So, I was looking around, didn't see one and I know few of the members here have their custom setup. I was hoping this will be a basic guide and suggestions to members like me looking to get their own aftermarket audio setup.

***Great Audio DIYs***
1) DIY Aftermarket amp and power wire intall (w/Pics)

Let me start by laying my plan out there.

Currently
All stock, non-nav, non-ML

Plans:
VAIS VML Kit
(1) JL 12W6v2 Subwoofer
(1) JL 500/1v2 Amp

What do you have or plan to have?

 

No navi, no ML.

Installed:
Scosche SCL4 LOC
Elemental Designs 13Ov.2 X2
Elemental Designs NiNe.1

My amps and subs came from my previous car. They were sitting in my garage for years until I recently decided to shove them in my trunk.

Plans:
In-dash Navigation

 

it's been around for a while
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...our-setup.html

here's my set up https://www.clublexus.com/forums/lex...with-pics.html

 

^^^Hah, Thanks I think I might have missed it when I did my search... I guess we can detele this thread... BTW Sffd, I like your setup... I might not go that far with the custom design, thinking of keeping it Stealthbox style...

 

Gil...I had the JL 12W6 in a factory JL box with a JL 500/1. Perfect setup with just enough bass. Kept all factory speakers (non ML) and it still sounded good at the time.

 

^^^ That's awesome news... Hey, I never done this before... I plan to have my buddy run the wires... but what all do I need to get?

 

ehhhhhh, that's when I go see my homies at the stereo shop I've done 3 systems with. I don't play with all that. I know it's some like 4 gauge wire from the battery to the amp and a fuse at the battery and a couple other small wires. That's all I know. Sorry bro.

 

^^^No dramas man, I guess I will have my buddy take it to the shop then... He works in one and I trust him... I should be getting back to the states within a month or so, so we will see when I get back... I think I am going to keep the options of having the 12W6v2 and the 500/1, since all I am looking is for the extra kick that the stock radio is not giving me... when I am ready for the big boys' show I upgrade the setup

 

heres my setup i did about a year or so ago...they say change is good .... JLw6 10" x2 . Arc Audio amps. Focal K2 Power 165 KRX3 6.5-Inch 3-Way Component Speaker interior.

 

Make sure you check this out, if you haven't already: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...x-is-back.html. That box houses the JL 12w6 perfectly.

Here's my system to give you some ideas: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...s-of-pics.html. I went for the stealth look as well, and only lost ~4 inches of trunk space, and retained full access to the spare.







PS: Maybe you should retitle your thread to "Advice on my sound system" or something.

 

You need:
-A power wire (gauge size depends on how much you plan on feeding the amp. 4AWG is plenty for most systems.) that's long enough to run to your amp. A fuse needs to be along the power wire, close to the battery (~12" from the end).
-A ground the same size as your power from the amp to a good ground location for a clean signal.
-A LOC (line out converter) to convert the factory amp signal into an RCA output to connect to your aftermarket amplifier. Also needs some small speaker wires to splice the amp connections and run it to the LOC
-You need some speaker wires (smaller gauge, like 16-22AWG, depending on what you want) from the amp to the subwoofer.


That's all I can think of at the top of my head, wiring-wise. Your buddy should be able to run all the wires with ease. I've only done a couple stereos before, and I didn't have much trouble running the wires on my IS. The LOC was what threw me off the most.