Hi all

I've just "some" money for tunning, but my heart would also like to hear little bit of more power in audio :-))) Anyway....Can you please all help me to advise best audio solution for 2.500 up to 3.000 usd ?

The only criteria I have is that solution must support mp3. If possible I'd like to monitor audio controls from OEM controls...

BOSTJAN

 

You installing yourself? Or pro install?

 

OK, I plan on submitting a proposal. I am going to a BBQ now, I will do it later tonight or tomorrow AM.

We should have a beuaty contest! Is it possible to have a multi-choice poll?

 

OK, here are two systems:

Audiophile Tweak system using OE head unit:

Subs: 1 Adire Audio Shiva 12" sub. Custom small sealed box required. $125 ea. (adireaudio.com)

Mids: Vifa MG14 5-1/2 Mid in the F door ($90/pair), Vifa p17 in the by-nine holes in the rear deck, $80/Pr at Parts Express.

Tweets: Vifa D26 soft-dome neo, $52/pr at Parts Express

A JL Audio 300/4 for the front doors and the tweets and a 450/4 for the rear deck and the 12"s. $465 and $575.

An Audio Control EQS as a line driver and 6-channel EQ. (Run the four channels from the head unit into the EQ and take the rear our of the EQ to the sub am and use the fader as a bass level control). $265.

IF YOU HAVE NAVI, in the storage pocket, I would use an Alpine DVA-5210 DVD/MP3/WMA player on the AUX input. $400 street price for the DVD, $150 for the SHOND adapter, and around $400 for an RGB converter for the Nav system. Then the Alpine DVD will serve as an MP3 Audio and a DVD Audio/Video source to your OE head unit. If no navi, maybe the head unit in the system below?

Figure $200 for wire and cable, and you have $2950 in parts. If you want to have it professionally installed, then save on the amps and go with someone cheaper (make sure the xovers on the amps you pick go up to 4-5K though). Or save by getting rid of the Alpine and using an iPod.

Off-the-shelf system:

Alpine Type S seperates: $200/pair
Alpine Type S coaxials $100/pair
JL Audio 12W3: $200
Alpine 5-channel 450 amp: $500
Or
Alpine CDA-9815 MP3/CD player: $500 (XM tuner seperately)

There are two ways to go with the head unit: Run the OE head into the Alpine, use the Alpine to run the system. Run the Alpine into the AUX port, use the factory head to run the system (retaining steering wheel controls and Navi override if you have Nav).

Add a Peripheral sttering wheel control interface http://www.discountcarstereo.com/detail.aspx?ID=110 $60.

Add $140 for wire and cable and you have $1700 (plus either a SHOND or an Alpine adapter for running AUXes into the head unit). Spend the rest on box and install.

 

I would get.......

Eclipse CD8454 - $500
Morel MT22 Tweeters- $125
Focal 6w2 6.5" Midbass - $236 From http://www.zalytron.com/
Adire Bramaha 12" - $379
JL450- Not sure how much? 575?? or TruTechnology 4.100v2 - $600
Linear Power 2.2HV - $375
5 Gallon of Liquid Deadner - $220
Wiring - $100



Thats about 2500 dollars.

 

Tuan...you do installs, or just know a lot about stereos? I might need to make a trip when I'm ready to upgrade the sounds. Between you and some info ACC has passed, you guys know some good quality stuff to buy.

 

I can do installs but it isnt fancy looking....HAHA im more of a techy guy, and I can tune really well. If you want come down Ill tune your system. If you want some speakers or HU I can get most at cost. Let me know.

 

Will do.....any updates on the gasket yet?

 

I was shocked to find out Linear Power was still around. Guess there are benefits to staying at a manageable size. Almost brought them into my store once in the late 80's, but went with Zapco instead.

Always heard good things... but my understanding was that they were not big on protection circuits. As long as a VC didn't short or a wire short of a noobie wire anything wrong, they worked fine. Of course, that's probably old and invalid data anymore.

Hey, tuan, in all sincerity, you seem to be a big believer in more power in your system recommendations. You have any rule of themb that you use for power (cause you always seem to go with more than I do). Just wondering - not arguing, just wondering.

I was also surprised to see no eq. (?) Does that mean you would put the morels down low?

 

Whauuu...Thanks for this info so far! I rellay appriciate it...

Elduderino,
- I would rather go to pro engineer to install this solution so no problem also to add some 200-400 usd..
- I have NAV in my car... so that means I need to look for Alpine DVA-5210 DVD/MP3/WMA player ?

 

The Eclipse 8454 has a built in para. Eq, time alignment, and xover. Nice all in one unit. I like Eclispe HUs better than the Alpine's because their EQs are more flexible. Not saying that the Alpine is a bad unit. If you like Alpine however I suggest the 9835.

More power is a good thing. Music passage will be more dynamic and subs will have more output. Not that you will use all the power, but headroom is good. You cant ever really overpower anything, just gotta keep the gains down. The morel's can go pretty low for some compact tweets. They are really nice and natural sounding if that is your taste. The Vifa xt19 are really good tweeters too. Eldo, I believe your Alpine type X tweets are the rebadge Vifa xt25. Btw....I have nothing against you either.

Cmf... Ill ship tomorrow so you should receive it Tuesday. Been kinda lazy.....

 

Yeah, I was pretty impressed with the Fs of the Morel - you could cross it over at 2k and feel comfortable. That tweet could probably throw a strong front vocal stage in the TSX dash.

They do look similar.


Peace, out.

 

Well, you need to make a number of choices:

If you are more attached to audiophile-grade high-fidelity sound, you probably want to run the Navi head unit as a source to another head unit such as the Alpine or Eclipse. Then a real high-grade pre-amp is sending the signal to the amps in the back.

That Eclipse tuan mentions is a fine head unit - not sure if it offers an AUX in, but I hope so. If you go with the Eclipse, definitely get rid of the Audio Control piece I mentioned. Less engine noise risks.

If you are more attached to the factory operation and look, especially the navigation voice feature (I use navi but usually with the voice off), then adding an external MP3 disc player as an AUX source is a better bet. I just picked the Alpine because I like the idea of having DVD audio and video on screen in the car from the same unit. I would use the Eclipse mini-size DVD drive, but it does not play mp3s according to their web site.

The other day I ran a 1k sine wave through the factory head unit with the volume set to 40 (max), and got less than 1V peak to peak on the output to the amp. But no clipping (Fluke Scopemeter - pretty sine wave). What that tells me is that the factory head unit is fairly clean, but needs a line driver if used to drive aftermarket amps. If you are not a sound-quality audiophile guy, then it's OK to use the head unit... just add a line driver like the Audio Control Matrix or the Phoenix Gold LD66.

BTW, many install shops dread having someone come in with their own gear... but I have no idea how they are in Slovenia. Are you really in Slovenia? Wow. It's important that you use gear that your installer is comfortable with... or if things go wrong, he might blame the gear instead of taking responsibility and fixing it.

I think that tuans system should sound really good - I really like the specs on those morel tweeters.

 

Elduderino,

Thanks very much for this info.