A client from Amelia recently visited Extreme Audio to inquire about upgrading the car audio system in his C5 Chevrolet Corvette. He wasn’t impressed with the volume capabilities, clarity or bass extension of the factory-installed Bose audio system and wanted to upgrade the technology in the vehicle to include smartphone integration. After inspecting the vehicle, we showed the customer several source unit, speaker and subwoofer options on the displays in our showroom and explained how we could integrate those into his vehicle. He was particular about who he let work on his car, but after seeing examples of our work and listening to our system design and installation philosophies, he trusted us with his vehicle.
Audiofrog Speakers and JL Audio Subwoofer
No single component in an audio system is more important than the speaker you use. Our client wanted better clarity than the Bose system could offer, so we suggested a set of Audiofrog G60S 6.5-inch component speakers. The G60S set includes a pair of 6.5-inch woofers, 1-inch tweeters and passive crossovers for each of the four speakers.
We removed the complex and heavy Bose speaker enclosures from the doors of the Corvette and created a set of ABS plastic mounting plates for the new Audiofrog components. We never use wood for our speaker adapters. Wood can swell up, deform and become moldy when exposed to water in the door.
We added HushMat sound deadening to the door skins and a set of Fast Rings foam baffles around the woofers to seal the new speakers against the door panels for better performance. We replaced the rear speakers with a set of Audiofrog GS62 6.5-inch coaxial speakers so the music would wrap around the driver.
The client chose a JL Audio Stealthbox called the SB-GM-VET/10W3v3/BK for his car. This subwoofer system is designed and manufactured in Florida and is specific to this generation of Corvette. The subwoofer system includes a single 10W3V3 10-inch subwoofer in a fiberglass enclosure that fits into the storage compartment at the rear of the hatch area.
ARC Audio System Amplifier
The new speakers are powered by an ARC Audio X2 850.5 five-channel amplifier that we mounted in the storage compartment in the corner of the cargo area. This amp delivers an impressive 85 watts of power to the front and rear speakers, and a hefty 400 watts to the system subwoofer. We love using five-channel amplifiers because it reduces the wiring complexity and speeds up the installation process. We used Stinger power wire and interconnect cables to connect the amplifier to the battery and new radio that we installed in the dash.
Sony XAV-AX5000 Multimedia Receiver
The last step was to replace the factory radio with a Sony XAV-AX5000 multimedia receiver. This new car radio includes a 6.95-inch touchscreen display and offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. We mounted the radio in the dash of the vehicle and ran a USB extension to the cigarette lighter plug location to make it easy for the client to connect his phone.
If you haven’t used CarPlay or Android Auto before, you should check them out. These phone connectivity solutions use voice recognition to allow to you send text messages, make phone calls, and choose music or streaming audio services without having to navigate through menus on the touchscreen. You can even get turn-by-turn navigation instructions using Apple Maps (iPhone only), Google Maps or Waze. All three solutions include real-time traffic flow information to ensure you get to your destination quickly and safely.
Corvette Audio System Upgrade
With the equipment installed in this Corvette, our technicians finished the installation by configuring the ARC Audio amp to work with the Sony source unit and new speakers. This is an important step in ensuring the upgrade sounds good and can play loudly without distortion.
The client returned to Extreme Audio to hear the system for the first time and was thrilled with the performance. He loved the clarity and detail of the new speakers, and the subwoofer was the icing on the cake in terms of impact and realism.
If you are in the Richmond area and want to upgrade the stereo in your car, drop by Extreme Audio, give us a call or send us an e-mail using our contact page.
I’m curious if the install of this head unit requires replacing the waterfall portion of the dash console to give room for the double din screen? Im considering this same upgrade myself in my 2000 Corvette and wasn’t to know if I should plan on the extra cost of the new console component.
The dash panel was definitely replaced with a new panel. This one used a Metra DP-3021B
I have the same model Corvette and want to upgrade my stereo since my current stereo is horrible. What is the cost of a setup like this?
This particular system ran just a little over $4k installed. Naturally there are quite a few variations available that could be done for more or less.
Is there a particular wiring harness that needs to be purchased in order to hook up am aftermarket head unit? I’m looking to replace all my speakers and head unit along with the center console. I keep seeing wiring harnesses to keep the factory speakers but I’m wanting to replace everything… Thank you in advance.
You’d need the data harness that you’re likely finding to be able to have the radio turn on and off properly. Beyond that, I’m not aware of any amplifier bypass harnesses, so you’d have to manually wire past the amplifier.