High-Performance Audio Upgrade for Manchester Chevrolet Tahoe

A client from Manchester brought his brand new 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe to Westminster Speed and Sound to talk about an audio system upgrade. The client had just taken delivery of the vehicle, and while he loved its size and capabilities, he wasn’t impressed with the audio system. In his words, “It needs more bass, better clarity and needs to play louder.” After inspecting the nine-speaker Bose audio system, we put together a plan to deliver the sound quality and output capabilities the client wanted.

Factory Radio Integration

The first step in upgrading the sound system in this Tahoe was to install a ZEN Audio interface from NAV-TV. This interface communicates with the original-equipment radio in the dash. It provides us with a full-range analog output that we can feed to new amplifiers and signal processors to enhance the audio system’s performance.

JL Audio and Match Amplifiers

The output of the ZEN feeds into a Match UP 7DSP seven-channel amplifier. This compact amp can produce up to 65 watts per channel to the midrange drivers and 130 watts to the doors’ woofers. The amp also has a subwoofer output that we used to feed a JL Audio XD300/1 amp. Aside from impressive power from a small package, the Match amp’s real benefit is its internal digital signal processor. Our team configured the crossovers, level controls and equalizers to ensure that the signal sent to each speaker in the SUV is optimized. The result is a very realistic listening experience that’s like sitting in a living room or at the console of a recording studio.

Our team created a new mounting plate to serve as a home for the factory amp and the JL sub amp. Everything is tucked behind the trim panel in the rear of the vehicle to keep things neat and tidy. We mounted the remote level control for the sub amp in the center console. This remote allows the client to fine-tune the amount of bass the sub adds, to suit the music that’s playing or his mood.

JL Audio and BLAM Speaker Upgrades

The front door speakers were installed on custom adapter plates.

Custom tweeter adapters were fabricated for the dash.

The JL Audio subwoofer was mounted in a downfiring enclosure.

The icing on the cake for this audio upgrade project was a set of new speakers from BLAM. Our technicians created mounting adapters for the Live-Series 6.5-inch component speakers. The 1-inch tweeters are mounted in the dash, and the woofers are mounted on expanded PVC adapters in the doors. We treated the doors with a layer of sound damping material to help improve the speakers’ performance and reduce noise transfer into the vehicle.

We installed a JL Audio 10W1v3 10-inch subwoofer in a low-profile enclosure that fits in the Tahoe cargo area. The woofer fires down into the floor so the owner can stow cargo on top of the enclosure without any concerns of damaging the sub.

Maryland’s Car Audio Upgrade Experts

With the tuning complete and the vehicle reassembled, the client returned to Westminster Speed and Sound to hear the new stereo in his Tahoe. He loved the clarity and was amazed at how much better it sounded. If you don’t get goosebumps when listening to your favorite music in your car or truck, drop by our store and let us show you how we can upgrade your audio system. If you can’t visit the store, give us a call or send our team an e-mail using the online contact form.