Audio Options?
 

We here at The Speakerbox have been going over our customers white FRS audio system. We are adding some things, but we were curious to see what other FRS/BRZ owners are wanting out of their interior sound systems?

What do you all love about the OEM sound system?

What do you all hate about the OEM sound system?

Personally I like the fact it comes with a 3-way component set up front. However, I will be changing everything out when I have the chance. I'll run a 3-way active component set with no rear fill, and a sub in the spare tire area.

What I don't like about the OEM system is no sat radio standard. I don't understand why it doesnt come with it since the radio has the capability.

The BRZ deck is actually pretty nice for a stock system, and I'm intrigued by the mounting locations for the speakers. The trunk is pretty small, and there's no way that amps are getting mounted under the seats, so a spare tire delete is probably going to be common.

The XM satellite radio, iPod controls, and stock Navigation are all appreciated, although I may have gone with Sirius if I had a choice.

The touch response is a bit slow, but not horrible, and it takes awhile to search/scan an iPod. The sound quality is decent, but the bass is extremely 'boomy' and severely under-powered. I have the EQ tuned to drop almost all the bass out, currently.

Here's the setup I'm going to try first:

Stock deck
Audiocontrol EQS
1x JL 300/4
1x JL a1800 (1000w mono)
1x Morel Hybrid Ovation 6 3way
2x Focal P 25 DB (10")
Stinger 8000 series RCAs and a 1 farad capacitor

I'm leaving the rear speakers in, driven by the stereo. If there are any issues with the deck, I'll probably install a Pioneer AVH-P8400BH.

Thanks for the input!

Just playing around on our customers FRS, the factory system seems "lacking" and underpowered as stated above.

I have the AVH8400BH in my car (Neon SRT4) and I absolutely love it. Definitely the best double din out right now, IMO.

Yeah, I had originally planned on buying an Asphalt 6mt FR-S, but got the SWP BRZ instead. If I had gotten the Scion, the Pioneer deck was definitely going in. The Subie deck, however, is passable, if not optimal.

EDIT: I'm going with the amps that I took out of my Maxima to save on costs. The a1800 is a bit long, but has so much power to spare that it shouldn't heat up too much. This is important because I'm trying to keep the trunk floor stock. If I have to, I'll build out a custom hinged floor with a fan venting into the trunk.

I'd ove to see a box that can hold a 12 and fit in the corner of the trunk, 0.8 - 1.0 cuft. I realize the driver will have to on a pretty aggressive angle but that's what I'm looking for.

As for the system I'll be running, I'm... frugal. I've got a JL slash 500 and e6450 both were bought used, a set of ID OEM's, morel tweets again I bought used, and an alpine 9887. I run the 6450 bridged down to four channels, and use the active crossovers and the time alignment in the 9887.

Any chance you can design a kit that will replace all the speakers and possibly add a new amp without ripping the whole thing up? I'm not sure that's practical -- but I'ld be inclined to keep the head unit and just upgrade the power and speakers.

Upgraded speakers/amps with focus on OEM HU integration and lightweight. On the BRZ I don't want to lose the navigation system. Extensive Neo woofers and lightweight high efficiency amps tucked away where no one can see.

At the max, would like to see only 50lbs of audio equipment. Yes I know this might cost more but if you guys can come through with a staged package I'm sure it would sell.

Ideal setup:

6.5" Components in the front
200w speaker amp
8" woofer in the trunk w/ custom box to fit on side of trunk
4-500w sub amp

If I messed with the stereo I would want to replace the front speakers, install amplifiers, and add a subwoofer, while minimizing the amount of space used for the install. My home stereo is just an old pair of NHT 2.9 speakers and a Krell amplifier, so if the low-end is simply passable and rolls off I can live with it. My main interest would be an install including amplifiers and a small subwoofer that uses as little storage space as possible.

OK, here's what I removed from my old car and plan to eventually put in my FRS:

Head Unit: JVC KW-AVX740

Front Speakers: RD Audio Imperial (custom) 3-Way components run active

Sub: Right now an RD Audio Sonance 12" Sub (may go for 2 8's instead)

Amps:
RD Audio 160.2 powering 6.5's
RD Audio 100.4 powering 4's and tweeters
RD Audio 1000.1D powering the sub (s)

Processing: JBL MS-8

I'm thinking of putting the sub in the spare tire area (fiberglass box) and building a false floor to mount the amps & MS-8, keeping the weight low...hopefully.

Since a lot of people will want to keep the weight down it might be a viable option to develop some sort of all-in prefab polyester rack that includes amps/processing and can be mounted in one go for example underneath the rear deck or in the spare tire well. Maybe even combined with a sub enclosure and sub as well. You could market it as an easy install and optimized for weight.

What size are the door and dash speakers?

This would be greatly appreciated along with all OEM speaker sizes. Someone posted their "guesses" a while back but some verified sizes would be awesome.

If I decided to change it all?

Rear speakers would be removed and, space permitting, 8" subs would be installed between the sheet metal and interior panels infinite baffle. Front stage would go three way active HAT or Morel, p99rs deck, McIntosh amps, grounds switched to match power feed awg and alt charge wire upgraded also, etc.