You boys thought I listened to la-la music? Not! Well here is my final decision for an audio system. All I need to do is meet with the install specialist/audio engineer. This guy has got a resume that would get anyones attention..but enough about him.
Here are the 'magic words' that should cast a smile on many an audiofile's face. :yesnod:

Head Unit: Kenwood eXelon KDC-X817 with Sirius satellite radio :)

Components: MBQuart Ref. series 216 with Dynamat sound barrier :D

Subs: MBQuart Ref. series 10 inchers (two of them!) in separate custom enclosures :eek:

and the 'piece de resistance'....Amp: ZAPCO Ref. series 360...detect a theme ;)

I would like to thank Kale, 92TripleBlack, NastyC5, even 99HT, and all that taught, guided, and put up with my many questions & postings. I definitely blew my budget, but what girl doesn't. :rolleyes:
If I fail to wave, sorry, I'm in my own world. :cool: For those about to rock.. :flag


[Modified by NRage, 11:17 PM 4/25/2002]

 

I've read quite a few stories about quality issues and cut-outs with kenwood head units on sounddomain.com and caraudioforum.com might want to do a search for that unit on those forums for any stories.

here's a link to a dman good head unit, for a damn good price
i just bought one
http://crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-g5Y...300&I=020HXD10

MB Quartz, very nice. Did you listne to them? they have a very sharp tweet, might want to make sure it's the right tweet for you.
They are hard to beat for $200!!


Your system is going to ROCK. :)




[Modified by Kale, 10:23 PM 4/25/2002]

 

Thanks for the "heads-up" on the head unit. All the pieces to my new system are coming from an audio dealer, not on-line. I decided to pay a little extra to get the full (immediate replacement) warrenty.
Yes, I did listen to the components. They were not as 'brassy' as Focal Polyglass or Polykevlars (Utopias are too pricey). The electronic guru/owner said that 1)the lower door placement and 2)the amp's 'tunable' abilities will give me sizzling cymbals, snappy snares(drum), and excellent overall SQ. The 7" mid/bass drivers should compliment them beautifully. Not to mention (this is the silly girl part), the face design/layout on the H.U. is something that inticed me. The two 'circular elements' mimic my Borla XR-1 tips and the red lights go well with my Torch red 'Vette (its a nail polish & outfit coordination thing ;) ). I was able to 'talk them down' on the Kenwood since it was their last one/last years model. By paying retail for all the other pieces I was able to keep the installation fees from getting ridiculous. One thing I learned through all this is that there is always going to be a compromise somewhere (unless your're wealthy :p:).


[Modified by NRage, 12:04 AM 4/26/2002]

 

Good, good. I can't wait to see your install. :)

Brassy is a good way to describe Focal's lesser tweeters.
:cheers:

You've got good solid, reputable components all around.. I think you'll be really happy with it.
:D

 

Congrats, I'm glad you chose to spend a little more money for better quality.
:flag

 

Sweet!

 

I just found this on Sound Domain, Might want to take a look at it before you buy that head unit
http://forum.sounddomain.com/ubb/For...ML/006669.html

 

Wow..5 people out of how many decks actually sold? looks like Kenwood builds decks like Chevy builds 'Vettes. :lol: I too have a two year warrenty! :D Hopefully my feminine touch won't destroy the faceplate mechanism like some of the monkey fisted dudes..pushing on the faces like they've got a point to make. :nono:
Lets keep our fingers crossed a plane doesn't fall, from the sky, on top of me..it happens, but not to everyone. (NOT a 911 reference!! relax) :rolleyes:
Thanx again for the extra information. :yesnod:

To all: smooth roads, gentle curves, and sunny skies...now take your babies out and "let 'em loose". :cool:


[Modified by NRage, 4:14 PM 4/26/2002]

 

A little off the subject, but I sold Focal and the brassy sound of the tweets can be eliminated by installing a piece of trunk liner carpet in front of the tweeter. Kinda sad you pay that much for a componet setup and have to modify it, but for the midbass of the polykevlar 6.5" a small piece of carpet is a small sacrifice.

I actually had the kevlar 6.5" midbass driver with a JL audio tweeter in my last ride. The best of both worlds. To bad I had to try riding the center median with that car. :eek:

 

Duuuude. Thats nuts..paying big bucks for speakers then putting carpet over them. :crazy: Also, save the ultra hairy 'trick driving' for the race course..'Vettes on the medial barrier :nono: :nono: :nono:

 

I honestly think Focal sells Utopia to parade around town, and all the rest to make enough money to do that. I guess it's like Porsche's 911, and Porsche's Boxster. I loooooooove the TN51 tweeter (utopia set), super smooth.

 

My kenwood skipped and the number 6 preset would have to be pushed in really hard for it to work. The alpine I have now is definitely of a higher build quality. But if you are buying and installing at the same place, then it really doesnt matter because they should fix it no questions asked. MB quarts sound incredible to me.

 

I'd swap to an alpine unit. They are supposed to come out with a really sweet one any day now with MP3 and DVD. Look at the 7878 or 7977. I'd also test a few other subs first. MB makes good mids and tweets but like A/D/S they aren't known for their subs. Maybe look at an IDMAX, JL 10w7, or 10w6.2 as contenders for killer subs.

 

As I said before...thanks for all the input. The system I have listed is signed, sealed, and soon to be delivered (The Zapco is being delivered this week). While I could continue to look at many different brands, I believe I have put together a 'package-deal' that is hard to beat for the buck. My final consideration was warranty/product line handled by this dealer/installer. The owner, his sound engineer (sound studio specialist), and his electronic installation specialist (Masters Degree) are going to custom install this system by fine-tuning it to the Vette's interior (i.e spatial analyzers, etc...). While some shops do simple box (MDF) enclosures, this will be a custom fiberglass installation weighted and braced for maximum performance.

We will, we will, rock you... :yesnod:

 

Good luck with it. You might also want to see if the shop has an exchange policy. My old shop allowed you to exchange components within the first two weeks for free if you didn't like what you got. Subs/decks should swap pretty easily and this is the best way to get the best sound for you. We offered that service to everyone because every car and every ear were different so you couldn't just say the same speakers for example for every car.

 

Hope the system works for you....sounds awesome!!! I'm dumping the Bose Gold in my C-4 this week and going with Alpine HU and Kenwood spks. for the frequency response they offer. One thing you might want to know is that if you plan on adding a tuner for the sat. radio, sirius radio is only available in a few western states at the current time....not sure on when or if their coverage will include the east coast. XM's doing nationwide now.....just a heads up!! :) :) :)

 

Just FYI, your head unit, amplifier, etc, won't play over 20,000hz. Even if they did, you wouldn't be able to hear it anyway.

Human hearing range is 20-20,000hz. As far as intensity goes, your ears are sensitive up to 120db. Anything over 90db may damage your hearing.

So basically, all these speakers with a 26,000hz rating... well, you get the picture.

 

Check....I with you Kale....precisely why I decided on the Kenwoods with responses of 25-20k......No sense in paying for the frequencies you can't hear!! :yesnod:

 

25-20k? 25hz is very hard for anything less than a 12" sub to hit, SOME 10's in a perfectly tuned enclosure can hit 25hz.. Are you including the sub with the rest of the components when you listed the freq. response?

 

They are now......finding 6x9s that will pump 25hz.....they never used to be a few years back though. Great way for the manufacturers to sell subwoofers. I ve got a buddy that works at Crutchfield here in Cville that let me know about em. Check the site.