New Car Audio install (Complete DSP removal)

Decided to finally pull the trigger and get rid of the DSP system. The DSP is not as bad as people think, if it only had more bass. However, I decided to modernize the car a bit by having a dual DIN setup and completely remove the DSP system in the car.
The list of hardware:

Kenwood DDX 370 ($299 from Crutchfield and comes with free Metra faceplate, harness, atennna adapter). Kenwood has Apple App interface where it replicates some of the iphone app (Garmin, Netflix, Waze, Pandora, etc).

MB Quart FSB 213 (5.25 woofer, 1 inch tweeter) $57.99 (Sonic electronix)
Crunch P1-650.4 Four channel amp with built-in low/high pass crossover $74.99
Boston Accoustics G110PS enclosed and ported single 10-inch sub $110
Kenwood parking brake bypass $15

Plan is to run two pairs of RCA wires as well as two pairs of speaker wires from the trunk to the dash. The 1/2 channel will be driving the fron MB Quart woofer/tweeter and channel 3/4 will be bridged mono to the single Infinity sub. The speaker wires from the Kenwood unit will be driving the rear stock speakers. I don't care much about the rear speakers are they are just there for "fill".

First was to remove the DSP amp, Subwoofers, MID and business CD, and the front speakers. They were all pretty easy to remove.

Removing the OEM stereo cage is not as easy at it looks. You must basically remove and the upper half of the dashboard to just get that cage out:


Picture below is the Metra Double-DIN faceplate installed. You can also see the two pairs of RCA wires. The speaker wires are not yet fished in.


Below is the supplied Attenna adapter as well as the Metra wiring harness. I will only be using 3 wires from the harness (Ground, Positive +, and attenna remote on), I will not be using any of the speaker wires from the harness as I am running my own wires from the rear.


Test fitting the Metra faceplate trim:


Running the 2 pairs of RCA wires and 2 pairs of speaker wires to the trunk using the existing grommet behind the rear seat:

This is where the amp will reside:

This is one of the original harness (15-pin) I will be tapping into..mainly the power, ground, front speakers, and remote turn on wire.


OEM Tweeter, woofer, and midrange remove from door:


Does anyone know what this wire is for hanging out from the window trim?


To be continued!

Great pictures, thanks!

And yes, the radio cage is a bear to remove.

looking forward to seeing how she turns out

Originally Posted by teklord69

Does anyone know what this wire is for hanging out from the window trim?


To be continued!

Window pinch wire... Stops the window from cutting off fingers.

Window pinch wire huh? I'm always learning something new about this car lol

What is the size? Does it fit without cutting behind? Why didn't you go with one that has navigation & Bluetooth? These are the most features beside the radio, that I use.

Doru, it does not require cutting as the Metra adapter lets the unit stick out a little. Like I said, I have a budget for this system and did not get NAV or bluetooth. I have an iphone anyway so no need to get bluetooth and NAV as I can "replicate" these apps (Garmin) to the Kenwood screen and control it from the Kenwood.

I see. Using apps. I guess that'll work.

The MB Quart speakers are a direct plug-n-play right down to the speaker mounting holes.



Original mid-range removed. The MB Quart tweeters will be replacing it.



The tweeter fits perfectly fine in there and I have it angled slightly toward the driver/passenger.
I feel that the tweeter imaging and separation is better in this location as it closer to the mid-bass.


Crunch Power One 4-channel amplifier. Good amp with lots of adjustability and flexibility.


Amp installed where DSP amp used to be. Front speakers crossovers mounted near amp and tapped to OEM speaker wiring harness.
The Kenwood head unit's amp powered the rear "fill" speakers. While front channel of amp powers the front MB Quart speakers.
Amp will run in 3 Channel mode (3rd channel mono bridged to Boston Accoustics subwoofer box)


Dual-DIN fascia installed.


Everything done, just waiting for the Boston Accoustincs 10-inch sub enclosure to arrive.

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