Audio system tips

[Nick R]

So I mentioned a few days ago that I'm upgrading the sound system in my focus. Keeping the stock Sync Deck. Polk Audio DXi 570s front and back (Doors). Going to go with a Polk Audio PA 660 4 channel amp.

I want to get the amp mounted on the top of my trunk (on the inside of course). I will be paying to have the Autotech guys at work install it for me. Anyone have some suggestions for me though? Sub isn't going to happen.

First of all, I shouldn't have to worry about the stock electrical system right? Fuses, etc. Also, I hear that a good system (especially if I stick with all the same brand) can increase resale value on a car. How true is this?

 

[meangreen01]

In a newer car like yours, I highly doubt you'll see any increase in resale value. In fact when you sell/trade I'd have all the amp wiring removed or hidden out of sight. You may as well pull the door speakers as well.

Why? For the most part audio is similar to any other mod someone does to their car. It is for their own enjoyment or personalization. Nothing wrong with that at all, but to the majority of potential future buyers mods aren't their thing, or their mod selection is most likely different than yours.

I know for sure most dealers don't give credit for aftermarket "add-ons". That's why when you browse different forums people pull and sell their mods before trading a car in.

 

[tomcat27]

dont expect it to raise your resale value. electrical system should be fine - but they need to run a thick, dedicated power lead from the battery to your amp. of course, they already know that. I dont see any mention of a subwoofer - which you really should consider for proper SQ. and no, not just to go BOOM BOOM

 

[gathermewool]

With just those mods, you may end up with some pros, but it'll mostly just be louder. You'll have to pull speaker level inputs for the amp, which means the signal being fed to your new speakers is an amplified signal from your stock head unit. If you can afford it, throw in a digital signal processor, which will condition the speaker-level signal and send that cleaned up signal to the amp. The result will be on-par, and most likely, much better than most aftermarket decks, especially with the amp.

Also, while you're in there, add some sound deadening. The purpose of sound deadoning is to dampen vibrations in the door panel, so make sure it's used relatively sparingly. There is no benefit in covering EVERING under the door card, and zero benefit to adding mass to a gap or hole - you can't dampen air.

 

[Jeepster_nut]

I would advise against mounting the amp upside down on the underside of the trunk deck. Heat rises and will make the board run hotter than it should. I was an installer for a major audio electronics chain in the mid 90's, and we wouldn't do that when the customer requested.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: gathermewool
With just those mods, you may end up with some pros, but it'll mostly just be louder. You'll have to pull speaker level inputs for the amp, which means the signal being fed to your new speakers is an amplified signal from your stock head unit.


+1. Without being really sure of the wiring, etc., you may just end up with the ability to play louder, but amplify garbage. Taking from an output stage isnt the cleanest way to go. Add in possible wiring flaws and you could be set up to have alternator whine, etc.

No way I'd pay more $ for a focus with some aftermarket parts than stock. The install would need to be VERY compelling, clean, etc. for it to be worth a premium and Im just not seeing how that would occur by adding in some parts.

 

[eljefino]

But if it's screwed to a metal brace under his package shelf won't that be a better heat sink than the back of his cloth seat?

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Isn't this the car you were ready to trade off for an old police car a month or two ago because you were already tired of making payments? Now you're putting even more money into a car for which you're deeply in debt?


Honestly, if I looked at a car with all that extra garbage mounted in it I'd walk away assuming it was a kid that previously owned it.

You'd be financially much further ahead by using the money you'd dump into a gee whiz audio system and pay the car off quicker.

 

[onebigunion]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Honestly, if I looked at a car with all that extra garbage mounted in it I'd walk away assuming it was a kid that previously owned it.



Yep. All the audio mods will absolutely decrease the resale value. Especially on something like a Focus. Its not a "kid's car", its a conservative commuter or small family sedan - pricey audio mods are a big red flag for those markets.

 

[Nick R]

The car isn't going anywhere. I'll be keeping this car for a long, long time. That's been decided and set in stone. I figured since I'm keeping it, I might as well do a few things to it. I'm not adding in a sub, I'm adding in a better sound system, because the stock one sounds like junk.

Pretty much anyone understands that, that's why a lot of people are willing to spend more and get Klipsch, or sometims Bose speakers, over Logitech, Insignia etc.

I don't know why I'm concerned about resale value. By the time the car alone is paid off I'll have over 100k miles on it (by my calculations anyway) and I probably won't sell it then. So it probably won't matter in the end, because it'll have over 100k when I sell it, a stereo system will hopefully be the last thing they care about. Honestly, I'm not putting that much money into this audio system.

You forget, I get employee discount. I get each set of speakers for $50. I get the amp for a ben franklin and some change. I get install on all that for about $120. That is not bad at all, for a system that would usually cost about $500. I'm a mild audiophile I love good sound, hate bad.

 

[meangreen01]

Originally Posted By: onebigunion
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Honestly, if I looked at a car with all that extra garbage mounted in it I'd walk away assuming it was a kid that previously owned it.


Yep. All the audio mods will absolutely decrease the resale value. Especially on something like a Focus. Its not a "kid's car", its a conservative commuter or small family sedan - pricey audio mods are a big red flag for those markets.


+1

Originally Posted By: Nick R
The car isn't going anywhere. I'll be keeping this car for a long, long time. That's been decided and set in stone.


Well have at it then. Make it your own.

I think your OP came across as concern over resale value as if you we're going to sell/trade in the near future.

 

[kkreit01]

I wouldn't mount it to the trunk lid, or under rear deck. You don't want the amp mounted upside down. I'd mount it under a seat, fasten to the back of one of the rear seats, or create a false floor.

Why don't you want a sub? You will. You don't have to get crazy with 2 12s. I had 1 small (high quality) 8 in the rear corner of my Focus trunk, and it did wonders. (I think there's still pics on here somewhere?). It took up very little useful space in my trunk -- which is already as large as an Accords', or larger than a TLs'

).

The stock electrical system can handle your amp. Just run the proper amp power gauge to your battery, and fuse it. What do you plan for remote turn-on? That was fun in the Focus If anything, aftermarket audio will decrease resale.

 

[gathermewool]

Your first mod should be some sound deadening. Your next mod should be a new Head unit. Forget the speakers and forget the amp; they can be added later.

Cleaning up the tin can that the speaker reverberates and resonates in will help immensely. Adding a decent head unit with a decent signal processor will make your stock speaker sound even better. Trust me when I saw that you'll have a very incomplete sound if you choose to amplify a terrible signal and send it to a set of 2-way or 3-way speakers. You'll lose all of your bass and the highs will sound tinny and harsh, and your mids will be muddled and garbled. The bass will be non-existent.

 

[kkreit01]

^ True. but He'll lose Sync. Once you have Sync, most don't want to be w/o it. Also, there's quite a bit of factory sound dampening in the Focus. It never hurts to add some, but way overkill to cover everything. I like the "SoundDeadenerShowdown approach": cover 25% of flat surfaces -- which Ford almost did from factory. Speakers in this case are the weakest link. They are $.50 cent dual-cone paper from China. It does get expensive to keep factory HU and achieve excellent SQ. But you don't have to spend much to get adequate for most.

 

[IndyIan]

Have you put in the new speakers yet? Maybe they will be good enough themselves?
Have you heard a 4 channel amp added to factory deck with out pre-outs? I haven't but it sounds like it wouldn't be good for sound, but maybe I'm wrong.

 

[Nick R]

Had the new speakers put in today, they are better than the sony's, but there still isn't much kick. Not that I was expecting it. I don't know, we'll see. It depends on a few things what I do.