Hey everybody,
I'm having a little trouble deciding exactly how I'm going to put together my sound system. I'm going to custom make a box that will hopefully fit right behind the seats. There's going to be two subs and two speakers in the box, I just need some input on how I'm going to put this all together. I was wondering how the curve of the back would affect this, and how hard it would be to work around that. Other than that if anyone could give me some insight, or tell me some things that I need to look into, I'd appreciate it.

Regards,
Miguel

Check my set up out. It works and sounds great! just some ideas! -matthttp://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/673000-673999/673376_14.jpg http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/673000-673999/673376_16.jpg

That's an awesome setup you got there! I went to your page and you said it was made from 3/4" MDF. I'm not sure what that is. Anyway, did you have any trouble with anything in particular? I'm just looking for anything I should look out for when I start this one.

MDF is just a hard particle board or press board that is "sound proof" and is available ad Lowes or Home Depot. Only the sub boxes are made from MDF. The hardest part was getting the room for the proper airspace in the spare tire compartment. Speakers need specific air space and dimensions to perform properly within their boxes. As you probably know there isn't much space to work with, so go with a sub that requires very little airspace, like JL, or Kicker Solobaric. Other than that everything was fairly easy. I did have to banf up the metal under the bed in order to get the sub boxes to fit properly. Good Luck! -Matt

i looked at your cardomain site and your car is definately "outta control" like you said!!! i love it!! o also i wanted to know how exactly you did you sound system b/c i have all the stuff and it sound awsome but it doesnt really look the best and yours looks awsome!! if you could email me some good pics and steps that you went through to do that it would be great my email is bmxrulez14@hotmail.com thanks!! Lee

i have an '81 camino and my sound system is

2 boston 3 1/2's in the front

2 Pioneer 6x9's in the back

Sony cd player 50wx4

250 watt sony xplode amp

12 inch JL sub in a truck box.

I placed the sub behind the drivers seat into that space underneath the truck bed and it fits perfectly and the bass is real good especially since it hitting off the metal truck bed lining.

I want to get another 12 back there and put it on the passenger side of that space and get a bigger amp.

The one JL right now is really nice though. Its not as nice of a look as outta controls el camino but its still rather nice. I will try to post pics of it.

what kind of pictures are you looking for? i don't really know what other pictures to take without pulling the stuff out of the car? Let me know, i will try to help best I can. -matt

hey mat i have question for u did u fiberglass ur car or did u just slap a picee of mdf with carpet in ur car. I'm trying to figure out how to do mine i have a 15 inces subwoffer what do u think i should build ?
thanks in advance Joe

My plans are Kick panel enclosures (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-q5mNfTQ50dg/cgi-bin/ProdGroup.asp?g=182850&a=1) with Infinity Kappa's and a custom made box using the smuggler's compartment with (2) 12" TREO 12.22's (http://www.treoonline.com/ssi.html) and eith a MMATS or a TREO amp.

Just be careful. I've got 2 15"s behind my seat. They sound good when the seats are down or forward, but when I'm driving the sound gets distorted, I think bc theres not a lot of air space back there. But I dunno. Try getting your box ported. That would probably help.

Just be careful. I've got 2 15"s behind my seat. They sound good when the seats are down or forward, but when I'm driving the sound gets distorted, I think bc theres not a lot of air space back there. But I dunno. Try getting your box ported. That would probably help. I plan useing port tubes facing upwards.

With the air space available going bigger than 10" Subs is a waste. With 12's or 15's they will distort due to lack of air space, unless they are designed to be run in minimal space. My 2 JL W3 10's are running at 1ohm with 300 watts a piece to them and they are almost to much for the compartment. My box is a 3/4" MDF and is sealed, with regular 1/2" ply-wood that is covered in velour as the "wall". The 6x9's are free air and sound great, but are heavily muffled by the seat. i am probably goin to mount tweeters above the seat in the rear pillars next to the back window. The 3.5" in dash speakers are a waste so i use them as Highs only, and have kick panels for midd-bass and highs. Everything is amped and the headunit has 8volt preouts for clean signal processing. Good Luck with you systems everybody! -Matt

Would 10" subs have enough airspace?

Would 10" subs have enough airspace? All depends on the subs. Some subs require more air space then others do. With the avalible air space oh the smuggler's compartment of my 78, there is pleanty of air space for a pair of most 12" subs. Look at this pic http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/673000-673999/673376_14.jpg Now remove the 6x9's. Use the "wall/box" for only the subs. As you can see, that increases air space for subs by getting rid od the 6x9's and other stuff. Now add a slot port between the 2 subs fireing upwards.

I was looking at head units, speakers, and subs for my system today, and I was thinking that I might wanna go with all Sony equipment. I don't know what experiences anybody has had with Sony, but if you could tell me what you thought, I planned on getting two 10" Sony Xplodes to put behind each seat, and putting two 5 x 7's between them, in a vertical line. Then I planned on getting a Sony head unit. This is just a thought, but what do you guys think? Overkill? Too much bass?

I was looking at head units, speakers, and subs for my system today, and I was thinking that I might wanna go with all Sony equipment. I don't know what experiences anybody has had with Sony, but if you could tell me what you thought, I planned on getting two 10" Sony Xplodes to put behind each seat, and putting two 5 x 7's between them, in a vertical line. Then I planned on getting a Sony head unit. This is just a thought, but what do you guys think? Overkill? Too much bass? I know alot of people who have had problems with Sony headunits. To be honest, I see no reason for any speakers behind the seats in a El Camino other then the sub(s). I plan on useing kick panel enclosures because they aim the speakers for propper stereo imaging.

Sony is junk, I would never use Sony. if you are not looking to go with real high end stereo equipment, go with a Kenwood headunit and speakers, and JL subs. That is probably the best bang for the buck. Also I dissagree with z3pr, You've gotta have speakers behind the seat in order to have great balanced sound quality. If you only have highs/mids from the front and only bass from the back it wont sound that great. Even if you run 5.25" in the back to just to as some sound from the back, it would be better than nothing. In my opinion at least. Good Luck! -Matt

Sony is junk, I would never use Sony. if you are not looking to go with real high end stereo equipment, go with a Kenwood headunit and speakers, and JL subs. That is probably the best bang for the buck. Also I dissagree with z3pr, You've gotta have speakers behind the seat in order to have great balanced sound quality. If you only have highs/mids from the front and only bass from the back it wont sound that great. Even if you run 5.25" in the back to just to as some sound from the back, it would be better than nothing. In my opinion at least. Good Luck! -Matt What the heck for ?? The kick panel enclosures will hold upto a 6.5" midrange speaker and a tweeter. There is no need for anything else behind the seat(s) besides the sub(s). If you want High end subs, look into TREO's. www.treoonline.com They put JL's to shame, but they are NOT cheap. I prefet Infinity Kappa's to the Kenwood speaker. Headunits, Kenwood is good, but you'll get more bang for the buck with JVC and Clarion.

Well, I think I've finally came up with something that I'm happy with. I'm thinking to put the two 10" Sony Explodes in the back, only for the reason that I think that they'll be the best bang for the buck. Between those I'm gunna put two 3 -way 6 x 9's. In each door panel I think I'm gunna put a 4" 2-way and a 1" tweeter, so that I can get sound coming from all around me. That's what I've come up with so far. The only thing I was debating is what size amp to use. If anyone could help me out it would be great. But other than that, tell me what you think of what I got so far.

Please don't go with SONY, sony subs are junk and the full range speakers don't have very good midrange Sony speakers have good highs and thats it. That is only my opinion. You have to go with what ever you like the sound of and can afford. The speakers are OK, but the subs are a waste of money. Go with JL, Rockford, Kicker, or even Eclipse as a sub. A good sub makes all the difference in the world. It all depends on how much you are looking to spend, to recomend an amp. Good amps cost big bucks, but Sony amps are not bad. Good Luck!

Please don't go with SONY, sony subs are junk and the full range speakers don't have very good midrange Sony speakers have good highs and thats it. That is only my opinion. You have to go with what ever you like the sound of and can afford. The speakers are OK, but the subs are a waste of money. Go with JL, Rockford, Kicker, or even Eclipse as a sub. A good sub makes all the difference in the world. It all depends on how much you are looking to spend, to recomend an amp. Good amps cost big bucks, but Sony amps are not bad. Good Luck! You know, JBL makes a nice fullrange speaker, and thier subs sound good too. For a more reasonable priced speaker system, JBL is worth looking at.

I agree with that. JBL has come a long way in the past few years. For the price, they are very nice! Deffinately worth checking out!

It's better to have a better quality head unit and amp than a more expensive sub, if you're cost cautious. Start out with that setup and, when you're ready/able, step up your subs to better quality. It's been my experience that it's better to do it that way. I prefer Audiobahn or Infinity subs for lower costs. They sound gr8 and look gr8. Also, remember that when you port a sub, you'll need more cu.ft. to compensate air displacement.

I've had a good experience with JL Audio 10" subs in a smaller truck. I currently have a 12" competition Kicker in a sealed box in my other car (Accord). Also, I have an older Kenwood headunit (45w x 4) that sounds decent.

My best advice...go to your local prefered speaker shop and listen to everything in your price range. Do some research on the ones you like and make a "sound" decision. :cool:

Note: Having full-range speakers behind the seat will add to the "surrounding" effect, however remember the sound stage should be centralized to the front of the listener(s). If you're going to put 6x9s or 5x7s in the back, be sure to turn your "fade" more to the front position. This will allow for better sound quality. :D

definately not too much bass!!!! my friend put 2 sony xplods 10" in his car and they sound excellent!!!!!!! so in an el camino they would sound really good cuz there isnt that much space to fill with sound! i personally have 2 10" pioneer subs and i cant turn the amp up all the way or it just rins me out of the car!!! LOL go check it out my gallery is on like page 23 its the brown one but look at my pics its nuthing pretty but i sounds really good im workin on making it look good after i get the body work done on my car hopefully this winter!! so i hope you decide to do the sony stuff and put some pis up in the gallery some tome i would like to see some pics when you get it all in there!!! Lee

here is my set up...i just changed this weekend and i love this!!

http://elcaminocentral.com/modules.php?set_albumName=1984_El_Camino&id=104_0423&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php