HEY guys

This is a little off subject but I ordered part of my strero from www.000-audio.com
Word of advise dont buy from them. I think i am about ready to get the big screwjob. Have called about 5 times to get ups tracking# and they gave me a comp;etly bogus number. They cant even tell when they shipped the items. They have been blowing me off for 10 days. Sorry for length but just a little warning about this site. Dennis


[This message has been edited by lightning (edited 01-05-2000).]

 

Does anyone have brand/model suggestions for replacement of the (4)5 x 7 speakers in the doors and back? (ie: Cerwin Vega,Clarion,Pioneer,etc.)

Thanks!

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Rich
1999.5 SVT Lightning - Red. Super Chip. K&N Filter. Viper Alarm w/remote start, clear corners, tow package, cd changer, cover, MTX Thunderform w/ 2 10" MTX 200w subs. 5-channel 300w Clarion amp., Muth signal mirrors, etc. Build #2755
TampaSVT@Tampabay.rr.com

http://home.tampabay.rr.com/tampasvt/images/Light21.jpg
1999.5 Expedition XLT

 

Everyone;

I called MTX yesterday after searching their website for the F-150 standard cab Thunderform box. Guess what? They updated the site today. See:http://www.mtxaudio.com/caraudio/f150regcab.cfm
The box now has model 6000 subs installed, instead of the 5000 series pictured above.
There is no amplified version though the website indicates there is. And, I think we probably want the "Gray" instead of "Charcoal" box. You can't buy direct from MTX. They recommended their Model RT2100 amp (2 channel bridged to 300 watts) for the subs. This amp accepts high level inputs (from rear speaker wires). The Circuit City in my area has the amp for $150, but they don't have a clue on the Thunderform box. I have to wait till tomorrow when the manager is in to see if they can order it for me.
Crutchfield also couln't help on the Thunderform box, but they did tell me if I changed head units, even to another Clarion unit, I would have to purchase another CD changer as the OEM stuff communicates differently than the aftermarket stuff.

Happy Motoring

Lightning Bob

 

L Bob Thanks for the info!
Tom

 

Rich,

That looks great.

I installed TWO 8" bazooka tubes and then a phoenix gold 500 watt amp under the passenger seat, Kenwood excelon 5x7's in the rear and in the doors I went with Diamond 6.5's with directional tweeters (these were almost as much as the amp, but they sound awesome). I had them dynamat everything. This was a great improvement over the stock. I was going to go with the thunderforms but wanted to keep the little bit of storage I had behind the seat.

Good Luck!!

ROB

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99.5 Red Lightning #1652
Superchip, 13.614 1/4 @ 103.17 mph
Red Rhino Liner

 

blueblood (Tom): I'm using the 10" metal Eclipse subs (8810) you asked about. I bought two and had them installed into custom covered boxes. Each sub fires directly into the back of an outboard seat at about a 15 degree angle.

I had them change out the factory 5x7's with 2 pairs of Eclipse 8973's. Head unit is an Eclipse 7001.

Powering this whole mess is an MTX 5400X (800 W). The amp is a 5 channel which I selected due to space considerations. I didn't want to waste more space with multi-amps. Part of the head unit fits under the passenger seat, so I didn't have that area available to use.

I lost the dinky rear storage bin, but the tunes more than made up for it. Installer mounted the amp on the rear ledge at the floor, and the CD changer (Eclipse 5083 8-disc) is mounted on the back wall right behind the flip-down console.

I've noticed the 7001 doesn't seem to have as good of FM reception as the factory unit (or other aftermarket units I own), as I get some occasional static that I don't experience in my other vehicles. It's a pretty minor and "every so often" problem, but that's about the only negative thing I can think of about the system. I need to pull out the head unit and see if maybe the antenna wire has come a little loose, but it's such an occasional problem I never remember it when I'm at home with some free time.

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Roger Walker
Black 99.5 #1469
Built: 20-May-99
NLOC: 0307

 

Thanks for the input Roger! do you think those subs will work in the MTX box? How do they sound in your truck? I have had nothing but bad luck with Eclips Head units I have an 88 GT Conv. with a very big system ( no back seat) and Saleen suspension,it should not effect the cd player at all.....but that damn thing skips all the time and my cds come out real hot. It has gone back for repair only after a tape deck and another cd player were returned. I will never buy another. I'm going back to Alpine. I wish you luck with yours. By the way how hard did they hit you for the enclosure?
Tom

[This message has been edited by blue blood (edited 01-06-2000).]

 

blueblood (Tom): I honestly can't really say how they'd sound in the MTX box, sorry. I've never heard the MTX boxes, but the 10" subs kick some major tail. If memory serves me correctly, they need .43 or .45 cubic feet of enclosure? Does that sound right?

On the Eclipse stuff, these are the 1st Eclipse components I've owned, and other than the aforementioned FM fade, it's worked fine.

It does sound great tho -- bass is crisp and clean; hits very hard even though the subs are only turned up 1/2 way in the setup. I'm not much for the 'boom-boom' alot of the kids like...to each their own.

Can't remember offhand how much they charged for the install (it was a package deal and the paperwork is filed away). It was done 6 months ago so the memory's pretty fuzzy about all the individual prices. I'll see if I can dig it out over the weekend if you're interested.

Anyways, I'll be the very first to admit I'm not an expert in this sort of stuff. I just went to the guy I normally deal with, and we put this package together. I was going to go with a different head unit, but the visual shock value of the 7001 won me over (DVD, GPS capable, screen retracts into dash, etc.). The installed system sounds clean, gets (more than) loud enough, and I'm a happy camper. Good luck on whatever you end up with!



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Roger Walker
Black 99.5 #1469
Built: 20-May-99
NLOC: 0307

 

Roger: that sounds like a real nice setup. The price you paid must be worth it. Those Eclipse subs are supposed to be sweet. I have 2 Rockford Punch 150 amps in my Mustang running 4-10" Orion subs,(the former back seat area is like a parcel shelf) and I am told that 2 Eclipses will make them feel ashamed to be taking up that much space! Alpine has a head unit I saw that has a screen that shoots out then flips up for DVD or GPS also. I like it but I'm not sure if I want it or not. The specs for the MTX box are 1.8 cu. ft. total as per their web site, I will run it thru the dealers ears and see what he has to say. Thanks! Tom


[This message has been edited by blue blood (edited 01-07-2000).]

 

Blueblood [Tom]; small world I guess. I've got a 92 Hatch with a 12" Orion mounted into the hole the spare would normally be stowed. I changed the car over to 5-lug (M-2300K conversion), so the existing spare wouldn't fit, and I figured what the h... It's running a couple of Kenwood amps (140 some-odd watts for just the sub and 320 for the rest). Anyways, I'm not much upto speed on audio gear and I can't remember all the other stuff (some is 8 yrs old).

One thing my installer told me a awhile back is that too much (box) room can be just as bad as not enough, so you may want to check with your sources to see if that applies in this case. Again, I know zilch about this stuff, other than rotate the volume <g>...

Good luck. The metal Eclipse subs _do_ have a nice visual effect (even if they're hidden behind the seats).

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Roger Walker
Black 99.5 #1469
Built: 20-May-99
NLOC: 0307

 

TampaBay:

It might be worthwhile to check out the DEI component speakers. They're priced pretty reasonably (around $200)and sound a lot better than the price would suggest. If you're itching to spend more, try the a/d/s/ 336px 6.5" component set (around $2000--ouch!) or the Dynaudio System 220 2 way component set. In my experience, the a/d/s/ seems to be easier to drive with less power. The Dynaudios are great but require a lot of power to drive. Given the space constraints of the Lightning, Dynaudios might not be the ideal choice as you would be needing more amps.

One thing you might want to look into is using kickpanel pods to mount the mids and tweeters of a three way set (say, the dynaudio System 340 or the DEI Studio 3 ways) and put in the woofer in the doors. The doors will take up to a 8 inch woofer with little difficulty. Putting the speakers in the kickpanels give you a more ideal location for the highs and mids (closer to the ideal of equal pathlengths between speakers)than putting the speakers in the doors. It will do wonders for imaging and your soundstage!

You can get the a/d/s/ and Dynaudio speakers from Peter Lufrano at The Autophile ( http://www.theautophile.com ). The DEIs can be purchased from MMXpress ( http://www.mmxpress.com ). Had perfect results with purchasing from both sources.

On a separate note, if the Lightning is equipped with the Mach Audio option, the cd changer it comes with is made by Clarion, at least it used to be in the 97 model. MMXpress and The Autophile both carry patches to allow you to hook up aftermarket changers to the stock head unit.

Hope that helps.

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Thunder
rainmaker@attglobal.net

Black 97 Expedition EB 5.4L 4WD

Mods: Lightning Wheels, Pirelli Scorpion Zero 285/55/18, K&N Gen II Kit, JET Chip

Audio: McIntosh MX406, McIntosh MCD4000, Zapco SX-SL, Zapco EQ30, Genesis Monoblocks (3), Genesis Dual Mono, Dynaudio System 340, Dynaudio System 220, JL Audio Stealthbox


[This message has been edited by Thunder (edited 01-09-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Thunder (edited 01-09-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Thunder (edited 01-09-2000).]

 

Thunder:

I finally chose Polk DX7's. 3-way, 130w. 5 x 7's. They sound great. Only $160.00 a pair. Thanks for the info.


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Rich
1999.5 SVT Lightning - Red. Super Chip. K&N Filter. Viper Alarm w/remote start, clear corners, tow package, cd changer, cover, MTX Thunderform w/ 2 10" MTX 200w subs. 5-channel 300w Clarion amp., Polk Audio 3-way, 130w DX 7's, Muth signal mirrors, etc. Build #2755
TampaSVT@Tampabay.rr.com

http://home.tampabay.rr.com/tampasvt/images/Light21.jpg
1999.5 Expedition XLT

 

I really like your truck. I like what you did With it. The MTX Thunderform is awesome. I plan on getting a lightning of my own. When I first saw
Lightnings I thought they were cool and even more now that I saw
yours!!