The Suburban is loaded with video options. An Alpine DVD player is installed in the center console where the factory CD player had been located. A DVD-ROM navigation system, also made by Alpine, is mounted under one of the front seats. An Alpine VHS recorder is located in the rear of the center console, and under the center console is an Alpine television tuner. There are also gaming ports under both the front and rear seats that can be used for the Nintendo or Sony PlayStation systems. Two 12-volt to 120-volt inverters were needed for powering the game consoles.
With the video completed, it was then time to focus on the system's sound. "I wanted more dynamic range and resolution with the performance of the front stage," says Paddleford. "The factory speakers just were not getting it done. The guys at Team CSW suggested Boston Acoustics' Pro 6.53 component set."
Paddleford wanted to keep as much of a factory appearance as possible without sacrificing sound quality. After considering his needs, Team CSW came up with a mounting arrangement that would suit his request. All of the new speakers were mounted behind the factory grills and were positioned to provide optimal imaging and staging. To reduce resonance from the midbass drivers, a mounting baffle was constructed MDF and reinforced with fiberglass. Paddleford chose not to have a center channel. He explains, "The system images great without it, and I did not want any major modifications made to the dash."
A second Boston Acoustics component set, this time a Pro 6.5 two-way set, was chosen for the Suburban's rear speakers. To maintain the stealth look, the set was mounted in the factory locations with the tweeters arranged in a coaxial configuration using factory-supplied bridges.
The next big question: more bass or more space? Douglas could not live without that extra punch from the bass, but his wife was firm in her demand to retain all of the cargo space in the rear of the truck. In the end, a compromise was reached and only a few inches of free space was taken up with the new sub enclosure.
Jones, Team CSW's fiberglass fabrication expert, planned to installed a sealed enclosure with one 10-inch sub in place of the factory sub. After removing the surrounding panels, he realized he would actually have enough room for two subs. "We selected Boston Acoustics Pro 10.5 woofers for their high power capability, small enclosure volume requirement, and transparent detail," he says.
 The navigation unit and CD...  The navigation unit and CD changer found a home underneath the front seats. |  Behind the center console...  Behind the center console you wil find a VHS player. |  There was room under the rear...  There was room under the rear seats for the two Rockford amps. |