Upgrading Car Stereo - Part 3

Okay, had to purchase some additional items before beginning the installation as listed below, but I'll note that it took several runs to Wal-Mart and Pepboys to get everything I needed.  Here are the things that I ended up getting from start to finish in addition to the receiver, sub-amp, and subs:

• Stereo Install Dash Kit (not happy with this kit and will likely build a new one...eventually)
• Lightning Audio Install Kit LPK4
• Positive Battery Terminal Extender
• Scosche CORE17 Frosted 17-Feet RCA Audio Cable

The two pictures above meerly show what the trunk looks like empty.  I tried to talk Michael into filling to with a bunch of beach-bum junk for the photo, but we wasn't too interest, and he hasn't had the car long enough to put anything in it.

If you look just above the stock receiver between the hazard and rear defroster buttons, there is a rectangular do-nothing indentation with the ION logo.  In an after photo below you will see where I install an LED toggle switch inside the letter "O" used to turn the subwoofer's internal lights on and off.

This is a photo of the stock connector that went into the Saturn's original receiver.  I meant to take another photo after cutting this off and rewiring the new connector going to the Sony receiver.  Saved $30 by not buying and using universal "jumper" jacks, one that would connect to the Saturn jack going to a universal jack and another going from a universal jack to the Sony jack.

Here's where I attached the sub-amp and the 80-amp fuse holder to the back of the subwoofer.

Ran a small 18ga wire from the positive terminal on the amp to the lights positive terminal.  The ground wire is running from the toggle switch on the dash that I mentioned above under the center console along with the sub remote line and the RCA audio cables.

Once the subs were put into place we were able to connect the ground power cable to the car chassis, the positive power cable to the battery terminal using the positive battery terminal extender, the RCA audio cables to the sub-amp, the sub remote wire to the sub-amp, and the ground wire to the subwoofer lights negative terminal.

You can hardly see the lights with the camera flash.  I was a bit disappointed overall with the lights brightness, but we didn't really get them to look at.

Here you can see the new Sony receiver installed in the dash, and you can barely make out the toggle switch above the receiver in the off position.

Herre you can see the toggle switch in the on position.

Here is a much better angle showing the toggle switch in the on position.  you can see the light on the switch indicating the subwoofer's lights are on.  I think this was the coolest feature of all.

Upgrading Car Stereo - Part 2

The receiver, subwoofer, and mono-block amp came in over the last couple of days.  Michael was away all day with Courtney preparing for his friend (Kaitlin) to return from "vacation".  He didn't know the receiver and sub came in until after 5pm, so now he has to wait at least an extra day to install them.  Plus he'll have to get the required wiring to run from the fuse box for the sub and amp as well as the RCA cable to go from the receiver to the amp, and finally the wire from the amp to the sub for the audio.  You gettin' all this Michael?  Here are the items we purchased again in case you don't see part one of this upgrade.

• Sony CDX-GT700HD In-Dash CD Receiver MP3/WMA/AAC Player with HD Radio
• Dual BP1204 12-Inch 1100-Watt Illumination Bandpass Subwoofer
• Brand New Sony Xplod Xm-zzr3301 1,100 Watt Power-house Mono-block Amplifier Designed Just for Super Bass!

As I said in part one, I am including some photos of before and after.  It's already getting late so I hope Michael remembers to take some photos of his car from the inside and out before installing the new system.  In the meantime, here are some photos of the equipment before they get installed.

Upgrading Car Stereo

My son just graduated from high school and he wanted to get a new sound system for his car.  I thought this would make a great graduation gift for him.  Here are the items I researched and purchased for him through Amazon.com.  If you hover over each item, you can see a small photo and go directly to Amazon.com to get a complete description and reviews of them.

• Sony CDX-GT700HD In-Dash CD Receiver MP3/WMA/AAC Player with HD Radio
• Dual BP1204 12-Inch 1100-Watt Illumination Bandpass Subwoofer
• Brand New Sony Xplod Xm-zzr3301 1,100 Watt Power-house Mono-block Amplifier Designed Just for Super Bass!

I'll post some photos once all arrives and we get everything installed in his car.