A client from Scottsdale, Arizona, came in to Handcrafted Car Audio looking to add a custom, high-end, RAM 3500 concert quality audio upgrade to their truck. He didn’t like the clarity of the factory system or how loudly it played. He wanted the system to sound great and still be inconspicuous. We had a look at his truck and listened to several different amplifier, speaker and subwoofer options in our showroom with him. Once we understood the performance he was after, we designed a high-power system for him. With the client’s approval, we made an appointment and the fabrication fun began.
Only What We Want To Hear
We started by removing the door panels and seats from the vehicle. We removed the window mechanism completely from the front doors so we could apply a layer of Stinger Roadkill to the outside door skin. Then we added a layer of SoundSkins sound deadening material on top to further improve noise reduction. Where the plastic window mechanism panel mounts to the door, we applied foam damping to ensure there would be no buzzes or rattles. We ran wiring for the speakers from the front doors and dash to the rear seat location. We zip-tied all the wires and held them in place with Tesa tape. We also ran 0 AWG power wire from the battery to the same area.
Hidden, Fabricated Amp Mounts
Using our welding table, we created a two-tiered amp rack. We cut strips of rectangular steel and created two boxes, one to hold an Audison AV 5.1K and a bit One digital signal processor while the other would be home to an Audison AV Duo amp and the power distribution block for the system. We created the amp rack so it would fit under the seat. The top amplifier and processor can be removed to make adjustments to the lower amplifier. We finished the amp rack with a coat of satin-black paint.
Let The Concert Begin!
The client wanted excellent detail and accuracy from his system. He chose the Audison Voce component speakers for the job. We mounted a set of AV1.0 tweeters in the front door sail panels. This location helps to offer excellent width to the soundstage. We mounted a set of AV3.0 3-inch midrange drivers on a set of ABS adapter plates that we made by copying the factory 3.5” dash speakers on our router table. Having the midrange speakers out at the base of the windshield provides excellent soundstage depth.
Finally, we mounted a set of Voce AV 6.5 6.5-inch mid-bass drivers in the factory 6×9” speaker location. Again, we made adapter plates to mount the drivers to the factory speaker mounts. The factory dash grille and door grille conceal the speakers, leaving the tweeters as the only visible hint of the capabilities of the front stage. The AV 5.1k powers the dash speakers, tweeters and subwoofer, while the AV Duo powers the mid-bass drivers in the doors.
Deep, Detailed, Articulate Bass
The client wanted deep, detailed and articulate bass. He agreed to our suggestion of an Audiofrog GB10D4 10-inch subwoofer after hearing it. This sub features a treated paper cone and elegant cast basket. Audiofrog has put significant effort into ensuring this sub is incredibly tight and dynamic, while offering excellent low-frequency output with very little distortion. We created an enclosure that mounted to the back wall of the truck and wrapped the enclosure in black carpet to help it blend with the interior.
Tuning For Perfection
To tune the system, we took audio signals from the factory amplifier output and fed them into the bit One. The bit One has a de-equalization process that provides us with a level platform from which to begin the tune of the system. With full control over filtering, equalization and signal delays to each speaker, we were able to create a detailed and stable soundstage across the front of the truck.
Custom, RAM 3500 Concert Quality Audio Upgrade Thrills Client
The customer returned to Handcrafted Car Audio in Chandler, Arizona, anxious to hear his truck. He loved how loud the system played and how tight and controlled it was. He commented on how easy it was to make minor adjustments with the DRC control that we mounted in the center console. Overall, he was thrilled with the new system.
Give Us A Call Today!
If you are looking to transform your vehicle into a mobile concert hall, drop by our store or contact us here.
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