Stereo Upgrade A Go-Go

Actual Mileage · Aug 10, 2006

This turned into a full on stereo upgrade - and I have included the pictures of the completed install.

GeoGeek · Aug 10, 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Actual Mileage @ Aug 10 2006, 01:46 PM) [snapback]300929[/snapback]</div>

OK - stupid question from stupid newbie.

I have package #3.
What does the auxiliary audio jack do? Just sound?

If I plug a Sirius S50 into it - will I get any of the features/controls on the display screen?

I want to beef up the sound a little and get my Sirius back.
The S50 costs the same as Jon's kit - trying to weigh apples vs. apples is confusing.

Thanks -
[/b]
Click to expand...

Aux port gives you only a way in for audio....no data....so you won't have any of the
features (unique to your S50) available through the display.
You will have all the control over volume etc (like any other source...AM/FM/CD) but you
cannot control the track or see any of the data from the car's MFD.
The SiriusPrius kit gives you all the control from the screen....like picking a station, etc.
It is currently limited to 10 characters on the artist/title display however.
Hope this helps.

Actual Mileage · Aug 11, 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeoGeek @ Aug 10 2006, 05:38 PM) [snapback]301093[/snapback]</div>

Aux port gives you only a way in for audio....no data....so you won't have any of the
features (unique to your S50) available through the display.
You will have all the control over volume etc (like any other source...AM/FM/CD) but you
cannot control the track or see any of the data from the car's MFD.
The SiriusPrius kit gives you all the control from the screen....like picking a station, etc.
It is currently limited to 10 characters on the artist/title display however.
Hope this helps.
[/b]
Click to expand...

Yes - it helps greatly. Thanks for your answer.
And since no good deed ever goes unpunished - here are a few more questions -
(I will search through your posts to find as many of the answers as I can - but I really need to do a little work today).

1. Your "Integrated Sirius Satellite Radio" - is that the Factory Interactive product?
Is it tremendous?
ANSWERED

2. Who did the amp and subwoofer work for you?
I have yet to find a shop that has worked on a Prius.

3. The local Tweeter suggested the JL Audio Clean Sweep product - which actually looks like a decent compromise. The stock head stays put as a pre-amp and you go from there.

4. Xtant 3300c Amplifier
Diamond Audio M5 12" Subwoofer
Diamond Audio D6 5.25" Components
Diamond Audio M6 6.5" Components

These are new names to me - but I am more of a Crutchfield, 'big brand name' kind of sloth.
Are these some of the better components available?

I hope you don't mind the questions - and allowing me to draft behind your hard work.

GeoGeek · Aug 11, 2006

Actual Mileage @ Aug 11 2006 said: ↑

301460[/snapback]</div>

Yes - it helps greatly. Thanks for your answer.
And since no good deed ever goes unpunished - here are a few more questions -
(I will search through your posts to find as many of the answers as I can - but I really need to do a little work today).

1. Your "Integrated Sirius Satellite Radio" - is that the Factory Interactive product?
Is it tremendous?
ANSWERED
Actually, it's the same hardware, but I didn't get it from Factory Interactive.
Got the parts directly through Toyota...Tuner & Fit kit
Part # PTS031-00052 & PTS031-00051 respectively
Added a better external antenna (directed electronics sirius magnetic mount - $37]Bestbuy)

2. Who did the amp and subwoofer work for you?
I have yet to find a shop that has worked on a Prius.
I used to install professionally while in college, so I did my own work.
Most shops are kind of leery about the Prius, because of the High Voltage electrical system, but
it also has a fairly normal 12 volt system to run all the accessories.

3. The local Tweeter suggested the JL Audio Clean Sweep product - which actually looks like a decent compromise. The stock head stays put as a pre-amp and you go from there.
JL products, in my experience, are very well-built components.....a pre-amp is a good concept for the
Prius because of the need to keep the factory head unit (to preserve MFD & steering wheel controls).
I used a Scoshe line level adapter (from Crutchfield) to drop the speaker level output from the factory radio down to line level RCA outputs to feed into my amp. Works nicely, but the clean sweep probably gives you a cleaner & more adjustable signal to feed into your amp(s).

4. Xtant 3300c Amplifier
Diamond Audio M5 12" Subwoofer
Diamond Audio D6 5.25" Components
Diamond Audio M6 6.5" Components

These are new names to me - but I am more of a Crutchfield, 'big brand name' kind of sloth.
Are these some of the better components available?
These were all components I already had from a previous vehicle....bought most of them at cost from the stereo shop I used to work for......they are a little esoteric, but I'm more into sound quality these days (although the quantity ain't bad). The Diamond 6.5 components in the rear are probably overkill, but I already had them. The single most important upgrade (I think) is cleanly amplified signal driving a nice set of components in the front. Diamond Audio are very nice, but I could see being happy with MB Quart, Boston Accoustics, JL Audio, Image Dynamics, or a few others. Anything over stock is going to be a vast improvement.

I hope you don't mind the questions - and allowing me to draft behind your hard work.
[/b]
Click to expand...

No sweat....happy to help when I can.....
Click to expand...

Actual Mileage · Aug 11, 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeoGeek @ Aug 11 2006, 11:50 AM) [snapback]301501[/snapback]</div>

No sweat....happy to help when I can.....
[/b]
Click to expand...

I guess my main question at this point would be about the JL Clean Sweep as the starting point.

GeoGeek · Aug 11, 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Actual Mileage @ Aug 11 2006, 11:55 AM) [snapback]301502[/snapback]</div>

I guess my main question at this point would be about the JL Clean Sweep as the starting point.
[/b]
Click to expand...

Sorry for the confusing format of the last response post.
To answer your question, the JL Cleansweep would definately be a nice way to
make a presentable signal for a higher-end amp & speaker setup, although not
totally necessary.....as I mentioned, I accomplished getting line level RCA signal
from the factory head unit using a $29 line level converter from Crutchfield.
Cleansweep is great if tinkering with the DSP is something important to you.
My amp has a built in noise gate and balanged line module......those are fancy
devices that prevent "turn-on thump" from the amp and help prevent pesky ground loop
noise from getting into the signal. The cleansweep does the line balancing and also gives you
a turn on lead for your amps........my amp is always on while the car is on....which hasen't
proven to be a problem to date.

Ultimately, I guess it depends on how much money the Cleansweep will cost you compared to other
components you want to put in the car. At any rate, it's not a mandatory piece to build a good system in your Prius.

Cheers,
Matt

Actual Mileage · Aug 14, 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeoGeek @ Aug 11 2006, 10:55 PM) [snapback]301913[/snapback]</div>

Sorry for the confusing format of the last response post.
To answer your question, the JL Cleansweep would definately be a nice way to
make a presentable signal for a higher-end amp & speaker setup, although not
totally necessary.....as I mentioned, I accomplished getting line level RCA signal
from the factory head unit using a $29 line level converter from Crutchfield.
Cleansweep is great if tinkering with the DSP is something important to you.
My amp has a built in noise gate and balanged line module......those are fancy
devices that prevent "turn-on thump" from the amp and help prevent pesky ground loop
noise from getting into the signal. The cleansweep does the line balancing and also gives you
a turn on lead for your amps........my amp is always on while the car is on....which hasen't
proven to be a problem to date.

Ultimately, I guess it depends on how much money the Cleansweep will cost you compared to other
components you want to put in the car. At any rate, it's not a mandatory piece to build a good system in your Prius.

Cheers,
Matt
[/b]
Click to expand...

Thanks Matt.
I was just out at an installer - he mentioned that Rockford made a line converter with built in EQs for all 4 speakers and the sub. And the amp is only on when the deck is on.
One of his suggestions - which I need to research - was siting the speakers in kick panels in the driver and passenger foot wells. They are better pointed and the distance from your ears is optimized. He wasn't pushing it down my throat or anything - but he said I am better off with a basic coax sited there than 400.00 speakers in the door. I told him that staging and separation were important.
He is looking into fabricating a high end Rockford sub into the little storage nodule in the back driver side - next to the lid for the spare.
Then putting the amps on the storage tray.
Talking a large chunk of change - so he is going to give my a couple different cost levels.
I also want the integrated Sirius and might have him site that antenna on the roof through the dome light.
Although - it sounds like the shark fin antenna results in a serious loss of signal.

GeoGeek · Aug 14, 2006

Although I'm not directly familiar with the Rockford piece, sounds like it does what you're after.
In some cars, the factory speaker locations up front are poorly engineered (either because of the resulting speaker axis aim, distance from the listener, or insufficient space for an upgraded speaker)....the kick panel
pods the installer was referring to are designed to overcome that by creating a better spot with enough room for a full sized, aftermarket speaker. The Prius, however, is not one of those poorly engineered (for sound) cars.....about the worst thing they've got going accoustically is inadequate sound deadening.
The factory speaker location in the door has enough room for a good set of 5.25" or 6.5" mid-bass drivers
(with the proper spacer ring) and the factory tweeter locations in the pillars can easily accomodate aftermarket tweets. The imaging and sound stage possible (with the right equipment) I can tell you with certainty is very good......i.e. you don't need the kick panel pods.

Buy a nice set of 5.25" or 6.5" components, apply some sound deadening in the doors, fabricate trim rings out of MDF, and install your speakers.....might need to get creative with hot glue to get the tweeters seated.
Feed those components with 50+ watts/channel RMS power from a good clean amp and I promise you won't be disappointed.....do the sub you're talking about...keep the signal crossed over so the sub's handling the very lows & the components the rest and you'll be even happier.

Let me know how it goes or if you have any other questions...
Cheers,
Matt

Actual Mileage · Aug 15, 2006

Thanks Matt.

Not fabricating pods would save me either a lot of time or money depending on who does the job. The more I look at the architecture of the car - the more I would love to put the drivers up on the dashboard. I hate doing too much non-reversible custom stuff - but that looks like a big hollow area up there. Just a couple air ducts - but I haven't popped it off to poke around. Any thoughts or experience with that idea?

The doors are very hollow sounding. Did you do all 4 - or just the fronts? Head liner? Trunk? I put an entire box of Dynamat into my Maxima - must be 40 pounds of the stuff. There goes 0.35 MPG.

I was assuming I would have a shop do the install - but if I only have to mess with the head to connect a line converter - it may be easier than the Maxima. Getting the power line in from the engine was a nightmare - no empty rivets - no nothing. Had to snake it up over the driver side front wheel well and to the battery. Royal pain - like days of trying to figure it out.

The battery in the Prius is right next to the amp site - stuffing doors is tedious and detailed - but swapping out drivers and putting tweeters in the front sail pieces is quick and fun. Love that part of the job.

I take it you did your install, correct? Hence the sweet, high end components. I was looking at the Focal w/ crossovers for the front and maybe just the co-axes in the back. Tweeter wants almost 1000 for the Focals I was looking at. Yikes.

Where did you fit the 12" sub? On the storage panel? Did you reinforce it? I will check your posts again.

Oh - one last thought - you are OK with just controlling the sound with the head unit? It sounds to me like the bass, treble and mids are all digitally intertwined - you boost bass and the trble and mids are also adjusted at the same time. I would love something that I just put data into and sound comes out - but going from Herbie Hancock at the Plugged Nickel to the Ramones to Springsteen's Nebraska - I am always tweating to fit the data. Using the JL or Fosgate would help - Alpine is coming out with a similar piece of equipment - they are all around 350.00

I appreciate your thoughts - you obviously have the real world experience with the car and its sound stage that I am lacking.

Terry

GeoGeek · Aug 15, 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Actual Mileage @ Aug 15 2006, 02:39 PM) [snapback]303632[/snapback]</div>

My responses below in blue.
Thanks Matt.
No Sweat.
Not fabricating pods would save me either a lot of time or money depending on who does the job. The more I look at the architecture of the car - the more I would love to put the drivers up on the dashboard. I hate doing too much non-reversible custom stuff - but that looks like a big hollow area up there. Just a couple air ducts - but I haven't popped it off to poke around. Any thoughts or experience with that idea?You won't want to mess around with the dash.....one issue is the passenger airbag...those seams you can see are where it's packed. Other than that, the dash is generally not so good for sound.....you need enclosures behind your mid-bass drivers (like doors). Use the doors.

The doors are very hollow sounding. Did you do all 4 - or just the fronts? Head liner? Trunk? I put an entire box of Dynamat into my Maxima - must be 40 pounds of the stuff. There goes 0.35 MPG.I have not, to date, deadened my doors...I would like to soon for sound quality reasons as well as quietening the ride. I'll probably start with the doors and add more only if something else starts to bother me. MPG is not enough of a concern to worry about.

I was assuming I would have a shop do the install - but if I only have to mess with the head to connect a line converter - it may be easier than the Maxima. Getting the power line in from the engine was a nightmare - no empty rivets - no nothing. Had to snake it up over the driver side front wheel well and to the battery. Royal pain - like days of trying to figure it out.

The battery in the Prius is right next to the amp site - stuffing doors is tedious and detailed - but swapping out drivers and putting tweeters in the front sail pieces is quick and fun. Love that part of the job.Like you said, this part's a snap. You do have to run both signal wires (RCA jacks) and then speaker leads from the amp back to your head unit to tap into the factory wires with the signal from
your amp out to your speakers.

I take it you did your install, correct? Hence the sweet, high end components. I was looking at the Focal w/ crossovers for the front and maybe just the co-axes in the back. Tweeter wants almost 1000 for the Focals I was looking at. Yikes.Yep...did my own installing. Shop around for the speakers....I've seen great deals on ebay....of course it's hard to take back a speaker to website. If you're in love with the Focals, shop ebay.
Also consider some of the German makers (MBQuart, Diamond, etc). I know you can get great deals on-line on Diamonds....make sure you like the sound first.

<span style="color:#000000">Where did you fit the 12" sub? On the storage panel? Did you reinforce it? I will check your posts again.
</span>I built a small (~1cubic foot) sealed box out of MDF and it sits right behind the back seat under the tonneau cover.....dosen't interfear with the cargo box function....which is where the amp is.
Long term I plan on doing a custom fiberglass install with a Diamond or JL 10" sub (12 can't fit).

Oh - one last thought - you are OK with just controlling the sound with the head unit? It sounds to me like the bass, treble and mids are all digitally intertwined - you boost bass and the trble and mids are also adjusted at the same time. I would love something that I just put data into and sound comes out - but going from Herbie Hancock at the Plugged Nickel to the Ramones to Springsteen's Nebraska - I am always tweating to fit the data. Using the JL or Fosgate would help - Alpine is coming out with a similar piece of equipment - they are all around 350.00The tweaker in me really wants to add an eq in that pocket under the factory head unit. That would give me more flexibility. My base model head unit only has bass & treble sliders. A nice half-din unit (nine or eleven band) would be great. If you could find one that gives you that eq and a way to take in the high level out of the head unit and put out RCA's for your amp, thet would be a nice solution.
Actual sliders are better.....no one likes navigating through menus to bump the mids a little.

I appreciate your thoughts - you obviously have the real world experience with the car and its sound stage that I am lacking.
Terry
[/b]
Click to expand...

Actual Mileage · Aug 15, 2006

"Actual sliders are better.....no one likes navigating through menus to bump the mids a little."

I spent my entire time in the Nissan messing with the cross overs, playing with the EQ settings, tweaking the time correction for speakers and the sub. I wopuld love to shove in a disc and have instant gratification.

Where do you see putting the sub? Same little spot I am eyeing? It looks like it is halfway there already with that little plastic form. Why does everyone go for the passenger side spot?

GeoGeek · Aug 15, 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Actual Mileage @ Aug 15 2006, 03:59 PM) [snapback]303688[/snapback]</div>

"Actual sliders are better.....no one likes navigating through menus to bump the mids a little."

I spent my entire time in the Nissan messing with the cross overs, playing with the EQ settings, tweaking the time correction for speakers and the sub. I wopuld love to shove in a disc and have instant gratification.

Where do you see putting the sub? Same little spot I am eyeing? It looks like it is halfway there already with that little plastic form. Why does everyone go for the passenger side spot?
[/b]
Click to expand...

Passenger side is popular because it's pretty much dead space.
It allows you to still open your storage tray, get to spare, etc.
Driver's side cubby has that little compartment you could use if you wanted to....but it does offer the
benefit of a little more air space.....the sub I'm considering can be happy in about 0.63 cubic feet.
If I can get away with that and free up the space my current enclosure is sitting on, that'd be good.
Keep in mind that the little recessed notches in the storage tray are there for you to put the tonneau cover
when you're using the cargo space (back seats flipped down).....you may want to consider how hard you'll
make it to get to the spare, etc. when figuring out where to put the sub enclosure.

Actual Mileage · Aug 16, 2006

GeoGeek @ Aug 15 2006 said: ↑

303740[/snapback]</div>

Passenger side is popular because it's pretty much dead space.
It allows you to still open your storage tray, get to spare, etc.
Driver's side cubby has that little compartment you could use if you wanted to....but it does offer the
benefit of a little more air space.....the sub I'm considering can be happy in about 0.63 cubic feet.
If I can get away with that and free up the space my current enclosure is sitting on, that'd be good.
Keep in mind that the little recessed notches in the storage tray are there for you to put the tonneau cover
when you're using the cargo space (back seats flipped down).....you may want to consider how hard you'll
make it to get to the spare, etc. when figuring out where to put the sub enclosure.
[/b]
Click to expand...

Ha!
Matt - My tonneau cover is still in its wrapper in the back seat. As is the carpet for the back storage area. I have yet to open the owner's manual. It is sitting on my desk - I bring it in to the office every day. There is a guy on eBay that makes sub enclosures - I have just started a dialogue with him. He already has products for the VW Jetta and Bug and the Honda Accord and Civic - same idea as the Prius. I told him he would find a ready market if he were to start producing Prius enclosures.

There is also a new 3300C Amp - don't know how much he wants for it - didn't hit his reserve the first time around. Do they still retail] 800? Maybe I can get it for half of that.

And there are plenty of Diamond and MBQuart speakers on eBay as well. The problem for me is finder a retailer up her in Mudhut Maine to give them a listen. Nearest Diamond retailer is in Boston. Will the 5.25 give me an easier install and still do the job for the front? I am still leaning toward leaving the rears as they are or using coaxials.

I am looking for separation, staging and clarity - the fingers on the guitar strings, Miles clearing his horn. Monster volume and bass is less important. So if the German products deliver that - I am all for it.
Click to expand...

GeoGeek · Aug 16, 2006

Actual Mileage @ Aug 16 2006 said: ↑

304089[/snapback]</div>

Ha!
Matt - My tonneau cover is still in its wrapper in the back seat. As is the carpet for the back storage area. I have yet to open the owner's manual. It is sitting on my desk - I bring it in to the office every day. There is a guy on eBay that makes sub enclosures - I have just started a dialogue with him. He already has products for the VW Jetta and Bug and the Honda Accord and Civic - same idea as the Prius. I told him he would find a ready market if he were to start producing Prius enclosures.
Yep, I've read others asking those who've done custom fiberglass enclosures for their Prii if they'd be willing to reproduce one to sell. I bet there would be plenty.....me included if the price was right.
A fellow PC'er going by "eagle33199" I think put together a nice "how-to" manual in .pdf format that's available on this site.

There is also a new 3300C Amp - don't know how much he wants for it - didn't hit his reserve the first time around. Do they still retail] 800? Maybe I can get it for half of that.
I bought mine for dealer cost at the time (about 5 years ago)....worked out to be between $400 & $500 I think. Retail, if memory serves, was about $1000. Good rule of thumb for car audio is that the used market starts off at about half of retail. My 3300c is an awesome amp, but it's essentially set up as a 3 channel amp (60wattsx2 + 380watts x1)....so if you want to amplify your rears (not important to me) you might want to consider a 5 channel setup.

And there are plenty of Diamond and MBQuart speakers on eBay as well. The problem for me is finder a retailer up her in Mudhut Maine to give them a listen. Nearest Diamond retailer is in Boston. Will the 5.25 give me an easier install and still do the job for the front? I am still leaning toward leaving the rears as they are or using coaxials.
5.25" worked great in my doors, although I suspect I could have gone with the 6.5" and gotten a little more mid-bass punch.......but the 5.25 sound great to me. Since you'll be cutting a custom trim ring to mount the speakers, you could probably do either. Just go with basic co-axials for the rear. It's been a lot of years since I've been in Maine.....1988, I think, but I do remember that there were some higher-end stereo shops in the Portland area. I know Tweeters (known as "Sound Advice" around here) carries the Xtant line, as well as JL Audio & the Boston Accoustics Pro Series, and MBQuart....at least they used to. Visit the Diamond website to see if they have anything closer than Boston....seems like they ought to. Other folks here on PC brag about the Infinity Kappa series, but personally, I'm not a big fan.....I guess anything over the factory speakers seems like a vast improvement. Find something that satisfies your ear in the showroom and then hunt them down on ebay for a good deal.

I am looking for separation, staging and clarity - the fingers on the guitar strings, Miles clearing his horn. Monster volume and bass is less important. So if the German products deliver that - I am all for it.
From personal experience I can tell you that the Diamond/Xtant combo delivers this for sure; although I can easily see getting similar results from the small handfull of other brands I've mentioned in this & other posts. I listen to lots of Jazz, Classic Rock, and a wide variety on Satellite. Best separation I heard is on instrumental recordings on CD, but I can tell you it is exceptional. Favorite thing I've heard so far is the flute solo/percussion intro to "Say Goodbye" on Dave Matthews Crash CD.
It's those details that make it worth dumping $$$ & install time into the car. [/b]
Click to expand...

Click to expand...

justsoup · Aug 16, 2006

I had Jon (factory Interactive) install a Sirius radio in my 2006 Prius Package 9 two weeks ago. It works perfectly. Sound quality is excellent. The whole process took only 1 hour and 15 minutes. It was well worth the $100 extra to have him install the system. I would highly recommend using Factory Interactive for Sirius listeners. If you happen to live in the NoVA area, the installation was painless and quick.

Actual Mileage · Aug 16, 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(justsoup @ Aug 16 2006, 02:32 PM) [snapback]304211[/snapback]</div>

I had Jon (factory Interactive) install a Sirius radio in my 2006 Prius Package 9 two weeks ago. It works perfectly. Sound quality is excellent. The whole process took only 1 hour and 15 minutes. It was well worth the $100 extra to have him install the system. I would highly recommend using Factory Interactive for Sirius listeners. If you happen to live in the NoVA area, the installation was painless and quick.
[/b]
Click to expand...

Dude -
3 posts on 3 threads - all the same. Are they paying you?
Because they should be.

Actual Mileage · Aug 17, 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeoGeek @ Aug 15 2006, 03:39 PM) [snapback]303672[/snapback]</div>

I bought mine for dealer cost at the time (about 5 years ago)....worked out to be between $400 & $500 I think. Retail, if memory serves, was about $1000. Good rule of thumb for car audio is that the used market starts off at about half of retail. My 3300c is an awesome amp, but it's essentially set up as a 3 channel amp (60wattsx2 + 380watts x1)....so if you want to amplify your rears (not important to me) you might want to consider a 5 channel setup.
[/b]
Click to expand...

Had to buy it - $260 inc. shipping. Seller claims it is brandy-new - we will see. (Guess it could be - probably been sitting around somewhere for a couple years.)
Does the head provide enough power for decent fill from the rears?

GeoGeek · Aug 17, 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Actual Mileage @ Aug 17 2006, 01:08 PM) [snapback]304730[/snapback]</div>

Had to buy it - $260 inc. shipping. Seller claims it is brandy-new - we will see. (Guess it could be - probably been sitting around somewhere for a couple years.)
Does the head provide enough power for decent fill from the rears?
[/b]
Click to expand...

That's an outstanding deal.....the rears are certainly a little under-driven by the whimpy output from the factory head unit, but they're really just for fill. I can adjust it somewhat using the fader. I've actually got an old 50wattx2 Sony amp I was considering putting in just to drive those rears, but it's just not that important.
The giude I've attached to this post was the one I spoke of earlier.
It's got great stuff for box building as well as amp install in the Prius. Credit goes to "eagle33199"

Actual Mileage · Aug 18, 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeoGeek @ Aug 17 2006, 05:36 PM) [snapback]304893[/snapback]</div>

That's an outstanding deal.....the rears are certainly a little under-driven by the whimpy output from the factory head unit, but they're really just for fill. I can adjust it somewhat using the fader. I've actually got an old 50wattx2 Sony amp I was considering putting in just to drive those rears, but it's just not that important.
The giude I've attached to this post was the one I spoke of earlier.
It's got great stuff for box building as well as amp install in the Prius. Credit goes to "eagle33199"
[/b]
Click to expand...

Thanks Matt - I have already printed that baby out in color to bring along to wherever I get the work done. It is really a terrific piece - and has the bonus of the satellite install. I sent the eagle a PM thanking him for it.

I am waiting to see what my 3300C looks like. I have read that it has a 5 channel mode. The amp puts out an attenuated (amount of attenuation selectable with a switch from -0 to -8 dB) mono "rear-fill" signal. Did you upgrade the crossover?

But the other choice is to run grab a cheap 2 channel for the rears. There are plenty of coaxs and amps on eBay. The CDT speakers are supposed to be very sweet and breathy, esp. the tweeters. Guess I better see what kind of depth limitations there are in the front doors before I buy anything!

GeoGeek · Aug 18, 2006

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Actual Mileage @ Aug 18 2006, 09:17 AM) [snapback]305267[/snapback]</div>

Thanks Matt - I have already printed that baby out in color to bring along to wherever I get the work done. It is really a terrific piece - and has the bonus of the satellite install. I sent the eagle a PM thanking him for it.

I am waiting to see what my 3300C looks like. I have read that it has a 5 channel mode. The amp puts out an attenuated (amount of attenuation selectable with a switch from -0 to -8 dB) mono "rear-fill" signal. Did you upgrade the crossover?

But the other choice is to run grab a cheap 2 channel for the rears. There are plenty of coaxs and amps on eBay. The CDT speakers are supposed to be very sweet and breathy, esp. the tweeters. Guess I better see what kind of depth limitations there are in the front doors before I buy anything!
[/b]
Click to expand...

I did upgrade my 3300c with the BLM-1 (balanced line module) but not the EQ. I've had mine set up in 5-channel before but didn't like the loss of Fader control, so I nixed the hookup to the rears. I've read other's posts singing the praises for the CDT's although I've never laid ears on them personally. I believe there was a post here on PC that gave the exact dimensions of the speaker openings in the Prius. Keep in mind that
you have some wiggle room (depth-wise) by cutting a custom trim ring (mine are 3/4" thick MDF)....magnets
of the Diamond 5.25' s clear easy.

I've included the .pdf of the 3300c owners manual...enjoy.
Matt

Stereo Upgrade A Go-Go

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member

justsoup New Member

Actual Mileage Member

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member

About PriusChat

Quick Navigation

Like us on Facebook

Buy us a beer!

Useful Searches

Stereo Upgrade A Go-Go

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member

justsoup New Member

Actual Mileage Member

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member

Actual Mileage Member

GeoGeek Member