High Power DeLorean Sound System '03

The DeLorean originally came with a Craig (ASI in '82) AM/FM cassette 'high power' cassette reciever with four speakers. Technology has changed for the better, and so I decided to make a system that sounds as good as my car looks.......

Here is my stereo system. Features include:
- 570 Total Watts RMS
- Six Mains/Satellites
- 2 Power Amps
- Equalizer
- Subwoofer

This is an SQ system. SPL is not possible in a DeLorean without losing parcel shelf space (the area behind the seats where the net is). Since I drive this car all over the Midwest, the little cargo space I have is of the highest importance! Space is quite cramped for audio equipment but I feel i have found the best solution for a high quality sound system utilizing the least amount of space possible. Check it out! This system ROCKS!

Head Unit/Pre-amp

My head unit is an Alpine CDM-7861. I chose this deck because it has non-fading subwoofer out (with independent volume control) and a front pre-out. Also it has a good user interface and it is super-clean. My equalizer/pre-amp is a Monitor-1 MEQ-1. It features 7 volt pre-amp gain, 4-band shelving paragraphic EQ, front/rear fade, and subwoofer xover (unused). It is mounted in the battery compartment behind the passenger seat, as you can see. All the wiring is for the distribution blocks and remote-sense.

Front Sound Stage

The dash speakers were replaced a few years ago with some 3.5" MTX 2-way's. They sound OK so i left them alone, save for putting in 300 hz bass-blockers to keep the popping away. I then installed custom-built fiberglass and carpeted kicks on the lower footwells on each size. These are loaded with Ample Audio 5.25" coaxials. With these four speakers, you get a wall of sound with great dispersal, and the speaker choices turned out to be good ones!. I find Ample Audio to make very nice quality gear.

Rear Sound Stage

The rear sound stage was a little more difficult than the front. Originally a DeLorean comes with some terrible 4x10's in the side walls. They had to go. The rear wall of the parcel shelf was originally just a thin piece of carpeted plywood with thick sound-deadening material behind it to try and silence the engine just a couple feet behind your spine. For the installation, the rear wall was removed and I had speaker pods built for the sides which use the fiberglass pontoons that wrap around the engine bay as resonance chambers. The pods hold Boston Acoustic RM6 hybrid coaxials. I found the RM6 to be the best sounding 6.5" speaker I could find. Of course we carpeted it to match the interior.

Full-Range Amplification

For full-range amplification, I decided on some points that had to be met with the amp-of-choice: First, it had to be at least 70 watts per channel for good headroom and clean power. Second, I wanted the highest quality I could afford (under $500). Third, the amp had to fit between the rear speaker pods on the wall. Forth, the chassis had to match the tasteful interior of the rest of the car and not look out-of-place (like a Sony Xplode??!?). Monitor-1 came to the rescue. This amp, the MK4.70 is 80 watts RMS x 4 @ 4 ohms (and that's not overrated power either). Also it is built by Zapco in the USA, so you know it is quality stuff. This is a very clean amp that doesn't color the sound and it is wonderful for SQ. I couldn't be happier! The amp was mounted on the rear wall and a press-fit cover was made to give continuity to the entire rear wall. This is probably the best use of space and the cleanest install I have ever seen in a DeLorean (and i have seen a LOT).

Please go to page 3 for the rest of the stereo install!