Installing Sound System

March 26, 2007

Hello, just bought myself a sub, amp, head unit and face plate. Will be fitting it this weekend, just wondered if anyone has any advice on the best way to run the cables. I had a quick look under the bonnet, couldnt really see an obvious gap to run the cable from the batterey.

Also, how easy is it to remove the original head unit etc...?

Cheers

March 26, 2007

How bad is the the standard set up then - I spent about £300 putting new Speakers in my Smart and it is still apawlingly bad and I want to try and get away with just a sub and an iPod connecter

March 26, 2007

How bad is the the standard set up then - I spent about £300 putting new speakers in my Smart and it is still apawlingly bad and I want to try and get away with just a sub and an iPod connecter

The Aygo sound system is average, if you like listening to a bit of music on the way to work then yeah its alright. This is the first time ive bought a sub n amp for a car, I just want to improve the sound. I think im going to upgrade the rear Speakers too at some point, not 6'9's just some better door Speakers that look simular to the original ones.

Thing is ur gonna need an amp if your getting a sub, I would have thought u'd have got a good sound system for 300 quid!

March 26, 2007

well I transplated the head unit I brought when I had a MINI (a Mini Disc one) and the CD autochanger and got new Speakers fitted too - the only downside is that the Speakers in a Smart and mounted INSIDE the dashboard and project their sound through a couple of sections of what looks like ventilation holes - not a good design.

After having it done I found out that you can buy a panel that lays on top of the dash and you can mount Speakers into that but after spending £300 on what I had done I object to paying anymore - especially now that I know the Smarts days are numbered . . . .

March 26, 2007

The front speaker mounts will take 4" (10cm) Speakers. They are easy to get to but you will need to cut two of the tabs off of each speaker. No removing of dashboards like the smart, just pop open the cover :) There are tweeters in the front pillars too, not sure what you would do about upgrading them (4" coax sets are pretty expensive).

The rear Speakers involve some removal of panels because they are mounted in the rear side panels.

You could get the rear parcel shelf for the C1/107 which has Speakers built in.

Toyota do a standard fit sub to go under the driver's seat but it's quite expensive and not that good from what I've read. There are others about, have a search on the forum and you should get something.

As for iPod connector, there is the standard aux in on the head unit that you can connect the iPod to. I looked into getting something more permanent that I could control my iPod from the car stereo but so far there isn't one available.

March 27, 2007

There are plenty of head units out there that will control your ipod, or you can get one of these kits http://www.ipodcarkitdirect.co.uk/

Down to personal choice, i know im happy with just using mp3 cd's

March 27, 2007

just wondered if anyone has any advice on the best way to run the cables. I had a quick look under the bonnet, couldnt really see an obvious gap to run the cable from the batterey.

Have a look at the AIM for fitting foglights.

There's a grommet behind the Battery under the windshield that has

a protruding bit tha can be poked through for fitting extra wires.

It's not easy to reach, but it can be done. Not quite sure how tha layout is

on a RHD car though... On my LHD I had to remove the plug from the

brake fluid reservoir to try and reach the grommet and still had no luck.

the grommet is located behind the loom of cables you can see coming from above

Same situation, only pic was not taken by me, but someone else,

the yellow wire you see is for the subwoofer he fitted

Eventually I reached it from inside, by sticking my arm up between

the pedals. But on a RHD car the A/C unit would be in the way I guess...

Also, how easy is it to remove the original head unit etc...?

VERY simple; pull of the ventilation speed knob, unscrew the screw that's revealed,

then pry the entire plastic bit the radio sits in up from the knob towards the windshield.

With the panel off it should look something like this:

The hole in the middle is occupied by a hook, the other six are all "snaps".

What kind of sub are you fitting? I mounted a Pioneer TS-WX11A under the passenger seat last week:

March 28, 2007

Thanks for your images, and the advice.

The sub is going in the boot because its to big for behind the passenger seat! I'll get some pics up as soon as its all complete. Might be a while now though, !Removed! head unit out of stock! Shopping around for another one now...

March 28, 2007

Here everything you need to know about installing a Radio, front and rear Speakers, sub and where to put the wires. Just scroll down the site and you will find what you need.

http://my107.blogspot.com/search/label/Car%20Stereo

Guidom

March 29, 2007

Here everything you need to know about installing a Radio, front and rear speakers, sub and where to put the wires. Just scroll down the site and you will find what you need.
http://my107.blogspot.com/search/label/Car%20Stereo
Guidom

Fantastic blog, thanks :thumbsup:

March 31, 2007

last month i bought myself a sub with a preamp. I installed it fine, the only problem i had was the cable running to the Battery went through the wingmirror as that was the only way to the engine i could find, its not good because it goes over the seal, and now when every i clean my car a little bit of water creeps in.

March 31, 2007

last month i bought myself a sub with a preamp. I installed it fine, the only problem i had was the cable running to the battery went through the wingmirror as that was the only way to the engine i could find, its not good because it goes over the seal, and now when every i clean my car a little bit of water creeps in.

Here you can see how you can get to the Battery through the firewall.

http://my107.blogspot.com/2006/12/wires.html