My LS Build log

[CleanLS 0]

Here is the build log of the setup in my Lincoln LS. Everything was done at Audio Advisors in West Palm Beach, Fl. Been dealing with them for about 10 years now. This is the third vehicle I've done with them. Big thanks to JC, Tom Mangs and Bob Mercer for eveything.

How she was at birth, at the dealership.

First part of the make over begining at Audio Advisors. Bob begining work

The factory head unit

Now with the Alpine IVA-W205. They fabricated the trim panel in house. Not sure what kit they used to hold the double din. I didn't purchase one, so I'm assuming they made something to hold it in place

iPod interface cable running under the center console, exiting inside the arm rest compartment. iPod resides sunggly in there

Door with panel removed, Dynamat added

Hole for the factory 5x7 speaker. Notice the bracket around the opening. JL Audio did not have the C5 5x7's ready for shipping just yet to Audio Advisors. So we went with a C5 6.5 model in it's place. Also look inside and you'll see a black Dynazorb pad.

JL Audio C5 6.5 coaxial, one of four. There is one in each door.

Factory trunk

Enclosure for the 13W6. The original plan was to have a single port running across the top of the subwoofer. We later found that we didn't have the clearance. I expressed to JC that I didn't like the look of a single port off to one side of the sub (Hence why I wanted one going across the top). Doesn't look symetrical, a little tacky. So JC put in a call to JL Audio and they sent the specs for a dual square ported enclosure, for a nice even look. Built to JL spec, slightly modified with dual square ports vs single slot port

Trim panel mounted to enclosure to give it that sealed off "wall" look. Amp rack mounted. Four screws hold the rack and allow for it to be slightly lifted should the spare tire really be needed

C5 crossovers mounted in pairs on either side of the trunk

Wiring running smoothly and snug down the sides of the back seat, under the paneling

Everything done and in place. Engraved plate at the bottom has the system layout, architects (JC and myself) and the fabricators/installers (Bob Mercer and Tom Mangs) listed.

And at night with LED's on. One 20" LED bar runs across the top of the amps, and two 3" bars over the crossovers. A little trim piece hides the bars giving a nice halo effect, unless you duck down. Then you can see them.

Part II of the make over: 18" Devino Sire rims, 225/45R Kumho sport's.

Interior

Edited January 17, 2008 by CleanLS

[Mark LaFountain 1,054]

great set up and even better build. Good work.

[bigtoepfer 0]

what do you think about that IVA-W205? Like any likes dislikes? why did you choose it? What else were you considering?

[CleanLS 0]

what do you think about that IVA-W205? Like any likes dislikes? why did you choose it? What else were you considering?

I love it. I wanted a head unit that:

A) Sounded very good

B) sported a DVD player

C) Interfaced with my iPod

D) was easy to navigate and operate

E) allowed for lots of expansion down the road.

The W205 sports the best DAC offered by Alpine that's not the F-1 Status. It's a 24 bit DAC. It indeed sounds very good. The iPod interface on it is the best in the business, because it was actually designed by both Alpine and Apple. The iPod menu appears right on the screen with one touch and you have access to playlists, artists, search, etc.

It's ridiculously easy to navigate. Hit control on the screen and a menu pops up with every section for you to access: display, settings, source, audio...everything. Just about every adjustment is 2-3 touches away max.

Then you have the Media exapnsion options. The day they come out with a Blu-Ray player for the car, you can plug it into the aux. in the back. you can also send the video signal from the headunit to other monitors with an aux. out . Then you have the Blackbird dock for navigation.

The DVD play back is very good. Picture looks great. As sson as you put a DVD in a little "Key" tab appears. touch it and arrows appear so you can navigate the DVD menu. Slect what you want, and it will start playing, and the little tabs dissapear and you watch your movie. If you want to adjust picture or audio while it's playing, touch the bottom of the screen and a set of tabls appear at the bottom, as well as a control tab up top. Hit control and you can access audio and picture adjustments.

It retails in most stores from $1000-1100. I've seen it online form $799-$900. AA retails it for $1000 and gave it to me for $825. They discounted everything for me since I did such a huge package and eleborate install. It was one of the more elaborate ones they've done in a while, and they are going to put the car on their webpage along with their other more elaborate installs over the years. Should be up sometime this week. Their link is in my sig.

[CleanLS 0]

great set up and even better build. Good work.

Thank you sir. Quite a nice forum and business you have here. I plan on ordering an SSA shirt soon B)

[Parker 2]

Does it sound good inside the car? I put my Alpine type X 10's in my gf's 02 LS and the trunks sound like crap when turned up and it wasn't that loud inside vs the same setup in my mustang.

[CleanLS 0]

Does it sound good inside the car? I put my Alpine type X 10's in my gf's 02 LS and the trunks sound like crap when turned up and it wasn't that loud inside vs the same setup in my mustang.

Yes it sounds very good, at all volumes, no matter the music. Hip Hop and Bass CD's/MP3's are deep smooth and loud, Classic rock is very tight and articulate and not boomy at all, Jazz sounds great as well.

And the C5's are ridiculous. Phenominal sounding speakers. Very crisp and sharp but not too harsh. No artificial blooming or coloring. Very natural and accurate sound reproduction.

And movies sound like a Surround sound IMAX theater. I watch some action scene's form transformers with some firends and they were like "Man it sound better than the movie theater!" LOL.

The trunk lid is dynamted along with the doors. Rattle is minimal unless I but some DJ magic mike or Bass Mechanics cranked up really high adn then it starts to rattle pretty fierce. No way around that. But it sounds great in the car.

Edited January 17, 2008 by CleanLS

[bigtoepfer 0]

We sell the IVA-W205 for about $850. Which is cheaper than the Pioneer D3. But it doesn't have navigation unless you buy the blackbird. It also doesn't have Bluetooth unless you buy the Blackbird. Those were my only two complaints. But i might just end up getting the W205 anyway. I've never owned an Alpine and figure its a good place to start. We also have the tuning EQ in the store to tune the radio to make it sound the best.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

Really nice install!

[aznboi3644 2]

Does it sound good inside the car? I put my Alpine type X 10's in my gf's 02 LS and the trunks sound like crap when turned up and it wasn't that loud inside vs the same setup in my mustang.

sounds like poor install and/or enclosure to me

to the OP...damn nice install. Clean.

[Patrick Simmons 0]

Great looking LS and great install.