1 din head unit + 1/2 din equalizer

[rockymountain]

Has anyone modded a bezel to incorporate a 1 din head unit along with a 1/2 din whatever, say an equalizer. By bezel I mean one like a Metra 99-6504 Dash Kit.

Here's some more info:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=Metra+99-6504+Dash+Kit

Anyway, it would be great if you could use that dash kit and cut out the pocket and fit a 1/2 din equalizer in there. I'm going for an old school setup without all the electronic BS. Just old fashioned I guess. There is enough room, I just wondered if anyone has done it yet so I could get any hindsight from you. Thanks!!

 

[teckman02]

i like your idea old school all thhe way

 

[rockymountain]

Well, its a start. I just got it mounted in there. hooking up all the wires and everything will come next. Waiting for the good ol' UPS driver to show up with all my cables and wire. Then it's bye bye infinity system.

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It's not perfect, but pretty good for a first timer. I even had to curve off the bottom edges of the equalizer so it would clear the bezel. Need to paint that now. Anyway its a WIP.

 

[teckman02]

that looks good

 

[rockymountain]

that looks good

Thanks man!

 

[67Customs]

Yeah, man, pretty clean looking install.

 

[rockymountain]

Ok, after much testing and such at this point I have it back out with just the head unit. I was just getting way too much interference from something while listening to the radio on AM. I like listening to hockey games at times when they are on. Also, baseball in the summer. I don't know why I was getting so many weird noises, but they seemed to be coming from all the wiring under the dash. The blinkers made noise and random things turning on and off did too. I ran a separate fused power line and grounded to my own grounding post I created under the dash, which may itself be the problem. Does anyone know a really good ground under the dash or behind the kick panel?

This is what it looks like lit up:

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This is what I did to the previously mentioned faceplate:

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and then also what I needed to do to match the curve in the radio/instrument bezel:

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Looks nice. It is sort of a love hate item at this point. There's almost too much to control with 7 bands of EQ and a sub plus a fader. It really is overwhelming if you don't have a good amp, which I am now saving for.

You really need a dremel to alter the faceplate and make that curve on the EQ corners itself.

To mount the EQ I simply zip tied it together with the head unit and put that friction material between them so it wouldn't slip. It really worked good and was solid. Just have big zip ties and pull those suckers as tight as you can. I didn't want to hassle making brackets; just seemed like overkill.

as for fitment, it is EXACTLY 1.5 din. You have ZERO room to work with and it is tough to get all the wires I have behind there. I have a USB cable, iPod cable, aux cable and then a noise suppressor all jammed in there, plus rcas for the sub and front and rear channels. You need to route stuff strategically in order for the bezel to fit right again. Luckily there is a lot of room to the sides of the radio area. So, does it work, yes for me right now the way it is no.

too much to do, eq wise
too much noise so far, need to investigate why
frustrating to say the least at times
fun? yes

 

[ck2012]

For best performance run the power lines and your ground to you battery on everything including the amp and EQ.
The HU should be fine off the original power and grounds.
As far as an amp for the subs just buy a cheap one off ebay. I bought a fairly cheap off brand amp and it has lasted almost a year now pushing two 12's at 2000watts+ and the amp was only 110 with shipping. For highs and mids buy a 4 channel amp wired accordingly.
I run a kenwood HU
4- rocksford tweeters Powered by the 4 channel amp
2- kenwood 6x9's powered by the head unit
2- Cheap pioneer 12inch subs for now powered by the mono 2000watt amp bridged
Instead of an EQ i run a capacitor that splits the Rca output into Subs, highs and mids(if i ran them to an amp).
It has various setting to select pitches to change on the fly like an Eq.
If you'd like a few picture of the ghetto setup i have just let me know.
Yours looks great by the way.

 

[rockymountain]

For best performance run the power lines and your ground to you battery on everything including the amp and EQ.
The HU should be fine off the original power and grounds.
As far as an amp for the subs just buy a cheap one off ebay. I bought a fairly cheap off brand amp and it has lasted almost a year now pushing two 12's at 2000watts+ and the amp was only 110 with shipping. For highs and mids buy a 4 channel amp wired accordingly.
I run a kenwood HU
4- rocksford tweeters Powered by the 4 channel amp
2- kenwood 6x9's powered by the head unit
2- Cheap pioneer 12inch subs for now powered by the mono 2000watt amp bridged
Instead of an EQ i run a capacitor that splits the Rca output into Subs, highs and mids(if i ran them to an amp).
It has various setting to select pitches to change on the fly like an Eq.
If you'd like a few picture of the ghetto setup i have just let me know.
Yours looks great by the way.

thanks for the info ck. I made a grounding post (what I call it) that runs straight to the battery and have it connected with 4 gauge wire. I did have an additional wire running from the HU to my grounding post. I think that may have been the problem, since it was grounded through the original ground as well as that. I did that long ago because I was getting alternator whine in my sub and it seemed to make it quieter.
I will try again to connect everything up once I get my new 4ch amp. I'm looking at the Kenwood excelon. I need lots of punch and that should get me what I want. I just have an old 150 rms driving the sub I have. My system is just enough so I can feel the music and not really annoy anyone TOO much at lights. Everything is grounded straight to the battery in some way as in not using the chassis. I have one other secret old school item too that I may be relying on more if it works out. :smokin:

 

[ck2012]

What old school item might this be?
My old school item in my system are the capacitor and 4ch amp both 15 years old from my dads original system which some thieves left behind when they took his complete kenwood system from radio to ripping the speakers out and left behind all the off brand equipment that was still top of the line just not well known.
Another idea to try to find your noise try to isolate your speaker wires from any power wires. All of my wires run on the opposite side of my car under all the carpeting. Or maybe a high quality noise filter.
One day when i have the time and courage i might rip out my system out of my mustang and install it into my kj If i can find a way to mount my subs under the rear seat or somewhere out of the way.