Difficulty of installing new audio gear?

[xanis]

This is about audio, but since it has to do with car audio and installation I thought it would be better off here.

I moved back to my hometown (from the city) so I'm going to be using my car quite a lot more. Since I'll be spending more time driving, I want to upgrade the stock audio equipment on my '00 Cavalier.

I've been looking around and I think I've settled on what I want. I'm going to buying everything from Crutchfield, since everything I've heard and everyone I've spoken to says that it's the best place. I'm only getting a new receiver and front and rear speakers – nothing too crazy.

I know that Crutchfield gives you a ton of installation literature that's supposed to be pretty good, but I wanted to ask the minds of ATOT if:

1) Is there is anything special I need to know about installing car audio equipment?
2) Are there any special tools/materials/extras that I should consider getting (if I don't have them already)?
3) Any other advice/tips?

Thanks in advance!

 

[kornphlake]

Mounting speakers can be a pain, it seems like the holes never line up right, even with adapters, getting the door panels off can be a challenge as well, usually you have to pull the panel just right and it will come out really slick, if you're fighting the door panel you're not doing it right. Other than that, it's pretty straightforward, crutchfiled should give you the harnesses to make the installation as plug-n-play as possible.

A good crimper and some butt splices will make wiring the harnesses easier, you could solder the connections too, but it takes forever compared to crimping. Other than that all you really need are screw drivers, wrenches, pliers, etc.

 

[zerocool84]

When buying stuff from Crutchfield, it'll usually come with a how to manual and everything you need. Almost definitely need an adaptor for the head unit. Just input your car into where it tells you to and it'll tell you what fits in your car and what you need at.

 

[xanis]

Thanks for the help guys. I'm buying the $40 kit to keep the factory chimes and everything, so the new head unit should be fine (I would think).

 

[sleep]

I know that Crutchfield gives you a ton of installation literature that's supposed to be pretty good, but I wanted to ask the minds of ATOT if:

1) Is there is anything special I need to know about installing car audio equipment?
2) Are there any special tools/materials/extras that I should consider getting (if I don't have them already)?
3) Any other advice/tips?

Thanks in advance!

1 - just buy the right installation tools, brackets (adapter harness). it's pretty easy and not complicated.
2 - just buy the correct stereo bracket kit for your cavalier. it will look clean. with the right bracket kit you don't have to be cutting wires and it will look clean.
3 - have fun.

 

[Mermaidman]

Mounting speakers can be a pain . . .

Tell me about it! I had to completely remove the rear seat to access the rear speaker deck, and it was much more time-consuming than I expected.

As far as head units are concerned, I think we're fast approaching the extinction of aftermarket head units.

 

[kornphlake]

Tell me about it! I had to completely remove the rear seat to access the rear speaker deck, and it was much more time-consuming than I expected.

As far as head units are concerned, I think we're fast approaching the extinction of aftermarket head units.

I'd disagree, the sound quality of aftermarket equipment will always be superior than the equipment the OEMs use. Aftermarket equipment has superior EQ controls, better DACs, better DSP, RCA pre outs for connecting better amps, etc. That said the integration of equipment in newer cars makes it difficult or impossible to buy any head unit out of a catalog and expect the installation to be plug and play, in some cases it's nearly impossible to replace a factory headunit, as I recall in one case the BCM is located inside the factory stereo, if you remove the factory stereo your power door locks no longer work, the headlights stop working, the windshield wipers won't turn on... In addition to electronic challenges modern vehicles are so stylized in the interior that replacing the factory stereo controls with an aftermarket unit really destroys the aesthetics of the dash. I wouldn't say these challenges will drive the aftermarket to extinction, but it will severely affect what it will cost to upgrade a factory head unit.

 

[SearchMaster]

...That said the integration of equipment in newer cars makes it difficult or impossible to buy any head unit out of a catalog and expect the installation to be plug and play, in some cases it's nearly impossible to replace a factory headunit...

I think that is what he was referring to, not that the quality of OEM sound has gotten so good that aftermarket is unnecessary.

 

[kornphlake]

The aftermarket headunit manufacturers will find a way to adapt and continue to draw customers. Aftermarket performance manufacturers found a way after fuel injection was introduced, then EFI, now Hybrids have a small offering of aftermarket upgrades. It isn't as cheap to upgrade a modern vehicle as it was to upgrade a vintage muscle car, but the upgrades continue to be available because customers continue to demand aftermarket performance.

 

[Howard]

A good crimper and some butt splices will make wiring the harnesses easier, you could solder the connections too, but it takes forever compared to crimping. Other than that all you really need are screw drivers, wrenches, pliers, etc.

Crimping has its place, but for simple splicing I would have to say that soldering can be much more time-effective in many situations compared to crimping. For starters, you need to make sure that you know all the AWGs of the wiring or else you run the risk of buying the wrong parts, and once you have all the connectors you might lose them or spill them all over the place (all of which I've experienced). Even worse, if you're not particularly experienced with crimping and/or don't have the right tool, you run the risk of an unreliable long-term connection.

For me, a simple strip -> western union splice -> heatshrink works great.

 

[HeXen]

crutchfield is way too expensive. i get my gear literally half of their prices elsewhere. Their stupid how to manuals are just cheap copied and stapled pieces of paper with the absolute very noob basics that you can literally just google and get more info about.

in fact, just google your cars year, model and how to install audio system and you can find pics and detail info...not a piece of paper that says "make sure you place the + wire on the + battery terminal" basic noob type info

But as an example, i purchased a MTX elite amp that is $800 on Crutchfield for $399 free shipping from online bulk suppliers, same difference for all my gear...but Crutchfield has their own tech support for noobs, part of why their more expensive.

 

[kornphlake]

Crutchfield's prices are easy to beat, but if you're spending $130 on a head unit they give you a free wiring harness, and a free dash kit, last time I checked a wiring harness cost $15 plus shipping, and a dash kit cost $15 plus shipping for a very basic kit it seems like the kit I needed was more like $30. You might find the same head unit for $100, but I doubt you'll find the same head unit for half crutchfield's price, last time I bought a head unit I really wanted to shop anywhere but crutchfield but once I subtracted the cost of the dash kit and wiring harness their prices were actually cheaper than if I bought the same head unit somewhere else and purchased the install accessories separately. If you don't need a dash kit or wiring harness (ie speakers or amps) buy somewhere else, crutchfield is really good at getting you everything you need to install a stereo at a decent price, you might save a few dollars buying elsewhere but you're not going to get the same thing with the same warranty for half the price.