A client from Harveys Lake dropped in to Mobile Edge for some help with the audio system in his 2019 Jeep Cherokee. He’d put together a selection of products based on suggestions from friends and other shops. He wasn’t thrilled with the way it sounded and sought us out to help configure the Audison bit One DSP.
Car Audio System Diagnosis and Upgrade
We started by listening to the system so we had an understanding of what we were dealing with. We knew right away that we needed to dig into the wiring before we started configuring the Audison processor. We found some issues with improper signal summing and polarity that were affecting the system’s output.
After rewiring the inputs to the DSP and confirming that everything was correct, we set to work installing a set of Hertz Cento speakers in the front of the vehicle. We created a set of mounting adapters out of marine-grade plastic to let the woofers bolt into the factory 6×9 locations in the front doors. A set of rubber coupling gaskets was added to seal the face of the speaker to the door panel to further improve their performance and prevent rattles. We added a layer of sound deadening to the adapters and the inner door skins to help control vibrations and reduce noise transfer into the vehicle.
The rear speakers had been mounted in a set of plastic adapters, with the back of the speakers left open. Not sealing off the backs of the speakers results in the midbass frequencies canceling each other out. We created a set of baffles similar to the ones in the front doors so that the speakers would sound the best they could.
Digital Signal Processor Tuning
With everything wired properly, we set to work configuring the crossovers, delays and equalization settings of the Audison bit One to optimize the performance of the four speakers and the powered subwoofer in the vehicle. The client had hoped to upgrade the sub and tidy up the installation, but as occasionally happens, other priorities put that on hold for a little while.
He was blown away by the improvement we were able to make in the performance of the sound system. Everything was clear, and the overall balance was smooth and sounded very natural. He reported that it played louder than it had before we set to work.
Jeep Stereo Upgrade – Stage Two
About a month after we finished the first stage of the project, the client called to let us know that he had a close call with a deer while driving, and the powered subwoofer enclosure in the cargo area had to go. We scheduled an appointment to begin work reinstalling the equipment in the rear of the vehicle and adding a custom subwoofer solution and a new amplifier.
We removed the processor from the center console area and extended the wiring to the trunk. We built a simple mounting panel for the amp and processor. The client already owned an Audison distribution block. Even though it was overkill, we integrated it into the system.
The system is now powered by a five-channel Hertz Mille Power ML Power 5 amplifier. The amp produces up to 70 watts of power from each of four front channels and an impressive 550 watts from the subwoofer channel.
We constructed a shallow enclosure for an Audison APS10D low-profile subwoofer. The amp rack and the enclosure fit in the cargo area of the vehicle, on top of the spare tire. The face of the subwoofer is protected by a mesh grille that sits flush with the new floor panel. The client can still access the spare tire by removing the carpeted trim panel and lifting the subwoofer enclosure. No tools are required to get to the tire.
Pennsylvania’s Car Audio Upgrade Experts
We finished the installation by reconfiguring the Audison processor to work with the new subwoofer. The client was thrilled with the upgrade and happy to have his cargo space back. Though it took some time, he finally had the audio system he’d been wanting, and it sounded exactly like he’d hoped. If you are interested in improving the performance of your car stereo system, drop by Mobile Edge in Lehighton or click the red button below to send our team an e-mail.
