Project: I.C.E

[KLP 92]

I have decided to upgrade the sound system in my SEC. I originally had a Pioneer DEH P77 head unit, genesis amps, MB Quart components and a Diamond audio TDX sub.

I have decided to to upgrade to the following:

Pioneer DEH P9R competition spec headunit
Pioneer DEX P9 processor
Genesis 5 channel amplifier
Genesis Dual Mono amplifier
Genesis Dual Mono Extreme amplifier
Focal Utopia Berilyium Active kit No7 3 way components
JL Audio 13w7 Subwoofer

I installed have installed the amps/sub/headunit/processor myself but have left the speakers to NEW IMAGE in Harrow. The doors will ahve custom made fibreglass buils in the door pockets to accomodate the 6.5 inch midbass unit. The 3.5 inch mid unit fitted nicely in the dash and the tweeters are being mounted in a custom made enclosure in the A pillars.

I purchased the Pioneeer head unit from the States as the headunit and processor would have cost me £1300 here. The speakers came from Germany, they retail at over £2k here, but i managed to buy the tweeters and midbass for 1000 euros and 380 euros for the mids.

After the builds are finished, hopefully tomorrow, i will drop the car off to have the interor redone so everyting will look OEM. I am planning to have one of UKs best sounding MBs, will send the car to Prestige to have a full computer RTA to optimise the system for my car.

A few pics of the install in progress:

 

[Doodle]

Not bad at all...looks very impressive

The install in the Integra is now finished, which means I can finish off the install in the C250.

It'll probably be very similar, with Rainbow CMX's in the front, Audison LRX4.5 amp, and I'll keep the old school RF sub that's been doing sterling service since the mid 90's.

The Alpine headunit that replaced the 77MP after it broke once too often will return to the C250 after its brief spell in the Integra.

Just need to build a false wall on the back of the rear seat, and probably buy in a fitted box for the left corner, rather than build it.

 

[grober]

Beautiful installation.

Beautiful installation KLP 92 but I'm not sold on the A pillar speakers sorry. Mind you , I'm a bit of a traditionalist. Is it worth uprating your alternator to drive all this ICE-just a thought.

 

[KLP 92]

Beautiful installation KLP 92 but I'm not sold on the A pillar speakers sorry. Mind you , I'm a bit of a traditionalist. Is it worth uprating your alternator to drive all this ICE-just a thought.

I'm retrimming the whole interior (see thread in Interior section), when the A pillars are done in black you won't notice the tweeters. They look out of place at the moment but its the only place where i can get a decent stereo imaging, anywhere else they sound too bright. Hopefully when after the retrim you won't notice them.

I'm having an old alternator rewound tighter, should be 150 amps.

 

[Alps]

looking good KLP, hopefully you`ll have it finished for the next GTG

 

[Thmsshaun]

Superb. Just what the SEC was missing.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Superb. Just what the SEC was missing.

You wouldnt have said that if you had heard it before!

Sounded good then, this should be amazing.

 

[KLP 92]

You wouldnt have said that if you had heard it before!

Sounded good then, this should be amazing.

It had a very good system already for a SEC. But tre's only so much you can get you of the 4 inch componenets.

I picked the car up last night, spent 2 hours out in the cold tinkering with the settingS on the head unit, adjustng the slopes and cut off frequencies for each driver. All i can it sounds awesome, will sound even better after a professional setup. I'll get this done after the interior is installed as when the pull the headunit out it will lose its memory and will have to be reset anyway.

I am also getting a spare set of door cards and A pillars redone so when i finally do decide to sell the car i can return it to its original condition. I know some people won't like the look of the extra speakers in the doors and pillars, but i love my sound!

 

[KLP 92]

I'm having an absolute nightmare, stuggling to set this system up BIG TIME!!

I've spent the best part of 3 hours by myself today fine tweaking, then a further 3 hours with aka$h, still not sounding right!!!

Moral of the story, i bit off more than i can chew! I think i should have stuck with the passive set up as running it actively is a nightmare (would have saved money on the amps as well!

Looks like i will have to make a trip to Prestige Audio for a full RTA set up (£40+VAT an hour, can take up to 10 hours for a complete tune up )

Edit- a nice guy from Talk Audio forum has offered to set it up for me! Just have to take the car to Harlow to his place, he's got the RTA machine and will do it FOC:bannana:

 

[aka$h]

End result should be something like mine:

Only mine actually sound good

 

[Alps]

KLP, try this guy, he used to work for prestige and has started up on his own, he is the guy who built the original earthquake van!

he has all the RTA stuff and has just finished an install on my mates MK2 golf, awesome, check the website and give him a call, he`s really down to earth and should be able to help!

www.caraudioinnovations.co.uk

 

[bolide]

Edit- a nice guy from Talk Audio forum has offered to set it up for me! Just have to take the car to Harlow to his place, he's got the RTA machine and will do it FOC:bannana:

If that's who I think it is I'm sure he'll do a good job

But bear in mind that RTA and EQ are no substitute for correct speaker choice & placement


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[KLP 92]

If that's who I think it is I'm sure he'll do a good job

But bear in mind that RTA and EQ are no substitute for correct speaker choice & placement


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

I know but to be honest the bass and the tweeters are in the best place, the mids aren't in the best place but by no means in the worse either. With correct time alignment you should be able to overcome it.

I'm off to see this guy, he'll do a basic set up for me.

 

[KLP 92]

KLP, try this guy, he used to work for prestige and has started up on his own, he is the guy who built the original earthquake van!

he has all the RTA stuff and has just finished an install on my mates MK2 golf, awesome, check the website and give him a call, he`s really down to earth and should be able to help!

www.caraudioinnovations.co.uk

Just spoke to Paul, really nice knowledgable chap! Prestige quoted me £320+VAT for a full setup, he quoted me £80 .

Needless to say the car's booked in for in a few weeks time, after i get the interior done.

Cheers mate!

 

[Alps]

KLP, no probs mate, hes a good bloke had a really in depth chat with him when I met him at TRAX, he really knows his stuff, my mates mk2 Golf sounded awesome, really clear!

let us know how you get on!

 

[KLP 92]

A quick update/

 

[Doodle]

It's that infuriating point where adjustability works against you. I've just swapped the HU in the Integra from an Alpine 9855 to one of the new Pioneer 9800BT units.

Both units are very (and equally) as adjustable....just in different ways

Muggins now has to start again, and make the HU do all the crossover work, rather than leaving this to the amp.

 

[KLP 92]

Top end SQ gear is really designed for a dedicated sound enthusiast who has alot of knowledge with this type of equipment. To be honest i personally think with so many features and limitless possibilites, i'll struggle to find a sound that i'll confidently be happy with. Its easier to use passive speakers!

I will most probably sell the DSP and buy some apssive speakers. That way i can also sell one amp and end up with a better sound and change left over.