Had a great opportunity to help out a local lacrosse team as well as build something I've wanted to build for some time now.....a custom mobile cooler.
The coach came to me with a few requests:
Needs to be mobile, loud and microphone input.
He showed me some examples of some mini coolers that had speaker holes cut into them and BAM, done.....well that's not what Trax Customs is about. He had no idea what I was doing, just knew what he'd be getting.....so if he was expecting a basic unit, he was MORE than surprised when he saw this :)
Took a basic large cooler and started cutting into it.
Made a mold of the front, then custom arranged the speakers so they'd cover a 130 degree angle in front of the cooler, as well as to properly fit them on that small of a footprint. Then I started cutting into the top to make the pro audio tweeters as integrated as possible.
Among other surprises, I molded in a removable solar panel charging system....so if the game is playing later or earlier in the day, they can remove it and angle it as needed to keep charging the system while it's not plugged into a 120v. Which is built into the system, and a simple plug into a wall outlet and the system will then be charged back up.
For control, I used a Dual Electronics headunit that has USB/iPod controls, front aux input, bluetooth, weather-band radio and rear mic input. A Blues Audio 4 channel amp was placed within the cooler to power the 8 speakers with 200 watts of pure power. A Sound Quest car audio battery was placed inside to power the system. Blues Audio woofers and Bass Inferno Pro Tweeters are what's cranking the tunes out. System internals are covered with a simple shelf with metal grill to allow proper air flow. Put a carbon fiber plastic panel with school Lacrosse logo in the center to tie everything together.
Had a returning client come back with this new car.
His old car was the Saturn DD Build I did a while back......motor blew....so he got a Mazda 3.
Great little car, accepted everything without too much trouble and it sounded great.
Kenwood X996 Headunit with Bluetooth, USB, Aux input and HD Radio
DD Audio 5.25" High End Components Up Front
DD Audio 5.25" Components in the Rear
DD Audio 4 channel amp to push those
DD Audio CM600 Mono to push the two
DD Audio 12" 500 Series Subwoofers in a ported box
There wasn't any room to mount the amps out of the way without getting crazy custom, so I did a false floor and mounted the amps and box flush.
Turned out great and tuning is a breeze with this one.
Knocked out some things holding me back on Memphry today.....old tint was stripped and some new hotness was put on. Biggest difference that I can tell....old tint was old, peeling, and had a blueish tint to it.....new stuff....BLACK....perfect!
Got all the pillar covers back on (was waiting to get tint done so it was easier).
Installed the rear 6x9" speakers, and routed the wires to where the new 4 channel amp will be. Got the rear deck lid put back together, so now we're good there.
Got the front tweeters mounted on their custom made mount and they fit perfectly...should make a HUGE difference, as the stock tweets simple sucked.
Got the deck installed (not permanetly yet) with auxilary wires for future expansion. iPod cord ran into the glove box since the Kenwood deck bypasses the iPod screen so you don't need to look at it while cruising through your music selection. Installed the Bluetooth mic by the compartment above the rear view mirror....this way the driver can speak clear towards the mic without adjusting his head and more importantly, being safe whilst driving.
Got all the RCAs for the 2 amps ran, as well as the CAT5 cables for the 4 channel knob to increase the DBs if needed.
Snaked new wires through the factory boots into the doors so the speakers will have plenty of wire to power them. All of these new wires are snaked under the factory carpet and tucked away nicely.
Good weekend....on to the next one!!
Cheers
Not doing the installing this time, but just helping out a fellow Solstice member.
He's putting in the Hybrid Audio Technologies Legatia Series 7" woofers, tweeters and their passive crossovers. These things are a very sexy looking....and that's just the pictures. Can't wait until he gets them installed.
Cheers