Check out the heart of the installation: Kicker SX amps, Polk/MOMO component speakers, and Kicker Solo-Baric subs artfully arranged in 5 neon-accented fiberglass pods.

Bring on the crowd!
The primary purpose of a show car is entertainment, and, to that end, the Element sports five separate video monitors. You can watch a movie on the KVT-911DVD's screen in the dash, on the Kenwood LZ-601 6.4" monitors in each side door (built into fiberglass pods where the windows used to be), or on the two LZ-701W 7" monitors in the rear pod. No matter where you are in the crowd around the Element, you can see at least one monitor and hear sound from at least one set of components.

The Crutchfield installers replaced the window in each side door with a fiberglass pod containing Kenwood's LZ-601 monitor.

The Element's system projects clean sound at a high volume level, thanks in large part to the Polk/MOMO components. The first component set is mounted in the passenger compartment, with 6-3/4" woofers in the front doors and 1" tweeters in the sail panels. The second component set fires forward from the front of the speaker pod, while the third set, installed at the rear of the pod, pumps out sound to the crowd at the tail end of the vehicle. The Kicker SX700.4 4-channel amplifier drives the two front sets of components (wired in parallel) with 175 watts RMS (at 2 ohms) from each of its front two channels, and the rear components with 85 watts (at 4 ohms) from each of its rear channels.

Six Kicker Solo-Baric L7 10" subs and Polk/MOMO components deliver powerful sound to the crowd at the rear of the Honda Element.

Bass reinforcement comes from a total of six 10" Solo-Baric L7 subwoofers, mounted three to a side. The Kicker SX 1250.1 mono subwoofer amp powers up all six subs with a total of 1250 watts RMS; the subs are wired in a series/parallel configuration so that the amp sees a total .67 ohm load (please don't try this with just any old amp). StreetWires patch cables and power wire provide all power and signal connections.

Watch for the NOPI magazine Honda Element at NOPI competition events across the United States this year.

The crew installed Dynamat in the door panels and speaker pods to keep any vibration and rattling out of the sonic picture. Each amplifier pod (and amplifier) is surrounded by a border of sandblasted acrylic, allowing the StreetGlow neon accents to shine through. The overall effect of the installation in the Honda Element is stunning, and the sound system's power and clarity is awe-inspiring. Chris, Eddie, Jason, and Matthew — that's some beautiful work. Look for the Honda Element at the NOPI Nationals, and check out the feature article in the December/January issue of NOPI Street Performance Compact.