New Install

[vpkb1998]

I'm going to start a new thread for this. Since I only have weekends to work with, this install will take me a few weekends. Head unit already came installed when I bought the car, so all I'm installing are the component speakers, amp & a subwoofer.

Head Unit: Kenwood DNX5120 w/ bluetooth & ipod adaptor
Speakers: Pioneer TS-C720PRS (running off head unit for now)
Sub: CDT EF-80 (in 4smartcar underdash box)
Amp: Profile California AP700 (mono for the sub)

The door panel was a pain to remove, and the mirror harness did not want to disengage. I decided to cut an X slit in the weather guard versus lifting it from the side.


Drilled through the black tabs to remove the stock grill.


I used the template that came with the pioneer components to mark the cut out diameter required for the new woofers.


First, I used a dremel cutoff wheel to remove the tabs, then sanded down until I have the desired opening. Took a few sand & fittings for a perfect fit.


Here's a test fitting, as you can see, the fit is PERFECT! Even the mounting tabs fit exactly to the edge. The speaker was screwed directly into the panel, no retaining tabs were used (otherwise, speakers will not fit without further sanding).

[vpkb1998]

Here's a fitting with the grill retainer on.






With the grill installed. The crossovers will be installed in the pockets, you can see the wires temporary in place.

[vpkb1998]

The magnets on these woofers are humongus, barely cleared the window. I applied some dynamat around the panel to help absorb some vibrations (no picture). I sealed the weather guard with weather proofing tape with aluminum backing. Dynamat and tape were heated to help activate the adhesives before they were applied.

[vpkb1998]

It took me a few hours to finish the driver side, the tweeter is not in yet. I'll work on the passenger side tomorrow.

[chasingrabbits]

Your install looks great, but on next door be sure and take a pic of your dynamat. I can't wait to do mine. We all would like to know how those speakers sound driven only by the Kenwood.

[SunDiego]

Looks great so far!

[vpkb1998]

Originally Posted by chasingrabbits

Your install looks great, but on next door be sure and take a pic of your dynamat. I can't wait to do mine. We all would like to know how those speakers sound driven only by the Kenwood.

I didn't use that much dynamat, only around the speaker. See the white panel, that's where the dynamat was applied.

Here are the tweeters, they're just a tad too big for the sail panels. I'll need to do some fiber glass work sometime later.

[vpkb1998]

Finished the speakers install today, the passenger side & tweeters took 1/2 the time to finish. Sorry, due to time constraint, I did not take any install pictures, here's the tweeter installed.



There is obviously a huge improvement from stock. Highs are clear and crisp while the lows are warm and punchy (nice bass). There is more than enough power from the head unit for these components. An amp is definitely not needed but will help at higher volume. I had the volume up more than 3/4 and there's no distortion at all.

I can't wait to get the sub in next weekend.

[vpkb1998]

If you're going to use Evilution's instruction for removing the door panels, you can skip these steps. Based on my Passion, it has nothing to do with removing the outer door panels or handles.

[vpkb1998]

The install is complete, the amp & sub are in. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough room under the passenger seat for the amp, so I ended up installing it behind the driver seat. All wires were ran underneath the carpet and e-brake cover to the driver side. There's a lot of space to work with, especially with the seats removed.

Here's the sub installed in the box. The cutout diameter was a few mm's too small, so i dremeled it a little bit, no big deal.




The supplied firewall bracket was impossible to install (box won't budge anymore) so I ditched it. The box is held in place by a supplied screw/washer through the dash bracket and also some dynamat underneath the far back corner of the box. It helps wedge it in place.. The box is very secured.