I am sure like many of you right now, I finally have some time to get some projects done. I am still fortunate enough to be working but no travel and no family trips. So with the weather getting warm here in VA its finally time to properly install a decent system in my daily driver, a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado LT regular cab short bed. I bought this truck new in the summer of 2015 after searching for months for a regular cab short bed two wheel drive V8 Silverado. The truck has gotten some minor mods since new.
Full de-badging
Tinted windows
Added factory black rally stripes
Lowered rear 3"
22" factory LTZ wheels
Baer brake kit front/rear
Cat back exhaust
Cold air intake
Bed rug
Bak flip hard tonneau
Picture of truck for attention
The truck has had some audio since about 2017, however it was never really right. Part of the problem is that the Audicontrol DQXS that i had failed a couple of years ago and has since been replaced by just a Coustic XM6 that I had sitting on the shelf. Additionally the Tymphany LAT250s that I had installed behind the seats for midbass failed, as a result I have been operating on just a pair of Audible Physics NZ3s and a pair of JL 10W1V3s.
My goal was to keep the system fairly simple and with a reasonable budget. I have been into this hobby for almost 25 years and the one thing I have learned is that complicated systems can be complicated to own. I am going to document the cost with this install so that new people to this site and this hobby really see what it costs to build even a simple, decent sounding system. In order to keep costs down I am deliberately choosing some lower priced options that I think will still deliver equal performance to some of the higher priced names that everyone is familiar with.
Here is the list of planned equipment
Factory head unit (currently connected to JL cleansweep)
Dayton Audio DSP-408 with bluetooth dongleand wired remote - $200
Toro amps, MRx4, MRx2 and MR2 - $240 (for all 3)
Infinity Reference 275tx tweeters - $42
Infinity KAPPA 20MX midranges - $93.50
Dayton Audio RS180-4 midbass - 101.98
JL Audio 10W1V3-4 Subwoofers - 419.98
Subthump prefab enclosure/amp rack - 249.73 (delivered)
Total - 1347.19
My goal is to try to do the whole install for under $1500, I will document the cost of installation accessories as I go. These prices are all from online shopping, most from Amazon. I am not anti brick and mortar stores, in fact the JL 10W1V3s came from my local shop, however I like many of us enjoy the convenience and cost savings of shopping online.
I got a bit of a head start and already mounted the tweeters in the A pillars. I choose the Infinity Refernce 275tx based on cost ($42 on Amazon) and consistent 5 star reviews, they were also small enough to fit on the A pillars and allowed me to angle them. Here is the finished install of the tweeters on the A pillars.
I have most of the equipment on hand but still have some installation materials on the way. I will be using the prefab subthump box that has been in the truck since 2017 as I want to show that you dont have to be able to fabricate a custom enclosure to have a well built good sounding system. The box has performed well and I like that the center allows for amp mounting, I also dont really want to take the time to build a custom box and amp rack right now when I have one.
http://subthump.com/Chevrolet-GMC-Cu...Space-New.html