C6 Corvette Convertible SQ set up

[simplicityinsound]

well, after my self-imposed two week break, I took in a 2007 Corvette Convertbile as the first project of the new year.

the goals:

1. first and foremost, good SQ. from my previous experience with the C6 vette, i know it can sound quite nice, espeically in the midbass department
2. to get resaonable subbass performance out of the convertible
3. a simple and clean look to the trunk portion

lets get started.

the signal starts with a pioneer premier Avic-F90 navigation/dvd headunit. This unit isnt exactly my first choice for a SQ system, but it was already installed in the vehicle so...it does have a better output section than the D3 thats for sure

I also installed the CF dash kit for him, and hid away his GPS and XM atennas whcih were previously in plain sight:



front stage is pure Seas Lotus Reference, the tweeters, like the previous vette, was moled into the A pillars, andt he pillar rewrapped in matching vinyl.









here are some quick build up pics of the pillar:

first molded and then strengthened from the inside via duraglass:



then sanded smooth:



and then wrapped in vinyl:

[simplicityinsound]

from my previous experinece in the vette, i know that hte big, cavern like doors, when well sealed, can provide an extremely robust amount of midbass output. usually, i am a 6.5" midbass guy, feeling that in many cars, 8" can cause too much build up...but knowing that the vette has such unique doors, i decided to go ahead and do the Seas Reference 8" midbass.

to make it work, the door was sound proofed, first hte outter door skin:



then the outter metal door skin, a blockin plate (ruberized on the backside) attached, and then the midbass installed via a spacer plate in the stock location. sorry for the dark pics...
in this configuration, the door essentaill forms a sealed box that i would estimate to be 1 cubfeet if not bigger..



and finally, to reduce the door card buzzing, it was also smothered with sound proofing:



the same was done of course on the other side:







and a final shot into the interior of the car with the top down:



moving to the trunk...here is where it presented the most chanllenge, unlike the coupe, which as a huge area to work wtih, the vert's usable space was very small, as one cannot intrude into the partition board that almost lines up wtih the trunk open due to top storage. in addition, the trunk opening is also much smaller than the back of the coupe's. this was mainly difficult for trying to figure out how to do the subbox.

at first, we thought about doing the jl stealth box that goes behind the seat, but asking the advice of several seasoned installers who have used it, we went away wtih it. with two 8" firing ofward behind the seat, the two subs have nothing to load off of, and the result, i was told, was pretty sub-par. instead, i was told that having a sub in the trunk, acutally works well with the vette, as there are passages between the trunk and the cabin.

This fact was confirmed to me, when, i noticed that slamming the trunk shut, results in a large amount of air being pushed into the cabin, and the entire converbile top would jump as a result.

so...thats how i went about it.

the idea was for a simple look, and here is what it looks like:



a new fake floor was built, rasiing the stock floor by 3.5" to accomodate the amp, and a fiberglass subbox, built out using the bakc mold from a boxology enclosure, sit on the driver side.

there will be a grille over the sub, but i ran outta grill mesh, so that will come later.

[simplicityinsound]

poping off the center panel, and you see two zapco DC amps under a CF vinyl bordered trim section:







a DC1000.4 is bridged, powering the 8 inchers with 500 watts a piece, while a 650.6 is in 3 channel mode, sending 180 watts to each tweeter, and 500 watts to the sub.

the sub is an image dynamics idq10.

now...you may be curious as to why the sub faces that way...bsaically, after many hours of mocking up with the ring, i found that htis was the only way, i can build the box to accmodate the sub that still allowed it to be taken in and out of hte trunk opening, while still having the cone of the sub above the fake floor's level (no good having half the sub firing to the area below the fake floor

the car had plexi mirrors on the trunk lid already, though i 'd show you that:



so here is hwat hte basic mold looks like, you can see how it uses the space of the stock storage bins, whcih is also what makes it much more difficult to remove and install, as it has to clear the trunk opening AND be able to slide out of the storage bin.



and here it is carpeted:



and finally, two quick wiring pics of the stuff below the floor. since the floor of the vette is a very flimsy material, first a plate was secured to it via screws and straps to the sides, this provides a solid anchoring point for everyhing else to attach to, such as the amps and the wiring.

the lack of metal in the vette also meant that i grounded the amps solidly to the frame of hte car, coming out of the bottom of the passenger side storage bin, with plenty of silicone sealing around the loomed ground cable. you see hte ground calbe comeout of a hole on the passeger side rear.





after some tuning by Leon, this car truly sounds very nice. the midbass is absoltuely mind blowing, similar to the last vette but with more extension. on many of hte songs, i can listen to it fine with the sub turned off.. tonally its pretty good as well for such a confined interior, with a decent centered image and above dash level staging.

in the end, still much rather to work on the coupe but this was fun as well

cheers.

Bing

[m3gunner]

Wow... very nice indeed.

In fact, I very well may be calling you when I get around to my next install.

[simplicityinsound]

for the record, i listend to a few drum tracks in the vette, with the sub OFF, and then quickly moved to my own car and played the same at max output...and my car isnt that bad in midbass...

but this session made me depressed about my midbass lol, i had to turn the sub up a lot to get remotely the same kind of feel, but by then you can clearly tell its the sub trying to compensate...

man...the last time i got this depressed about my midbass...was...the other vette i did lol...and of course CVjoint's car lol

[AudioBob]

Very nice work. Clean and simple

[whatzzap]

good job BINGGGGG

[CobraVin]

very nice install as usual, but i think you should pop the cover off the one dc amp and pop off the zapco emblem and turn it around, there are pins that push into the cover
just my ocd maybe but thats what i would do

[Get_Zwole]

as usual looks great good work Bing.

[Big_Valven]

Fantastic work, I can tell you do this sort of thing a lot.
Am I right in guessing a shallow 10" would probably fit in the doors? (Not that it SHOULD, but that it COULD...)

[chithead]

Wow that is amazing! Excellent work.

[atsaubrey]

Bing shoot me a pm, I wouldnt mind competing with my C6 Coupe and you obviously have the skills to make the install portion happen for me.

[simplicityinsound]

thanks guys..

to answer some questions:

1. great tip on the logo...i neer thought of doing it on these, cuase i was worried that below the logo, it may be slightly scratched up and would show when you flip it? but if thats not hte case, i will start doing it from now on. thanks again!

2. a shallow 10 can fit yeah...but again, would you want to use that as a midbass unless you have a big midrange, which you dont get a lot of room in the car to fit

3. aubrey, i will be in touch...did you finally sort the gains back to before on your 300? IMO a c6 coupe can sound better than the vert in terms of subbass response...and just general abiltiy to swallow up more gear..

i mean i fit so much crap in this car with ease:

2008 C6 Corvette Install for you guys :)

hehe

[FrankstonCarAudio]

As usual, another top job Bing..
What's next in the queue?

Mark

[simplicityinsound]

next up is an SQL install for a fellow diyma member, feature lotus ref, zapco dc, and TWO idmax10s in a G35 coupe lol...

last time i did someting wit this uch bass in a G coup, was when i flew to NYC and did one with two jl10w7s the guy had...and that car was way too loud for me in the subbass department lol...but being idmax is prolly my favorite all around sub, it should be fun fun fun...

and going back to a car i can do wtih my eyes closed doesnt hurt either

[a$$hole]

Excellent !!

The sub may need more power with the roof down [ lack of gain ]

You have a great and understated way of explaining the whys and how-tos Bing !

[simplicityinsound]

not sure more power will do the idq any good though longevity wise hehe

[02753102]

how high and low do you have the 8s playing? and at what slope? great job!

[fit_tuner]

just an idea... can you cram a large midrange or 6.5" in the kicks or anywhere? You said you can go subless with an 8" in the door, why not just have 8's in the door, 5.25 or 6.5 in the kicks if possible, and tweets in the sail. no need for a larger sub, and you can still have a full sound?

but great work as usual bing

[simplicityinsound]

well, in some songs i say...meaning umm...songs that dont feature an abundant subbass portion...

its at 60hz on a rather shallow slope currently. i think if left unchecked, the 8" can go down to 40-50hz ish flat? but thats not neccessarily the way it will sound the best.

a sub is always needed, beucase at the end of the day, hte 8" is a midbass, not a sub

as for kicks, i doubt any vette owner would want to have a midrange or anyhitng protruding in their kick panel, not to mention with how long and keep the footwells are...not sure if its a good idea anyway

but the 8" lotus matches well with the tweeter, due in large part to how low we can play the tweeter midrange is not much of an issue here hehe plus i hate sail panel tweeter locations peronsally for sq

[tr0y_audi0]

Originally Posted by FrankstonCarAudio

As usual, another top job Bing..
What's next in the queue?

Mark

X2
Love the fine job you turn out every time!

[darvex]

The install compliments the car quite nicely. Great pics and a great job.

[Notloudenuf]

Where do you get that blue bendable plastic to make the lip around the sub?

[tr0y_audi0]

Select products - Low Heat Plastic # LHP1824 or LHP1848
I forget the price
www.selectproducts.com
800-458-8557

[tdiantonio]

Once again great work. Thanks for sharing the pics