Wicks' E46 M3 Build. Hertz 3-Way Set from Tony D!

[Wicks]

Sweeeeeeet !!!

Wicks ? how did you go about ordering your SMD RCA cables?

Ordered through eBay.

If they're custom, I added a comment in the order with the details.

I emailed Steve through WCCaudio first to work out the details.

Let me know how it works out!

I took a BUNCH of detailed measurements on mine to compare them with other cables and the SMD's are sweet!

I'll get into more details when I post up some installed pics on them.

[soundstream15]

This is one hell of a nice build!!

Keep up the good work!!

[Wicks]

Hey man that is a sick as car, I am deff wanting to see the cables and the rest of the work to come.

Very Nice

This is one hell of a nice build!!

Keep up the good work!!

Thanks all

How about a little cable update......

[Wicks]

Finally time for an update or two.

So I gave RG6 cables a try and really didn't like them.

WAY too stiff and problematic.

Bye bye RG6......

Since it was so stiff, I need to use some 90 degree connectors to get the cable cleanly inserted into the back of my HU.

Well these cheap little connectors have a tendency to fall apart.

More evidence that you really shouldn't skimp on your signal cables.

Hello SMD Coax!

Notice the white band around the cable? Doubles as a cable label since you can write on it (F, R, SUB, etc.). Very handy!

I haven't been able to try them out yet as I'm still in the middle of fabricating some framework in my trunk but I did take some very detailed measurements on the cables that I can share.

I compared my 16' and 20' SMD cables against a very generic, plain 2-wire 8' RCA cable and then against 20' of RG6.

These were all taken with an "LCR Meter" which is basically a "grown-up" version of an SMD IM-SG and MUCH more expensive.

For the average Joe, an IM-SG is a very handy piece of equipment, but you can't beat having an LCR meter handy.

An LCR meter measures inductance (L), capacitance © and resistance ® at any frequency between 10Hz-2MHz.

Here's a chart on some of the basic numbers:

Key points:

The 20' SMD cable had similar series resistance measurements to the much shorter 8' RCA's.

The SMD cables had pretty flat numbers across the frequency spectrum (20-20kHz) whereas the RG6 started having some issues at the upper frequencies.

Note: None of the cables looked "bad" or anything and I'm not hating on any of them. I only wanted to show some detailed measurements and stated that the SMD cables do look better than some of other options.

Maybe I'll dig around in my pile of old wires and see if I can measure some more cables for more of a apples-apples comparison...

BTW: This doesn't even touch the important issue of noise rejection when the correct cable is used.

I didn't have a chance to run a separate noise measurement on the cables as I wanted to get the SMD cables installed and get that complete.

I'll see what I can come up with in the future.

[HunterJohnson]

very clean wicks I like it!

Did you notice any difference between the cables, or just easier to work with?

[Wicks]

very clean wicks I like it!

Did you notice any difference between the cables, or just easier to work with?

Thanks.

Haven't listened to the new cables yet, but they are very flexible and nice to work with.

The slotted outside connectors bite down pretty hard so you have to be very careful to pull on the housing and not the cable.

Very handy to be able to write directly on the cable rather than use some tape or custom labels which could easily pull off.

The only possible criticism I could give is that those handy white bands around the two cables do catch on things behind your dash when you're pulling the cable through.

Hopefully I'll get them in use soon.

[scooter99]

SO WHAT'S IN THE TOOLMAKERS BOX!!!??? Can't wait to see you back at this. WOOT!

[Wicks]

SO WHAT'S IN THE TOOLMAKERS BOX!!!??? Can't wait to see you back at this. WOOT!

Showing it now would ruin the anticipation!

I have some good stuff upcoming, assuming I can ever get some of my trunk framework done and out of the way.....

First time I've ever really dressed out a trunk so some things take a couple iterations.

I made some good progress last weekend on some stuff I've been thinking about for a while.

So assuming our weather behaves, there should be some good updates in the near future.

[scooter99]

Well I'll be here then. Hoping to get more work done on mine soon as well. I'm very excited with what's upcoming. I don't know that I've ever done such an involved build before. Can't wait to really dig into it!

[Wicks]

The forecast for the weekend is 20 degrees and snow

So.....no building for the me.

Might as well toss up some quick updates then.

Gluing some 1x2 boards together for some framework in my trunk

Putting my pocket-hole bit to better use

Laying the pieces out to get an idea of how I can frame out my highs amp.

Using a template to get an idea how it will look

Getting there

Came up with a creative idea rather than just screwing the amp to a panel

Used my router to remove a small indent

Screw on a hinge

Here's the basic layout

Any ideas on what I'm planning...?