A client from here in Jacksonville recently dropped into Audio Designs and Custom Graphics to inquire about improving the bass performance in his 2018 Chevy Volt. We had a look at the client’s vehicle and discussed the types of music he enjoyed and how loudly he listens. Armed with that information, we suggested that adding a dedicated subwoofer system to the factory radio and speakers would be a reliable and cost-effective way to give his car audio system the performance we wanted. We sketched up a solution for the client and provided him with a detailed quote to complete the upgrade. He loved our plan and gave us the go-ahead to schedule an installation appointment.
ARC Audio XDi V2 Series Subwoofer Amplifier
We started the project by installing an ARC Audio XDi650.1 subwoofer amplifier under the driver’s seat in the vehicle. This amplifier is designed to produce up to 650 watts of power when connected to a 1-ohm load. which is an impressive amount of output from the small 9-by-6.26 footprint of the amp.
Other than the fact that it sounds great, one of the reasons we chose this amp is that all the power, signal and output connections are on one side of the chassis. This design allows our installers to face the connections away from any passenger who might be in the back of the vehicle to make sure his or her boots or shoes can’t damage anything. Once we had all the wiring connected and the crossover and level controls on the amp configured to work with the factory radio and the new subwoofer, we put the factory floor mat back in place to protect the rear of the amp from scuffs and scratches.
Custom Phantom Fit Subwoofer Enclosure
The client wanted amazing bass in his Chevy Volt, and as we mentioned, really didn’t want to give up any storage space in the hatch of the car. Our fabrication team set to work creating one of our Phantom Fit custom enclosures for a single 10-inch Audiomobile GTS 2110 S2 subwoofer. This compact enclosure is created using stacked layers of MDF that are cut on our CNC router to ensure solid performance and reliability. Each layer is optimized to maximize the internal air volume of the enclosure so that the sub will produce as much low-frequency output as possible.
To install the subwoofer system, we trimmed a little bit of the black foam at the rear of the trunk and slid the enclosure into place to the left of the factory 12V battery under the floor of the trunk. Even with a protective mesh grille installed on the Audiomobile sub, the floor sits perfectly flat and in its original position.
If you have a 2016 through 2020 Chevrolet Volt and are interested in purchasing a Phantom Fit enclosure like the one we built for this client, visit our online store to order one.
Expert Audio System Upgrades by Audio Designs and Custom Graphics
What sets our team of technicians apart from our competition is our attention to detail. As you can see from the photos and our YouTube video below, all of the wiring for the amp is integrated into the vehicle in a way that makes it blend with the factory wiring. We use automotive-grade cloth tapes to bundle and protect the wiring and ensure it stays in place with no buzzing or rattling while driving. The amp and enclosure are mounted securely to the vehicle and, just as the client requested, no space was sacrificed in performing this upgrade.
The owner was absolutely thrilled with the sound of his stereo system and blown away by our ability to produce this level of bass performance without taking up any space. If you live in or near Duval County, drop by Audio Designs and Custom Graphics in Jacksonville to find out how we can improve the performance of your audio system as we did for this 2018 Chevy Volt owner. Our team will listen to your request, then work with you to design an upgrade that meets your expectations and requirements. If you’d like to schedule a consultation, give us a call or send an e-mail using our contact page.
Email: info.audiodesigns@gmail.com