eBay offers every imaginable car audio in-dash unit and speaker system. Your ultimate fantasy sound system on wheels is only limited by your imagination. But how far can you take your automotive audiophile dreams? For inspiration, let’s take a look at one of the coolest vehicular subcultures: the mobile DJ studio.
> Check out the impressive selection of car audio in-dash units available on eBay Motors - opens in new window or tab.
The annual SEMA aftermarket show provides a slew of innovative mobile DJ project builds from Toyota (and its Scion brand that was phased out in 2016), as well as Kia, Honda, and Nissan. The trend started more than a decade ago, when FiveAxis—a car design and fabrication house based in Fullerton, Calif.— cranked out a series of custom Scions.
FiveAxis Scion DJ xB
FiveAxis rocked SEMA 2005 with the tangerine metallic DJ xB, which featured a slide-out rear tailgate/DJ stand equipped with Pioneer car audio gear - opens in new window or tab. and a DJ turntable system - opens in new window or tab.. The DJ xB’s rear doors swung open to reveal a quartet of matched Pioneer speakers and tweeters - opens in new window or tab. encased in unique enclosures on each side. Dynamat insulation - opens in new window or tab. was used throughout the vehicle.
FiveAxis Scion DJ xB 2.0
The company took a completely different path with their Molten Lava Red FiveAxis DJ xB 2.0 four years later at SEMA 2009. They sliced the xB’s roof down the middle to create two massive fold out speaker/podiums, with the DJ booth contained within the vehicle. xB 2.0 was equipped with a pair of Pioneer CDJ 2000 Professional multi-players, along with a DJM 800 Digital DJ mixer and a 2,000-watt loudspeaker system. The Pioneer DJ turntable system slid out from under the roof.
Nissan Juke Box
When it comes to pure power, Nissan’s Juke Box is a monster. Ministry of Sound packed the Juke Box concept with an 18,900-watt sound system with two 18-inch subwoofers - opens in new window or tab. capable of producing a mind-boggling 150 decibels. The Juke Box’s DJ booth seperates from the car. The system was built to hit the road, touring Europe in summer 2012.
Nissan e-NV200 PART
The Nissan e-NV200 PART e-Van holds a unique spot in our list of mobile DJ builds as the only fully electric vehicle. A rooftop DJ booth sits beneath a solar canopy and pumps the tunes through a 14,000-watt sound system. The e-NV200 PART e-Van rolls with its own LED dance floor and beverage-stocked refrigerator.
DJ Booth Kia Soul
The Kia Soul’s boxy proportions provided inspiration for RIDES Magazine. The magazine removed the Soul’s roof, splashed the exterior with a vibrant purple hue, and packed the boxy little beast with a window-rattling Pioneer sound system to create one of the loudest cars at SEMA 2013. A professional-level Pioneer CDJ music player and mixer channeled the tunes through the five-amp system into four Champion Series subwoofers - opens in new window or tab. and component speakers - opens in new window or tab., along with an additional sound bar with four coaxial speakers - opens in new window or tab. all contained within the aqua accented cargo area. An additional four speakers are nestled behind the front grille.
The control-room rooftop of the Kia Soul DJ
Toyota Sienna:Remix
Toyota pulled the wraps off the 2015 Sienna:Remix concept at the 2014 SEMA Show. The brilliant red Sienna was built by West Coast Customs and sponsored by SiriusXM.
The Sienna:Remix’s cabin contains a complete DJ booth. A 360-degree A/V column rises above the roof, with a speaker array that includes four subwoofers and sixteen individual Kicker speakers - opens in new window or tab.. A pair of 40-inch LCD monitors graces the front and rear sides, while LED light bars - opens in new window or tab. add visual excitement to the flanks. The Sienna’s rear hatch is mounted to a bed slide - opens in new window or tab. unit. When the hatch is slid out, it reveals a trio of speakers on each side. The sound system is powered by five amplifiers and tweaked by a pair of 32-band equalizers - opens in new window or tab..
“Our team seized onto Toyota’s Swagger Wagon concept to build a DJ minivan that is completely unexpected and sounds like a party ready to start,” said Ryan Friedlinghaus, chief executive at West Coast Customs. “As a parent myself, I love the idea of combining fun and music with family life,” he said. “Modifying this Toyota Sienna really let our team get super creative with sound, light and look.”
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.