If you decide to do something to your car because you saw it here, please give me credit where it is due! (link to my page w/ my name or something) Thanks.

Current Audio Pictures, Page Updated April 20, 2008

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Ok, so I decided I needed a real stereo after driving this car for almost 4 years without one. I like to do things as cheaply as possible, so I started looking at Walmart for a decent deck and front speakers. Then, my parents gave me a $100 gift card to Walmart for the stereo! With the help of my friend slowngreen, I decided to get one of the cheapest CD decks and speakers for the front.

Walmart doesn't have the best selection, but it was good enough for me. I don't need a stereo system that blasts people's ears out or blows the hair off their heads. With this in mind, I was only going to use the radio's amplification for the 4 speakers and a small amplifier for the subwoofer. I don't see the point in doing any more than that. It sounds great to me; therefore, anything else over and above what I have now would be a waste of money.

Here is the CD player and speakers I ended up using. See page 9 for details on this deck and speakers (scroll down a ways).

I also picked up a wire connector adapter to match my car so that I could plug the stereo wires into the stock wires.

See page 23 for the installation process!

Here is what it looks like! I am so happy to be rid of the ugly portable CD player and adapter. That adapter added lots of distortion to the signal, too, so I am glad that is gone. Now, my music is crisp, clear, and it come out in surround rather than just from the back.

I have the 5.25 inch Sony Xploids for the front speakers. They are 35 watts, and they have superb highs and mids. Not much bass, though.

I have some random 6.5 inch 30 watts rms Pioneers in the back that a friend didn't need and installed for free years ago. They have a really good response to lows and mids, but the tweeter isn't loud enough. The compliment my front speakers perfectly, so I have a nice, balanced sound in the car without extra speakers, tweeters, amplifiers, or equalizers.

I used this wiring kit for my amp ($16 at Walmart, and it had everything I needed, so it was a good use of money)

Finally, I have a sub with it's own amp. The amp is 100 watts per channel (from Walmart), and it works great. The sub is a 200 watts per channel Bose that I had lying around, and it works surprisingly well in the car. And the amp screws right into it, and the sub has a bungee cord to strap it in place and Velcro on the bottom to prevent it from sliding back and forth. The amp was $50, and the sub was free. So, my entire system cost less than $200. See page 23 for the installation process!

Now, my ICE is finished! I don't plan on doing anything else to it ever. No TVs or DVDs or game systems for me.

Current Audio Modification List

VR3 MP3 head unit
5.25" 4-way Sony Xploids in the front doors
6.5" 2-way Pioneers on the rear deck
VR3 200 watt amp on sub
Scosche amp wiring kit
Bose home-theater subwoofer

Previous Audio Modification List

Portable CD player with tape adapter

Future Audio Modification List

None

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Don't forget that if you have any help, advice, comments, criticisms, or questions about my car and future mods, please sign my Guest book!

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Table of Contents

My Corolla Today
Page 1: Current Exterior
Page 2: Current Interior
Page 3: Current Engine
Page 4: Current Audio

Corolla Time Lines
Page 5: Phase Time Line
Page 6: Detailed Time Line

Other Stuff
Page 7: Photoshop
Page 8: Look at this page before you buy replacement LED bulbs
Page 9: Details on my current and future mods
Page 10: For Sale!

DIYs and Project Write-ups
Page 11: Bumper light LED retrofit 1
Page 12: Third Brake light LED retrofit
Page 13: Diablo Mirror LED replacement
Page 14: Taillight LED Retrofit 1
Page 15: High Beam DRL Mod
Page 16: Bumper Light LED Retrofit 2, PLUS detailed description of how I do LED mods
Page 17: Painting preparation (details on my fenders, grille, trunk, and Bondo)
Page 18: Side marker LED retrofit and installation
Page 19: HID fog lights and headlights
Page 20: Interior painting, modifications, and exterior trim painting
Page 21: Installing Halo/LED/Projector headlights
Page 22: Mirror cover LED replacement
Page 23: Installing a new stereo and speakers
Page 24: Body kit installation, front end conversion, and other body work for round 2
Page 25: Retrofitting LEDs into my third mirrors and front turn signals
Page 26: Putting interior LEDs behind the dash and in all the buttons and all over the interior
Page 27: LED tail light retrofit 2 and baking your lights in the oven to remove the lens