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Keeping busy with a DIY project: Upgrading my car's audio system

12th October 2023, 11:43 by Rahul Nagaraj

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Intent definitely is to narrate how one can beat blues by undertaking something exciting, all by oneself!

BHPian vigsom recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Introduction

The intent behind these posts is not to:

define or defend the choice of audio equipment shortlisted and installed
claim that I have in-depth knowledge of audio equipment

but the intent definitely is to narrate how one can beat the blues by undertaking something exciting, all by oneself!

Background

I've already outlined my journey pre and post-coronary artery surgery here. It is a known fact that many folks who go through this procedure suffer lows, and I was warned of the same by my well-wishers. For me, excitement = try something challenging, something I've never done before on my own. Post-discharge from the hospital, I'd already set myself two small targets to keep the excitement alive

charging automotive aircon refrigerant myself (already documented on the forum)
getting an ICE installed

For item#2 above, I was thinking of what equipment to source, from whom to source, and where to get this installed, when suddenly, taking a cue from target#1, I thought to myself, "Why not do this myself?". Although the decision to do it myself hadn't been taken, the die seemed to have already been cast!

Project ICE - ingredients

Having had audio upgrades done in two of my earlier cars, I was absolutely clear on re-using the equipment I've been carrying all these years, and only filling the blanks.

What was available

Kenwood 6033BT Head Unit already in the car
RCA cables - I had 4 of them from my 2003 Toyota Corolla; two long RCAs and two of medium-length
Oxygen Free Copper (OFC) speaker cables - some were already cut to custom length to be connected to an under-seat amplifier
Main power line from the battery with a glass fuse holder with a 40A fuse
Philips 10" subwoofer in a custom MDF-sealed box

Items #2 to 5 have been with me since 2008-10 and were lying mothballed for over 12 years. I never thought of installing this in my later cars only because I really never felt the need to do so.

(PS: I was also carrying my Kenwood KAC-8401 amp, with Monster Interconnect RCAs, the power cable, ground cable, remote wiring, and some OFC wiring cables but lost that entire set to seepage from the floor above sometime in 2014; had to discard the whole set into trash thanks to this damage. )

Filling in the blanks

I've never been great at the selection of audio equipment, and this time, did not have the time to do auditions (I was advised to complete home rest), so the only way out was to look online and find out what was available at the right price point. I looked at GTO609c, Alpine S65C, Morel Maximo 6, and Infinity Reference 6530 on Amazon.in. I was inclined towards the Alpine and the Morel, but wasn't sure of the kind of stuff that would be delivered. I also looked at several YouTube videos to get an idea of what was available at what price point. While I was in this quandary, I got in touch with a supplier from NCR, saw some of his installs, and some testimonials of his integrity, and got in touch with him. I eventually got the following at pretty reasonable prices, and received the stuff in good time despite the then logistical disturbances in NCR: