XM Radio ?????

We used the factory location to install the new sub. I decided I wanted even more bass so in the next 2 weeks we are going to install a Boston Pro 10 in the same spot and build a custom box behind it. Right now we are using a free air sub. My main goal is always stealth in any install. I like to enjoy the sound but usually don't like to show it off (or invite theft). It sits behind the factory grill and you would never guess there was anything other than the factory sub back there.

The sub in the picture is not the one I am using right now I actually have a JL IB4 free air sub in there. We tried that concept sub as a test but since we didn't build a sealed box behind it the sound really suffered.


BTW, we replced the factory speakers with Focal Polykevlar 6.5'" component speakers in the factory locations.
I also added Dynamat Extreme to all the doors the hatch back and various other places and we pulled out the interior and added Roadkill Carpet Pad the entire length of the floor to kill noise (for an Acura this car is very loud on the road).

It sounds great and I get complements all the time. But it was not cheap.

The bulk of the work (rip out factory and install amps,head unit, speakers and sub) was done by Joe at Autosound (in Texas). They do good basic work but are not really able to handle some of the custom stuff I wanted. The dash kit was beyond what they had the equipment for you need special dyes and a spry rig.

The dash kit and the Roadkill carpet install was built by Jason at Earmark (Texas). Great work but they cut my gas guage sensor wire and powered up the car with the seats out (causes the SRS ligt to go on and has to be reset by Acura). Things a professional shop should not have happen.

The dynamat was done by me in my garage on weekends.

Patrick at Tweeter (Texas)will be doing the upgrade to the Sub. IMO Tweeter does the best work and is the most professional of all the places I have had work done.

A custom stereo shop did the work. I would shop around a bit and try to find one you trust. I highly suggest a Tweeter if you have one of those around. Stay away from your best buy, circut city and car toys type places as they have high turnover of installers and are really into simple quick profit installs. Make sure you interview the installer that will do the work and ask for a tour of the shop (if you see Ferraris and Rolls in the bay you are probably on the right track). It took me a month to get the low down on all the shops and pick the ones I would use. You will find that the custom car stero installers are part of a small world and all know each other.

The install dropped my noise level as measured from the drivers seat by 2 db. AS you know 3 db of drop would have been a 1/2 cut in noise.

I hop to drop it even further with the deading of the wheel wells and lineing the roof with tac mat.

Let me know how it goes.

BTW make sure the shop knows to disconnect the negative terminal from the battery before they remove the seats. The shop that did the roadkill didn't do that and the red ABs light had to be reset by Acura.

I have the Boston Pro 10 installed and I am quite happy with the sound.
I have since added a "cap" to my install so we had to move things around a bit. I spilt the amps and put the cap in between them and we built a few facade. Look and sounds sweet.
I'm not sure if I mentioned it but I did move to the 500/a JL sub amp as the Boston can handle that and more.
The pics taken during the install were done with film and I am still waiting for the guys who took the pics to develope them. Once they do I will post what the fibergalss looks like. This weekend I will try and snap a few more pics of the current install so everyone can see.
I also upgraded to Alpine's replacement for the head I had purchased as it has MP3 support. I had the 7977 but now I have the 7995.
So far no heat issues including a 5 hour trip. The stuff does get warm so I am considering some sort of fan solution to move the air better. I have drilled several holes in the wood of the headret storage cover (not through the carpet ) to help vent better.

Next is remote start so I can cool off the car before I have to get in.