Weight versus vehicle enhancement is a battle that many street enthusiasts consider before modifications. We want it all: light, very effective--and cheap if possible. The affordable power-to-weight winner is nitrous, of course: only a few extra pounds, hundreds of extra ponies, and big-time cheap! Other mods, like beefy rears, bigger axles, cages, etc. aren't as much fun to make, but can be justified as necessary due to power levels, track rules, and safety.
However, upgraded stereo systems are in a gray area. As street cruisers, pulling every ounce of weight out of a vehicle--like the stereo, A/C, and insulation--can turn a pleasant cruise into an uncomfortable experience real quick. But don't forget that you're driving a performance GM, either: adding hundreds of pounds of speaker boxes, amps, and insulation might make music sound great, but it will negatively affect your ride's performance.
As I purchased this 1SC-code "stripper" 2001 Camaro specifically for its rare hardtop and few options--and corresponding light weight--throwing in tons of speaker equipment would be flat stupid. In fact, the previous owner had gone the complete opposite way while attempting to build a race car, as the factory Monsoon deck had been chucked--along with all of the factory speakers--and replaced with an aftermarket deck running two puny front speakers. And this thing sounded flat awful, it couldn't even overpower my exhaust system!
I needed to upgrade, but I had no intention of dropping big money on a new system. And as I live in Queens, New York, the more invisible it could be, the better. So that meant I'd be looking for an affordable stereo system that could be hidden within the F-body's factory interior, and only add a few pounds to the flyweight Z.
During a conversation with C5 owner and Sony employee Andrew Sivori, I told him about my plans for a great-sounding, light weight, and affordable system that could be installed in a way to keep prying eyes away. Sivori, who is a big-time street performance and drag race enthusiast, thought it was a good idea, and the two of us started poking around the Camaro's interior to formulate a game plan. The five-speaker, single-amp Sony system that he recommended is explained in the captions, and it includes products that offer many of the latest and most high-tech stereo features, for only a few pounds more than the factory stereo. And even when considering the amp installation kit, this entire package would run less than a thousand bucks!
So check out the photos and captions to see how it was done. The pros at Car Tunes on Long Island did the installation for me, and did a hell of a good job. But considering that some of you might want to do this type of install yourselves, I've included several handy tips to not only avoid problems, but to maximize your system's potential. Now let's get this F-body rockin'.
Sony's CDX-GT820IP CD receiver ($229) will be the brains behind this system, and it brings serious technology to the table: first off, it has an iPod Direct connection in the rear for your favorite music player. It is Satellite and HD Radio ready, will control a CD changer, and will play CD, CD-R, and CD-RW discs with MP3, WMA, and AAC formats. In the power department, it pushes 52 peak watts x4 (17 watts RMS x4), more than enough with the proper speakers and installation techniques. Three sets of 4-volt preamp outputs (front, rear, sub) provide clean signals. And to make my life easier: a detachable face, CD Text to show what's playing, EQ3 Parametric equalizer offering seven adjustable presets, a front input jack, 18 FM presets/12 AM, a wireless remote, and Quick-BrowZer to search for a track on a CD or iPod by category. That's a lot for that price!
 For crisp front-seat sound,...  For crisp front-seat sound, the XS-GTX1620S component speaker system ($149) was chosen. It utilizes 6.5-inch, two-way woofers for easy door mounting, and 1.5-inch tweeters for crisp highs. Two-way, external crossovers that distribute the lows and highs are included. Sony uses Highly Oriented Polyolefine (HOP) woofers, which are lighter and stronger than polypropylene for better sound. Laminated polyester soft dome tweeters produce clear high frequencies. The crossovers have high- and low-pass outputs with a 5 kHz crossover point. This system will handle up to 60 watts RMS, 260 peak. |  The rear seats get Sony's...  The rear seats get Sony's XS-GT1625A ($69), 6.5-inch, two-way speakers with full-range sound. The secret is in the HOP woofer and High Density Layered Diaphragm balanced-dome tweeter for less distortion. They'll handle up to 40 watts RMS, 190 peak. |  We've gotten the finesse out...  We've gotten the finesse out of the way; now, time for some blunt force: the XS-L82P5 subwoofer ($79). This 8-inch sub is ready for 220 RMS watts--that's up to 900 peak! But this beast isn't without smart features: it offers a five-sided polypropylene cone that limits distortion and allows higher power handling... |