A client from Los Gatos recently brought his 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder to California Car Sounds and Tint for a radio, amplifier and speaker upgrade. He wanted to modernize the vehicle’s technology while improving the accuracy and output capabilities of the sound system. The client was particular about limiting the modifications to the car to achieve his goals. Thankfully, our team is well-equipped to deliver outstanding audio system upgrades without cutting up our clients’ vehicles.
Radio Upgrade Adds Connectivity
The first step was to remove the factory radio to make way for a brand-new Pioneer DMH-W4600NEX multimedia receiver. This digital media receiver features a 6.8-inch capacitive-touch display and includes Android Audio and Apple CarPlay wireless connectivity. Previously, the client would have had to connect his phone to the radio to make phone calls, send text messages or get navigation directions using voice commands. Thanks to a Wi-Fi hotspot that’s built into the radio, these hands-free technologies work without him having to take his phone out of his pocket.
We mounted the new radio in the dash with a Porsche-specific dash kit and added an iBeam front and rear camera kit. The rear camera image displays on the screen as soon as the driver puts the transmission in reverse. The front camera, which helps avoid tall parking curbs, can be selected using an icon on the radio display.
Premium Amplifier and Speaker Upgrade Improves Audio Performance
The next step was to upgrade the audio system’s performance with a new amplifier and a set of high-end speakers. Our fabrication team mounted a Mosconi Gladen Pro 4|10 four-channel amplifier under the driver’s seat. The amplifier bolts to the four factory-provided fastener locations, so there was no need to modify the car’s floor to keep things secure. The amplifier is powered by a dedicated run of four-AWG power and ground cable to ensure it has all the voltage it needs.
The client chose a set of Morel Elate Titanium 603 speakers for this upgrade. This three-way speaker set includes a pair of passive crossover networks that divide the amp’s audio signals into appropriate bands for each speaker. We made a mounting bracket that sandwiches between the seat and the floor to secure the crossovers in front of the amp.
Ultra-Clean Speaker Installation
The last step was to install the new Morel speakers in the Porsche. The client requested that we run new speaker wires as he didn’t want any modifications made to the factory wiring. Our fabrication team ran two sets of speaker wires into each door and a third pair to the tweeter locations in the dash. Next, we milled a set of speaker mounting adapters that allow the 6.5-inch woofer and 3.5-inch dome midrange to be mounted in the doors using the factory speakers’ hardware. We added a set of FastRings foam acoustic coupling gaskets around the woofers to ensure their output would be fed into the vehicle’s interior and not allowed to echo around behind the door trim panel. The wires coming from the midrange speakers have a set of high-current connectors added, so that everything can be disconnected reliably should service be required.
San Jose’s Car Audio Upgrade Experts
We finished the installation by setting the amplifier’s sensitivity controls to provide a smooth and natural transition between the woofers and the midrange drivers. We further fine-tuned the system by adjusting the tweeter output level jumpers so that the system would have excellent detail without too much sibilance.
The client was thrilled with the upgrade he chose. He loved that he could use his phone with the new radio without having to plug it in. The new speakers rendered all of the music he enjoys with excellent clarity and detail. Thanks to the high-power amp, he can crank the volume, so the music sounds great even when the roof is down. If you’re interested in upgrading the technology or audio system performance in your vehicle, drop by California Car Sounds and Tint in Campbell and talk with one of our Product Specialists. We would be happy to design an audio upgrade package that will sound amazing. For more information, give us a call or send our team an e-mail using our website’s contact form.
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