Model 3 Sound Project
After months of effort, days of writing, and countless hours researching, I'm finally ready to share the Model 3 Sound Project.
From the project overview:
These posts are my way of documenting my journey, a journey I didn't make alone. I'd like to thank all of the members who have contributed to my knowledge. I especially want to thank Travis Llado for his impeccable 9-part series on the subject. These people have been my guides and saved me immense time. I hope these posts give back so that others can benefit from everything I learned along the way.
The project consists of these parts:
Project Overview
How the project came to be. Direct links to all the articles.
Enclosure
Ported vs Sealed. How to build a custom enclosure for the 3. How to make your box almost 50% lighter!
Storage
It is possible to have a large enclosure without totally giving up on storage. Here's an easy way to create some space while also making a form-fitting shelf for the Model 3.
Power
Power is one of the most challenging things to get right in the Model 3, but I strive to get this down to a science. I show plans for a compact yet highly reliable trickle charging circuit as well as provide a photographic map of where everything connects in the car.
Tap and Layout
Did you realize that nobody seems to completely agree on how to tap the stock subwoofer? In this post I cover my tap as well as how (and why) I arranged the equipment the way I did.
Level Control
Without a dash, finding a good place to mount the level control can be a bit of a task. Several users have documented where they mounted their RLCs, but I never saw how anyone hid the connection box or routed the wire. I cover both in detail.
Retention
Did you know the Model 3 Performance edition can accelerate at 0.83 G's? Watch a video of what happens when an enclosure isn't anchored down, then a look at (non-damaging) ways to fix it.
DSP
Even if you don't read any other posts, this is the one to see. I'm sure you've seen people say things like "There's a ton of bass, probably too much" or "It's really boomy, I need to make some adjustments". When I first finished my install I was not happy. It didn't sound right at all, and no amount of messing with gain or low-pass filter could fix it.
I finally sat down and learned how to use a DSP. The good news is that subwoofers in the Model 3 can be tuned to sound amazing. I've done all the legwork and I provide you with the only file you need. This mod will run you about $100 bucks, but it's worth every penny and I have the science (and photos) to back it up.
Calibration
Do you have a Model 3 without premium sound? Or do you have any other vehicle that you'd like to DSP like the article above? This final post shows how to calibrate any speakers for any vehicle using the same hardware and a $90 microphone.
I had fun with this project and I learned SO much. Thanks again to everyone who helped along the way, and if you have any questions at all please don't hesitate to ask!
After months of effort, days of writing, and countless hours researching, I'm finally ready to share the Model 3 Sound Project.
From the project overview:
These posts are my way of documenting my journey, a journey I didn't make alone. I'd like to thank all of the members who have contributed to my knowledge. I especially want to thank Travis Llado for his impeccable 9-part series on the subject. These people have been my guides and saved me immense time. I hope these posts give back so that others can benefit from everything I learned along the way.
The project consists of these parts:
Project Overview
How the project came to be. Direct links to all the articles.
Enclosure
Ported vs Sealed. How to build a custom enclosure for the 3. How to make your box almost 50% lighter!
Storage
It is possible to have a large enclosure without totally giving up on storage. Here's an easy way to create some space while also making a form-fitting shelf for the Model 3.
Power
Power is one of the most challenging things to get right in the Model 3, but I strive to get this down to a science. I show plans for a compact yet highly reliable trickle charging circuit as well as provide a photographic map of where everything connects in the car.
Tap and Layout
Did you realize that nobody seems to completely agree on how to tap the stock subwoofer? In this post I cover my tap as well as how (and why) I arranged the equipment the way I did.
Level Control
Without a dash, finding a good place to mount the level control can be a bit of a task. Several users have documented where they mounted their RLCs, but I never saw how anyone hid the connection box or routed the wire. I cover both in detail.
Retention
Did you know the Model 3 Performance edition can accelerate at 0.83 G's? Watch a video of what happens when an enclosure isn't anchored down, then a look at (non-damaging) ways to fix it.
DSP
Even if you don't read any other posts, this is the one to see. I'm sure you've seen people say things like "There's a ton of bass, probably too much" or "It's really boomy, I need to make some adjustments". When I first finished my install I was not happy. It didn't sound right at all, and no amount of messing with gain or low-pass filter could fix it.
I finally sat down and learned how to use a DSP. The good news is that subwoofers in the Model 3 can be tuned to sound amazing. I've done all the legwork and I provide you with the only file you need. This mod will run you about $100 bucks, but it's worth every penny and I have the science (and photos) to back it up.
Calibration
Do you have a Model 3 without premium sound? Or do you have any other vehicle that you'd like to DSP like the article above? This final post shows how to calibrate any speakers for any vehicle using the same hardware and a $90 microphone.
I had fun with this project and I learned SO much. Thanks again to everyone who helped along the way, and if you have any questions at all please don't hesitate to ask!
