RSobkowz 07-31-2009, 10:34 AM Hertz HX 250
Hertz HSK 163
Audison LRx 4.300
Audison LRx 1.400
Audison LRx 2.250
You don't see any passive xovers in the picture and that's because I will not be using them. The entire system will be run actively. The 4 channel will run the tweeters and midrange, the 2 channel will handle the midbass, and the mono will take care of the sub. The Bit One will handle all the processing. Initially when I bought this car I swore off another stereo. I owned a 99 coupe prior to this and could tear that car apart blindfolded I'd done it so many times. I swore I wouldn't do it to this car. Then I conceded after realizing the stock stereo is terrible but mandated that I keep things simple. That didn't last either and here we are. I don't plan to compete this is solely for my own listening enjoyment.
Just need to order a Bit One, wait for my RCAs to get here, gut the interior, deaden the interior, run all the wiring, replace the interior, build sub enclosure, build amp racks, get amps painted, build kick panels, image kick panels, tune...so yeah almost done. LOL.
RSobkowz 07-31-2009, 10:38 AM Oh, and the deck...Denon DCT-R1. I've been working on a new mount and new trim ring to center the unit in the double DIN opening and also angle it up slightly to match the angle of the dash. I didn't care for having that gaping pocket in the dash, especially since there's already one down below that so I decided to build a new piece. Still have to fiberglass it in, bondo it, sand it, and find a paint to match the dash.
jkcheng122 07-31-2009, 11:18 AM Does your head unit have removable faceplate? What car are you installing this in? Planning on any sound damping? Looks like with your equipment you should be damping the entire car.
RSobkowz 07-31-2009, 11:20 AM Just need to order a Bit One, wait for my RCAs to get here, gut the interior, deaden the interior, run all the wiring, replace the interior, build sub enclosure, build amp racks, get amps painted, build kick panels, image kick panels, tune...so yeah almost done. LOL.
I have 150 sq. ft. of Raamat BXT and 6 linear yards of Ensolite sitting in the garage. Going into a 08 coupe.
king4477 07-31-2009, 11:30 AM Aren't those the old HSKs? Are you moving this system from a different car or something?
Excellent speaker choice, I love my Hertz.
RSobkowz 07-31-2009, 11:33 AM Aren't those the old HSKs? Are you moving this system from a different car or something?
Excellent speaker choice, I love my Hertz.
They are. I had the 2-way set with the asterik being I had a bad xover. I found this set with a blown tweeter for dirt cheap, grabbed them, sold the midbass from my pair, and basically upgraded to the 3-ways for free. I can probably sell the 3-way passives from this set and actually end up in the green on the deal. The only thing I'm debating is swapping the 6.5s out for the Space 8s and run those as the midbass.
king4477 07-31-2009, 11:34 AM Oh, make sure to get pics of your install process. I want to see :yes:
RSobkowz 07-31-2009, 11:37 AM Oh, make sure to get pics of your install process. I want to see :yes:
Indeed I will. I've taken a series of pics on just the trim ring for the head unit alone. Trying to train myself into the habit of taking pictures of an installation for once in my life. Maybe that way when I think about doing this again I can look at all the photos and remember what a pain in the ass it is, LOL.
king4477 07-31-2009, 11:48 AM Maybe that way when I think about doing this again I can look at all the photos and remember what a pain in the ass it is, LOL.
You want to remember what its like doing an install huh? Just take pictures of your bruised and bloody hands and of you sitting upside-down in the driver's seat screaming as you try to fish wires through your dashboard :headbash:
RSobkowz 07-31-2009, 11:52 AM You want to remember what its like doing an install huh? Just take pictures of your bruised and bloody hands and of you sitting upside-down in the driver's seat screaming as you try to fish wires through your dashboard :headbash:
LMAO that's EXACTLY what I was talking about. My girlfriend the other day commented that she'd like to see me in action when I'm doing this because of how excited I am right now with buying the new pieces. I told her to picture me sleep deprived, hands cut up and bleeding, and hobbling because my back is killing me!
RSobkowz 08-05-2009, 05:12 AM You want to remember what its like doing an install huh? Just take pictures of your bruised and bloody hands and of you sitting upside-down in the driver's seat screaming as you try to fish wires through your dashboard :headbash:
Better yet...take pictures of the expression on my face when after gutting the car, deadening the car, and wiring the car for 12 straight hours to realize I'm about 5 feet short on speaker wire....
:mad::rant::headbash::bawling::(:boohoo::bawl::cen sored: :censored::furious::grumpy:
slab42 08-05-2009, 07:30 AM Denon HU?! :drool: I have always loved their HU's so simple, sleek and designed with pure SQ in mind. No flashing lights or gimmic frills! lol
When it came to decide which was more 'valuable' to me, navi beat out SQ for me. I hear you on running wires only to find out you underestimated :( I thought I overestimated everything, and I did except for the 1/0 power wire is just long enough, and that is after running it down the center of the car!
Is this the expression on your face?
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o261/slab42installs/07%20Accord/P5090073.jpg
lol, that was my buddy helping me do the deadening and running wires which we all know is not fun on a hot day in a shop with no AC!
RSobkowz 08-05-2009, 07:44 AM No, no it was much worse. I'm honestly surprised no one called to complain given the amount of swearing that took place in the garage at 3AM. Frustrated beyond all belief. To go from almost being able to put the car back together to screwed until more junk gets here...very lame. Like "sell it all!" lame! :dunno: 3-way active front stage seemed like a great idea on paper but all of a sudden it's like "you know you could use the passives and sell one of the amps" and then from there comes "throw the damn things in the stock locations and be done with it!". Oy!
RSobkowz 08-11-2009, 09:39 PM SO the 6.5s are likely not happening. Decided in favor of these bad boys for the midbass. When they arrive I'm going to see what the chances are these would fit in kickpanels. If they do then I'll likely swap out the 3 inch midrange from the HSK 163 set for the HD 500 midrange Hertz makes and mount that with the tweeter up in the sail panel or A pillars if possible. If they 8s don't fit in kickpanels then they'll go in the door and I'll proceed as planned with the 3" midrange and tweet in kickpanels. Also want to explore the possibility of getting a 10 or 12 under the dash.
So I've gone from NO stereo, to keeping it simple, to "can I fit a 10 up front?" Oy.
EvolNtent 08-12-2009, 06:56 AM The 08 Accord is easy to wire. I ran 3 monster XLN speaker wires in each door and they are about 4gauge w/all the insulation. Plenty of room behind the dash, even room to run along the sides of the car and perfect spots down center console as well.
As for deadening the car, well that's a love/hate thing. Take the headliner down and get above where the sunroof slides back. That and the overhead console was were a huge source for rattles in mine.
Good equipment and good luck w/the install!
RSobkowz 08-12-2009, 12:12 PM The 08 Accord is easy to wire. I ran 3 monster XLN speaker wires in each door and they are about 4gauge w/all the insulation. Plenty of room behind the dash, even room to run along the sides of the car and perfect spots down center console as well.
As for deadening the car, well that's a love/hate thing. Take the headliner down and get above where the sunroof slides back. That and the overhead console was were a huge source for rattles in mine.
Good equipment and good luck w/the install!
Deadening and wiring is all done now so it's just a matter of figuring out what I plan to run as far as the front stage. Amps, processor, and head unit are taken care of. Amp situation could change a little though as I thought about adding an extra 2.250.
wow dude thats insane. that head unit is like 700 dollars right?
RSobkowz 08-14-2009, 11:03 PM wow dude thats insane. that head unit is like 700 dollars right?
At the time I purchased it, 2003, it retailed for 1100. I got lucky on a store demo for a substantial discount. I actually just sold it and I'm currently hunting down the next deck I want. Stay tuned for awesomeness or epic proportions!
king4477 08-17-2009, 09:17 AM You sold that Denon??!?
RSobkowz 08-17-2009, 09:56 AM You sold that Denon??!?
Yes indeed I did.
slab42 08-17-2009, 02:12 PM what is the plan for the new HU?
RSobkowz 08-17-2009, 10:48 PM It's top secret, LOL. It's a matter of being able to find one used. It's a step or 2 above the Denon though.
king4477 08-19-2009, 08:43 AM It's top secret, LOL. It's a matter of being able to find one used. It's a step or 2 above the Denon though.
Like a different Denon? :yes:
RSobkowz 08-19-2009, 08:45 AM Like a different Denon? :yes:
No but if I fail to find what I'm looking for an upgrade to a Denon DCT 1 or DCT-Z1 with optical out would work very well with the Bit One processor I originally had planned to use.
slab42 08-19-2009, 09:51 AM Nakamichi?
RSobkowz 08-19-2009, 11:15 AM Nope. Every wrong guess you guys have to PayPal me a dollar! :nuts:
RSobkowz 08-19-2009, 09:09 PM Here's a picture of the new 8s I picked up versus the standard 6.5 inch mids that come with this set. They ended up being a lot beefier than I thought so fitment is going to be a real pain in the ass on these. Pretty good chance these will end up for sale before long after seeing them, LOL. If the 8s DO fit I think I'm going to swap out the 3 inch midrange for a 5.25 midrange to run in the kicks with the tweeter. A 5.25 would play down lower than the 3 so I'd get all of the directional frequencies off the 8s and into the (hopefully) properly imaged kicks. Might be another issue of fitment with the larger midrange however as the kick area doesn't seem like it wants to lend itself to an install unless I relocate the ECU, fusebox, and the hood release. The SMART route is to run the 3-way set as it came but I'm far from smart so...
king4477 08-20-2009, 11:28 AM :lurk:
slab42 08-20-2009, 04:07 PM You like your sound stage all down low huh? Why wouldn't you like your tweets and 3s up higher, like build pillar pods or someting? Not criticizing, just curious ;) Tell us why you do what you do! Is it to 'soften' the tweet and better blend the tweet/midrange/woofer imaging?
RSobkowz 08-20-2009, 04:32 PM You like your sound stage all down low huh? Why wouldn't you like your tweets and 3s up higher, like build pillar pods or someting? Not criticizing, just curious ;) Tell us why you do what you do! Is it to 'soften' the tweet and better blend the tweet/midrange/woofer imaging?
Properly done kick panels and your staging will be plenty high. Actually if you're not careful you can have a sound stage that's actually TOO high. Common misconception is that low=low. That's what your imaging does. For a brief moment I debated doing the 8s in kicks and then a smaller Hertz HD 500 2" dome midrange in the sail panels and then a tweeter in the A-pillar. That would have gotten all frequencies above 700 at damn near eye-level. It would have also created a path length/time alignment nightmare. If I could have gotten the midrange AND tweet into the A pillar I may have thought about that idea a little further but the shroud over the speedometer protrudes so much that it really didn't lend itself to that particular install. By the time the install is done the sound stage damn well better be nose/chin level and smack dab ass in the center of the dash or I'll tear the kicks down and build them again.
RSobkowz 08-26-2009, 12:07 PM :lurk:
Heat up the butter for that popcorn...I'm close to closing a deal on what I want.
RSobkowz 08-26-2009, 03:56 PM Booyeah! As of now she's bought and paid for! Just gotta wait for it to get here. :notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy :notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy
eemichael83 08-26-2009, 04:19 PM At the time I purchased it, 2003, it retailed for 1100. I got lucky on a store demo for a substantial discount. I actually just sold it and I'm currently hunting down the next deck I want. Stay tuned for awesomeness or epic proportions!
The McIntosh MX406 coupled with the McIntosh MPM4000 will fill that double din nicely :thmsup:
RSobkowz 08-26-2009, 04:53 PM Aesthetically the McIntosh decks don't work for me. Performance is great but I'm not a fan. Not really sure why someone would spend that much on a meter either. 300 bucks for a meter? What I have coming would do better anyway, hehe.
laterr 08-26-2009, 05:02 PM That's a nice setup. Wish I had the $$ to drop on that kind of system.
RSobkowz 08-26-2009, 05:13 PM That's a nice setup. Wish I had the $$ to drop on that kind of system.
Install>equipment. The installation of equipment has much more effect on the sound quality than anything else. Great equipment and a half-assed install will sound like crap compared to decent stuff in a great install. As far as $$$ you'd be surprised what I have in this setup. Only real kick in the nuts was about 300 in sound deadening and another 300 in wiring.
Sounds NICE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RS !! Keep it updated
RSobkowz 08-26-2009, 05:50 PM Sounds NICE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RS !! Keep it updated
Should sound pretty insane assuming I don't eff the install up, LOL. I may swap out the 3 inch mid ranges though and up those to 5.25s. Have to see how much more of a pain in the ass that would make glassing a set of kick panels.
Friggin' pumped about my head unit. Major heavy hitter on the way.
RSobkowz 08-26-2009, 11:14 PM Confirmed receipt of head unit/processor in Japan. On their way over! Should be here late next week! :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:
PaulD 08-27-2009, 04:07 AM what did you get, the 7909J with the outboard D/A convertor ?
RSobkowz 08-27-2009, 08:04 AM http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii189/ChuckNorrisFearsSid/BoxWithInvoice.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii189/ChuckNorrisFearsSid/CAIAU7Z4s.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii189/ChuckNorrisFearsSid/CA92KIBV.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii189/ChuckNorrisFearsSid/CA2D9DL5f.jpg
How about multi-24 bit DACs Paul? Pioneer Carrozzeria DEX-P01II and DEQ-P01II combo! I'm not even sure if anyone on here knew this crap existed, LOL. Visually it looks similar to the DEX/DEQ P9 combo released in the US but that's about where it ends. The Japanese P01 combo would be about the equivalent of of the American P9 combo. The P9 didn't sell well enough over here to warrant the release of it's successor from what I can gather. I guess it didn't have enough bling bling and flashing lights to attract the American audio "enthusiasts", LOL. The Japanese definitely love their audio and are willing to pay for it. Took me a while to locate this for sure. Lots of time trying to translate Japanese pages and yen to dollars but through some help I got it incoming. Very thankful for the help of those 2 individuals. Better pics to follow when it gets here. Aside from the SQ greatness that dark machined face along with the white illumination is going to look ridiculously good in my car too! Hehe.
PaulD 08-27-2009, 10:28 AM yea, I have seen the Carrozzeria stuff before ...... definitely not mainstream. The reason is doesn'r sell well here is COST. They have a very high cost of living there, so if you are paying $1500-2000/mo for an apartment over there, a headunit/processor for $3-4k is not unreasonable - as opposed to here where in most of the US, an average house payment fo a 3 baedroom house is like $500-800/mo. Also, the dealers and manufacturers have let the kids run the demand and marketing for car stereo stuff. That's why you see sales of large subs and large kilowatt amps but a nice headunit/processor like that would never sell here ....... tough to justify a $3k headunit when you're making $8/hr.
RSobkowz 08-27-2009, 10:40 AM Also, the dealers and manufacturers have let the kids run the demand and marketing for car stereo stuff.
I'd love to see a survey done in Europe/Japan set up along the lines of dollars to age in terms of car audio expenses. Over here in all honestly if you mention you're into car audio to anyone over 25 what do they say typically? "Are you one of those guys that drives around going "boom boom boom" and waking everyone up at 2am?" In Europe and Asia it seems like much more of an adult hobby for sure. And that's great because at least the products reflect it. Just a royal pain to locate/import them, LOL.
I'm so amped about this deck it's pathetic. Literally kid at Christmas type excited!
RSobkowz 08-27-2009, 11:57 AM http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii189/ChuckNorrisFearsSid/003-1.jpg
LOL, one more. Behringer ECM8000 mic. Someone's building their own RTA setup...:D:D:D:D
king4477 08-27-2009, 01:09 PM :notworthy
You had better be welding that to your frame somehow!
Congrats. I have always liked Pioneer. The very first deck I ever bought was a Pioneer Premier that I got when I was 16. Took me like 3 or 4 paychecks to pay for it. Don't know if it was a good or bad thing because since then I've just become more and more of an audiophile snob. Expensive habit, but who cares :banana:
RSobkowz 08-27-2009, 01:21 PM :notworthy
You had better be welding that to your frame somehow!
Congrats. I have always liked Pioneer. The very first deck I ever bought was a Pioneer Premier that I got when I was 16. Took me like 3 or 4 paychecks to pay for it. Don't know if it was a good or bad thing because since then I've just become more and more of an audiophile snob. Expensive habit, but who cares :banana:
I owned a Premier CD player when I was 16 as well. First car, first deck. Never owned another one after that though. They did make some solid decks, especially the P9 combo. At the time I was looking for a high-end SQ deck when I bought my Denon the only really good SQ deck they had was the problematic P1R. This beauty though...it's supposed to be pretty incredible. Dead sexy aesthetically as well. Aside from the good looks the multi 24 bit DACs, optical digital outs, independent L/R 31 band EQs, independent 4-way xovers with up to I think a 36dB slope, time alignment. Basically all the processing I need/want. The remote is where it all happens from. The bottom part slides open revealing more buttons used in the tuning of the system.
king4477 08-27-2009, 01:23 PM Oh just curious, but is English the default on there? Even on their website everything is in Japanese, but they have English on the deck. http://pioneer.jp/carrozzeria/products/deh_p01/index.html
How did you manage to get your hands on one of those anyway?
RSobkowz 08-27-2009, 01:29 PM English is default, yes. From how I understand it all Japanese audio pieces display in English. Most Japanese can read English as it's taught in school. You're looking at the DEH-P01 which is a different deck. That's their all-in-one unit. I looked at it for a while but opted for this one instead. One of the biggest complaints I have with the DEH is the DAC is internal as is the xover. What that means is I would have needed to run FOUR lengths of RCAs from the deck to the trunk for my amps because of the 3-way active setup I'm running. 4 sets of high-grade RCAs of that length would have been pricey. In addition to that the chance of noise entering into the signal is again possible. My DEX uses th optical/digital runs to the trunk into the DEQ unit and then the RCAs from there. Keeps it noise-free throughout the car and all saves me a pile of cash on longer RCAs. Saving money at this point is something I need to do, haha.
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