Advice Needed for DIY Sound System

Hey guys, hope everyone is enjoying their Ridgelines. I went to a JL store(Signature Audio in Scottsdale, AZ) today to inquire about the cleansweep. The owner suggested that because the Ridgeline has a factory amplifier, that I'd also need to get the summoning module. I'm wondering if this really will make a huge difference in sound. I have an older ppi amp, pc 4200(4 channel, 50x4), and a ten inch image dynamic sub that are just sitting in my garage. I'd like to put them to use with the cleansweep(maybe summon module?), but I've never installed car audio before and would like to know if it is really difficult to install what I've described. I know it'll probably be cheaper to get the cleansweep on Ebay, but at the same time I'm not really sure if this is something I should be doing myself. Any advice or encouragement is appreciated.

I didn't know what the summing device did until I read about it. It stitches together the output of a lowpass and a highpass to give a full range signal. As far as I know, the RL headunit output for Front and Rear is not filtered. Many say the output is equalized but I think the outputs are full range. The sub output is probably filtered (low pass) but I don't see why you would sum that signal with the doors.

I don't think you need that device.

Unless you have the NAV unit - I simply don't think the factory headunit is worth saving. The cleansweep is a fine device but it is $300-ish. You can buy great headunits for that much and retain steering wheel controls.

is there a thread on here that lists what radios will keep the factory steering contols?

is there a thread on here that lists what radios will keep the factory steering contols?

I don't think so. But the Pacific Accessory Corporation (PAC) makes the SWI-ALP interface box and it supports certain Alpine, Kenwood, and JVC units. They make another unit that transmits infrared to the headunit but that seems a bit fussy to me.

I use the SWI-ALP with my Alpine HU and am pleased with it...

I'm not aware of any radios that directly support the RL steering wheel controls.

PAC's website is www.pac-audio.com