The factory stereo was left untouched to retain the use of the OnStar® system and steering-wheel controls.
In order to preserve the factory OnStar option and a stock look, Chris used a Rockford Fosgate 3SIXTY.2 factory stereo signal processor, which picks up the factory stereo's audio signal from the speaker wires. The 3SIXTY.2 cancels all the factory sound settings from the audio signal and lets the user adjust any of 153 bands of equalization, so Chris was able to tweak the sound for the best possible output. Everything is controlled from a Palm device with Bluetooth® capability, so when it came time for Chris to dial in the highs and lows, he could do it all from the sweet spot in the driver's seat. And when the new owner runs out of radio stations or CDs to enjoy, the 3SIXTY.2's auxiliary input lets him or her add another music source, like an iPod® or satellite radio.
The only hint from the driver's seat of this stereo's potential is the 3SIXTY.2's level control knob molded into the dash. The actual box is mounted under the rear seat (right) to keep it out of harm's way.
"This piece allows the audiophile to tweak to their heart's content," adds Chris. "It gives you six 5-volt preamp outputs, time alignment, low-pass, high-pass, and band-pass crossovers, and 153 bands of equalization, all without losing the factory head unit and more importantly, adds sound quality. We installed the 3SIXTY.2 under the rear seat and custom fabricated a place in the dash below the factory radio to install the level control knob for when you really want to bass it up."
The 3SIXTY.2 made it easy to add more power to the system in the form of three Rockford Fosgate Punch amplifiers. A 4-channel Punch P850.4 amp sends 100 watts to each of the speakers set in the cabin, while a pair of Punch P6001bd mono amps handle the power for the bass. Each P6001bd is pushing a Rockford Fosgate T212D4 Power Stage 2 12" subwoofer for bass that can go from tight to booming with the turn of a dial.
Two Rockford Fosgate P6001bd amps (left) and a Rockford Fosgate P850.4 amp give the stereo the extra juice it needs to power high-end speakers.
For mids and highs, Polk Signature Reference SR6500 component speakers were worked into the factory locations in the front and custom mounted in the rear doors. Chris went so far as to dye the rear tweeters to match the interior for a seamless look. The SR6500s offer realistic sound and clarity to keep up with the heavy-hitting bass coming from the back.
The Polk SR6500 component speakers fit nicely in the front factory speaker locations, and Chris and his team custom mounted a set in the rear doors for a full, rich sound.
