MONOPOLIzED INC's Project MR2's Audio Upgrade
The audio system in the MR2 was slightly out-dated when I purchased the car. This was not a problem at first but it slowly got to me. When I finally decided to upgrade I said to myself that I only wanted to do this once. Naturally this did not happen, I purchased a Kenwood MP-925 and some Kicker components to replace the old Pioneer deck and factory speakers. The factory subs were left in tact for the simple reason I didn't even know I had them. A little while later they did get replaced with a set of Kicker mid-basses that were a part of another component set. So off the bat I had the Kenwood MP-925 and Kicker K5.2, K65.2, components with the DX40s in the B-Pillars. This was a great upgrade an I couldn't be any happier; or could I?
After about a month or so I felt I needed a little more bass. Not wanting to put a bunch of stuff in the car, an amp for the factory sub replacements sounded good. So I purchased a Kicker KX150.2 and started turning heads. I was surprised at the sound that came out of those little 5.25" midbass drivers people asked where my subs were and didn't believe me that they were only 5.25"s and not a pair of 8"s or a 10.
Sorry for the lack of pictures and pic quality all I had at the time was a camera phone.
Its Time To Bass It Up!
Although I was very happy with what I had like normal I wanted a little more... The next items to be purchase were the real bass makers; All Kicker parts: two 10" L7's and a KX800.4 with a Stinger 1Farad Cap to help out. All of this was a impulse buy and I really didn't know hat I was going to do with it. When I finally got it in and saw just how big this stuff was it hit me that this was going to be a little harder than I thought. Now in a normal car none of this would be a problem to find a place to hide but with the small detail that my motor is between me and my trunk it makes it hard for me to utilize that space for any audio install; I mean don't get me wrong it can be done but would be grossly wasteful in my opinion.
Well I figured the only place I could mount the amp with out running 20ft of power cable would be right up front in the fronk with the battery. Now I have the 150.2 up there already and there's not much room for anything else but I had a vision, it may take time but the vision will come true.
Again I must apologize for the lack of "Build Photos" but with the camera phone I didn’t take too many pics. Designing the box went about the path of I have “x” I need “y” much space and I only have “z” room to work with. I spent a good day or two drawing out what I had in mind and trying to make things fit with out loosing functionality of the passenger compartment. In the end it took about three long nights to build just the enclosures for the L7’s. I ended up taking a week or two vacation after they were finished from the real installation. Ya sure I had 2 boxes in the car and a huge amp installed that all worked and sounded great and people thought was awesome but it just didn’t meet the expectations of Joe Monopoli, Jr.
In my vision I pictured something that looked like the car came with it, something from the factory. This had two reasons behind it: one is the simple fact that if its not too noticeable its less likely to get stolen; two if its not coming out buy an unnatural force the tech at the auto-x wont make me take it out. (hehehe) Plus it just looks more professional if it looks like it belongs there. This took me about two night to complete and there was no drawing involved just a little cut here and a wrap here and some carpet over there; then poof it was done.
Here are some photos I will post better lit ones when I get a chance to take them.
I only Lost about 3" of reclining/leg room but I am 6'1" and i still have room to fit nicely in the car so it worked for me.
From the outside you can’t tell that there is anything they’re of any magnitude. All you see are the little KX40's in the center, with the seats back it’s hard to see the tweeters on the opposite sides. So I look at the box installation as a success on my part or at least I think it was.
HaHaHa And I thought I Needed More Space.
Yup I know I thought I need more space to get the 2 amps, 4 crossovers, and the cap all up in the front compartment. But all it took was a little bit of thinking and a lot of work to make it come true. In total I think it took me about 50 some hours total to build this amp rack and finish it off to show quality, and I still think I could have done better. Even with that feeling I am still proud of what has developed in my fronk just think I could have done it a bit different.
Well here it is the amp rack what a lot of people outside of Lynchburg have been waiting to see…
For more photos look in my photobucket: http://img13.photobucket.com/albums/v38/monopolizedinc/The%20sound%20system/ there is an almost complete photo set of the main stages of the amp rack install.
Yes There Is More, Theres Always More!
Special thanks to Barry Moore of Axle Electronics in Forest Va for the great deal he gave me on the three Kenwood pieces.
