I haven't even broken my Z in yet but I had to get the sound system in. So far everything is taken from my old car.

Alpine 9815 Head-Unit
Alpine XM Tuner Module
Terk XM antenna
Rockford Fosgate Punch 250.2 Amplifier
(62.5W RMS x 2 @ 4 ohms for front speakers)
Focal PolyKevlar 136K Component Front Speakers

As you can see the front speakers aren't actually installed yet, I installed everything else myself, but I am having the local stereo shop install the fronts as I had trouble getting the doors back on my last vehicle. Plus I don't know how to make the spacers. I am watching them though, so I can do it myself next time.

 

compartment behind the drivers seat

 

another angle

 

XM antenna

 

xm antenna from outside of the car

 

Focal 136K's

 

where I grounded the amp, actually I went back and sanded the grounding point down with a dremel tool, lots of shiny metal underneath!! Before I did scrape it down with an exacto knife, but the dremel did a much better job. I even squeezed a nut through that hole on the other side of it to make the connection nice and tight!
I also went to homedepot and got an un-painted 6mm bolt/washer/nut just to make sure the connection was good.

 

I plan on mounting the crossovers right in front of the XM tuner module. The XM module is currently held down with scotch outdoor double sided tape. It says it can hold stuff on a wall that is up to 5lbs. I have no fear of it moving at all. The XM antenna is also held on by the same stuff and I will use it to hold the crossovers in place as well. The Rockford amp is actually heavy enough to stay in place on its own, but I will probably screw it down once I have everything tuned correctly.

Future plans include the Alpine Ipod module, it let's you control your Ipod through the head-unit, just like XM radio, you can see the song names and everything!!

I would also like to get a JL 10w7 in a nazar box and a JL 500/1 amp.. We will see.

Alpine Ipod Module Info

 

Nice! I like to see simple, clean installs, and the 9815 is a great headunit. I guess my only complaint about it were those darned super-bright blue buttons on long road trips at night.

How is the XM antenna location working for you? Any reception drop outs? I've never had XM before, but I'm considering it. However, I'll want the antenna somewhere internal to the car (like your's), so I'm just curious about reception. I'm also considering up on the dash, up against the windshield near where I placed my gps antenna.

 

Looks great!!

 

XM reception is excellent, just got back from a weekend trip and it worked without flaw the whole time. I also passed break in!!!! I will have to take the car up to 6600rpm's sometime in the next few days, it was a little rainy today, so I didn't want to try it yet.

Also, I got the front speakers installed by the local stereo shop. I watched them do it and cringed at every step, next time I am doing everything myself! They started mounting the crossovers in the doors, then I was like, no, those go in this compartment. They then told me it was impossible to run wires from the doors to the car without taking the doors off. I showed them how that harness just comes right out. They kept complaining about it, said they'd have to charge me extra. I said okay, but then they decided it wasn't possible unless they took the doors off. What idiots.....at this point I was so fed up I just let them mount the crossovers in the doors.

So now the amp is wired into the stock front speaker wire right at the head unit. Kind of lame, but I don't think wire straight to the speakers would really change the sound that much. Any comments on that??

The end result is very nice. Amplified Focal PolyKevlar Speakers sound awesome period!

I adjusted the crossover built into my Alpine 9815 to cut out some of the bass to the speakers as it was causing some distortion. So I really need a sub now!! It would complete the system.

 

THANKS!