My new baby is getting the Cambridge Car Audio treatment next week. I'm going to try to talk them into taking some photos during the install.

Equipment List:

JL XR650 Components in the front
JL TR650 Co-axials in the back
JL 10W1v2 Sub in a custom stealth cabinet
Kicker 405D under false boot floor
ART Macromix mixer in arm rest
Traffic Master SmartNav
Nokia CK7W car kit in leather matched console
Steering remote to Sony adapter
Mk.2 empeg in the factory position

The install should be quite discrete. Almost no aftermarket equipment will be visible without lifting or opening something. The car kit is the exception but the matched console should help. We couldn't find a stealth box for the XK8 so CCA are going to make one.

We're running the empeg front channels, nav, phone and ext source jack through the mixer into the amp front and rear channels. The empeg rear will go to the sub channels. The nav and car kit have high level outputs so they run through a line level converter before the mixer. The ext source will be a 1/8" jack socket for connecting an MP3 player or somesuch.

Anyone see any gotchas with this setup? It's the first install I haven't done myself so I'm slightly nervous!

Rob

Nice pic! Cool car.

Is there a manual transmission available on the XK8 in the UK?

Wow, Rob. Nice ride. Finally, something that suits you.

Looks like a nice setup. Be sure to post some pics Can't wait to see the results.

Anyone see any gotchas with this setup?

Kicker 405D under false boot floor

Is there enough room/airspace/circulation that overheating will not be a problem?

Your installation differs from mine in one major respect: my stereo system is worth more than my car is. That hardly seems the case with yours. Very sweet ride, Rob!

tanstaafl.

Are you powering the mixer right off the switched power wire? If that works well I'll certainly be adding one to my car as it's a great solution for the nav/telephone.

Matthew

So - given favourable circumstances, why not come to the Empeg Owner's Meet (coming SOON to a venue in Cambridge, UK) and see the install for yourself?

Congratulations on the new car. You've obviously earned it. I must say, that is THE most beautiful car on the road today (which can reasonably be obtained; the Aston Martin DB9 edges it out slightly). At least you aren't stuck with the less-than-beautiful new XK like I'll be when I finally have money and success enough to afford one. I'll be taking copious notes on your install in the off chance a 2005 XK8 is still available in, say, 6 years.

So the mixer plan has been aborted. The ART mixer I bought turns out to be "dual mono" not stereo. This means it has stereo inputs which it combines, runs through a mono mixing path and outputs to two mono connectors wired together. I can't begin to imagine why.

I picked up another mixer from a nearby Maplins but it's physically large, and I think it may be mic level inputs (even though the spec sheet doesn't say as much). So, with my car sat around in pieces and installers looking irritated, I've abandoned this part of the install. The 3.5mm jack will connect to the empeg aux input, and the car kit and nav unit will have their own speakers behind the dash. Maybe I can do it properly another time.

Overall it's still going to rock though! Should be ready tomorrow

Rob

Now I'm sorry I linked it. The one you linked earlier (http://www.douglas.bc.ca/ceit/pdf/equipment/Rollsmx122man.pdf) would almost certainly have done the job.

Oh well. It'll be a nice birthday present to have it all done.