Thread: 2006 MazdaSpeed 6 Audio Test Lab

Ok I am going ot post some pictures of my old install from my 04 Mazda 6 since It had some good and bad ideas. I made some changes and this year the install will be cleaner with some software changes and hardware changes. My install is never done even though I have had a working carputer for over 3 years now. So don't expect to see my worklog in the finished projects. Posts 11 and on are my current install.

Updated 3/2/07 For the second generation carputer.

Equipment (Current)
1) New Carputer -Installed (May 08).
-Gigabyte Socket AM2 Desktop board $20
-AMD 1640LE 2Ghz $40
-1GB Ram $40
-M2-ATX $50
-PCI Soundcard Prodigy Hifi 7.1 $125
-250GB Seagate HD $100
-Lite-on Slot Load USB DVD-RW Drive $100
-Logitech PS2 mini keyboard $7
-Liliput 7" 619 TS $300
-BU-353 USB GPS $50
-Keyspan Media Remote - (At some point I want to integrate my factory buttons from the radio to control the computer in addition to this either with the car2pc adapter or a homebrew method) $25
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Total Cost $767 in Hardware


2nd Retired Carputer -Installed (2/28/07).
-Intel D865GVHZ Socket 478 Desktop board $20
-Pentium 4-M 1.8Ghz $25
-512MB Ram $30
-M2-ATX $50
-PCI Soundcard Prodigy Hifi 7.1 $125
-250GB Seagate HD $100
-Lite-on Slot Load USB DVD-RW Drive $100
-Logitech PS2 mini keyboard $7
-Liliput 7" 619 TS $300
-BU-353 USB GPS $50
-Keyspan Media Remote - (At some point I want to integrate my factory buttons from the radio to control the computer in addition to this either with the car2pc adapter or a homebrew method) $25
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Total Cost $832 in Hardware

Old Computer No longer in use First Gen
-EPIA M10000
-Liliput 7" Touchscreen
-M1-ATX PSU
-256MB Ram
-250G Seagate Hardrive - (Seagate drives are super quiet and reliable and 5-Year warranty.)
-Lite-on USB DVD-RW slim slot load
-Creative Sound Blaster Live 24bit USB - (Temporary)
-Dream works Mini-key
-Keyspan Media Remote - (At some point I want to integrate my factory buttons from the radio to control the computer in addition to this)
-Earthmate USB


2) Software
-Windows XP PRO (Not optimized yet) $130
-Roadrunner (Deteremining donation ammount)
-Digital Graphite Skin/Simplistque Skin
-IGuidance 3.0 $100
-Winamp
-Frequency Allocator $100
-Nero (came with Drive)
------------------------------
Total Software $330

New Software Under test (Software Audio Processing for tuning purposes
-Frequency Allocator (Full version) $100
-Console $50



3) Electronics
-2x Cerwin Vega EXL350.2
-2x Cerwin Vega EXL400.4
-1x Cerwin Vega XL600.1

4) Speakers
-4x 0.75" MBQuart RTC19 tweeter
-10x generic 2" wideband midrange
-2x 10" Tang Band WT-1427
-1x 10" JL audio 10W6V2

5) Audio Power
0.75" mqquart tweets-> 2 channels 200Wx2 Cerwin Vega 400.4
2" midrange -> 2 channels 200Wx2 Cerwin Vega 400.4
10" midbass -> 4 channels bridged to 2 channels 350Wx2 dual Cerwin Vega 350.2's
10" sub -> 1 channel 600Wx1 Cerwin Vega XL600.1 class H for efficiency.
1500Wrms on the front
600Wrms for the sub.

My old install (Posts 2-5)

I used to have these 3 processors to do what my Alpine can do now.
-Audiocontrol Matrix 6 Channel Line driver
-Audiocontrol Master Volume control
-Precision Power FRX-456 Crossover

Equipment no longer used
-Alpine PXA-H701 (Time correction, crossovers, EQ, Volume control)
-A/D/S PH15 6 Channel 50Wx6 (3 way front stage)
-A/D/S PQ20 70Wx4
-1" Silk Dome LPG25NFA
-3" HiVi A3N 3" midrange
-7" Scanspeak Revelator 18S/8531G
-10" JL Audio 10W6V2 Subwoofer

I have a hardware/software solution to replace the Alpine PXA-H701 Processor. I am almost ready to phase out the alpine and go 100% carputer including processing.

Software options for Tuning

Mounting Locations
My screen is mounted in the original Map compartment
The computer is mounted to the cross structure of the rear suspension except the hard drive.
The Sub is mounted in the far rear of trunk on the passenger side
The amps are mounted in front of the cross structure suspension bracing.
The Remote is mounted on the retracted door covering the cupholders in the center console.

TO DO List
-Better volume control
-Factory stereo dash controls and steering controls integration

Projects Underway
-Factory stereo dash controls and steering controls integration
-Wire cleanup

Finished Projects
-Upgraded Earthmate USB GPS mouse to the BU-353
-New Computer installed
-Found a software / hardware soultion for sound processing
-Molded Remote into cupholder cover
-New Screen mount fits better, front cover molded into screen bezel.
-Built a cover panel for processor/sub box
-Made new Tweeter pods and made them look more factory.
-Added sound dampening to front doors and rear parcel shelf.

The order of this may change depending on needs.
More to come....