One more Acura TL SQ install :)

[simplicityinsound]

just got done with my third Acura TL SQ install...i am really beginning to like these cars hehe...

goals:

1. very good SQ with stock HU

2. stealthy and clean trunk install


the signal starts from the stock headunit, front and sub signals were tapped before the stock amp and sent to a rockford 3sixty.2. since hte stock headunit's signal is pretty flat, the 360 is set up just as a processor, no OEM integration/flattening.

the front stage consists a pair of Seas Lotus Reference 6.5" comps. the midbass are installed in the stock lower door location, and the entire door dampened. the stock mounting holes had to be widened to accomodate the Seas.





the seas ref. tweeter are isntalled in the stock tweeter location on top of the dash, as it proves to work well in the TL, the stock tweeter grilles were filled in, sanded, and painted with texture coat, andt hent he seas tweeter sunk into it. this is hte best shot i can get at them due to the window stickers hehe





the stock rear sepakres and stock sub was removed from the rear deck and the deck dampened as well:



moving on to the trunk. the customer supplied me with two relatively large amps and an idmax12. my delimma was this: the TL's floor is not flat, its acutally in three stages, at the far front, its at a downward angle, in the middle, it gets slightly shallower, and in the back, it gets shallower still, hence the stock floor cover is in three foldable sections. what this means it hat if i build a new floor, it would either have to be in three sections to conform with the stock floor, or, raise it up qiute a bit and makeit level. in the end, wtih some careful measurements, i managed to avoid both.

so here is the trunk covered up, a side fiberglass box with a grille sits ont he driver side, and the stock floor is completely maintained, with the stock floor cover in place.

[simplicityinsound]

lift the stock floor cover, and pop off the grille and here is hwat you see. a Brax four channels is powering hte front stage fully active, and a zapco reference 1000 watt mono amp feeds the idmax12. there is a new fake floor underneath the stock floor, with cutouts for hte two amps. what i did was to carefully build up the amp support so its precisely at the right height ,did my first floor with cutouts out of 1/2" MDF for support, and then, bonded a very thin piece of 1/8" hardboard to the top and routed it to match the openings, and shaped it and trimmed it so it slides underneath the stock carpet on either side, since its only so thin, it doesnt change the floor at all, and gives a completely flat amp rack floor when you lift the stock cover the top is trimmed in silver CF vinyl.





a detailed prolly no one will notice but i know its there is the matching silver CF trim around the sub



and the amp board close up:



flick a swtich and the edge lit routed plexi boarder lights up blue:



and some night shots:







overall, it soundsquite good, the brax produces a lot of power and has a very smooth top end, thoughi dont think the RF 360.2 is quite as good of a proecssor as the zapco DC reference stuff i used in the previous TLs. but very high stage, dead center, and very solid midbass impact and subbass extension. Thanks Leon for tuning the car!

a wiring shot below the floor:



and the subbox, whcih i got a rear mold from my freinds over at wickedcas.com, and bolded my front baffle to accomodate the idmax12. here it is finished from the front:



now some people have asked me why my boxes, you never see me lay glass ontop of the moldcloth, well, its because i do it from the back, i cut open the back mold, and dampen from the inside, and then seal the back again wtih fiberglass fro the sub opening. it saves a ton of sanding time



and finished and ready to install:

[Powers]

What LED's did you use for the blue lighting?

[Vestax]

I remember the design for Ron's car that you did on the enclosure. It's nice to see you got the MAX in there. Good job Bing.

[simplicityinsound]

Originally Posted by Powers

What LED's did you use for the blue lighting?

i always use thin strips from www.oznium.com secure to the outer edge of hte plexi

[Powers]

Originally Posted by simplicityinsound

i always use thin strips from www.oznium.com secure to the outer edge of hte plexi

The strip thats on the main page with this picture?



Just want to make sure.

[capnxtreme]

Love your work, thanks for sharing.

[simplicityinsound]

Originally Posted by Powers

The strip thats on the main page with this picture?



Just want to make sure.

sometimes i use those, ub tlately, i use the thin water proof led ribbons., it gives me more clerance for installs

http://www.oznium.com/thin-waterproof-ribbon

b

[Powers]

Originally Posted by simplicityinsound

sometimes i use those, ub tlately, i use the thin water proof led ribbons., it gives me more clerance for installs

http://www.oznium.com/thin-waterproof-ribbon

b

Awesome. Thanks! Ordering some now.

[dingaling]

This TL is very smooth sounding. Man i love the sound of Brax's topend. Even though this processor isn't quite as 'revealing' as some other units, its very good for beginners who don't want to be over whelmed with too many options.

good job on the dampening bing, the midbass is solid and punchy, integrating very well with the idmax. I had forgotten how good the idmax can sound in a good install...

As with the other TL, the dash mounted tweets gave a very stable and high front stage. With a lil bit of T/A, the center was solid and stable. Good job on the install Bing.

[BlackSapphire]

Another fantastic job! Any pics of how you built the grill for the sub?

[simplicityinsound]

Originally Posted by BlackSapphire

Another fantastic job! Any pics of how you built the grill for the sub?

amn i knew i should have tkaen pics of it, i was thinking of doing that, but i didnt have my camera in the garage and got lazy

bsically:

1. a 1/2" MDF ring was routed out

2. steel mesh trimmed and attached to the top with CA glue

3. a piece of 1/2" wide low temp plastic was heated and secure to the edges of the ring with CA glue

4. flip the top and bondoed the edges where the mesh, mdf and low temp plastic meets to make for a smooth surface

5. cover with grille cloth.

if you look at the first shot of the subbox while its rying, and how the baffle is made with the flush mount, just imagine the exact same thing except smaller in OD and backwards, thats the grille

[lashlee]

Looks awesome!! Too bad I'm too far away to listen to it or see it in person.

[d5sc]

Hey Bing,

Does this TL belong to someone named Adrian? If so, he's a nice guy and I am the one who sold him the Brax amp.

Nice and clean looking install as always! I bet it sounds really great especially after Leon tuned it.

George

[GlasSman]

Nice work Bing.

That era TL is a car I've been considering for myself. Good to know nice results can be had with the stock locations.

Good idea with reinforcing from the INSIDE of the enclosure. I've always done this as it's great as finish work is cut down with this method.

I haven't had to cut the back off an enclosure.....yet.

[BlackSapphire]

Originally Posted by simplicityinsound

amn i knew i should have tkaen pics of it, i was thinking of doing that, but i didnt have my camera in the garage and got lazy

bsically:

1. a 1/2" MDF ring was routed out

2. steel mesh trimmed and attached to the top with CA glue

3. a piece of 1/2" wide low temp plastic was heated and secure to the edges of the ring with CA glue

4. flip the top and bondoed the edges where the mesh, mdf and low temp plastic meets to make for a smooth surface

5. cover with grille cloth.

if you look at the first shot of the subbox while its rying, and how the baffle is made with the flush mount, just imagine the exact same thing except smaller in OD and backwards, thats the grille

Makes perfect sense. Thanks for the explanation! Where do you buy your plastic from?

[simplicityinsound]

thanks guys...george, yeah its adrian great guy, very nice to work with hehe. its cool to seel part of your car lives on

i get hte plastic from selectproducts

[Deckdout2]

Every install I've seen you do is very clean and simple. It all looks amazing. I especially like the Vette you did and the Siphoni Bimmer.

[BlackSapphire]

Originally Posted by simplicityinsound

1. a 1/2" MDF ring was routed out

2. steel mesh trimmed and attached to the top with CA glue

3. a piece of 1/2" wide low temp plastic was heated and secure to the edges of the ring with CA glue

4. flip the top and bondoed the edges where the mesh, mdf and low temp plastic meets to make for a smooth surface

5. cover with grille cloth.

OK, a couple more easy questions now that I've been thinking about this.

In #1, you say that you use a 1/2" MDF ring. Then, in #3, you say that you use a 1/2" wide piece of plastic.

Is that really the case? If so, what's the point of the plastic if it's the same thickness as the MDF? I'm just trying to visualize it Bing. TIA for your reply.

[BlackSapphire]

Originally Posted by Deckdout2

Every install I've seen you do is very clean and simple. It all looks amazing. I especially like the Vette you did and the Siphoni Bimmer.

Yes, I agree. Simple and elegant.... so clean.

I haven't seen the bimmer though - got a link?

[simplicityinsound]

the bimmer was quite controversial

just go to my site: www.simplicityinsound.com you can see most of my installs, just click on the pics in the gallery to go to the threads

b

[BlackSapphire]

Originally Posted by simplicityinsound

the bimmer was quite controversial

just go to my site: www.simplicityinsound.com you can see most of my installs, just click on the pics in the gallery to go to the threads

b

I found a couple of BMWs on your site.

[simplicityinsound]

the CES car

[muro_ami]

Originally Posted by simplicityinsound

the bimmer was quite controversial

just go to my site: www.simplicityinsound.com you can see most of my installs, just click on the pics in the gallery to go to the threads

b

i love your work man. had your site bookmarked months ago and i always go through your works all the time.

you inspire me! keep it up

boyet

[BlackSapphire]

Originally Posted by simplicityinsound

the CES car

I'm assuming the controversy surrounded the center channel?