDX-4.150 - 150 X 4: 7 9/16" X 2 7/16" X 10 1/8"
Alphasonic has the PMZ6004A - 75 X 4: 9 1/4" X 2" X 12 5/8"
Audison SRX4 (If you can find it) - 45 X 4: 7" X 2" X 12.6"
Audison LR435 (If you can find it) - 35 X 4: 6.89" X 1.97" X 11.42"
Genesis Profile Four - 70 X 4: 8.5" X 1" X 11.8" (4 lbs!)

Mine in my 01 z06 is non power and it is a Genesis Profile P5, very thin and lightweight, and it BARELY fit ... took me 3 versions of mounting it to get it right.
Fej
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