I finally got all of the answers I needed to move forward with replacing all of the factory speakers and adding aftermarket amps for my 4G AWD TL. The professional install will start on January 20th and I hope to get my car back by no later than the 26th. Having the entire car dynamatted and adding a custom sub box. The factory head unit and amp will not be touched, so I will keep all of the OEM functionality.

















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Read on... more pictures in this thread!

 

is this a tech tl or non tech?

 

Tech TL

 

The ELS audio system in the Tech package sounds pretty good to me. Why change the speakers, if you don't mind my asking?

 

I agree that the ELS systems sound pretty good. I've always had a "mid to high" end aftermarket system installed in all of my vehicles including the 3Gen TL I had prior to my 4Gen purchase. Adding additional amps and speakers (including sub) after the factory amp (using JL clean sweeps) will make the system sound unbelievable.

It's not a cheap endeavor and I'm sure many 4G owners won't bother because of the total cost. I just wanted to share with the forum that it can be done and will send pics once complete.

 

definately excited to see this...

 

If you don't mind me asking, what kind of speakers and amp are you getting?

 

I had 2 pairs of Boston Z6 in my 3Gen that will go in the front and rear deck. They will be powered by the JL HD600/4. The center channel will be a Focal 100 VRS (without using the tweeter) and the rear doors will be Focal 100 CVXs. The sub will be one JL 12W6V2 (from the 3Gen) or I may decide to go with two JL 10W6V2s depending on the custom box and amp rack layout in the trunk. The center, rear door and subwoofer will be powered by the JL HD900/5. The entire car will be dynamated from the firewall to the trunk excluding the roof. The OEM subwoofer will be removed and the rear deck will be heavily dynamated (TL's are known for rear deck rattles).

I will lose some trunk space, but the spare will be accessible (none of that area will be cover with the sub box or amp rack). My 4Gen will never be used for long distance traveling (400 miles or more), so losing trunk space is not that important.

 

The install of aftermarket amps, crossovers and speakers was a success. The sub is in a stealth box in the drivers side of the trunk. The amps, crossover and cleansweep controls are mounted in the top of the trunk. Will send pics of the total install once I figure out how to post them and give the car a cleaning from yesterdays snow in the DC area.

 

Need help uploading install pics. I have loaded them into photobucket, but do not know how to link them and also protect them. Can someone help me out.

 

Why are you trying to protect them?

When you log into photobucket, start viewing your pictures and if you put your mouse cursor over the picture, it will list for different what looks like really long web addresses. Pick the bottom one, the "img" file and right click and copy. Then bring them over to a new post and click paste. If you do a preview before you post, then you'll find that the picture should be viewable all because you inserted the link.

By the way, if you're not seeing the screen as how I described it on photobucket, just click on the picture itself. It will load up a new page where you see only the picture, but there are 4 different file code things to choose from on the left side of the screen. Pick the bottom one to copy/paste

 

^
+1. I'm curious to see your setup.

 

I hope I posted these correctly:























IMG]http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac210/Brew0360/AmprackandSweep-XoverControls.jpg[/IMG]

 

Sweeetttttttttttttttttttt

 

HOT! How's it sound?

 

It's very clean and loud. There is a lot of sub bass and mid bass. Working on the best tweeter attenuation settings for the front tweeters. Going to have to tweak the signal control on the clean sweeps and the amp gains over time as I get use to the overall sound. I expect thisto happen over time as I get use to the limitations of the entire system and the acoustical differences between all of the sources.

 

Wow...gorgeous.
Was this a "drop my car off and I don't care how much it costs" type of thing? Just curious...a novice piecing all of this together looks intimidating/expensive!

Very nice though...

 

I dropped it off on the 20th and picked it up on the 27th. I already had the speakers for the door and rear deck. Cost was around $ 5,500. As I mentioned in my initial thread this was not going to be a cheap endeavor. I just wanted the 4G community to know that it could be done.

 

Awesome setup, very impressive, looks like they tore the entire car apart!

What is the type of source music you are using? I would think after spending 5k on a stereo system, you're not just listening to 128Kbps MP3s downloaded from itunes or anything.

 

Mostly legit CDs, but actually the HD, XM, Bluetooth and Ipod sources sound very decent.

 

nice man, looks really good and worth it, how dose it sound?

 

Sounds very good. Needs some tweaking thats gonna take me some time as I get use to the system and the sources. Can play extremely loud without distorting much even at full volume.

 

Well...if you've got it, why not spend it! As long as you're happy, that's what matters! Looks amazing.

PS...The more gadgets you have to tinker and mess with the sound the more crazy it'll drive you to keep tweaking! lol.

 

Thanks. Not really much to the tweak. Just have to listen to it while I'm driving for couple of days and find out what gain/cleansweep settings are optimal. Once set, the OEM headunit will be the only be used for adjustment to bass, treble, fader, balance and subwoofer control.

 

How does all the factory equipment integrate w/ the Clean Sweeps?

How do those JL amps do with heat? By the way you have them mounted I would think that they would get super hot.

I am assuming they are D Class Mono Block amps.

Other than that one concern your set up looks really, Really super.

 

The OEM amp puts out a full signal to the front and rear deck and a bandpassed signal to the center, rear door and sub. One clean handles front/rear deck and the other center, rear door and sub.

I chose the new JL HD 900/5 and 600/4 amps (Class D) which generate a lot less heat than the Slash series. So far they haven't heated up at all. I'll until it gets hot outside to really be able to tell you.

 

Overall very clean install. Eventually I will want to upgrade the stereo in the TL I will be getting in two weeks. I'll bookmark this thread for reference.

I also think Zapco makes some pretty good OEM integration equipment.

 

Why a 900/5 and 600/4? That's a lot of power and flexibility, I just was wondering how it was set up. Everything looks great!!!

Edit: One more question, if you were looking for tuning capability and oem integration why not go with a 3Sixty.2?

 

Thats some intense music. lmao i wonder how your alternator is responding to this massive load. needed an upgrade?

 

NVM... I read post #8 and got my answer...

Still wondering about this one though...


Also one of your pics didn't post, so I helped you out!

 

Thanks for the pic post. I decided to go with 2 cleansweeps so that I would not loose any functionality of the OEM headunit. Everything works the way it should; balance/fader/subwoofer control/dolby, etc. Damn thing sounds spectacular. As for alternator drain, it's not a problem. The 900/5 and 600/4 don't demand hugh power draws. I needed the 600/4 to power two pairs of Boston Z6s (font and rear deck) and the 900/5 powers my 4" Focals in the read doors, the center channel and my JL 12W6V2.

 

Your set up is a variation of what I had in my CL, except I only used one CleanSweep to feed the signals from the OEM headunit into a 1/2 din Alpine EQ, then sending the signals back to a pair of JL Audio amps (300/4 and 500/1). Interesting use of a pair of CleanSweeps in your desgin. Despite the 'acceptable' quality of the ELS system found in the TL, I've never left things alone. Might have to make a trip down and audition sometime. Any chance you can get a cleaner picture of the CleanSweeps?

 

My installer took the pics and unfortunately they weren't very clear. The sweeps are above the rear wheel well and behind the trunk carpeting. If I ever need to access them again I will take better pics.

 

Did not go with the 3Sixty.2 just based on preference. I will be replacing the sweeps with an Audison Bit One as soon as I can complete my research and then get my hands on one.

 

My local stereo shop is selling the Audison for $650 not sure if thats a good by or not? Are you running your sub ch through the clean sweep? I hate to but 2 cleansweeps but I want to keep the factory surround sound.

I have a JL 500/1 for my 2 10" w3s and a 4/300 for my highs I figure I would need another 4/300 to keep the surround sound? I have slash series but my install will be more stealth the the sub amp will be under box and the 2 4/300 will be hidden on back side of the box.

Please advice if what im planning will work.

 

I've heard that there were and still are a few firmware issues with the Bit One, so I'm in a wait and see mode before I make that purchase. My sub channel is running through the sweep. Your plan will work but keep in mind that if you have the Tech package you have 5 channels (front, center, rear door, rear deck, subwoofer). One sweep will handle 2 channels. You will need 2 if you decide to go JL and keep 5.1. So my setup is as follows:

Sweep One - Front and rear deck speakers (full signal out of sweep)

Sweep Two - Rear Door, center and sub (signal not summed but what passes through the factory amp).

 

Im sorry what is summing? I currently have a Audiocontrol LC8 would it do the same job as the 2 cleansweeps?

I also own JL components, coaxils, & 3.5's that would fit the car all I would need is 1 more 3.5 for the center channel, these are higher end JL's would you use these or pay for the Focals? Everyone I talk to love the Focals but not sure if I would notice the difference or if its worth the extra expense?

 

Summing is when you take the signal from different channels to make a full signal through the sweep. For example the OEM center, sub, rear door and deck speakers are crossover within the OEM amp are do not produce a full signal (20Hz to 20,000Hz). My car sounds unbelievable without having a full signal to these.

As for Focal vs JL, it's a personal preference. The 3.5 are mostly fill, so in my opinion I would go with what you have (JL) and if if like the way it sounds, then you've saved some money.

 

Do you still have all the sourround sound function on your navi screen? Can you still adjust everything like normal? I dont want to loose any OEM functions.

Will my Audiocontrol LC8 do the same thing as far as "summing"?

 

I did not lose any functionality of the OEM system. Sorry, I don't know anything about your Audiocontrol unit.