VE Ute Sound System

[Wallace44]

Hi -

I just bought a new VE SV6 ute, and love it.

The only problem, as im sure most of you already know, is with the poxy sound system.
Since I am no car stereo guru, I went to a few audio shops to see what they could do for me.

I don't want to spend thousands of dollars, and I don't want anything too insane. I just want a nice clean crisp sound.

I got quoted for the below; and would just like everyone elses thoughts on it.

Sony XSL12S Sub - It will be in a slimline sub box.


Sony XSGTX1620S 6" Speakers with Tweaters

Kenwood KAC-8104D Amp - 1000W Class D Mono Amp

All up this was $837 installed.
Is this worth my while or should I be looking at other options?
If you have any ideas / setups please feel free to post them up.

Thanks.
Will.

[holdenboy]

Sounds fine, although that amp produces 300wrms at 4 ohm and 500wrms at 2 ohm. As the sub is 4 ohm single voice coil you'll be giving the sub 300wrms. Alternatively if you were to find a slim subwoofer with 4 ohm dual voice coils you would get the most out of that amp (500wrms). Dont get me wrong, 300wrms will still make a decent amount of bass in a ute, but it will be noticeably better if the amp could put out 500wrms. Just some food for thought.

Basically, that system is very good for that price....i mean the sub, splits and amp if bought through Ryda is over $600, thats not including the enclosure, wiring and installation.

[Vg-ute-mad]

Have you thought about doing the install yourself? That way you will have some extra money.

Here is two suggestions:

Ryda Car Audio - Pioneer Car Audio TS-SW301 12" Subwoofer($170.25)

Ryda Car Audio - Pioneer Car Audio GM-6300F Car Amplifier($231.55)

Ryda Car Audio - Pioneer Car Audio TS-A1702C Car Speakers($170.25)

Total $572.05

Or

Ryda Car Audio - Pioneer Car Audio TS-SW301 12" Subwoofer($170.25)

Ryda Car Audio - Clarion Car Audio APX1301 Car Amplifier($161.95)

Ryda Car Audio - Kenwood CVar Audio KFC-P605IE 6" Splits($134.75)

Total $466.95

I have heard all the above and they sound great! Suggestion one, you would have a 4 channel instead of a mono block, to run the sub and splits. And with suggestion two, run the sub with the mono block, and run the splits off of the head unit.

Btw, I was blown away when I heard the Pioneer shallow mount!

[Wallace44]

Thanks for your help.

The only issue I have is with the sub box.
I have found on the Pioneer USA site a UD-SW12B sub box, which looks awesome and would fit nicely behind my passenger seat.

I can't seem to find it anywhere here in Australia though. Does anyone know of a place where I might be able to find this box?

I am leaning very much towards your first suggestion "VG-UTE-MAD".

Thanks.
Will.

[EnFoRcEr_001]

Hi mate i have a sv6 sedan and one think that makes a huge difference on its own is the center dash speaker. whilst they are installing everything get them to disconnect it as it is only a 3 inch piece of crap that distorts when any decent sound is put through them.

[Vg-ute-mad]

Here you go will,

A sub box that will go right behind your seat (drivers side) and is designed for a shallow mount 12 inch subwoofer, such as the Pioneer.

CUSTOM 12"SUB WOOFER BOX FOR VE UTE, HSV MALOO - eBay Speakers, Audio, Video, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 19-Dec-08 13:21:21 AEDST)

Or if you live near by, I have a 12 inch box for a ute sitting here doing nothing. We could see if it fits? And if it fits, have it for nothing!

[Wallace44]

thanks for your help everyone.

I will certainly disconnect the centre speaker Enforcer_001. I figured out that it is a rubbish speaker by moving the balance to the left or the right only... and those speakers don't seem to struggle as bad as the centre.

I have purchased the Pioneer Amp, Sub & speakers listed above, along with the sub box from ebay.

Thanks for your help everyone.
Will post up once it is all installed.

Oh - VG - thanks for the offer of the sub box... but NSW isn't all that close to WA

Thanks.
Will.

[Vg-ute-mad]

No worries, keep us informed how it sounds!!!!

[Wallace44]

The install will be done this saturday.

I will post up how it goes.

Thanks.

[Vg-ute-mad]

The install will be done this saturday.

I will post up how it goes.

Thanks.

No worries, good stuff!

[Wallace44]

All installed.

Haven't taken any pics - but will take some of the Sub, just to post up for ****s and giggles.

Sounds awesome. Very very impressed with it. At the moment though - the amp is being powered from an "ACC" power, I am thinking about moving it over to the same power source as the radio. Because, with the VE, i don't need to turn the ignition on to be able to turn the radio on... but - for the time being it is awesome.

Sounds great - can be overkill if i turn the bass way up, but with it set to "normal" it is awesome. Nice clean crisp sound... exactly what I wanted.

thanks again for the help.
Will

[Vg-ute-mad]

Good stuff! But one question though. So let me get this straight, so the amp isn't wired up to 4 or 8 gauge power cable, with a 4 or 8 gauge earth cable?

If you have wired up the amp as I have read it, the amp wouldn't be getting enough power and there is the possible chance, you will be blowing fuses due to the drain from the amp!

I have found a diagram on how to wire an amp, to help explain it better.

You will need a wiring kit like the link below. All you have to do is run the power cable from the battery to the amp. Plus you have to put in the fuse holder and fuse, which is easy as. Just like the diagram below.

In the image below, disregard the power block and capacitor as you don't need it as you are only running one amp.

With the black ground earth cable, just earth it to bare metal of the chassis.

BRAND NEW 8 GAUGE 1800 WATT AMPLIFIER WIRING KIT 8AUG - eBay Accessories, Cables, Audio, Video, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 12-Jan-09 22:31:54 AEDST)

[2LOUD2OLD]

i think when he refers to power source he is referring to remote trigger wire

[Wallace44]

Thanks.

It is wired up as you show in your diagram.

Like 2loud2old said - i want the trigger to be off the radio, rather than off the ACC to the car. Currently, if i turn the radio off - because the amp is still powered on i get a bit of noise through the speakers.

Nothing major though.

It's still awesome, love it!

[Vg-ute-mad]

Yay!!!!!

Sorry about that I misread your last post. I'm glad it worked out for you! Can't wait to see the pics!

[2LOUD2OLD]

it shoudl work fine so long as the radio has a suitable wire to tap into. Not having any experience with VEs I couldnt comment

[Wallace44]

hmm....

my amp has chucked it in. There are 2 x 25amp fuses in the back of it. The minute i turn the car on... it blows both these fuses.

I have checked the inline fuse on the power lead, not blown. Checked all the cabling - appears fine.

The only thing i can think is that the amp is cactus (yes??)

Anyone have any ideas that i can take a look at?

Thanks.

[D3ANOO]

hey guyss.
just got my VE not long ago.
N I was just wondering is it possible to put a DVD screen in?
Couple of mates from work say that its similar to an XR6 where u cant put the DVD screen in at all!??
Has anybody got a DVD screen in theres?
So just wondering if its possible without going to mega extremes of installation the harder it is to install the more they may charge me I'd say

Cheers

[Luke0011]

you can add a dvd player either under the heater controls or in the glove box, but you need to buy a video in motion bypass module (270-350) so you can watch the picture while driving

[timmy975]

hello all,

Anyone know where I can buy the Sven 4 or something equivalent from around Melbourne?

Cheers

[dakman]

hey there i have a ve also, just woundering how you got your amplifier wired? did you use a line output converter or did you use high output level on the amplifier? and just woundering what it sounds like compared to rcas. thanks

[Vg-ute-mad]

hmm....

my amp has chucked it in. There are 2 x 25amp fuses in the back of it. The minute i turn the car on... it blows both these fuses.

I have checked the inline fuse on the power lead, not blown. Checked all the cabling - appears fine.

The only thing i can think is that the amp is cactus (yes??)

Anyone have any ideas that i can take a look at?

Thanks.

I know it's an out dated problem, but check to make sure the remote wire hasn't grounded it's self, some how.

[holdenboy]

I wouldnt think it would blow 2 x 25A fuses because the remote wire is grounded. You will blow the remote output of the head-unit/head-unit fuse first as its only 10-15A. If the remote wire is connected to accessories you'd blow the accessories fuse first (also 10-15A).

Sorry to jump onto that suggestion

[Wallace44]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I took it into the warranty joint and they kept it for 3 weeks replaced a bunch of parts in it and gave it back. Been working fine ever since.


dakman - my amp is wired up using the high input into the amp. I don't get any engine noise etc through the speakers. It suits me fine.

[Vg-ute-mad]

I wouldnt think it would blow 2 x 25A fuses because the remote wire is grounded. You will blow the remote output of the head-unit/head-unit fuse first as its only 10-15A. If the remote wire is connected to accessories you'd blow the accessories fuse first (also 10-15A).

Sorry to jump onto that suggestion

You are right in theory, but it happen to me last week with a customers car. The Kicker amp blew two 25A fuses, and blew the mosfets. So to cut a long story short, after further analizing with the help from a mate of mine from Car Audio Excellence, it turned out to be the remote wire grounding it's self. The remote wire was replaced and a loan amplifier was offered to the customer. I was lucky that it did'nt blow the remote output, as it was a brand new Alpine CDA-9887 h/u worth $699.

I learnt a very valuable lesson that day. When installing, don't rely on the work of a previous installer! LOL