Just finished my first stereo install, still playing around with some of the amp and head unit settings but overall I am really pleased with the sound so far. JL Audio rocks!

Here’s what I got and what I did.

Alpine CDA 9857 w/ IPod Nano
Humount lighted Corvette face plate
JL Audio ZR650-CSI (Fronts)
JL Audio VR525-CXI (Rears)
JL Audio 300/4 Amplifier
Sirius SIR-ALP1
JL Audio Amp install kit and JL Audio Component cables and speaker wire.

I removed the entire interior and used Frost King, Dynamat and Reflectix to sound deaden and heat proof the tunnel. I removed all the old Bose components Dynamated the inside of the doors and began the install. I took my time and after about 4 days it’s finally just about done. No big hassles thanks to all the great info available on this forum.

I had to fabricate speaker mounts out ¼ inch MDF for the doors, I used the Bose mounts as templates. I decided to mount the amp behind the passenger seat as well as the crossovers. This allows for adjustment of both while being seated in the primary listening position. The ZR 650’s have adjustable tweeters and mids. The switched 12 volt source was the unused yellow wire in the passenger footwell. The illumination source was the cream colored wire on the temperature controller wire block connector. All this was done using information obtained on this forum. I mounted the Sirius tuner just below the glove compartment and ran the antennae wire to the right rear of the car. I ran the IPod connector on the top of the tunnel and into the center console compartment. I went ahead and ran component cables for a subwoofer if I decide later to add one, but so far, the bass I am getting seems to be more than enough for me.

The only problem I had was with the head unit. It is quite deep and with the cables connected, it hits on the ducting for the front windshield defroster in the front of the dash. Luckily the face plate from HUMOUNT allows for some adjustment and after several attempts I was finally able to make it work. Here are some pics of the system. I’ll post some finished ones in a day or so.

Take care and thanks to all who posted info on this forum. Without it, this install would have been much harder and taken a lot longer.




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nice. Did you have to fabricate plates for the rear speakers?

i look forward to seeing completed pics

 

lookin good man... u can cut the plastic if u need to its like a cover for the actual vent so cutting it will give u more depth but not exactly cut the vent

 

That install looks great!!! Very Neat and organized

 

looking good, can't wait to see the finished pictures

 

Looks really good. Did you mention a sub?

 

Awesome!!!

 

Here are some finished pics.

The Fronts:



The Rears:



The Head Unit:



The Amp and Crossovers:



I have a few questions for the resident experts here on this forum. It has to do with fine tuning my system, mainly my speakers and amplifier settings. Should I be using the crossover filters on my amp? If so, what’s the best way and what’s a good starting point?

My fronts have some minor adjustability inside the crossovers themselves, midrange and tweeters. Also, what’s the best way to adjust the input sensitivity for both the front and rear channels without a digital voltmeter and sound generating CD?

Thanks for any help in advance.

It would probably be helpful to remind you what components we’re dealing with:

Head Unit = Alpine 9857
Fronts = JL ZR650-CSI
Rears = JL VR525-CXI
Amplifier = JL 300/4

Right now I have all the filtering (Crossovers) in the amp off. I set the input sensitivity by turning the Head Unit volume to about 75 % of max and slowly increased the sensitivity until I felt it was possibly starting to distort. I did this for both the front and rears. It’s really hard to determine this way because the volume gets rather loud and trying to find a descent song to do this with is also a little difficult.

Give my your input.

ZDriver.

 

nice install.

from what you've said, you've followed the gain setting procedure perfectly.

I'd suggest using your amps Xovers as high pass. If you know your midrange's low end rolloff frequency, just set your amp to that. If not, you're going to have to play with it.
Midrange speakers can play the lower tones, just not as well. I'd suggest nothing lower than 150Hz for a basic midrange