|
|
Sealing Your Stereo System - Weather Proof TunesHead Unitless Stereo From the January, 2009 issue of Jp By Pete Trasborg
|
|
Two dead head units per year. That is the average price we pay for taking our Jeep off-road. Head units just don't deal well with the dust, dirt, and water that end up inside a topless Jeep. At an average cost of $200-$250 each, we are going through $400-$500 a year just in head units. That cost is even higher when we factor in the number of CDs we've destroyed in the dirt. Well, we've found a solution to dumping money down the drain to have tunes in the dirt. We've done the tape over the slot trick to keep dust out of the CD mechanism, we've stashed the head unit in consoles and other enclosures, but somehow we always end up killing it. So, we've decided to get rid of the head unit altogether. By adding an amplifier and an iPod, we have all the music we could ever want, our CDs stay safe at home, never to be destroyed on a trail again, and our stereo actually sounds better than it ever did. So, check out how we took an iPod, an amplifier, and two pairs of speakers to put together what might be the last stereo this Jeep will ever need.  A 1/8-inch headphone jack...  A 1/8-inch headphone jack to dual RCA jack adapter wire is the key to hooking the iPod to the amp. The iPod's maximum rated output is 2.5V and a typical amplifier's signal input is from 0.5V-5V so the iPod is right in range.  Our 120 Gb iPod Classic puts...  Our 120 Gb iPod Classic puts up well with dust, but for those trips that might mean it gets exposed to water or mud, we got an OtterBox Armor Case for it. The OtterBox is a high-quality case which is shock resistant and waterproof to 10 feet deep. If it rains on our music source now, we don't care, and if the interior gets muddy or dirty, we can hose off the iPod just like everything else.  While the OtterBox has a headphone...  While the OtterBox has a headphone output, it doesn't have a charging provision. We get about two days on a charge, but for longer trips, or trips where we are using the iPod more, we got a DLO AutoPod (charger), and a DLO Action Jacket so the iPod still has some protection. What we've ended up with is the DLO case for use on-road, and the Otterbox comes out when we go off-road.  We went with a JL Audio M4500...  We went with a JL Audio M4500 4-channel marine amplifier. With 80W RMS into 4 channels we have about 5 times the power output of even the best head unit which means we'll be able to hear the stereo even over Swamper Boggers. Also, this amp can accept from 200mV to 8V input signal, which meant we can use the iPod to drive it with no problems.  A big misconception of marine...  A big misconception of marine amplifiers is that they are waterproof. The amp on the left is a regular amp, the one to the right is the JL Audio M4500. A marine amplifier is water and shock resistant. Thanks to heavier circuit boards, a better component layout, and use of stainless steel wherever possible, it puts up with what we dish out better than a regular amplifier. But, without any o-rings to seal it, if you swamp your Jeep to the depth of the amplifier, you will fry it.  The JL Audio M4500 is a 4-channel...  The JL Audio M4500 is a 4-channel amp. So, we had to split the 2-channel signal coming off the iPod. We used these Monster Cable RCA splitters. Anytime you connect two RCA cables, wrap the connection with electrical tape to keep dirt and water out, and to make sure the wires stay connected.  Good wire is the most important...  Good wire is the most important thing in a stereo system. Most of the time installing any stereo is in running the wire, and most of the problems in any stereo come from wire problems. Always feed the amplifier with the largest wire it was designed to handle to avoid overloading and overheating the power wires.  We used our Jeepster to show...  We used our Jeepster to show you the way to lay the wires out to the amplifier. Keep the signal wires away from any power wires, but especially away from the power wires feeding the amplifier. As added insurance against noise, we run the speaker wires down the other side of the Jeep.  Street Wires makes some high-quality...  Street Wires makes some high-quality wire, but the company outdid themselves with this 14-gauge Ultra Cable. In addition to the low impedance of the wire and high-quality insulation that will handle temperature extremes well, it has another layer of insulation that makes threading the wire through tight spots a breeze, and protects the wire better than split-loom tubing could.  Sound at a concert comes from...  Sound at a concert comes from in front of you, so it should come in front of you in your Jeep too. Since we got the Polk Momo speakers off the clearance section on the Crutchfield website, we were able to spring for these MMC5250 component speakers. The separate tweeter mounted on top of the dash makes for a better soundstage and better clarity.  The Polk MMC650 we used for...  The Polk MMC650 we used for the soundbar and the MMC5250 we put in the dash are marine-certified speakers. In a speaker, this means a butyl rubber surround for moisture and sun resistance, a cone that isn't made out of paper (in this case, carbon fiber), and connections and other internal components that are plated to resist corrosion and high humidity.  The amplifier needs a switched...  The amplifier needs a switched 12V signal to turn on. If you leave the amp on all the time, your battery will die in short order. Normally the turn-on wire is hooked to the head unit. Since we eliminated the head unit, we ran the wire to a switch already in our dash, and ran the switch to constant 12V power. That way, if we want the stereo on, and don't want to turn on the Jeep, we can.  The last thing we do, after...  The last thing we do, after all the wires are run and secured, the components are all mounted, and everything is buttoned up is to connect the main power wire from the amplifier to the battery. Mount the fuse block as close to the battery as possible. We used a StreetWires kit which included all the necessary connectors, wires (including the amplifier turn-on wire) and the fuse block. | JL Audio Marin Series M4500 | $369.99 | | Apple iPod Classic 120 Gb Silver | $249.99 | | Polk Momo MMC5250 | $179.99 | | Polk Momo MMC650 | $99.99 | | StreetWires Power Station | $89.99 | | StreetWires UCT14 (speaker wire) | $30.00 | | Monster 1LJRY-1F (RCA Y-splitter) | $10.00 | | Monster Mini-Jack to Dual RCA | $14.99 | | DLO Action Jacket | $29.99 | | DLO AutoPod (car charger) | $19.99 | | OtterBox Armor Case for iPod Classic | $49.95 | | Total | $1,144.87 | One Stop Shopping
You can spend days looking for the right components at the right price. Or you could just get your stuff from Crutchfield. The company has competitive prices, stocks enough items to get the job done, and ships quickly. If that wasn't enough, the tech department is on call free of charge if you ever run into a snag and need professional help. If you are looking to save a few bucks the outlet store (with returns for sale) or the scratch and dent store (with nicked or bruised items) are both great ways to save some cash. After years of wheeling, all of our existing stuff was hashed, so we replaced even the speakers. Here is what we got and what we ended up spending.
|
Crutchfield
1 Crutchfield Park
Charlottesville
Vi
22911
N/A
N/A
www.crutchfield.com
|
Otter Box Products, LLC
|
|
|