A client from Portland, Pennsylvania, dropped by Mobile Edge almost a year ago to ask about upgrading the stereo in his Honda Accord. The client had a particular requirement that the new radio would have smartphone integration features and the ability to play compact discs. We picked out an amplifier, speakers and a subwoofer to accompany the radio to create a fantastic sound system.
Unique Radio Upgrade Process
Our technicians made sure the Sony radio was installed properly and functioned as intended.
The client chose a specific radio model, knowing that the product’s availability was challenging. However, in the months that passed while waiting, he traded his Accord in on a new car. He didn’t want to upgrade the sound system in the new vehicle but thought it would be great to install the system we had designed in his wife’s Honda Civic. So he decided to forego the original radio plan in favor of a Sony SAX-AX7000 multimedia receiver.
We worked with Metra Electronics to interface the radio into the Civic Si’s factory backup camera and the blind-spot camera built into the passenger-side mirror. This process required special software for the interface module but ultimately functioned perfectly. For example, when the right turn signal is activated, the image from the side mirror camera is displayed on the radio. Likewise, the rear camera shows when the transmission is in reverse.
Audison and Hertz Audio System Upgrade
To deliver the best sound possible from the new radio, we started by upgrading the front door speakers with a set of Audison APK 165 Ω2 speakers. This low-impedance, 6.5-inch component speaker set was mounted in the stock locations and fed by an Audison AP F 8.9 bit amplifier. The low impedance allows the amp to produce additional power to ensure that the system will play clearly at high volume levels. Next, we installed a set of APX6.5 coaxial speakers in the rear parcel shelf locations.
While we had the interior trim panels off, we treated the bare metal with a layer of SoundShield SSD1 damping material. This three-layer deadening helps to keep the car quiet, so it’s easier to hear the music. We also treated the rear parcel shelf with another sheet of SSD1.
Our team fabricated one of our trademark steel amplifier mounting brackets to secure the amp under the driver seat. The custom bent and welded steel bracket was painted with corrosion-resistant paint and left to dry while we ran the wiring to the battery, radio, speakers and subwoofer in the trunk.
We mounted a 12-inch Hertz Cento CS 300 S4 subwoofer in a sealed enclosure in the trunk for bass. The subwoofer is bridged to a pair of channels on the amp and will receive up to 300 watts.
The last step was to set the crossovers in the amplifier’s integrated digital signal processor. Finally, we used our Audison Bit Tune processor to calibrate the equalizer and signal delay settings to create a realistic listening experience in the car.
Pennsylvania’s Best Car Audio Upgrades
The client and his wife returned to Mobile Edge to check out the stereo in their Civic. They loved the way it sounded and were thrilled with the technology upgrade afforded by the new Sony multimedia receiver. If your car or truck needs a boost in the audio department, drop by our store in Lehighton. If you can’t make it here during regular business hours, give us a call or click the red icon below to send our team an e-mail.
