Well, ok.. the pics aren't available yet since the rx8 is still in the shop.. but here are the details of the install and the equipment used.

1) Front door speakers: 6.5" Diamond Audio Hex components with crossover

2) Rear speakers: Diamond Audio M500 (motorsport) components with crossover

3) 2 12w3 JL audio subwoofers customly designed in an ergonomic box to specially fit the trunk.

4) 2 amps, both rockford fosgate.. One is an older punch
500a2 for the subs and an 800.4 (newer) amp for the door speakers.

5) also a Rockford Fosgate Pa2 Line driver 1/2 din EQ with output voltages of 9.5Vrms for front, rear, and subwoofer

They are doing the install using LOCs and both installers have over 15 years of professional experience. They had done similar work in my 2 previous cars and I could not have asked for a better job. They also assured me today that when they return the rx8 (tommorrow), there will be absolutely no sign of an aftermarket system or that the car was actually taken apart.

While they've acknowledged that the system will not sound as well as it did in my grand cherokee, which had an aftermarket HU, they've assured me that it will sound pretty close, especially with the line driver (preamp), and that any deterioration
will be highly negligible.

Pictures will be posted tommorrow =)

 

Sweet! Do you mind posting the cost?

 

$650 for the 2 day, labor intensive install.

All the equipment I listed above I already had from when I put in an aftermarket system into the jeep.

 

So I went today to check up on them and the rx8 (actually I forgot to give them the rear speakers crossover). So they gutted out the entire rx8, heh. Only the front seats and the dash remained intact.. all the other panels, and rear seats were taken apart and laid neatly over a plastic sheet on the ground.

Anyhow they should be finished at the end of the day. When I got there, they were just beginning to build the custom box for the trunk and mount the amps in the well. From what I could tell though, they've so far done a spectacular job and it impressed me to see how much caution and care they exercised in making sure that none of the interior got scratched or scoffed up.

If anyone gets a similar job done, I strongly suggest you call around and find out which shops have a strong reputation for doing a good job. The last thing you want to do is hand over your shiny new rx8 to some rookie "Circuit City" putz who thinks pyramid amps rock

Pictures to follow shortly (too bad I didn't take my digicam over to the shop to get some shots of the install)

 

the rx8

 

The EQ is mounted into the glove compartment where no one has to see... they also forgot to hardwire the radar detector, so I'll bring it back next week

 

this is a volume control for the subs, which is connected to the EQ's subwoofer line-in.. this way I don't have to open up the glove compartment each time I want to change the sub volume and (when the radar detector gets hard wired), I can close the ash tray and no one ever sees it

 

close up the glove compartment, and no one sees the EQ

 

subs

 

I'm probably gonna have something with plexi glass done to cover up the trunk

 

Very nice! I like that sub level control in the ashtray!

 

the hex's sound AMAZING in the rx8 good bye crappy bose