An existing Adrenaline Autosound client from Clayton, North Carolina brought his 2010 Dodge Challenger back for some audio upgrades. We originally installed a system in the vehicle when it was new, but he wanted to improve midrange and high-frequency detail and improve the imaging and staging for increased realism. We proposed some speaker upgrades and a change in signal processing to meet his goals.
Front Speakers
The Challenger offers provisions for a 6.5-inch woofer in the door and a 3.5-inch speaker in the dash. Since the client wanted more output from the system, we devised on a plan to install a set of Focal 165KRX3 speakers in the front of the vehicle. The woofer fit nicely into the factory door location, and we treated the area around it with a layer of Focal BAM sound-deadening material and a set of FAST foam speaker rings.
To accommodate the 3-inch midrange and tweeter, we made a custom mounting plate out of ABS plastic that would mount both drivers in the factory speaker location in the corners of the dash. To allow the output of the tweeter to be audible, we modified the factory grilles by drilling out about 100 of the dimples to match the opening for the midrange. The grilles still fit perfectly over the new speakers and maintain the factory look.
We installed a set of Focal 165KRC coaxial speakers in the rear of the vehicle to help increase the overall volume level of the system. We didn’t make any changes to the JL Audio 12W6 subwoofer that we installed back in 2010. With 600 Watts into the sub and new speakers all around, we met the client’s goals of being able to play his system LOUD!
Making It All Fit
We retained the JL Audio XD600/6 and XD600/1 amplifiers that we installed with the original system and replaced the JBL processor with a Mosconi 4to6DSP. We mounted the passive crossover networks behind the amplifiers in the storage compartment in the floor of the trunk. The processor sits above the passive networks for easy access.
Dodge Challenger Audio System Configuration
The dash speaker signals are divided between the passive crossovers from the 165KRX3 kit. Because the midrange and tweeter are close to each other, there was no need for time alignment. We tuned the remainder of the system to provide a realistic soundstage on the dash and smooth frequency response.
Client Loved The Audio Upgrades To His Dodge Challenger!
When the client returned to Adrenaline Audio in Clayton, North Carolina, to pick up his car, he was thrilled with the improvement. Everything was clearer and more detailed, and the system played as loud as he wanted.
If you are looking to improve the performance of your audio system, contact us here for more information.