In Control
In keeping with his simple, sound quality-focused approach, DeJesus chose Pioneer's Premier DEX-P9 head unit and DEQ-P9 processor to anchor the truck's sound system. In addition to CD playback, the duo handles all of the necessary audio adjustments and provides each speaker with an independent 31-band EQ, crossover filters and time alignment controls.
Bringing It Low
Given the truck's limited interior space, only two 12" subwoofers are needed to handle the system's bass. The install team mounted a pair of DLS Ultimate Iridium 12 subs in the rear of the cab in custom fiberglass enclosures built into the amprack. "We originally planned to port the subs," DeJesus says, "but they're so efficient that we ended up sealing both enclosures and have been able to get the tight bass that we wanted, even with the small boxes."
Custom Air
A special touch in this completely custom truck, the air vents for the HVAC got a new look.
From The Bottom Up
Before installing the system, DeJesus and Co. gutted the truck and lined every exposed surface with Dynamat sound dampening material. From there, the interior was hollowed out, redesigned and highlighted in black and royal blue to match the exterior. Custom fiberglass paneling was laid over MDF to create the dash, door inserts, center console as well as the amp/sub rack.
On A High Note
To create the front soundstage, Moreira mounted two sets of 6.5" DLS Ultimate Iridium 6.2i component speakers in the custom dash and placed tweeters up in the truck's pillars. In addition, he added a second set of midbass speakers-5.25" DLS Ultimate Iridiums-in a pair of sealed fiberglass kick panels that were covered in black carpet to match the interior. "The mids are so powerful that we could actually turn the subs off and still get a pretty full sound if we wanted to," DeJesus says.
Juice It Up
Four DLS amplifiers-a pair of twin monoblock Ultimate A3s for the subs and two Ultimate TA2 dual-channel tube amps for the front components-power the system from the S-10's fiberglass-covered amprack, producing a total of 1,600 watts RMS at 4 ohms. DeJesus calls the TA2 tube amp, which is new to the S-10 this year, "probably one of the best amplifiers in the world in terms of sound quality."