Do you have a stereo that you have to turn all the
way up when the windows are rolled down? Or maybe you still have
that stock AM radio with one speaker? Maybe you have nothing but
you're in the market for one. Even if your rig is strictly for the
trail and the body has seen better days, there's no reason not to
have a decent sounding stereo system. Music makes those long trips
more enjoyable. What ever your situation is, you may want to check
out this system from Crutchfield. Our old stereo was dead so we
needed something and we were looking for a stereo that would sound
nice.
Is this similar to what you have? Crutchfield can help you
upgrade your old GM 8-track player into a concert
hall.
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When we first looked for a stereo system, we
wanted a reputable and knowledgeable place that we could count on.
We also wanted to perform the installation ourselves and also be
able to ask for assistance if we needed it. Nothing is more
frustrating than having installation problems and nobody to
contact. Crutchfield seemed to fit the bill because of their
outstanding service and technical support. If you haven't seen what
Crutchfield has to offer you may want to order a catalog or browse
their web site. From car stereos to home electronics Crutchfield
has everything. Their prices are good and they usually have
everything in stock to ensure quick delivery of all orders.
A call was made to Crutchfield. We advised them we
were looking for a CD player. This was essential since being on the
trail would mean we would be away from any AM-FM reception. We also
wanted something that could take the vibration from a rough trail.
All CD players will skip if a violent jolt is encountered. It would
be perfect to have something that wouldn't skip when a bumpy trail
was taken. The last thing is we requested was something that
sounded great when cranked up. Crutchfield knew exactly what we
needed. They suggested the following system:
Panasonic G-Tech
CQ-DPG615
Infinity 6.5" component
speakers (2 sets) 610cs
10" Bazooka RS series
subwoofer RS10A-hp
Q-Forms speaker
panels
Wiring
harness
Trim
plate
Car stereo starter
kit
Crutchfield suggested this Panasonic G-Tech model which has 10
seconds of anti-shock memory.
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The Panasonic G-Tech is an AM-FM stereo with a CD
player. The first thing that stands out is the power. 40 watt x 4
is plenty of power for the mid and high range. If more power is
your cup of tea, an amp could easily be added. The greatest thing
about this head unit is the 10-second anti-shock buffer. This is
perfect for anyone who is a committed all-terrain off-roader, or a
commuter traveling potholed city streets. The built-in 10-second
anti-shock memory keeps the Panasonic playing without a skip no
matter where you drive! This is ideal for any off-road excursion.
At this time, no other CD player offers a buffer this large.
Another nice feature is the remote for those back seat drivers who
constantly complain about the music selection. It also features CD
changer capability and a detachable faceplate for security.
Component speakers from Infinity provide a great sound due to
the separate tweeters / woofers and adjustable
crossover.
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The mounts and tweeters have a "ball joint" design. This lets
you aim the tweeters for optimum sound
performance.
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For optimum sound, component speakers usually work
the best. Crutchfield recommended 2 pairs of 6.5" Infinity's. These
speakers have the mid woofers and tweeters separate. With this
configuration, you can choose different mounting locations of the
mids and tweeters for perfect sound quality. They also have an
external crossover that separates the speakers. The crossover has
two settings for the tweeters. The tweeters have a flush or surface
mount option. You can also aim the tweeters for a high range sound.
The Infinity speakers can handle up to 90 watts.
Want people to think a T-rex is coming??? This 10" Bazooka has
a built in 150 watt amp and produces tremendous
bass.
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Now for thump, this requires some bass. We wanted
something that you could feel if you turned it up. This is a
personal preference and is not necessary if you're on a tight
budget. Easy installation was first on our list. We also wanted
something had a built in amp and didn't take much room. The Bazooka
10" RS series seemed like a good choice for our application. This
subwoofer has a built amp and is a cinch to wire. Just bring over
the power and the output from the stereo and you're done. The
RS10A-hp sub has 150 watts of power, which is more than enough for
us.
These pods called "Q-Forms" house the speakers at the kick
panel. Notice the separate mounting location for the
tweeters.
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Our Blazer doesn't have the best
locations for speakers. The ones in the dash just plain stink due
to their small and puny size. If you mount the speakers in the
doors, you block most of the sound from reaching your ears. An
option we've heard about with good results is Q-forms kick panel
pods. These will fit up to a 6.5" speaker and have a separate pod
for tweeters. The Q-Form panels actually aim the speakers towards
the driver/passenger for better sound. They come with poly-fill
stuffing for optimum performance and they can be ordered in many
colors. We ordered blue and assumed the worst for color matching.
To our surprise, these matched the factory color exactly. With the
forms mounted, you can't tell it's aftermarket.
We also ordered the wiring harness, face plate trim, and a car
stereo starter kit. This makes the installation simple and easy to
do by yourself.
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To make this a simple task and to
avoid flying sparks, a car stereo starter kit was ordered. The
Crutchfield car stereo starter kit gives you the Master Sheet
instructions for your specific vehicle (provided they're
available), and the Crutchfield Guide to Car Stereo Installation.
If you make a car stereo purchase from Crutchfield within 30 days,
the cost of the starter kit will be credited toward your purchase.
This makes the installation and wire splicing easy. You can also
get a harness that will plug into your stock harness. A front
faceplate was also ordered to make a perfect fit around the head
unit. With most vehicles, Crutchfield will include the harness and
trim plate at no charge. Installation:
The Q-Forms and speakers are installed in the front kick
panel. Notice the crossover mounted on the
firewall.
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We first started with the speaker
installation. The front speakers and Q-Forms are put together. A
large hole for the 6.5" speakers was made in the forms. This was
done with a compass and a dremel tool but other methods can be
used. The small hole for the tweeter was also cut with the dremel.
The Infinity speakers were then installed in the Q-Forms. The
Q-Forms are mounted on the existing kick panel and the included
poly fill was placed behind the speaker. The tweeter and woofer
were connected to the crossover. The crossover should be placed
close to the speakers so we mounted it on the
firewall.
The rear speakers are installed. The stock ashtrays were
removed and the tweeters are mounted there.
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The rear speakers were next. We
had some old speakers mounted in the side below the factory
ashtrays. The speakers were removed and the hole was enlarged to
make room for the Infinity's. Since nobody smokes, the stock
ashtrays were removed and a square piece of plastic was made to
cover the ashtray hole. A hole was cut in the plastic for the
tweeters. The tweeters were then mounted. Speaker wire was run from
the speakers to the stereo location. The wire and both speakers
were hooked up to the crossover and the crossover was placed inside
the panel with Velcro. The woofer was then installed.
To save room, the Bazooka is mounted on the fender well. This
is easily done with the mounting hardware and straps
provided.
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Next came the large Bazooka. We
were hoping it would fit on top of the wheel well but the rear seat
was in the way so it had to be mounted on the inclined part of the
rear wheel well. The Bazooka included the mounting hardware and
straps to secure it. The sub was then grounded and a single RCA
cable was run to the stereo location. The RCA will eventually be
hooked to the stereos sub output. The power lead was hooked
directly to the battery with the included fuse. The fuse was
installed close to the battery to provide protection.
If you're vehicle is older, you may have to cut the dash a
little to make the DIN stereo fit.
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The face plate and stereo head unit
installed.
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Luckily, the hole for the DIN stereo unit was
already there. Some plastic did have to be cut for the new trim
plate. If you still have the stock stereo, you may have to cut some
metal. A dremel, cut off wheel, or a Sawzall can be used for this.
Once the hole is cut, the trim plate is installed and the sleeve is
inserted. The sleeve has small metal tabs that are bent to secure
the sleeve. The wires were connected next. The Crutchfield wiring
harness makes it a breeze. A 12 volt test light really helps find
the correct power wires. After the power and speaker wires were
hooked up, the stereo was tested to make sure all connections were
correct. With everything working ok, the Panasonic is inserted in
the sleeve. The rear support is then secured to the stereo.
The Panasonic also comes with this tiny remote. The remote is
eventually mounted on the front of the dash with
velcro.
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After the installation the system was powered
on and a CD was tested. Everything worked without any glitches.
Some final adjustments were made and what a difference between the
old and new system. There's no comparison between the two. The new
component speakers and Bazooka sub-woofer really made a difference.
We even did a test drive and tried to jolt the system but as
expected, we couldn't make the CD skip. We are now looking forward
to the rough trails and being able to enjoy the music. If something
ever goes wrong in the future, it's nice to know Crutchfield is
there. Their 26 years of experience give you advantages you just
can't find anywhere else. Complete product and how-to buy
information, hard to find brands, fast economical shipping, and
free technical support for life — the complete list adds up
to unbeatable value.
Free Shipping:
Crutchfield offers free shipping through their referral program
with any purchase of $100 or more. To get the free shipping, just
call the sales number (1-888-955-6000) and give account number
19054567 as a referral and you will get free shipping. You can also
do this online by entering 19054567 in the "special messages" box
on the checkout form and the shipping will be deducted from the
total.
Dept. OFRD
1 Crutchfield Park
Charlottesville VA 22911
www.crutchfield.com
-Sales:
1-888-955-6000 (available 16 hours a day, 7 days a week)
-Catalog request number:
1-800-955-9009
-Customer Service:
1-800-955-9091 (available 16 hours a day, 7 days a week):
-Tech Support available to customers for life from 8am EST to 12
midnight EST, 7 days a week
Questions or
comments about this page should be directed to chevy@off-road.com
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