So i've been trying to keep this thing on the hush hush but my mind keeps wandering and my motivation isn't all there. so here is the new system plan

back story:
i had my car in at the mechanics to get a clutch problem fixed, when they put the car back together they cracked the radio surround. At the same time a fellow member was selling an alpine pxa-h700 that i could go digitally from my pc to the processor and finally get 4 volt output to my amps. well i redid the radiosurround to incorperate this and apon installing it i realized i didnt like it. the best part about my old install was the clean and uncluttered look of it. With the screen, the 1 din processor controler and the ac controls it was a little to squished for my taste (though a lot of people liked the way it looked)

onto dash v3. went back to the old look but refined a bit and here is what will be added to the whole system:


a/c controls: at first i started to build a custom interface for the ac controls (think ipod) that would fold back to show the processor controller. But this had all changed when i found my new amps. for now i'm going to just give it a mild update. I'm going to do the led mod and also add a ring that lights up from red to blue around the ****.

amps: well the xtant is in my room and in its place i purchased two tube amps from phaze/butler. they have balanced xlr inputs which opened up some possibilities for me. these two amps will be powering my front stage. I'm taking the phoenix gold out of retirement for the subs

soundcard. well the xlr's allowed me to get a professional soundcard with balanced outs. i found an echo gina 3g card that has 5.75vrms balanced outputs. so bye bye alpine pxa-h700.

pc case. with the xtant out of the picture I'm going to have to make a new pc case. i got some aluminum to match the phaze amp shroud and now i just have to find someone to bend it to match the contours (fej...can i send it to your friend?)

subs. well i decided on going with four eu-700's installed in custom boxes molded and carpeted to look oem. they will be in the far rear corners of the car.

the stealth box will be replaced with the pg amp in an enclosure that i havent started the design yet. I think i'm going to have the amp either
black chromed, painted to match the car (most likely not), or powdercoated black.

amp rack.... not ecactly sure. i have the base built but not sure how i want to finish it.

front speakers, sticking with my cdt's and i may put another set of eu-700's in the doors but crossed over to make them a mid/bass driver rather then a sub.

additional pc goodies. I'm going to build an i-drive control (audi) and place it where the cupholder is. this will let me have quick access to the main features of the computer without taking my eyes off the road.

sound deadening...v1se all over

thats it

no more secrets

 

ok whats all that mean in english?

 

Flipping WOW........ That sounds friking AWSOME.... Tube Amp's from phaze/butler......Talk about clear....I would love to hear some horn's blow on that front stage...... please post some pic. scott... This thing will be world class.........Here is to you bro.

 

O ya, I don't want to here about you "takin' a wiz" ( My wife was laughing at that one)......Good luck....

 

thanks...i think i decided on what i want to do with the pg amp while i was walking the dog...i'm gonna have it float

 

put it up on flat black rods and let it hover....

 

COOL!
Much of this set up has been my dream system for some time.

Tube amps to handle everything north of mid bass and good ole solid state to handle the thunder.

Then, a multi channel component set of the best speakers my $$ could buy.

The tubes gotta sound sweeeeet.
Pics will never do enough justice to seeing the set up and hearing vocals come out smooth as silk.

Since I put the McIntosh on the Utopias and Bostons, I've been poking around Butler's website to see what they have brewing. I'm almost ready to finally dump my rear speakers.
Keep us posted brutha!
Scott

 

Damn sounds sweet bro. Always thought about messing with tube amps, that should sound really cool. Voltage boost will help keep those tubes from trying to work too hard as well

If you can mock up a cardboard version of what you want, my buddy can make it. If you want I can toss you his number and you two can chat about what you are trying to accomplish.

G'luck on this .. my drive home from dinner with the parents was a constant stream of listening to the tweets, deciding if I was happy, and thinking of somewhere new to mount them. Thinking maybe some upstages in the corners and letting my midrange play up to about 7k heh.

Fej

 

awesome suggestion! i think that will give the exact effect i'm looking for. i also decided to dump the case and go purely circuit board look...in honor of the pc.




thanks guys i dont know why i'm doing it all over again..i was never unhappy with my last setup...when you become single again you have a lot of free time that you need to occupy My one issue is that i wont be able to tune the system that well in it's current state of planing. i'm giving up the h700 and with it goes a great amount of adjustability. I am trying to get the programmer of centrafuse to incorperate vst plugins and then all my problems will be solved. Its only a matter of time but I think it'll still sound sweet.

anyone know of a place that makes custom passive crossovers? I'm planning on making my own but i would like to have some prof. looking ones that i can display with the pg amp.

as far as the tube amps are concerned. i swapped the tube back out with the pg until i finish the amp rack and all i can say is wow! i really didnt notice how much of an improvement it was. I went from the pg to the xtant and then the tube. they all sounded great and each one of them sounded better then the last, but i was never sure if it was all in my head....IT WASN'T! cant wait to get it installed

fej. i can send you buddy the amp shroud and material or just the amp shroud if he wants to use his own. an email address would be best but if he'd rather talk on the phone i could do that too. thanks

oh...and i just emailed knukonceptz about wiring (i gotta jump up to 1/0 guage) i asked them to go over my parts list and they actually found a way to save me money....they rock!

 

I'll be a friend and kick you in the pants

Be sure and take pictures during the installs

Best wishes

 

That sounds sick.....No wonder you cant get goin on this project, your always on this forum you crazy guy....SHow us some pics as you start putting these things in, or as they are being built.

 

Because you can!!!!

.

 

i decided to make my own speaker rings... fun fun, first time i used a router and THOSE THINGS ROCK. The rings came out great, there were a few kinks but mdf sands so smoothly they were quickly overcome. Tomorrow i just have to 1/4 round the edges, make the box top and bottom and then it's off to resin and fleece land. I'm actually enjoying the fiberglassing, which amazes me. Also i just placed my order for 6 eu-700 6.5" woofers. there will be 2 per enclosure and then one in each door (x-overed for midbass) I'll take pics of the boxes on sunday and post them...if they came out well :-)

 

finished the rings, i'll post pictures tomorrow if anyone is interested. I (finally...woops) figured out the rough volume per enclosure and it looks like i am well in the clear. depending on the final design i could have as much as 1.25 cu/ft per encloser...since the min requirement for thee 6.5" in a sealed box is .2 I think i'll be in the clear and be able to angle the box and shape it the way i want and will flow with the rest of the install. the improved looking design got me to about .55 cu ft per and that is gonna be great.

I also just put in the order for some 1/0 wiring and what not form www.knukonceptz.com jeez...my wiring cost half as much as 6 woofers!!! but it's what i'm going to need to flow 200amps safetly.

quick question to anyone who reads this...would you have the rings mounte flush with the side wall of the box or would ou have them stick out a bit? note...these will have custom speaker grills covered in grill cloth... if that alters your opinion

tomorrow i glass the speaker rings to the box. tonight..i go to hollywood to have some JD :-)

 

Hay scott ,
It's sounding awsome so far, There are a few schools to look at when doing grills. One is the flush mount which is what I did. In my opinion it looks class when the driver is flush or mounted below level. The reason is that I no it takes more work to get the speaker down there then if you just mount it over a hole... If you look real hard you may notice that my drivers are about a 1/8" below level......Could there be some custom hand made grill's in the future??????????

Just my opinion......

 

thanks wiz...i actually am mounting them like you pictured. i hope to get the tops of the boxes bonded today and then it's off to fleecing the fronts

 

So stop posting about it and get to work slacka$$ !!

Fej

 

And where are the pictures at....
Things must have went good in Holywood last night....... are we a little foggy today?

 

heh..yeah..i'm getting up now...had to let the JD wear off a bit more this morning

 

I was waiting to see some pics too

I agree with Wiz about mounting flush or even below. I think it looks better that way. Plus the extra work and forethought needed to do a flush mount is recognized by car audio enthusiasts. Anyone can just screw it to the surface of the box.