The XDP-4000X is mounted under the hood along with some of Monster Cable's hot new M-Series power distribution. Also from Monster is a 1-farad stiffening cap to help support Sony's Mobile ES XM-7557 5-channel amp. The amp sends 75 watts to each of the component speakers mounted in the doors with 180 watts left over for a dedicated subwoofer channel.
The amp is mounted just above the 4000X and the Monster Cable accessories. To make it look really trick, Jon constructed a trim panel around the top from MDF and lots of Bondo to match the contours of the amplifier. Once it fit perfect, he primed it and sanded it - ready to be painted. Here's where James proves he's not spoiled by all his success. James actually took all the yellow panels in the car and painted them himself.
With power distribution and the amp sitting nicely under the hood, Jon put his attention back on the passenger cabin. Adding subwoofers was a challenge, but he figured it out. A small area behind the rear seats was a perfect place for sub enclosure to run the length of the cabin.
Made from more MDF and Bondo, it's a single box with two chambers. It holds four Sony XSL-830 8-inch woofers. The front has some contours added for cosmetics and yellow trim rings (painted by James) around each woofer. The entire thing is finished with black leather to match the cabin.
Believe it or not, Jon's biggest challenge was getting the speakers in the doors wired. Because the Sony XDP-4000X is at its best when it runs each speaker individually, Jon needed to run two pair of speaker wires in each door. But, there was only room for one pair in the factory wire harness.
So with special permission from James, he drilled a small hole in the aluminum doors, grommeted them and inserted a nice rubber boot to run the speaker wire through. Those two pairs of wires connect to the 5.25-inch mid and 1-inch tweeter of a Sony Mobile ES XS-HF58 component system.
With the installation now complete, Jon proceeded to tune the system using all the DSP power available in the 4000X to make a great, wide soundstage on top of the dash even though the speakers are quite far down in the doors.
What does James think? He's happy, not only with the system, but that he could contribute as well. That's what you call a team effort.
name: James Chenvehicle: Ferrari Modenashop:Good GuysLaguna Hills, CA