A client from Newtown recently contacted Extreme Audio to inquire about upgrading the stereo in his 2015 GMC Sierra Denali pickup truck. The client had already upgraded the truck with new wheels and tires, a suspension lift and running boards. He came to us for help making the audio system sound great, and he wanted us to add some accent lighting to enhance the truck’s appearance. After inspecting the vehicle and auditioning several speaker and subwoofer solutions in our showroom, we put together an impressive upgrade package for the client.
GMC Sierra Denali Stereo System Upgrade
The project started with the removal of the factory speakers from the doors and dash of the truck so that we could install Audiofrog GS-Series speakers in each location. We got going with a set of the brand new GS25 midrange drivers and a pair of GS10OE tweeters in the dash location. We angled the tweeters so that the sound they produce would bounce off the glass and improve performance at the top of the audible spectrum. Next, we installed a set of the three-way GS693 6×9-inch speakers in the front door locations. The last step was to deploy a set of GS62 6.5-inch coaxial speakers in the rear door locations.
Foam acoustic coupling rings around the door speakers serve as a flexible gasket that presses up against the factory grille. This gasket helps focus sound energy into the vehicle to improve performance and reduce distortion. We also added a piece of damping material between the speaker mounting adapters and the door skins to act as a gasket.
ARC Audio System Amplifiers
The sound system features a pair of the new ARC Audio Arc Series amplifiers. We installed an Arc 1000.6 six-channel amp in the middle of the back wall of the truck and an ARC 1000.2 two-channel amp on the right side. The six-channel amp is outfitted with one of ARC’s IPS8.8 digital signal processors. A PAC Audio AmpPro AP4-GM61 interface extracts a high-quality audio signal from the factory source unit and feeds it to the ARC Audio amplifiers. This particular interface features a TOSLINK optical output. We used a fiber optic cable to connect the interface directly to the input of the DSP.
Mobile Audio System Tuning
We used the IPS8.8 digital signal processor to configure crossovers, signal delay and equalization for each of the six speaker locations and the subwoofer. Speaking of subwoofers, a pair of JL Audio 12TW3-D8 subs are mounted in a vehicle-specific custom enclosure in the rear bench seat. The enclosure is finished in vinyl with stitching that matches the rear seats perfectly. We mounted one of the ARC Audio LR1 remote level controls on the left side of the dash and configured it to serve as a subwoofer level control for the system.
If you follow our builds, we usually configure the front of a vehicle like this with a midbass driver in the door. The client wanted to be able to play his music with the doors open and have it sound great. He also wanted it to play nice and loud and sound good while driving. We used a full-range speaker in the front doors and created two configurations with the processor that the client can select using a rocker switch labeled Party Mode at the bottom of the dash.
Show-Quality LED Lighting Upgrade
Once we had the audio system installed and tuned, our technicians turned their attention to installing an XK Glow LED lighting system. Our team installed almost 10 yards of lighting underneath the truck and in the front grille. We also added a set of LED ring lights to light up the Chrome Fuel Triton D609 wheels. Using an app on his smartphone, the client can set the color and an optional lighting pattern for the under-truck lighting and the wheel lighting.
Another Happy Extreme Audio Client
When the lighting was finished and we had given the audio system in this GMC Sierra Denali a final listen, it was time for the client to return to Extreme Audio to pick up his vehicle. He loved the way the stereo sounds and thought the lighting was perfect. If you’re interested in upgrading your vehicle, drop by our store in Mechanicsville or Midlothian. You can also reach us by e-mail using the contact form on our website.
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