A client of ours from here in Campbell dropped into California Car Sounds and Tint to talk about a Yamaha Drive2 stereo system upgrade. A while back we helped resolve some audio system issues in his twin-turbo GMC Denali. As soon as he bought this new golf cart, he knew exactly where to take for a sound system.
Audio System Design
To say that this client likes his toys may be an understatement. His request for the Yamaha Drive2 stereo was for it to be able to produce “Ghetto Bass” while looking cool and being easy to use. The translation – we were going to need lots of power, a big subwoofer and lots of speakers to make this sound system perform the way he wants.
We had a good look at the cart and made a few measurements before we settled on a final design for the system. The focus would be a single 12-inch JL Audio subwoofer in a custom-fabricated enclosure. A speaker bar from WetSounds, a JL Audio Bluetooth streaming controller, and a JL Audio three-channel amp would round out the audio components. The client gave us the thumbs-up to proceed with the project.
JL Audio Subwoofer Enclosure Fabrication
Our lead fabricator Aaron designed and built a sealed enclosure for a single JL Audio 12TW3-D4 subwoofer using a construction method known as Stack-Fab. To maximize the available space, the five-sided shape of the enclosure was created using 25 layers of 3/4-inch MDF. The layers are glued together to form the enclosure. Aaron included two thick braces in the enclosure for added reinforcement.
The interior of the enclosure is coated with fiberglass resin to ensure it is completely airtight. Using 1/4-inch MDF, the JL Audio logo and four accent stripes were added to the top of the enclosure for a little extra style. We finished by painting the enclosure with truck bedliner to seal and protect it.
Yamaha Drive2 Stereo System Power Delivery
Having worked with this client before, we knew that the system was going to need to play for hours without interruption. Yamaha was kind enough to leave two empty battery locations under the seat. We installed a pair of 6-volt Interstate GC2 Deep Cycle Extreme batteries and wired them in series to power the 12V audio system. A dedicated Pro Sport 6 battery charger mounted above the electric motor allows the client to keep the stand-alone electrical system for the stereo charged up.
To keep up with the prodigious output from the subwoofer, we mounted a Wet Sounds Stealth 10 Core speaker bar to the underside of the roof at the front of the cart. The Stealth 10 includes a total of 10 3-inch speakers and gets incredibly loud!
System Amplifier and Signal Source
We created a control panel for the JL Audio MBT-CRX Bluetooth receiver, RBC-1 remote level control and a master on/off switch for the sound system. The panel extends the shape of the ‘center console’ for a factory-built look.
A JL Audio MX600.3 three-channel amplifier provides power to the speakers and sub. Two channels feed up to 75 watts each to the speaker bar while the third channel provides up to 400 watts to the JL Audio subwoofer. All of the wiring for the system is as concealed as possible. We ran the speaker wires for the overhead sound bar through the roof tubing and secured everything with cloth tesa tape.
The Loudest Cart on the Links
With the system installation complete and everything tuned properly, we drove the cart outside and parked it on the other side of our lot. Cranked up, not only was it easily audible and crystal clear, but many of our neighboring companies reported that it sounded great IN their stores as well. We’ll call that a success.
The client returned to California Car Sounds and Tint to pick up his cart and hear the system for the first time. He loved it! Tons of bass, lots of output and perfect styling – just what he wanted! If you are looking for a sound system for your golf cart, drop in and see us. You can reach us by phone or by e-mail for more information about any of our products or services.
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