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As I mention earlier, my car have no performance modifications, but the car stereo or ICE have undergo major upgrades. The upgrades are mostly done is stages, but I will group up the minor ones as a same stage.

Stage 1 � Sony XR-C5200 HU, CDX-626 10 Disc Changer and Boss Audio RD-16 Speaker
Stage 2 � Rockford Fosgate 400.4 Punch Amplifier and JL Audio 12W0 Sub
Stage 3 � Audio Control Overdrive Line driver and Orion CS1 Active Cross Over
Stage 4 � Alpine CDA-7998R HU
Stage 5 � Tru Technology T4.100 Amplifier and OZ Audio Matrix 180CS Speaker

I have a lot of cassettes at home, so when I begin my shopping and I thought that a cassette HU + CD changer is a good upgrade. This way I can play CD and all those old cassettes I have. I got a Sony Cassette HU with CD changer; XR-C5200 CD/MD Controller and CDX-626 10 Disc Changer. With higher power output of 40 X 4, it sure sounds better then the OEM HU (30 X 4).

With more power from the HU, the rear speaker (OEM 2-way untreated paper cone speaker) is way louder then the tiny midrange speaker in the front, so I wanted more sound to come from the front. That time I had no idea what is sound staging or imaging, I just wanted the sound to come from the front. Furthermore rear passenger would complain if I switch on the volume louder (not even 120dB yet) *grin*

Later I added a Sony Remote Commander to the HU. I stick it to the steering column using double sided tape and the wire snake inside the steering column. Its real cool and a breeze to use.

Thus began the journey in to ICE, I started looking in to Coaxials, 6X9 and component speakers. I found that component speaker gives more flexibility compare to the rest and should also sound nicer. I finally settle for a BOSS Audio RD-16, a 6.5� component speaker.

The component speaker was to be mounted to the front door, and the original passives replaced with a Blade Passive Crossover, and placed on the passenger foot area. In order to mount the speaker to the door, a MDF ring was made in order to reduce the resonance and and the speaker mounted to it. Then the door panel was cut and I prefer the car to look as original as possible, therefore a custom speaker grill was made.

Instead of using the original passives, I used these custom passives crossovers, nice, but pricey. Could say that I was scam-ed.

Later I got a Rockford Fosgate amplifier, a 400.4 with rated power of 50W X 4. Specs of the amp is as stated, measured at 14.4V, Bridged into a 4Ω Load - 220 Watts x 2, Per channel into a 2Ω Load - 130 Watts x 4, Per channel into a 4Ω Load � 85 Watts x 4.

I also got a JL Audio subwoofer, albeit its a entry model only but it still does sound very nice. I put it in to a 1.1cu^ft sealed enclosure, and got some slight lead slap when pushing it hard. Then I had the box slightly fill with polyfill material and it solve the lead slap problem. The enclosure is built with a additional MDF front so that it look slightly flushed. It sounds very sweat and many people thought I have a higher end JL. My JL Audio 12W0, the box, and the end result.

Page 1
Page 2 � The Wira
Page 3 � SQ Stage One & Two
Page 4 � SQ Stage Three
Page 5 � SQ Stage Four & Five
Page 6 - Installation
Page 7 - Tru Amp and other stuffs
Page 8 - Car Stuffs
Page 9 - Events & Photos