I am replacing my speakers and sub. I am still kicking around ideas as to what brands (Kicker is my favorite) and Audiobahn is starting to catch my eye some. I have never worked with any Audiobahn equipment. Does anyone have any experience with their equipment, both speakers and amps? If so what are your opinions either possitve or negative. I would put in all Kicker but there are no 8" subs in their lineup that will work in the factory box.

Are you keeping the stock radio?

For now. Later on at some point when I decide on my final vision of the vehicle I'll swap out everything and build a box for the back. Better aftermarket speakers alone are enough to wake your system up. I'm going to put a new amp in for the sub because Chevy definitely didn't send enough power there. That should make me happy for a while.

Sounds good to me. Hopefully sometime in 06 when I can pull some funds together I can upgrade my audio. But i'm happy with it for now.

Its fairly cheap if you can do it yourself. It can be a little intimidating at first but its just basic wiring. If your just replacing speakers thats easy, anyone can do that. Wiring amps is a little more difficult but still not that bad. Its also easier to install a whole new system than to work with the factory head unit and wiring.

I ordered my speakers today. The local Audiobahn dealer I went to didn't have my sub in stock so he had to order it. It should be here next week. He had the 6 1/2"s in stock but I told the guy just to hold me two sets because I didn't see the point of getting them until the sub comes in. I went with a AW831SE 8" special edition sub and two sets of AS65Q 6 1/2" 3-ways. I hate waiting! :(

Cool Captain. Keep us posted

If I buy a HHR, And I do the Stereo, MTX makes this Subwoofer that weighs 200 pounds, And KICKS IT OUT!

I ordered my speakers today...and two sets of AS65Q 6 1/2" 3-ways. :(

I don't think I'd change the fronts out. I've done some extensive listening against many aftermarket speaks, and the front setup is actually components (6-1/2 woofer, 1-in tweeter, with x-over). Throwing 3-ways in the front doors is going to mess up your sound. A lot more highs and fewer lows.

I'd try leaving the fronts alone, and just swapping the rear door speaks (* don't forget to use the "foam trick" to prevent rattles!). the biggest difference is going to be when you add an external amp to your head, or change to another head unit. More power will really open up those front door speaks!

BTW - I think you are really going to like your Audiobahn subs; my car audio guy says they are one of the best he sells!

Keep us posted...

The 3-ways have a removable tweeters so I am going to remove them and mount them in place of the factory tweeters using the factory crossovers. I'll just leave them in place in the rear.

Audiobahn is becoming better. They used to be on the lower end of the aftermarket, but recently won't sell to just any dealers, they have raised the requirements to buy in as a distributor and selling a much better product.

Yeah...I still don't think you are going to beat the stock components in front until you hit the $500 (a pair), mark. You'll lose bass. Try just doing the rear doors first before you waste your money.

Just my $0.02

We only have two private distributors here in Rochester other than Best Buy. One is in a real shady section of town so I went to the other. I was impressed by the quality of their speakers, especialy their competition equipment! Of course I love the flaming aluminum cages also! ;) Check out Xzibits Audiobahn powered Hummer:
http://www.audiobahn.com/TV_Coverage/pimpMyRide.html
I cant wait to swap everything but this should hold me over for now. :D

I got a surprise call from the guy I ordered my speakers through. His shipment came in earlier than expected and he had my sub in. :D
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture113.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture115.jpg
Now if I can just find the time to put them in. At least I'll have time after Christmas. :beer:

We want a FULL report CH!

Get a movin'...

It will be coming along with all of the vinyl I still have to put on. Including the window decal! ;) Now I have to put on the window decal, the flames, the stereo decals, my custom pinstriping, and the speakers. Boy am I going to be busy! :eek:

Sounds like you have plenty of work to do.

Side by sides of the factory speakers versus the Audiobahns:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture163.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture164.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture165.jpg
They sound way better than the crappy factory paper cone speakers! :beer:

With the side curtain air bags. Would removing the A-Pillar trim be an issue if I were to ever replace the tweeters?

I don't think so but I'm not 100% sure. I don't have side air bags but I am pulling my A pillars out probably next weekend.

A couple shots of them in my HHR:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture174.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture162.jpg

they on an amp

All I did was upgrade the speakers. It's the factory set up so I don't know, I didn't follow all of the wires. I just tested for polarity and ohms. I can tell when I do the sub, the amp is connected to the box.

With the side curtain air bags. Would removing the A-Pillar trim be an issue if I were to ever replace the tweeters?


Shouldn't have a problem.

I don't think I'd change the fronts out. I've done some extensive listening against many aftermarket speaks, and the front setup is actually components (6-1/2 woofer, 1-in tweeter, with x-over).

They are actual crappy components. I haven't seen the tweeters or sub yet but the speaker in front doors are the exact same as the speakers in the rear doors. All paper cone crap:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture185.jpg
Here is a shot of the front in place:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture180.jpg
Hardly what I would call a good component set up. I am so glad I replaced the fronts, it improved the sound so much. Better bass responce and cleaner sound. I am kind of pissed at Chevy for passing this crap off as "premium". :mad: I can't wait to see the premium tweeters and sub. :roll:

Side by sides of the subs and the Audibahn sub installed in the factory box:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture186.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture187.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture188.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture189.jpg
To my surprise the factory sub was already a DVC sub so wiring was easy. For some reason Chevy's wires are the exact opposite of what you would expect. Black is + and red is -. The sub was a little more of a pain in the a** than the easy door speakers. I'm doing my tweeters in the A-pillars tomorrow and then I'll be done with my audio for a while.

What is a DVC sub? How is the amp hooked up? RCA or line level wires? How many watt amp is it? Will a bigger one fit there? I have the premium stereo, and was going to leave the front speakers until I read these posts. Now I plan on putting in all 4 of my Rockford Fosgates. Do you think the factory tweeters can stay? Also, do you need to use foam insulation on the front doors?

Dual voice coil subwoofer. It is the factory amp I just upgraded the speakers. It is loud enough for my daily driver vehicle but the factory speakers sound like crap. Of course my system is no louder now but it sure sounds a lot better.The factory amp has three conectors. There is no way in hell you are going to fit larger than an 8" sub in the factory box. I had to put in a spacer ring in order to to make the Audiobahn fit. It was the right diameter but you can see from the pics how much larger and deeper it is. If you meant a larger amp the answer is also no, but there is a lot of room in the spare tire area for one plus your battery is right there. If you want to leave the tweeters thats up to you but I chose to replace everything. I would say if you plan on putting three ways in your front door remove the tweeter like I did. I don't think you have to add foam. I have had no problems with rattles. Maybe if you are going for a compitition set up I would go the extra step. You will find that the HHR had quite a lot of sound deadening material already installed. The pins that hold the door on are rubbery plastic that are designed to not make noise. Hopefully that answers all your questions. Any others feel free to ask. :beer:

I have one: since you had to install a spacer ring to add room for the deeper basket and magnet, how will you fit the side panel back on? Are you planning on cutting a hole? Adding a new grille? I'm just curious - I already have my new sub setup:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/2178000-2178999/2178189_17_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/2178000-2178999/2178189_18_full.jpg

:D :beer: :thumb:

(and yes - it is WAAAAY Loud!)

Must be nice to have TWO ears....

jerij

I have one: since you had to install a spacer ring to add room for the deeper basket and magnet, how will you fit the side panel back on? Are you planning on cutting a hole? Adding a new grille?

It fit just fine. It doesn't stick out any further than the factory sub:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture190.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture195.jpg
I didn't have to change anything. Remember the factory sub has that stupid plastic grille covering it so there is plenty of room between the sub and panel. I needed the ring so I had something to screw into without leaving a gap (I'm sure you don't need an explanation for that one ;) ). I am going to add my own grille for purely cosmetic reasons, it just hasn't got here yet. I'm getting rid of the Pioneer one and putting on a flaming chrome Audiobahn one. The factory grille is melted on so you just have to cut it out. The grille that came with the sub is just ugly so I had to buy the nice one seperately.The one that came with the sub:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture196.jpg
The one I'm putting on:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/audibahngrille.jpg
Is your box hooked up yet or are you waiting to do your full set up?

Thanks for the details. I think those flamed Audiobahn grilles look tight! A definite improvement over the B-O-R-I-N-G stock grille.

I installed my amp and wired it on Friday. Since I still don't have my head unit installed (Scosche kits are in the mail), I hooked up a portable CD player to my amp and checked out the rumble. Verdict: PLENTY of bass!

BTW - running the amp remote wire and RCA's back to the battery area is super simple in the HHR. I love the way the door trim panels just "snap" out giving you full access to the wire tray. Doesn't get any easier than this. :thumb:

My Pioneer 8600 has dedicated sub outs with a variable high & low pass crossover, so I should be able to dial it in just right. Playing my CD > amp > box made it apparent that dual 10's is going to be MORE than enough in the HHR. I'll give a full report after the head is installed and everything's dialed in.

Best part is that when I need the room I can just pop the box out and set it in the garage. (Oh, but NO BASS then!?! Ooops!) :(

Tweeters done:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture198.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture200.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture201.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture197.jpg
Now I just have to pull the sub box one more time to play with some polyfill and put my new improved spacer ring on. I'm going to wait untill my grille gets here so I can do it all at the same time.

Hey Just a question Captain. Do you have Side airbag's?

No way Catain - you're not getting off that easy (with a couple of pics).

Lets hear the step-by-step how to on pillar tweets. :D

(You know they're going to ask!)

No, I dont have side airbags. Pulling the A pillars out is simple. At the top of the A pillar is an oval cover, pop it off .I used my fingers but you can use a flat head if you want. Inside is a T15 Torx screw, remove it. Grab at the top and pull. About halfway down is a clip that just pops out. At the bottom there is a female slot in the dash that a male side on the A pillar slides into. Be carefull when you pull it because of the tweeter wires. Disconnect the plug. The tweeter is held in by two T10 Torx screws and uses the same black and red wires as the sub (Black is + Red is -). From there do as you want. I had to cut two large holes in the A pillars to fit in the tweeter housings. I wanted to keep the fact that they are adjustable so I used the Audiobahn surface mounts. After I cut a large enough hole and had the housing in place I went out and test fitted them so I could properly align the Audiobahn logos. I notched the plastic so the tweeters were flush then wired them up and reinstalled them. Not hard what so ever. The hardest part just like the grille was chopping up the factory parts. It is so much easier chopping up someone elses ride. :D :beer:

See that concern's me. Becasue I myself did get the side air-bags I would hate to pull off that pannel and have a problem.

I don't think you'll have a problem. But then again I'm not a pro, I'm just a guy with a little bit of knowledge and experience.

Earlier my discusion with snksknr94 made me think that I should better describe myself and maybe I shouldn't have just said wire in the tweeter. You are also going to have to wire in a capacitor unless you want bass coming through your tweeter if you go the aftermarket route. The Chevy factory tweeter has one built in as you can kind of see from the pic. I put in an inline one instead. Unless of course your puting in a crossover or matched component set.

I was kind of wrong. I am kind of having clearance issues with the sub. Not that it doesn't fit but it is vibrating the hell out of the factory Pioneer grille. That will go away when I put the Audiobahn grille on. I just have to deal with it for the rest of the week. :mad: Or just cut it out now and leave the sub exposed for a week. :roll:

I thought that would be the case. From your pics it appears the surround on your Audiobahn sub would be rubbing against the stock grille area. Remember, the stock sub has that foam ring to reduce vibration. Cutting it out and swapping grilles should alleviate the problem.

Then I can fasten it down to the foam ring around the Audiobahn sub.

I got my grille today, well actualy two grilles because they only come in a two pack. I don't think I am going to get a chance to put it on this weekend because there is supposed to be a storm front moving through with lots of snow and blowing snow. :mad: Hopefully the weather man is wrong like usual. :roll: I went out to check clearance with the back shelf. I will have no problems. I can still put the shelf in both up positions. :thumb:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture207.jpg
It looks so much better than that plastic Pioneer grille and will get rid of the vibration in the factory grille. :bow:

Yeah last week I had some shopping bags and the bag was next to the rear sub and it was making a funny noise. I thought it was funny

I got the grille on today:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture231.jpg (http://photobucket.com)
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture232.jpg (http://photobucket.com)
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture237.jpg (http://photobucket.com)
I also found where they list that the Pioneer system is 2 ohms:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture228.jpg (http://photobucket.com)
The bass is way deeper now. I polyfilled the box and the whole panel has been fastened down to the box. The bass is really deep but not boomy, it's really tight. That's exactly how I expected it to sound. I am now very happy with my system. I might change it all again someday who knows. It sounds 1000% times better than when I brought it home from the dealership! ;)

Also I have some shots as proof that the rear tray still works in both positions:
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture233.jpg (http://photobucket.com)
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture234.jpg (http://photobucket.com)
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture235.jpg (http://photobucket.com)
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/amarini/Picture236.jpg (http://photobucket.com)
I also took a bunch of shots of how to take the sub box out. ;)

Very cool, CH - Looking great!

Best of all - it takes up a lot less room than mine:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/2178000-2178999/2178189_17_full.jpg

I just ordered another single Pioneer 10" sub in a thin-line enclosure for those times I need to haul stuff. I know there will be times that the Audiobahn dual sub box will just have to go. Makes me wish I would have ordered the 7-spkr setup and done the sub like yours (the rest of the system would have been a waste of $$$ for me though...).

Good job! :thumb:

I was sponsored by audiobahn with a focus i had and i liked everything i had. I won a lot of car shows with the set up we had in it with also the other 12 sponsors that help us get to the leave.

I was unsure about them at first untill actually checking out their products. They make high quality stuff for decent prices. I couldn't be happier with my decision. When I get to the stereo on my Malibu I'll be using Audiobahn again. Same with I decide to upgrade the system in my HHR again.

The sub grille looke great CH! Thanks for the photos and the how-to in the other thread. I am glad you showed how the rear tray is still mobile and the sub grille does not interfere with it.

CH - Can you move the tray to both positions with the seats up?

The tray works in all positions with the seat up or down. No clearance issues with the tray what so ever.

capt'n, could you have installed the tweeters without doing any cutting? I really want to keep the stock look.

If I haVe to cut for them and decide not to put the new ones in, would the stock tweeters work ok with the new doors and sub?

You said that the doors were crap, but what are the tweeters like?

And how do you attached the capasitor(??)?

Never had to do anything like this before. I'm not worried about the rest of the install from what I've done before and from what I've picked up here.

I've pretty much gotten the same set-up as you except they've stopped make the sub that you have, got one very close to it though.

You just attach the capacitor to the positive wire. I have since switched to Scosche highpass crossovers. I had a Radio Shack two seconds away so I took the easy way out for a couple of days rather than go to the stereo shop at the time. :red: I didn't think that part through before the install, I realized it after I had started to cut the A-pillar covers. :lol: You're not going to harm anything leaving the factory tweeters but they won't sound as good as aftermarkets. The factory tweeters are specially made to screw into the A-pillar cover so there is no way to mount aftermarket tweeter the same way short of making a custom bracket. I thought about it but decided screw it, I don't care about cutting my HHR up or keeping it stock. It's not that hard to cut the holes. :smile:

Thanks:bow:

Looks like for now its gonna be the stock tweeters.

There is an install shop I've used, might talk to them about making a bracket.

No one likes the Pioneer system? I think it sounds great. I love it so much, but my "bass needs" I think are a lot less than what others want. Most jazz music is mixed or re-mastered with a boost in lows anyways.

No one likes the Pioneer system? I think it sounds great. I love it so much, but my "bass needs" I think are a lot less than what others want. Most jazz music is mixed or re-mastered with a boost in lows anyways.

Just look at the difference in the aftermarket speakers versus the factory speakers and you'll see why. :roll: The factory speakers are crap. ;)

Just look at the difference in the aftermarket speakers versus the factory speakers and you'll see why. :roll: The factory speakers are crap. ;)

Well compared to my Intrigue's stereo it's the shit, and it's standard. I love the rear subwoofer, the automatic volume control (A Godsend), and the tweeters as well. Plus, I get much more control over the EQ. Nice. Too bad it isn't a Bose system. My father had a truck with the Bose system in it, it sounded so pure and clear and so great. They make the most wonderful acoustic systems I've ever heard. I vote Pioneer as a close second (Since they are in my father's new car as well and sound as good as the HHR) but I think it all has to do with the separation of the signal like they do now, at least into three sections: high (tweeters), mid (standard horns), and low (sub).

Whatever HHR I ever get, the stereo system will be maxed out. I drive too much, and love music too much not to treat myself.

No one likes the Pioneer system? I think it sounds great. I love it so much, but my "bass needs" I think are a lot less than what others want. Most jazz music is mixed or re-mastered with a boost in lows anyways.

Hey, I love the in-dash for all of the features you mentioned and then some. I think my favorite is being able to set up the presets so that you can mix xm, fm, and am all on the same line. By the way I love having the xm radio. I got a delphi xm 2-go for Christmas and love it. I've got like 10 or 12 xm stations on my presets. Not a whole lot of jazz stations, watercolors is great and I love frank's place.

But on topic now........

As capt'n showed with his how-to, the door speakers are crap. and like you I like a deeper bass. So I'm just upgrading the speakers. Down the road if I do anything more it will be to boost the porwe of the Pioneer.

And since I don't know a whole lot about doing mods and upgrades, I'm picking and choosing some of the things that I've seen others here do. I'm kinda copying the speaker set-up of CH's. Good idea why not copy it! (hope ya don't mind capt'n, and if ya do :p: )

i have picked up audiobahn for a sponsorship i am doing 6 12'' awes12p etenals 4 sets of 6 1/2'' comp. 3 a18001dt 2 channel amps 2 a2505 4 channel amps 1 set of 4'' comp. ax380 eq 4 tv's dvd player I was sponsored by them last year and I loved there stuff so this year i am going all out

thanks phillip

i have picked up audiobahn for a sponsorship i am doing 6 12'' awes12p etenals 4 sets of 6 1/2'' comp. 3 a18001dt 2 channel amps 2 a2505 4 channel amps 1 set of 4'' comp. ax380 eq 4 tv's dvd player I was sponsored by them last year and I loved there stuff so this year i am going all out

thanks phillip

How'd you get the sponsorship??:eek:

Did you already have the 7-speaker system?

Yup.

Captain,

Where did you get the speakers, and do they do installs?


Joe