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Ford F-250 SEMA Build for Anchorage Off-Road Enthusiast

06/23/2020 By John Schwartz

The fabrication team at Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security in Anchorage was approached by a client to transform his 2017 Ford F-250 pickup into a show truck that was worthy of a spotlight at SEMA. The client had researched the upgrades he wanted for the vehicle and knew that our staff was capable of executing his plan, well, to perfection.

Our fabrication team met with the client several times before the project began to review the audio system, suspension, cosmetic and lighting upgrades he had in mind. Once each aspect of the project was defined, we proceeded to order the equipment required to complete the task. The client wanted the Transformers Decepticon theme for the build. He calls the truck MG8TRON (Megatron), so we incorporated several Decepticon symbols into the build to further the personalization.

Project MG8RON Ford F-250 Audio Upgrade

The first of four categories for the build was to upgrade the audio system. The client envisioned a custom center console in the truck that would include a high-output subwoofer, amp rack, control switches for the lighting and the mandatory cup holders. We started by removing the seats, trim panels and carpet from the interior so we could lay down a foundation of SoundShield sound deadening material through the interior. Once in place, we ran Stinger 1/0-AWG power cable up to the battery and new Stinger RCA interconnects from the radio location to the back of the cab.

The factory radio was replaced with a large-screen Linkswell TS-FDPU12-IRR9 radio that includes a vertically oriented 12.1-inch touchscreen display. The radio feeds a pair of JL Audio amplifiers that power the speakers. A VX800/8i eight-channel amplifier, with its integrated 10-channel DSP, serves as the master signal processor for the sound system. The amp provides up to 75 watts of power from each of its channels. The ninth and tenth channels from the DSP feed a JL Audio HD1200/1 1,200-watt monoblock amplifier that drives the system subwoofer. In terms of speakers, the system uses JL Audio C7-100ct 1-inch tweeters and C7-650cw 6.5-inch midrange drivers and a 13.5-inch 13W7AE-D1.5 subwoofer. Our fabrication team designed a set of custom grilles for the door speakers that include the Decepticon logo, along with adequate openings to ensure that the speakers will perform well.

As is evident from the photos, blue lighting is a critical factor in this truck’s cosmetic design. We integrated two acrylic plastic strips into the outer top edges of the center console and back-lit them with flexible LED strip lighting. A large acrylic Decepticon logo in the center of the console was created using our computer-controlled laser, and it’s also back-lit with blue LEDs.

We added a Compustar remote car starter with one of its amazing 3-mile-range T12 two-way remote controls. We also installed a Momento M6 dashcam system to monitor everything going on in front of and behind the truck. The battery was upgraded with an XS Power Group 34 AGM battery to ensure that the truck will start reliably.

Ford Super Duty Suspension Upgrades

The client wanted the truck ready for extreme off-road duty. We can attest to the fact that this vehicle was not built as a mall-crawler in any way. The suspension upgrade is based around a Stryker Off Road Design Identity-Series kit. The Stryker kit features a four-link design for the front and rear axles. In fact, the only components in the suspension that remain original are the axles. The track bar, driveshafts, steering knuckle, brake lines, tie rods, pitman arm and all their associated hardware were replaced by our team. The kit also includes a dual front stabilizer kit and external-reservoir coil-overs with an external reservoir shock absorber in each corner.

The client chose 20×12.5-inch Dick Cepek DC2 wheels and had them upgraded with bead locks to hold the massive Mickey Thompson Baja Claw 46-inch tall by 19.5-inch wide tires. We upgraded the wheels with new TPMS sensors so the client can easily monitor tire pressure.

An SCT GTX Programmer and engine monitoring system was added to revise the transmission settings for the massive wheels and allow the driver to keep tabs on the engine status.

High-Performance Body and Lighting Upgrades

The chassis of the truck was upgraded with a Warn Ascent front bumper and a Warn Zeon 12-S Platinum 12,000-pound winch. A matching Ascent rear bumper completes the look. We added an Addictive Desert Designs Honeybadger chase rack with its matching roof rack upgrade. We added Decepticon logos to the sides of the chase rack to follow the theme of the build.

The fenders were opened up and trimmed with Fab Fours Open Fender System fender flares. A T-Rex Torch AL grill replaces the original unit in front of the radiator. A tire carrier in the back of the bed carries two extra wheels, should something unfortunate happen on the trails. We also added driver- and passenger-side storage boxes from Undercover to the bed of the truck. Last and certainly not least, we added a set of Kleinn ProBlaster HK-9 triple train horns with their Ultra BlastMaster valve upgrade kit. The horns would startle a locomotive engineer a mile away.

The lighting project on this truck rivals the audio system for complexity. We started by running a heavy-duty power cable from the battery to a Blue Sea Systems 150-amp fused distribution block. From there, power is sent to a relay block with six 30-amp relays. We cut a trim piece for the top of the relay block with our CNC router and labeled the function of each unit.

In terms of lighting, we started with a pair of white SAE-compliant D-Series and amber driving-pattern D-Series pods in the front bumper. A 30-inch Rigid Radiance Series light bar is mounted in the center of the T-Rex grille, and the headlight assemblies have been replaced with upgraded units from Morimoto that use their XB-Series LEDs. Two Radiance+ 50-inch light bars are mounted to the leading edge of the roof rack. We added six pairs of blue Rigid rock lights around the chassis of the truck and another set of D-Series light pods in the rear bumper. We created a power and ground distribution panel inside the chase rack to keep the wiring neat and tidy. As always, all the wire connections we made are both mechanically and electrically secure, and we routed everything to avoid sources of heat or damage from moving parts.

Ford F-250 Offroad Beast!

It took our team about two months to complete Project MG8TRON. The client was thrilled with how it turned out, and we are happy to report that he’s been out bashing it around on the trails and trying to break stuff. That is, after all, why he built it. If you have a dream project for your car or truck, we invite you to drop by Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security in Anchorage and talk to our automotive enhancement experts. You can, of course, send us an e-mail anytime using our contact form to schedule a personal consultation.

Trust the Motorcycle Audio Experts at Perfectionist

06/21/2017 By John Schwartz

When it’s time to upgrade the audio system on your Harley-Davidson, the team at Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security in Anchorage is your motorcycle audio experts. No matter what you ride, we can install or upgrade an audio system that will sound better, play louder and last longer than anything you can buy online or at a bike show. We have decades of experience in designing and installing motorcycle audio systems. When you want the best sound possible for your investment, visit the motorcycle sound system experts at Perfectionist.

Mobile Audio Installation Experts

We don’t do oil changes, sell chrome foot pegs or overhaul motors. We are mobile electronics specialists. Our team understands the unique acoustic challenges and installation obstacles that a dealership or repair shop doesn’t.

Designing an entertainment system for your motorcycle is more involved than picking a package out of a catalog. We work with you to understand how loud you want the system to be, the kind of music you listen to and your expectations for sound quality. Armed with this information and more, we will develop a unique solution that provides the performance you expect, as well as incredible reliability.

The Best Equipment in the Industry

Choosing the right speakers, amplifiers and source units for each client starts with our supplier partnership. The companies behind the products we offer have invested thousands of hours in the design and engineering of premium audio solutions. Audio is not a hobby for them; it is everything they do.

We offer products designed specifically for the motorcycle environment. UV- and water-resistant speakers that sound great and compact amplifiers that can handle vibration while remaining efficient are just the tip of the iceberg.

System Integration, Not Just Installation

We prefer to call our team of motorcycle audio experts integrators, not installers. Professional installation is much more involved than simply turning a screwdriver. We start every project with a thorough inspection of your motorcycle. We confirm that all of the electrical systems are functioning properly and document everything on our tablet-based tracking system.

We protect your motorcycle while it is in our care. We have a large installation area, so other staff members and vehicles stay away from the bike. We prevent nicks and scratches by protecting panels and painted surfaces before we start work. We have safe locations to store seats, tanks and fairings while we work on the chassis of your bike.

We solder all of our electrical connections, then protect them with premium Tesa cloth tape. We secure wiring harnesses in place to prevent vibrations and damage. Once an installation is complete, a second member of our team inspects the project and signs off before the bike rolls out the door. A flawless experience is our mandate, every time!

Proper Tools and Training

Without accurate measurements, troubleshooting a system that isn’t performing as expected is simply guesswork. We have invested in the tools and experience required to make electrical and acoustic measurements of any audio system. We use these tools to confirm that each installation is performing to the best of its ability before it leaves our shop, and we can track down and repair problems with existing systems. A motorcycle dealer simply can’t offer these services.

Alaska’s Motorcycle Audio Experts

When it’s time to upgrade the sound system on your motorcycle, visit Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security. A member of our sales team would be happy to develop a solution that exceeds your expectations for performance and reliability. For more information, send us an e-mail using our contact FORM.

Four Steps to Better-sounding Car Audio

05/22/2017 By John Schwartz

Perfectionist Auto Sound and Security in Anchorage, Alaska, is the well-known destination for audio system upgrades. We work with our clients to ensure the upgrade paths they choose for their vehicles provide excellent value and excellent performance. This article outlines our four-step plan to better sounding car audio system.

Step 1: Add a Subwoofer

Even premium factory audio systems suffer from anemic bass. It does not matter if it’s Bose, Lexicon or JBL – each and every one of them can benefit from adding a subwoofer system. Perfectionist has subwoofer solutions that provide clear, defined bass with output down to or even below 20 Hz.

You do not have to sacrifice your storage space to add a subwoofer. The spare tire well, a storage compartment or under a seat is more than enough room for today’s subwoofers.

Once you have added a subwoofer to your audio system, the small factory speakers are free from the challenge of having to try to produce bass. They can focus on producing midrange and high frequencies with better clarity and more volume.

Step 2: Upgrade Your Amplifier

The next step in the upgrade path is to install an amplifier in your system. Many clients combine this step with the addition of the subwoofer by choosing a five-channel amplifier. Having additional power not only allows your speakers to play louder, but also prevents distortion at high volume levels. Aftermarket amplifiers include electronic crossovers that allow our installers to control the bandwidth of the audio signal sent to your speakers.

Adding an amp will add clarity and detail to your system, and let you crank it up!

Step 3: New Speakers

Once you have a subwoofer and a dedicated amplifier, then it is time to upgrade your speakers. Factory-installed speakers are made from inexpensive materials, usually do not sound great and are rarely capable of getting loud. New speakers will dramatically reduce the amount of distortion produced by the system. New speakers offer smoother and more extended frequency response. Finally, new speakers have much more excursion capability than factory speakers do, so you can use that extra power from your amplifier to play your system good and loud!

Step 4: Signal Processing

The icing on the cake for any audio system is to maximize the performance of each component in the system. We use a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) to compensate for factory speaker locations and acoustic reflections that can wreak havoc with the performance of your system. Once we are done, your stereo will sound more lifelike and sound more realistic. We can tune the system to recreate the sensation of sitting at a live performance with the music way out in front of you on the stage.

Come to Perfectionist for Better-sounding Car Audio

If you are in the Anchorage area, then we invite you to visit our store. One of our product specialists would be happy to work with you to eliminate any weak links in your audio system. We not only sell amazing products, we install and tune them as well. Our installation team has been recognized as some of the best on the continent with a Top 12 Installer award for our installation manager. How we install your equipment is as important as what we install.

For more information about any of our products or services, you can reach us via our online contact form.

Product Spotlight: Audison Prima Amplifiers

05/12/2017 By John Schwartz

Here at Perfectionist Autosound and Security in Anchorage we are proud to be dealers for the Audison line of car audio products. They build some of the finest quality autosound components on the market today including their line of high end bit processors and the Audison Prima Amplifiers.

Audison Prima Amplifiers

Audison offers several lines of amplifiers and the Prima line is optimized for integration into OEM systems, with built in Bit processing to give you a lot of flexibility when adding onto more complex factory systems – or any head unit of your choice. Many OEM systems will use built in crossovers and equalization optimized for the factory speakers and locations. When you decide to do upgrades, even if you are keeping the factory head unit, these signals need to be restored and processed through the Bit system that Audison has built into the Prima amplifiers. The Bit system connects to a Windows based platform to access the features of the 32 bit, 147 MHz processor with a sophisticated 24 bit digital processor. All of this comes in a line of compact amplifiers that will not take up much space and give you a lot of options to find a location to mount.

It has flexible inputs

Even if the factory head unit has separate outputs for different amplifiers and frequency ranges the processor will take it all in. The analog signal is converted to a digital signal for processing – and then the processed signal is converted back into an analog signal to be amplified and sent on to whatever speaker set-up you have. It can even take separate signals for subs, mids, and highs – and sum it all together for a single full-range output. Built in factory equalization can be restored to a flat signal with the de-equalization feature built into the Prima amplifiers.

It has flexible outputs

Once you have converted and restored the signal the Prima amplifier takes it to the next level with individually adjustable channels, controls for parametric equalization, and 68 built in crossover points with adjustable slopes and signal delay. Audison has engineered everything with a logical and orderly set-up and it even includes a set up disc to dial the system in for the very best quality sound.

Several power configurations

The Audison Prima Amplifier line has 5 amplifiers for all the system design flexibility that you could ever ask for. They are available in eight channel, five channel, and four channel versions with built in Bit processors – and a four channel or a mono sub amplifier for additional flexibility.

Come on by Perfectionist Autosound and Security to see the entire line of Audison Prima Amplifiers and let our experts show you what will work for you – or click HERE for more information.

Product Spotlight: Audison SR 5 Amplifier

08/23/2016 By John Schwartz

Clients who come to Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security in search of upgrades to their audio systems trust our expertise and experience to give them the best value and performance for their dollar. To make the biggest improvement to the performance of a factory audio system, we like to start by adding a subwoofer and an amplifier. One amplifier that has risen above the rest to offer excellent performance and value is the new Audison SR 5.

Design

The SR 5 is a single-chassis five-channel amplifier rated to produce 55 watts per channel from the four main channels and 185 watts from the subwoofer channel when loaded to four ohms. When the load is two ohms, power output increases to 70 and 260 watts respectively. The amplifier features high-pass crossovers for the front channels and high- or band-pass crossovers for the rear channels. The subwoofer channel includes a variable low-pass crossover, and the output level can be adjusted remotely with an optional Audison VCRA remote control.

Physical Characteristics

The chassis of the SR 5 is formed out of dense aluminum for maximum heat dissipation. The amp measures 19 11/16 inches long and is 8 7/16 inches deep and only 2 1/8 inches tall. All of the connections are made along the bottom edge of the amplifier, including RCA and speaker-level inputs, power connections, and speaker outputs. The controls for the amplifier are just above the connections and are protected by a removable cover. This cover gives the amp a clean look once it’s installed and tuned.

Musicality

The SR 5 features Audison’s DYNAB output device circuitry. DYNAB controls the bias current to the outputs to balance sound quality and efficiency by shifting dynamically between conventional AB biasing and the efficiency of Class B operation. The result is smooth, natural sound with good efficiency and reliability.

Stop By To Learn More About The Audison SR 5

If you are interested in upgrading your mobile entertainment system, drop into Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security next time you are in Anchorage, Alaska. We would be happy to look at your vehicle and explore different options to upgrade your audio system. We can work with your original factory source unit to maintain a stealth look.

For more information about the Audison SR 5 or any of our products or services, contact us here.