2006 Acura RSX - stealth

[dmwarner]

Well, here goes...

The car... 2006 Acura RSX



The gear... Dayton Reference HF 10s, pioneer TS-C720PRS, rockford 3Sixty.2, and Pioneer PRS-D4100Fs



Keeping the stock head for security reasons.

I'm planning on fitting a baffle to enclose the spare tire well in a "five sided box" kind of way, had it this way in an old setup and liked it better than the fiberglass enclosure I built in the tire well last summer...going to mount the amps/processor on the baffle as well.

Not sure how I'm going to do the comp set yet...I want to keep everything as clean/stealth as possible.

I already have a good deal of the wiring done from my previous install, just need to find where I put the damn pics!

More pics to come as the project progresses!

Wish me luck!!!

[ccrobbins]

Good luck!

What are the specs for the box? Ported or sealed?

Chris

[bjayjr5679]

Tell me how you like those amps.

[placenta]

dang, everyones using PRS these days.. I uninstalled my set but its staying in my closet for a rainy day or my next car.

[Babs]

Out of curiosity (my Si has the hot-topic balanced lines feeding an external amp)... Is your RSX oem system similar? or.. How are you hooking up the 3sixty.2?

[beerdrnkr]

Nice choice in equipment.

[dmwarner]

The "box" will actually just be a baffle enclosing the top and back of the spare tire well...calculated it to be at least 1.8-2.0 ft2 using the packing peanut method.

My RSX is a base model 5-speed manual, so it doesn't have the Bose system that the Type S does. I'm going to use the line level inputs on the 3Sixty.2 straight from the head.

The PRS set is replacing the CA18RNX/LPGs I had in there last year. They were awesome, but after reading so many reviews of the PRS, curiousity has gotten the better of me, wanted to compare them.

bjayjr5679 - I'll let you know my thoughts on the amps once up and running...these are replacing my MB quart References, they were just so big and heavy...


The process of making the baffle....

Using my trusty contour gauge from Harbor Freight Tools I capture the shape of the bottom of the well to build the wall of the back of the enclosure. I traced the contour gauge onto poster board in about 1 foot sections at a time...




Then I move down the line after cutting out and rechecking the fit of the poster board cut-out. Each subsequent section is cut and fitted in the car to align with the last piece, while I trace the end of the overlapping sections and make match marks to align the pieces back up on the workbench and tape. I place a small piece of tape lightly on the two pieces, check the fit in the car again before reinforcing the joint with masking tape...



Now that I have a complete section done, I can trace to 1/4 inch hardboard and cut that out with a jigsaw, check and adjust if necessary the hardboard template and finally transfer that to MDF using a flush trim bit.



Hope it works, so far so good...

Any suggestions along the way will be very much appreciated!

[quest51210]

yummmm....contour guage

[capnxtreme]

The contours are awesome!!! Can't wait to see how that finishes up.

Don't you need to run speaker-level into the 3sixty, not line-level?

[dmwarner]

Yeah, speaker level, that's what I meant

[capnxtreme]

Cool, just making sure.

More pics! I want one of those contour thingys now.

[dmwarner]

Pics of what will be the rear baffle...

1/4 inch hardboard trace, cut & fit...





This fits nicely, so time to use the old flush trim bit to transfer to 3/4 MDF... I'm going to use a 1/2 inch flush trim bit with a 3/8 inch guide to end up with a piece that's 1/8 inch smaller on the bottom side to allow for a rubber seal. I could silicone the box in place once I'm finished, but I want the enclosure to be removeable and keep the resale value of my car intact...

[bjayjr5679]

Hey wjere did you buy those pioneer amps?

[Chadzilla500]

very nice amps! i would like to know how they perform when you are done installing.

[dmwarner]

Got a little more done this week...

A circle jig I made with 1/4 plexi using a template I layed out with emachineshop...



layout of "windows"...



Layout of equipment on baffle...



Rough layout of top to check general fit...the side trim pieces don't have anything supporting them yet, so it looks a little sloppy in the pic...






Tomorrow I'll bevel edges, start making covers, get ready to vinyl & plexi...

[innsanes]

Nice!, im a fellow rsx too,

[darcness]

Very nice work so far. I'm doing my GTI right now and basically am down to finishing up the hatch (2 amps, sub, and PC). Since I'm using a CarPC as my source unit, it's a bit tougher to hide every. However, I like what you're doing with the false floor. I've always had a soft spot for stealth and OEM look installs.

Keep us updated please!

[DYNASTY*SOUND]

nice work so far. how are you going to finish the box?

[Babs]

Nice!!! This little RSX project is taking off!

[chad]

I have a single vented 10HO (not HF) in a 04 Civic Si (very similar interior volume and build) and it will light that thing up! I have no reservations saying that those 2 drivers will provide plenty of low-end

Waddya gonna so with the Seas CA's ?

I'm slightly concerned with using the trunk floor, mine DOES want to ring a bit when you hit it with a mallet, what are your plans in terms of treatment, if any?

Avoid any and all fuel pump wiring under the rear seat, don't run jack down the center of the car, I use right and left door sills and center of the passenger well for a ribbon of gepco heading back, but you are going back speaker level right? What is the input impedance of the RF360?

I imagine your base stock headunit is similar in build to the EP's in terms of electronics on the output, it does not sound too bad at the speaker outs, measuring it and getting solid numbers is on the list to do but I did attach it to an amp with a very simple transformer isolation scheme in the shop and it did not suck, you should be fine.

Chad

[dmwarner]

Thanks for the support guys!

The false floor will be vinyled, the "box" will really just be like an IB baffle sealing off the spare tire well.

Chad- thanks for all the advise! I had these Daytons running in the car in a similar temporary setup previously and loved the extension. As far as ringing, I'm crossing my fingers that I won't have to do any treatment, but I've got a gallon of edead in the garage somewhere just in case. Have you had any experience with liquid deadeners? If so, your thoughts?

I'll try to get more pics up later today...

[chad]

I have littel to no deadner expeirience at all, there are people on here WAY better versed in it.

My theory is "try it and if it needs further work then go from there

[darcness]

I'd say if it looks like you need it, go ahead and put it on now. It's much easier to do it the first time while everything is out, than having to go back and re-do everything later.

Honestly just look at it and give it a couple good whacks with something to see how it resonates. You'll know if it needs it or not 90% of the time if you do this. I skipped sound dampening in my previous car (99 Regal) and the difference from that car with it cavernous untreated doors to the GTI I have now with it's SOLID doors is amazing. If the car isn't already rock solid (like the GTI doors are) then you most likely will need something to bring it up to spec.

[dmwarner]

Quick update...

Got the top pieces vinyled...





Going to get the rest of the trim for around the subs/amps/processor done today hopefully.

[dmwarner]

On a side note, I've dubbed this install the wanna-Bing . His installs are always my among my favorites. Every time I see a new install of his, I have to show my wife... "see honey, that's what I want my car to look like!"

Thanks for the inspiration, Bing!