Mk2 Galaxy custom sound system install. Anyone done it?

[Brian of Nazareth]

Apart from my intro, this is my first post.

I'm looking to upgrade on the standard sound system in my rat Galaxy.
I've already upgraded the head unit and upgraded the door speakers and it made a difference, but not enough of a difference for the time I spend in the car and the mileage I do.
So I've recently had a cracking deal that I couldn't turn down on a pair of Kappa Infinity speakers, an under seat sub and a Vibe amp, so I thought, why not?!

The issues I have are that I use the entirety of the boot space and up to the folded up set of second row seats with all my tools and gubbins,
- so there's no space for sub's or amps there.
- Ironically, the under seat sub doesn't fit under the seats.
- The amp MAY be able to go under the drivers seat
- And the speakers that I have are going to be wired into the amp and so, without drilling into the 'A' pillar and door to pass the cable through into the door for the speaker, I will have to find another placement for them.

Has anyone else attempted a custom install or even seen what someone else has done and can share a few ideas?

Cheers 

[johnnyroper]

Could you fit the amp in rear quarter panel storage drivers side where the factory vcr used to go?
As for the speaker wiring I wonder if you could run it through existing door loom? The socket on A pillar is made up of several blocks all pushed in to the socket if OE speaker wires are in a block by themselves you could remove it and feed wires through. You might then be able to remove the contact from loom plug and open hole out to feed speaker wire through and in to door loom that way?

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Very good ideas there, that rear quarter panel would be handy for the amplifier.

Could the sub go somewhere behind the dashboard

[Brian of Nazareth]

Could you fit the amp in rear quarter panel storage drivers side where the factory vcr used to go?
As for the speaker wiring I wonder if you could run it through existing door loom? The socket on A pillar is made up of several blocks all pushed in to the socket if OE speaker wires are in a block by themselves you could remove it and feed wires through. You might then be able to remove the contact from loom plug and open hole out to feed speaker wire through and in to door loom that way?

Yeah. Good idea and I WAS considering exactly this to begin with and it's still an option. I was just hoping for another solution before going down that road because the door wiring loom plug in the 'A' pillar is a pain in the arse to get to, remove and refit and that's before I make a hole in it and feed the speaker cable through rendering the loom plug even more of a ball ache to remove next time.
Thanks for the thought. All options are appreciated.

[/quote]

Very good ideas there, that rear quarter panel would be handy for the amplifier.

Could the sub go somewhere behind the dashboard

It could go there, yeah. I was hoping not to run cables all the way to the back of the car to run them all the way forward again, but it might just have to come to that.

Thanks so far for the ideas. Keep them coming, all are appreciated.

I was considering making the tweeter hole on the top of the dash bigger to accommodate the speakers. From the bits I've removed and got my hand inside, it may just work.
I'll just have to get the speedo pod out and see if there's anything much in the way.

I have actually considered mounting the under seat powered sub and the amp on the headlining. All be it reinforced, first

[SirDavidAlhambra]

I wonder if you could even do something with the glovebox area... lots of space there and the glovebox isnââ,¬â,,¢t much use anyway really

[Brian of Nazareth]

I had looked at that option and as you say, the glovebox is a bit useless. But there's not a lot of space behind it either.
Its nuts. In a car so big, I'm so limited for areas to mount sound system components 

[johnnyroper]

The top glove boxââ,¬â,,¢s could provide some space whether itââ,¬â,,¢s big enough for your stuff I donââ,¬â,,¢t know.

On my old one I used the middle top box for the VW single din cd changer,I kept lid as an opener but you could always mount equipment and then just use the lid as a cover rather than having it hinged.

[Brian of Nazareth]

But that means I'd have to get all my crap out of them   

Not a bad idea, actually. I mean, they aren't deep enough at the moment, but I suppose I could MAKE them deep enough.
Just have to offer the amp to the space and see if the length and width will go when I get in

[daddyfixit]

space under the seats for amps??

[Brian of Nazareth]

Yeah. The amp could go under the driver seat, actually. I think it'll have to, as it won't go in the dash top boxes unfortunately.

Still working on where the best placements for everything are when I get a chance, in between work and the kids 

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Could you stick the amp somewhere in the engine bay

[Brian of Nazareth]

Probably could, actually. Air box? Probably keep it nice and cool, too

[Mirez]

An amp wont last long in the engine bay! Way too much heat soak and I've never seen a weather sealed amp either!

Mines mounted under the drivers seat, quite a bit of spare room once the seat and the tray is out of the way.

[Brian of Nazareth]

I think we were both joking, Bert. Well........ I was, anyway 

Yeah, I think the space under the drivers seat is the winner for the amp

[SirDavidAlhambra]

But in the summer he might get a hot bum if he turns it up loud and the amp gets hot

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Also how loud is this hifi please

[Brian of Nazareth]

My arse is hot enough as it is, even if I do say so myself.
I have no idea how loud it'll be and I have no interest in how loud it will go, its all about clarity for me

[SirDavidAlhambra]

They say the pros test the audio quality by listening to fleetwood Mac

[Brian of Nazareth]

I'd have to say Floyd, but that's not to say Fleetwood Mac won't be on my mp3 stick 

[pillboxhunter]

So you're going to spend all that hard work on a custom sound install and then listen to crapy mp3s? Should be listening to flacs, preferably 24bit ones!

[Brian of Nazareth]

Well, OK. The majority of my music is in flac, but some still are in mp3.
It's just easier to say mp3 than explain what the hell flac format is to a lot of people 

[Jakehands]

If your looking for a good mix of bass and treble i suggest using sierra leone in for the kill remix. The treble is brilliant and bass is better

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Nice choice. Iââ,¬â,,¢d also recommend "Sultans of Swing" from Dire Straits, Dire Straits [1978].

Also it would be fun to sit on the seat during a THX sound test at full volume.

[Brian of Nazareth]

Can't seem to find it on Youpube or Spotify.
Can see the old Skrillex and Skream mixes, but not Sierra Leone 

[Brian of Nazareth]

I do like the Dire Straits, but my favourite would have to be Private Investigations 

[SirDavidAlhambra]

I quite like listening to ââ,¬Å"Mama said knock you outââ,¬Â by LL Cool J (https://youtu.be/vimZj8HW0Kg) to test a hifi system although I once got shouted at by an angry mum who came out into the street when I was testing my car hifi late at night.

[Brian of Nazareth]

Yeah. That's happened to me before, too!