Improving Macintosh

[loweart]

hey guys,

I did not have the Macintosh system in mine, but I replaced the RX stock head unit from my 2003 liberty with an alpine cd player, cd9884 and it increased the quality of the speakers and sounds louder then stock.

That's to be expected as your Alpine CD player would have lower distortion and a cleaner and more powerful amp built in than that of the Liberty's factory Cd player, hence the louder and improved sound from the factory speakers. Suffice to say, if you wanted to improve the sound even more, you need to consider some replacement speakers too.

[loweart]

Well, I'm on a day off from work today ( no, not one of those- cough, cough ) and decided to do some more work on fitting out the replacement audio system in my Liberty.

So, here's some more gory pictures ->

Did some minor surgery to the cubby inside the glovebox to route wires to the Kenwood GARMIN Nav box. Fits ever so neatly and allows enough room for me to flip the access cover of the NAV box to access the SD card slot - this is where the mapping data goes.



Here's all the associated hardware laid out and wired up temporarily so that I can test all the components work properly before doing final fitting.



Headunit powered up and SatNAV ready to go



Man, I need a cold drink after all that !

[loweart]

Gee, I must be getting old as I have asked a car sound place to fit and run some new speaker wiring for me so I can save some time.

All the standard supplied speakers that come with the McIntosh system will be removed and be replaced with a pair of Focal Access1 2 way split component speakers in the front doors and a pair of Focal Access1 2 way co-axial speakers in the rear doors. So, I'll end up with only four 2 ways speakers.

Here's the Focal 2 way splits ->





And here are the Focal 2 way co-axials ->

[Mano™]

Just noticed.. what's the go with the interior? white?

[AndrewCowley]

Gee, I must be getting old as I have asked a car sound place to fit and run some new speaker wiring for me so I can save some time.

All the standard supplied speakers that come with the McIntosh system will be removed and be replaced with a pair of Focal Access1 2 way split component speakers in the front doors and a pair of Focal Access1 2 way co-axial speakers in the rear doors. So, I'll end up with only four 2 ways speakers.

Here's the Focal 2 way splits ->

And here are the Focal 2 way co-axials ->

Interesting. Any idea of what the sound quality would be like after having done the swap?

[loweart]

Just noticed.. what's the go with the interior? white?

Hey Li8ity,

I have a MY05 3.0R sedan and it has the white leather seats with the two tone trim on the dash area and door trims as standard.

I quite like it as it reminds me of my AUDI A4 Quattro V6 and it doesn't attract as much heat as the all black interior like my 2.5 used to.

[loweart]

Interesting. Any idea of what the sound quality would be like after having done the swap?

Hey Andrew,

The SOUND improvement in one word is FANTASTIC !!!!!!!!

Seriously, the sound quality is now muched improved with bass extension being a lot tighter with greater control ( and without the need for a subwoofer - the McIntosh one in the parcel tray has been disconnected ). Imaging has improved dramatically and the distortion level has dropped a great deal, not bad considering I'm using the power from the Kenwood head unit to drive everything, but I have to admit the Focal speakers I've chosen are relatively easy to drive.

My ears are HAPPY again ! Actually, very happy

[MIB]

Being a fellow Brisneyland inhabitant I'd love to catch up and have a listen to the system? Looking at hanging onto my RB for another year so I may just fix the audio to get me by....

Let me know if you're keen
Scott

[loweart]

Being a fellow Brisneyland inhabitant I'd love to catch up and have a listen to the system? Looking at hanging onto my RB for another year so I may just fix the audio to get me by....

Let me know if you're keen
Scott

Hey Scott,

Happy to catch up with you mate so that you can have a listen.

You mentioned that you're considering on keeping your 3.0RB for another year ? Please be mindful that even though I don't consider the mods I've done to the audio system "extensive", you will need to weigh up the $'s understandably and the issues of when you do want to sell, if you want to remove your audio gear. My fitout has been planned and done in a way that I ( as in myself ) can refit the factory system back into the car in about 4 to 5hrs.

Let me know when/where you would be interested in catching up ? I see that Harry's Diner is back in action, but I wouldn't want to meet there on the Thurs/Fri nites when all the Riceboys are hanging.........

Cheers,
Lok

[loweart]

Here's the final photo of the centre console with the new Kenwood head unit fitted inside the double DIN AV panel I got from PHAT GT last year.

As my AV Panel was ordered in the silver/grey to suit my previous Liberty 2.5, I didn't want to go to all the hassle of finding a buyer for it and then having to wait to order the same AV Panel in black, so I changed out all the other black panels on the console to the silver/grey so it would match.

[Sentinel]

Was the original posters info about the system found in the GT / GTB's and R / RB's - the glass fronted ones?

[MH3.0R]

Loweart,

That is an awesome mod!

I was thinking about a separate reversing sensor / camera kit, but now I just want to integrate the lot.

Did you do a reversing camera mod as well or considering it in the future?

Would love some detailed notes about all the connections / new harnesses created and the detail of the speaker wiring.

Kind Regards,

Mark.

[loweart]

Hey Mark,

Sorry for delayed reply as I missed reading your comments and thanks for the compliments on my fitout.

I haven't included a reversing camera, but now that you've mentioned it it's not a bad idea as I had previously been thinking about getting parking sensors installed. The Kenwood headunit I have does have the facility for a video input so and Kenwood also have a reversing camera accessory too. I just might have to look into that once I pay off my new PHAT muffs and sway bars that are on order.

Wiring and harnesses can be as simple and or complex as you determine. I've always maintained that, if you plan out to do a bit more work in the first instance to allow for quick removal down the track, life becomes much easier if you ever need to troubleshoot a problem or remove the stereo gear to return it to factory. I use AERPRO conversion harnesses where possible and combine that with custom harnesses made using quality wiring and multi-pin Utilux connectors ( allows for quick disconnect ). I prefer to solder and heatshrink where possible and even on the multi-pin connectors where you simply strip and crimp wires into the terminals, I also solder these terminals at the crimp point.

Drop us a PM if there's anything I can help with.

Cheers,
Lok

[nate]

I have an MY05 and want to replace my mcintosh HU, I am going to get the panel to support a double din HU, can I take out the mcintosh and plug in a new HU (pioneer), simple as that? It will be compatible if I leave the rest of the sound system? eg. amp

[Ric]

I have an MY05 and want to replace my mcintosh HU, I am going to get the panel to support a double din HU, can I take out the mcintosh and plug in a new HU (pioneer), simple as that? It will be compatible if I leave the rest of the sound system? eg. amp

No, it's not that easy.
Your speaker connections only go to the amp under the passenger seat, not to the console.
The head-unti to amplifier wiring is "balanced", which is incompatible with the outputs on most head units.