When the guys at Scosche decided to showcase their newest Bluetooth gear in a demo vehicle, they wanted to do something innovative with the product. With Nissan chipping in a brand-new 2006 Frontier, they came up with something we almost never see-an audio/video system without a head unit! The innovative use of Scosche's Bluetooth IPBCK interface for iPod makes it possible, constituting the "trick" part of the install.
At the 2005 SEMA Show, the IPBCK interface received several new product innovation awards, including Popular Mechanics Editor's Choice Award and the GM Design Award for Best New Accessory. We included it in our review of Bluetooth products in the January 2006 issue. If you recall, the unit consists of a receiver, the transmitter and holsters for whatever model of iPod you may have. While you would normally plug the receiver into the aux in of your head unit, Scosche cut out the middleman and plugged the IPBCK directly into their EFX amplifiers!
Installation of the "head unit" began with ripping out the new factory radio and creating a custom pedestal mount for the receiver. The acrylic pedestal tucks into the black hole left by the factory head unit, set off by the blue glow of LEDs. On top of the dash, Scosche's Nathan Perkins, Ted Lopez and Trevor Kaplan ran the power wire for the transmitter, which, when connected to the iPod with the correct holster, charges up the iPod. To clarify our review in the January issue, we did not state that the power wire need not be connected to the transmitter in order for the transmitter to work. Its battery should keep the Bluetooth signal flowing for 15 hours, even if you're holding it (like Kaplan is in the above photo). When you aren't holding it for an up-close look, your iPod rests within easy reach on top of the center column.
The digital sound travels through an EFX HD4004 800-watt 4-channel amp for the component speakers and an EFX HD3001 800-watt mono amp for the subwoofers. Hiding the amplifiers, the installers built an amprack under the rear passenger seats. In addition to the seats on top of it, the amprack is further encased in a trim panel color-matched to the exterior paint.
The iPod's low-frequency output finds an outlet in two EFX HDW1004 10" subs. The Scosche team, with the help of Katzkin, sawed the rear bench seat in half and had it reformed into two bucket seats. This accommodates the fiberglass enclosure sweeping between the two buckets and up the rear wall. The shape of the box allows the two 10-inchers to fit with the necessary 1.7ft3 of airspace in the enclosure.
For the mids and highs, the installers turned to EFX HDX52 5 1/4" convertible component speakers for the front and EFX HDX67 6 1/2" convertible component speakers for the rear. The front set found a home in the factory location, with the tweeter installed using the coaxial mount. Custom mesh grilles subtly cover them up. In the rear, the installers also converted the components into coaxials to fit them in the factory locations. They applied the same custom mesh as in the front to protect the rear speakers.
Next the installers broke out their utility knives to drop two Clarion VMA5894 monitors into the headrests. "Wait a second," you ask. "If there isn't a head unit, where does the video come from?" Well, don't forget the iPod's video capability. The installers plugged in some Scosche panel jacks and everything was set for video clips or slideshow viewing.
Since Scosche makes so many great accessories, the installers couldn't help but indulge in some of them. The entire Frontier was disassembled to install Accumat 060 sound damping material to the inner door skins, outer door frame, firewall, roof and back wall. For the floor and footwells, they put some Accumat 250 to use. For audio cables, the installers turned to their EFX brand: G2 twisted pair 12-gauge to the woofers, 16-gauge to components and crossovers as well as 75-ohm 3-channel video RCAs. An EDC1200 battery replaces the factory offering under the hood. It's accompanied by an EFX 1-farad capacitor under the driver's-side rear seat, a PDMWF4D distribution block and EFX power and ground wires.
For an off-road vehicle, this unusual system fits the bill. With the iPod, in tandem with the IPBCK interface, as the only head unit, there would be no skipping or breaking parts if the Scosche employees decided to take the Frontier on a backcountry joyride. For those who might want to follow this example but don't get enthused by rough roads, there's another benefit: When you park your ride and tuck the iPod in your pocket, there's no head unit left to tempt thieves.