This will be a growing page as I install my system into my first new car, a 2000 Mitsubishi Galant ES-V6. This car is GREAT, and it hauls ass with the 190HP V6! But on to the relevant info. I didn't get the optional 9-speaker Infinity system when I bought the car since I knew that I would be replacing the system anyway! :-) Plus, the Infinity system puts a center speaker right in the middle of the dash, which I thought looked terrible. Anyway, the first thing I did to the car was to tint the windows. (Picture here soon) and add a personalized plate. Soon after that, I started researching audio systems. I have two goals in mind. The first is to keep the system stealth. I don't want anyone to look at my car and assume there is a kick-ass stereo system in it to steal. I had a car broken into and half the equipment stolen before, and I don't want a repeat! Second is that I want to be able to use my trunk and spare tire. Luckily, the Galant has a HUGE trunk, so this shouldn't be a problem. I liked the Kenwood Exceleon line with the D-MASK flip-over face technology, unfortunately those radio's require a very deep dash (7 inches) which was just barely too much for my dash without doing some cutting. I then noticed the new Sony ES line with the Active Black Panel design, and these looked and sounded great! And they would fit my dash! I eventually settled on the Sony CDX-M750. This thing has a beautiful interface, and a flip-down display to access controls (or you can use the remote). I picked the 750 also because of it's extensive control of every aspect of audio you can think of. It also has built in crossovers which can be adjusted, a seperate subwoofer output, fully customizable 7-band EQ, and did I mention an awesome display? With the power off, it looks like a flat black panel, or at best a radio with the faceplate removed, so this fits perfectly with my stealth requirement.
The stock speakers sound terrible and flat, so they are the next to go. I bought a pair of Pioneer 6-1/2 3-way speakers to put in the back deck. I used a 6x9 to 6-1/2 adapters to get them to fit in the stock location. This was a pain. You have to remove the entire back seat, and back deck to get to the speakers, but I did it. The speakers sound better than the stock ones for sure, adding clearer highs and more defined mid-range, but the low-end sucks. (Hey, they are 6-1/2's! What should I expect!) The next addition will be a set of components for the front, I am looking at JBL or Infinity right now. I hope to add the tweeters as suface mount into the Mirror covers (on the inside of course) so I will be looking for some thin tweeters. I will also do some kind of dampening on the doors when I do this, no decision on what yet. After that, I will start looking at subs and amps (everything will be powered by the head unit until then). Probably going to be a pair of 10" or 12" subs. Then I will put a pair of amps in the side recesses in the trunk most likely, add caps and 2-4 guage power along with some neon, and that should be the package! I hope to add a major upgrade once a month until I am satisfied (Who ever gets satisfied??), and I plan on doing it all myself. Any of you out there who have done installs in similar Galants, let me know, would love to see what you have done and swap ideas.
Keep checking back soon! Plenty more to come!