When a customer with a Mazda6 walked into Marcos Monterde's shop, M.A.V.E.R.I.C., he wasn't looking for a full custom install. On the other hand, he didn't want a simple speaker upgrade either. His general request was to improve the sound of the factory Bose system, in particular distortion up front and poor bass response. In addition, the owner wanted a monitor up front without modifying the stock appearance of the dash. It was important that when the system was not in use, the car would still look factory. The owner also desired to maintain all the trunk space and still be able to utilize the fold-down seats.
In the doors, Monterde installed Blackmore's BSX-6CK 6 1/2" 2-way component set, powered by a Planet Audio TT2150 2-channel amplifier. Another Planet Audio TT2150 powers the Planet Audio P110 10" subwoofer under the rear deck. The sub bumps bass from a sealed 1ft3 enclosure. Monterde only sacrificed about 7" of trunk space. For an aesthetic touch, the sub enclosure and amp covers are painted to match the exterior of the car.
The video system consists of a Farenheit T-6501MH 6.5-inch widescreen monitor and a Mobile TV DVA-310X DVD player. Monterde mounted the in-dash monitor to a hinge assembly so it could fold up and down. To prevent the screen from falling backwards, the hinges lock in place when the pocket is open. Monterde also recessed the hinges into the lip of the pocket in order to hide them when the monitor is up (it may be motorized in the future). The same storage pocket hides the switches for the undercar LED kit and video system. The lower storage compartment holds the the Stinger digital voltmeter and the remote eye for the DVD player. A Planet Audio EC10 electronic crossover is used for signal processing.
Finishing accents include the PlasmaGlow 7-color LED undercar lighting kit. With the wireless upgrade, the driver can control colors and patterns by remote. Monterde installed two 10" rods under the passenger compartment, one under the driver's-side and another under the passenger's-side floorboards. Lastly, an underdoor handle kit installed in the trunk accents the amps and Mazda emblem.
Marcos Monterde is the owner of M.A.V.E.R.I.C. (Mobile, Audio, Video, Electronics, Retail, Installation, and Certified), in Dallas, GA. A graduate of Acoustic Edge Institute, he has run M.A.V.E.R.I.C. since January 2003. For more information on the shop, visit www.mavericcustoms.com.