The 72 db/octave is not going to be easy to find. The only way I have it is because I have a Sony ES C90 cd player that can control the Sony ES 4000eq. The Eq unit is a sound processor, eq and crossover all in one and is controlled using a computer/laptop.

rcdash: whats in your system? For most people I don't think it would make a big difference. If you really want to do it right you'll want to run separate amp for tweeters and mid range.

 

My setup is as follows:

>> Stock HU

>> AOEM-NIS (4 RCA out)

>> Line IN of Creative SB Extigy (which acts as my true HU - it also receives USB sound from car PC and coax SPDIF digital sound from XM Direct box). The carPC is controlled by DigitalWheelz touchscreen.

>> Alpine 3402 4 channel 7 band parametric EQ

>> Infinity 7541a 4 channel 111x4 amp (the front gain is set to 1/3 max and the rear gain is set to 1/4 max and it's ear throbbing, painfully loud when the stock HU or PC pre-amp signal is at max volume - unless you stand 10 feet away, then its bearable).

>> Diamond Audio HEX series (s600a) components up front (passive crossover 24 db/octave with adjustable tweeter levels) (driven by Infinity amp front channel speaker output with HP filter on, set around 40-50 Hz)

>> D361i coaxials in the rear (built in cross over) for rear fill (driven by Infinity amp rear channels with HP filter on, set around 60-70 Hz)

>> Infinity BassLink X for sub with remote in arm rest (receives signal from AMP full range stereo line level out signal but I have it set to low pass at 80-90 Hz). I set the gain to max on the Basslink and the remote is usually turned up 1/3 of the way for most music.


Going by specs alone, the Infinity components are the weak links in the chain (if looking at S/N ratio anyway). But the setup sounds so clear and crisp (I like the sound to be bright) that I have not looked into upgrading those. Just wondering how good can it get? Can it actually sound better? I demo'd alot of speakers including the high end Focal (with my CDs) and I was happy with how this turned out... (maybe a little too bright with the aluminum tweeters but I am too lazy to take off the door panels and flip the DIP switches in the crossovers).

 

If you think your system is a bit bright you should have bought the S600 with silk dome tweeters. The truth about systems is that it only gets better if you can hear the difference. I can tell you most people buy equipment capable of producing sound thats better than their ear is capable of hearing. Plus many high end components go to waste because they are not setup properly. Even for competition its not just about having the most expensive components, the majority of it has to do with setting up. In my past career we've done SQ competition cars with just basic JL 10W0 subs. It all comes down to if you like the sound or not. A good system should make you want to listen to it for hours on end.

 

I agree completely. The music system is what makes me really look forward to getting into my car!!! Every day it's the same feeling - my only regret is that the drive to work is so short (20 mins). And when that particular song comes on and you can feel the pounding or the separation or the clarity, then it's just like... WOW!

I have two really good systems in my home and for some reason just being enclosed in the G35 is different... (maybe the acceleration and handling have something to do with that!!!)

Man, forget work - I wanna drive my car now...

 

I'm an all around audio guy so I'd like to know what you have in your home. I have 2 separate systems at home. One for home theater and another for just 2 channel audio.

But I do know what you mean, sometimes it is a pleasure to drive in a car and listen to some good music on a good system.

 

last week i stripped my entire car and ditch the passive xovers that came with my components and biamped my components and boy does it make a big difference. It's like I have an entire new system. Going active is the best thing I've ever done to my car in terms of audio. You will need to tweak with the active xover and the EQ a lot in order to get it to sound the way you like. But just knowing you have so much control over it is a joy in itself to switch to an all active setup...

 

So what are the details of your system?

 

Both home setups are 5.1 mid level setups (not high end, but the best I could find at the time without going to separates and keeping total speaker package price under $1500).

My first setup is in our home theatre room powered by a Pioneer D906S 100Wx5 DD receiver with all Infinity Reference Series 2 way speakers - floorstanding in the front and bookshelf in the rear. A 12 inch powered sub Infinity sub (model BU2?). The entire system is kind of old with no DTS decoding but it still sounds great for movies.

Our newer system is used for music only right now but is a full 5.1 set of compacts (in the living room), made by RBH, I think model # "CT5.1". All drivers and enclosures are aluminum. The sub is a pair of powered 8 inch drivers (one forward firing, one down firing, 200 watt amp for both drivers) - very musical but not great way down low. That system is powered by a Yamaha RX-V2400 which is an awesome receiver with alot of flexibility (my wife sings and it allows karaoke - we have a pioneer karaoke component - and mixing of 2 sources prior to output). It does a great job creating multi-channel sound fields for musical scores - something I had never experienced before getting this setup. A Pioneer DV-563A is our source for MP3 Audio, DVD Audio and SACD multichannel music.

 

Sounds like you have built 2 nice systems for yourself. I on the other hand have gone the separates route. Following is what I have in my 2 setups.
2 channel setup:
Speakers: Spender SP3/1. great set of monitors from an English company, very warm and inviting.
Cd Player: Rega Planet 2000. I love this unit too, very simple and great performance
Amplifier and Preamp: Parasound PSP-1000, had this guy just laying arounds, its supposed to be a prologic preamp, but has a line bypass that I use. The amp is also a Parasound HCA-1000, great little amp puts down about 150 watts.

This is what I have in my Hometheater setup:
TV: 32" Sony Vega XBR
DVD player: Sony Reference DVP-S7700
Processor: Yamaha RV-1100
Amplifiers: Parasound HCA2200II, Parasound HCA1500 (tons of power out of these guys. The HCA1500 is bridged to run my center and its putting down probably 500 to 600 watts, its a 205w 2channel amp)
Mains Speakers: Energy Connoisseur Series C-6
Center Speaker: Energy AC-300
Rear Speakers: Energy RVSS
Subwoofer: Energy e:XL-S12

 

Whoa - very nice - definitely a class or two above!

I think I gotcha on the video though - my HT consists of a SONY HS10 projector (LCD, 1200 lumens, 1366x768 resolution) projected onto a backlit 9 foot by 4.5 foot screen. Best investment I ever made - as far as fun is concerned...

 

Yeah you definitely got me on the size, but in terms of quality I still think tube TVs are best, but thats just me. I'm buying a house in a year and I plan on buying a projector, cause a home theater truely needs a big screen. But like I said it sounds like you have some nice stuff. You plan on upgrading any stuff in your line up? I will need to shortly, my dvd player was one of the best players under $2500 back in 2000-2001, but now with all these progressive scan players coming out I'll have to upgrade once I build my home theater. I also need to upgrade my Yamaha piece. Need more S-video and component video inputs plus up conversion of video. I got way too much money invested in this stuff

 

Audio Authority makes some nice components, such as HQ component video switchers, that provide "older" components with new life. That's what I had to do with my old Pioneer, which sounded fine for DD, but didn't have component inputs, at all! Same way you could get a deinterlacer or image processing box and still make good use of your fine components. Check out www.avsforum.com.

I was very skeptical about projectors till I saw one in action (well calibrated demo in a dark room). High definition is just jaw dropping gorgeous. I remember thinking: holy crap, how can it be that vivid? I mean you go in expecting high-res, but the color saturation is also different somehow - I dunno how to explain it. I was just looking at the demo - and found myself looking at things like rain drops and blades of grass and hair follicles - from across the room! It was like "wow I never thought to look for that kind of detail before". As far as size, the bigger the better. The size immerses you in the film - you won't be disappointed with your projector. Just get a good remote to take the complexity out of running all your components!

 

Yeah I know of those guys and I've been to the avsforum.com many times. But I want to upgrade my components. But I know what you're talking about a professionally calibrated projector can look very good. I used to work at an audio video store and we've done a handful of projectors and it makes a huge difference when you get a projector calibrated properly. I am building a dedicated hometheater/audio room so I know I'll need a front projector. I've been looking at upgrading to the Denon DVD-3910 dvd player and the DVDO iScan HD+ for video, I still haven't figured out what projector to get. Audio component wise been looking at going to this: http://www.av123.com/products_produc...s&product=28.1
Since I am building my house I'm planning on doing some home automation and plan on doing a Creston controller for the home. Even know I have a Phillips Pronto for control. It helps to able to buy things at cost from my old job.