My 05 Honda Pilot Audio Build

[oejeffrey]

Howdy Folks
I have started a Audio build on my 05 Honda Pilot and need some input just to see if I am headed down the right path so any comments good or bad are really welcome !!
Up front I have Polk Mobile monitor components. I selected these speakers because they are some of the brightest I could find. I like the bright sound and even run a Klipsch / Sony combo at home. Well they are bright to me anyways.
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...ey/SpkrOne.jpg

In the back seat area I am running the coaxial Polk MoMos...I got a deal on them so that is why no component. I did not put a pict of them up as they are kind of hard to tell the difference with the camera I had compared to the factory speakers but I am promise they are there.

In the subwoofer area I am running a MA Audio 10 inch shallow mount so I can keep the stock location with no modification.
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...rey/SubOne.jpg

Power wise I am going all Kicker !!! For the Subpower I am running a Kicker 650.2 SX.
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...rey/ampone.jpg

For power up front I am running a 700.4 SX for all the Polks. I could post another pict but it is the same dimensions as the 650.

My installer highly recomends a 30 band EQ and I am looking at the Audio Control DQS. I like this EQ as it allows me to keep the fader control and have equilaization for both front and rear.

I will probaly run Stinger wires and patch cords because that is what my installer sells....LOL.

Head unit wise I have no idea what to run ??? I want a nice big double din unit and like I said....I have no idea what I want there. Crutchfield has a nice looking Pioneer unit for about 500 bucks. I have seen a Kenwood unit that is about a thousand or so but I wonder if that is overkill ??

My main goal here is sound quality. Keeping it stock I knew I could not do a super county shaking bass set-up so I thought quality was a better route for me.
By the way I am a nurse so doing the install myself was out of my scope. I mean if you want a catheter installed somewhere I am the guy to call but hiding amp power wires is a little much for me. I know what I want just don't know exactly how to get it there so my installer if a good guy that I actually work with in the same hospital.

Well those are the basics...anything I forgot that you want info on let me know so you can comment.
I could use the input so thank you in advance !!!!

[ncv6coupe]

When u say SQ do u mean just having clean playback or are you trying to have mini midgets playing guitar and drums on ur dashboard? That's really what Sound quality means around here. And double dins tend to be less sound quality oriented than a plain jane cd player unless you whip out the BIG bucks, how good is your installer friend? He should have a grasp of what you want and ride over to best buy and play with all the radios there before buying.

[ncv6coupe]

Also a 30 band eq recommendation and you don't even have a radio which could have up to a 15 band built in?? Hmm, I beg you to consult here first before you give your "friend" (just so happens to sell stereo equipment) your hard earned money. Just had to add that in there. Peace

[chad]

Owning an 06 pilot (wifey mobile, family truckster)) with said stock sub location (mine is an LX with nothing there now) I am curious as to your feelings on output and especially noise after loading a more substantial driver in there.

[nsaspook]

Originally Posted by chad

Owning an 06 pilot (wifey mobile, family truckster)) with said stock sub location (mine is an LX with nothing there now) I am curious as to your feelings on output and especially noise after loading a more substantial driver in there.

I've got a 2008 with a MTX Thunder4500 T4510-04 in the stock location.

The sound is great but needed a lot of damping and stuffing to stop the rattles and resonance.

Pic's from my diy install..

car eq
alpine center

[oejeffrey]

First off I wanted to say thank you for all your responses. I honestly did not know that SQ could mean midgets ??? Could someone explain that one to me ?? Yes sound quality is what I am after. I honestly did not know that you got better sound quality from a single Din player vs a double din player.
As far as my installer is concerned I like to think he knows what he is doing....he has his own shop and he seems to be a decent guy as I work with him and consider him a friend...now that being said I also believe that ya need more than one opionin so here I am.
So far the cheapest head unit I have been looking at is about 550 for a pioneed DD. Is that a lot compared to what other people spend on this forum ? I have also looked at a kenwood DD that is about 1000 or so.
I promise I am not being a smart azz or anything and truly value input.

[ncv6coupe]

The "midget comment" meant that all your sound is either coming from on top of the dashboard to as far as out on the hood and as if sound is as far on the left and right of your car as the rear view mirrors when you are listening to a live recording and people are moving around the stage and such or you are in the back row of the cathedral at church and the choir is on stage. Double din players?? Are you considering a navigation screen with yours? Do you want a tape player? Double dins may or may not have the features you need because you can't get it all in the market of products, unless you spend big, know what I mean. You will need functions like time alignment and eQ, maybe even independent for each side to get your SUV to sound as I described earlier if you plan on sticking the speakers you buy in the factory locations. Its not very hard but its not a cakewalk either, and you will soon find that out after you start shelling out money to that guy and say you don't get what you want after a couple grand, you would be disappointed. Does he have a system in his car, listen to it and tell us what you think of it, he owns a shop, most shop owners on here LOVE to let potential customers listen to what they have because if they can have it then they can give it to you. If not then describe what i said earlier about the depth and width of the music and get his take on if he can do it for you and what he will charge. Let us know what he says. That is basic car audio knowledge that he should have.

[chefhow]

I have 1 very important question for you, do you plan on competing? If not than "essque" is VERY SUBJECTIVE as to what you like, what you listen to, where you position yourself in the car and how much time and effort goes into the install ect, ect. You can have a great sounding system for around $1500 installed if you want or you can have a crappy sounding system installed with all the bells and whistles for $5000+.

Do some reading in the reviews section, if you like the sound of the Polks than stay with them, as for the addition of a 30 band eq, your Kickers have onboard processing built in, here is the link Kicker Product Manuals | KICKER. You probably dont need anything more than those. Your HU, if you want a DD than get a DD, the Pioneer, Eclipse, Clarions that have built in processing are single din units as far as I recall but I cant be 100% sure, like I said earlier, your amps have some sort of onboard processors. Rear fill, I dont do it and most hear dont, its just not my taste. Stinger makes good product that is reasonably priced, dont hesitate to use it just make sure its properly sheilded and not the really cheap stuff. Remember the sound thats good to you is the one that matters most, not what I like or anyone else. We dont drive your car for you and we certainly dont listen to it everyday. Good luck and post some pics of the build in the Build Section for all to see.

[oejeffrey]

Thanks for the input Chad,Chefhow,ncv6coupe,nsaspook

Honestly I do not plan on competing. About the closest thing I am planning on is I have offered to take my pilot to a few shows so he can show or let people hear what a sound quality system sounds like that is not designed to blow the windows out of the back door. I personaly do not think 2 kicker amps, a 600.2 and a 700.4 would be enough power to get close enough to enter a SPL contest ?? But that is just my honest opionin...I could be wrong.

The midget stuff...wow that is funny. The idea of a couple of midgets on my dash made me laugh outloud. Seriously though once I started thinking about that it became apparent that I needed more education about where I want my sound to come from in my car. I know I like a very VERY bright sound and honestly have not given much thought to sound image as I have been focused on brightness and clarity.

Infact I had focused so much on Brightness and clarity that I had contemplated adding a CDT UP-526xt, just to make sure I had enough tweet and clarity.
CDTAudio top quality audio components
that is either the link or if you could copy and paste.
Not sure where this would put the sound stage as this has not been a concern till now. The one thing that I know my installer has is a lot of sound meters and such that he sais will help tune the system. No I do not know what he has but like I said I am a nurse and this is where the faith has to come in.
As always...any input is welcome.
Thank you very much