For What It's Worth By Bryan Schmidt Posted on CarSound.com on Dec 1, 2004   I have always been a huge advocate of "Planning Your Work and Working Your Plan." The process of system designing is no different – it goes without saying that having a clear and concise plan before you start spending your money is the best way to go when starting a project. So, where do you start? What's really going to give you the most bang for the buck? Before you start shelling out the hard earned greenbacks, it's definitely worth it to ask yourself a few questions: What kind of music do you listen to? Audiophile or bass? How much space are you willing give up? Are you willing to loose the space for the spare tire? What type of installation are you looking for? Clean and stealth or outlandish? How much can you spend on the installation and product? Now that you,ve asked yourself the key questions, you probably have a good idea of what direction to take. The golden rule for system design is to Keep It Simple! The "Keep It Simple" rule has ironically yielded some of the best sounding systems I've built. In fact, they're generally more reliable because there's less stuff to break and system tuning is always much easier. How much is installation worth? If products aren't installed properly, it doesn't matter how good your Alpine F1 deck is. If the install is wrong, the integrity of the system will always be in question! Spend your money smart, do it right the first time, and spend a little more with the installation the first time. Car audio systems are becoming more difficult and require a lot more finesse and expertise. The installation really accounts for about 80 percent of the success and how the system will sound. This is why it's so important to spend time, money, and effort to insure your success in how it's put together. Ok, you're probably saying, "of course I want the best install for my car!" Well, my advice is to do the research in your area and find a shop that you feel most comfortable with. The more information you can provide your local shop, the better – including pictures of other installations, drawings, ideas, and a system diagram will only ensure they hit your target as close as possible. After all, it is your ride! Here are few examples of how to build a system for an Audi TT with three different price points at $3000, $6000 and $12,000. Each system will have a certain level of installation consideration involved based on the price. We'll begin with a basic scenario and move onto the three different installation values: – Incredible sonic value (the audio experience should be excellent). – The installation must be light weight (it's a sports car, why make it a sled). – The installation can't occupy more than 60 percent of the trunk (space is a premium). – Excellent Installation Integration (The installation must complement the vehicle). The installation is always a balance of design vs. complexity. Keep the design clean and simple and don't over complicate installation! All three systems have a close cost ratio of 2/3 product and 1/3 Installation. This is a good gauge to determine how much you should pay for installation vs. the price of the product. Audi TT System #1 (Loud and Clean) This system is relatively simple and is the most basic of our examples, but will really sound and looks great for $3000. The Rockford Fosgate RFX9220 source unit has 5-volts of preamp voltage for front, rear, and subwoofer, allowing for you to have complete control over the system. The source unit will require a small trim ring around the perimeter to insure a perfect stealth fit. In addition to the sub-level control on the deck, the sub amp has a remote Punch Bass Level, which can be adjusted. This should be mounted behind the center compartment door for easy access. The front and rear component speakers are mounted to a custom ABS baffle to ensure minimal deflection and tight mid-bass output. Tweeters are mounted above the midrange and slightly off axis to achieve a cross-fire projection, which allows for adequate imaging and staging. Sound damping material should also be applied around both speakers to reduce cancellation and noise vibrations. The sub enclosure/amplifier rack will require the largest portion of the system, and will really be the focus on the installation. The sub enclosure will be a trapezoid shape enclosure, angled on both front and back sides with the subwoofers firing to the rear of the vehicle. This will increase the loading effect of the vehicle and maximize the low frequency output. The amplifiers will be mounted flush on the front side of the enclosure. I selected the Rockford Fosgate Punch P4004 and Punch P3001 because they're exactly the same foot print and it will help keep a symmetrical look to the installation. The flush trim panel will tightly conceal the wires under the front of the enclosure. The finishing materials for the enclosure will be wrapped with a factory vinyl. To continue the factory theme, the subwoofer grill is routed out of 1/4-inch ABS plastic, painted silver, and spaced off of the enclosure with 1-inch aluminum stand offs...Ultra Clean. Audi TT System #1(Loud & Clean) Product…Description…Price Source Unit…Rockford Fosgate RFX 9220…$349 Front Speakers…Rockford Fosgate Power T162S…$349 Rear Speakers…Rockford Fosgate Power T152S…$299 Subwoofers…Rockford Fosgate P310D2(2)…$389 Front/Rear Amplifier…Rockford Fosgate Punch P4004…$299 Sub Amplifier…Rockford Fosgate Punch P3001…$249 Total …$1,934 Installation…Description…Price Source Unit…Mount and trim Bessel…$50 Front Speakers…Custom mounting plate/x-over mount…$150 Rear Speakers…Mounting plate/x-over mount…$50 Subwoofers Enclosure…Custom vinyl enclosure with grill…$300 Amplifier Rack…Custom trim w/wires concealed…$200 Amplifier Installation…Remote bass knob/wire distribution…$100 Power Distribution…Fuse bracket /2-gauge wire run…$100 Installation Parts…10% of total installation…$95 Total: $1,045 Product %: 64.92% Installation %: 35.08% Installation Hours: 19 Hours Grand Total: $ 2,979 Audi TT System #2 (Light and Functional) This system is designed to be light weight, maximize the cargo space, produce astonishing sound quality, and be tonally balanced. The Kenwood KDC-X979 source unit is a great fit. The 979 incorporates Satellite Radio on board and has the capabilities to add a Music Keg, which basically gives unlimited music content, not to mention the black and aluminum finish, which really complements the dash. The front and rear component speakers are mounted very similar to our first system with the exception of the crossover mounting – in this design, both are concealed under the door and rear side panels to maximize the space in rear compartment. To utilize all of the air space in the trunk, the spare tire is replaced with custom fiberglass enclosures, which will house the two Kicker Solo Baric Subwoofers. The fiberglass enclosure will conform to the bottom sheet metal floor perfectly, maximizing the air space. The sealed enclosure design will allow the woofers to firing up through a 1/4-inch perforated aluminum mesh grill. The grill will provide adequate protection for the drivers and allow them to play into the listening area. The Kicker amps are mounted sanitarily on the backside of the rear seats, a piece of 1/8-inch brushed aluminum will house each amplifier, which allows the wires to hinge each with the seat. This will permit complete functionally of the rear seats, and, from a functionally standpoint, you can't beat it. Audi TT System #2 (Light & Functional) Product…Description…Price Source Unit…Kenwood Excelon KDC-X979…$579.99 Satellite Radio…Kenwood CX-SR40…$49 Music Keg…Kenwood KHD-CX910…$700 Front Speakers…MB Quart QSD 164…$649 Rear Speakers…MB Quart QSD 154…$449 Subwoofers…Kicker Solo-Baric L7 S10L74 (2)…$698 Front/Rear Amplifier…Kicker KX650.4 (Four-channel amplifier)…$429 Sub Amplifier…Kicker KX600.1 (Mono Amplifier)…$449 Total: $ 4002.99 Installation…Description…Price Source Unit…Mount and trim Bessel…$50 Music Keg…Custom mount…$80 Front Speakers…Custom mounting plate/x-over mount…$150 Rear Speakers…Mounting plate/x-over mount…$50 Subwoofers Enclosure…Custom fiberglass enclosure/spare tire…$1000 Amplifier Rack…Custom trim w/ wires concealed…$300 Amplifier Installation…Remote bass knob/wire distribution…$100 Power Distribution…Fuse bracket/2 gauge wire run…$100 Installation Parts…10% of total installation…$175 Total: $2005 Product %: 66.63% Installation %: 33.37% Installation Hours: 36.9 Hours Grand Total: $ 6,007.99 Audi TT System #3 (Over the Top) The goals for this system include intense bass, outlandish cosmetics, and removable subwoofer pods. This system is the big daddy! The front-end of the vehicle is very similar to system #2 with the addition of the Kenwood 915 DVD. It retains Sirius satellite radio and the Music Keg, but has some serious amplification and bass in the trunk. The focus of this installation is in the primary area of the trunk. The amps are stacked on an angle, in a staggered configuration, (like steps). The steel rack is mounted in the center of the trunk area and provides a solid structure for the entire system. Mounting the amps on an angle also allows room for the massive 20-Farad Cap to fit under the amplifiers. To conceal the wiring on both sides of the amp rack, custom fiberglass panels are fabricated on each side that curve down and flow into the side factory panels. The custom panels are covered with OEM vinyl, brushed aluminum, and body color painted accents, which makes the integration seamless. The sub enclosures are tubular fiberglass pods mounted to each side of the amp rack. The pods have an aluminum bracket around the perimeter of the pods which create a mount with a removable pin to release the enclosures. The woofers are firing towards the rear of the vehicle to optimize the loading effect of the vehicle. The pods also have brushed aluminum inserts with painted accents, with a more extreme version of example number one. This system is completely over-the-top, but I'm sure for most people, its just right. Audi TT System #3 (Over The Top) Product…Description…Price Source Unit…Kenwood Excelon KVT-915DVD…$2299 Satellite Radio…Kenwood CX-SR40…$49 Music Keg…Kenwood KHD-CX910…$700 Front Speakers…Focal 180 W…$799 Rear Speakers…Focal 180 W…$699 Subwoofers…Rockford Fosgate T212D4 (2)…$1398 Front Amplifier…Rockford Fosgate Power T8002…$499 Rear Amplifier…Rockford Fosgate Power T8002…$499 Sub Amplifier…Rockford Fosgate Power T10001bd…$699 20-Farad Cap…Rockford Fosgate Type RF CPCC25…$249 Total: $7890 Installation…Description…Price Source Unit…Mount and trim Bessel…$50 Music Keg…Custom mount…$80 Front Speakers…Custom mounting plate/x-over mount…$150 Rear Speakers…Mounting plate/x-over mount…$50 Subwoofers Enclosure…Custom fiberglass removable enclosures…$3000 Amplifier Rack…Metal amp rack Custom trim…$600 Amplifier Installation…Remote bass knob/wire distribution…$100 Power Distribution…Fuse bracket/2-gauge wire run…$100 Installation Parts…10% of total installation…$413 Total: $4543 Product %: 63.46% Installation %: 36.54% Installation Hours: 91 Grand Total: $ 12,433 The Same, But Different All three systems are different in respect to product and installation, but they do have a similar design philosophy. They are all built with a certain listener in mind, a specific budget, and space considerations. The systems are also divided into two parts, 33% installation and 66% product. The installation and product ratios will ensure that you'll have equal balance on where to spend your money. Keep in mind that all shops quote labor differently – in our examples, each system is based on $50 per labor hour. If you follow these tips, you can design your dream system on any budget!