Hey guys - about to get started on a simple stereo install in my car - going for sound quality and balance over all out bass or spl, as its just for my personal use, as well as to add a bit of 'show" to the interior for when I show the car.

In any event, the headunit I am getting is Sirius equipped, so I need to get an antenna - where did you guys mount yours? I don't want something roof mounted for aesthetics reasons. Does anyone have suggestions?

As for amps, what are people's recommendations? I will go with a set of top shelf components up front (Diamond, Focul, Boston, MB quart, etc,), a set of simple coax out back and a single 10 inch sub. In my older Z (79) I have a JL 500/5 and its worked out great, though I suspect there are better amps out there for out and out sound quality and clarity. What are people's recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

 

Im partial to Precision Power. I am currently using a PPI PCX-480 4 CH amp on a set of Infinity components as well as a set of Infinity 2 ways. Sounds great. I have had 2 PPI amps and love them both. My recommendation goes to PPI.

 

I mounted the Sirius antenna on the strut bar. No problems with reception at all.

Regarding the amp question, what's your budget and do you want to use a single amp solution or multiple amps?

 

No price range? For the best SQ, I rank amps Brax, Tru Technologies, McIntosh, DLS, and then Xtant in that order.
Oh yeah, add Dynaudio to your list of components you should consider.

 

Price is not going to be a consideration - I am going the slow and steady route with this car - if it takes me a year to get the perfect system assembled, so be it . However, value for dollar is always important to me. I have no problem paying for quality products, thogh I don't need to overspend either.

Speakers are going to be an important consideration as well - Dynaudio is on the list as well, thanks toa buddy in Boston who raves about them.

My voverall goals with this system is sound quality, though witha minimal amount of tuning required (thats probably everyones goal come to think of it!)., and as little customization of the interior as possible.

 

Brian's recommendations are solid. Any of the amps he listed are known for excellent build quality and sonic performance. I have two Xtant amps that I'll be installing this summer to take the place of my A/D/S amp.

IMO, speakers are tougher to recommend. Rainbow, Dynaudio, Morel, CDT Eurosports (I own and really like), and Focal make excellent component speakers. But it really comes down to what your ears tell you! My advice, spend the time to find shops where you can audition the speakers with music you know well and have listened to on a good home audio setup.

Have fun........

 

thanks guys - keep the recommendations coming

Never had heard of Rainbow or CDT - any lnks to info on them?

I ahev not yeat heard many of these setups - my higher end listening has been limited to the sets of BA seperates I used in my s2k and the MB Q's that I have in my 280. But all of these firms (Focul, Dynaudio, etc etc seem to be the highest tir out there - a bit more esotric than BA or MB, whcih is just what i am after

As for the amp setup - I am not sure yet. i like how well a 5 channel would integrate the system, though I know I'll get cleaner power from going with a 4 channel then a single channel unit

Adam

 

As for mounting the antennae inside the car, on the strut bar is perfect...but even better, inside the plastic, so it's not visible. It fits perfect, you just have to fold down a plastic flap (with your hand) to get it to fit. Let me know if you want a pic, and I can go run out to the garage and take one.

Oh, and my reception is good about 98% of the time.

 

Here ya go.......

http://english.rainbow-audio.de/home/

http://www.kankar.com/rainbow/rainbow_eng.html

http://www.cdtaudio.com/

 

Eh? I wanna see.

 

Here's the pics:

Closed up:



Open, with antenna showing (The panel just pops right off, give it a good yank, or use a panel popper tool):



Flap that needed to be folded down:

 

it works through the plastic like that?

 

If you want great prices on audio equipment, give this guy Don at Unexpected Creations a call. He deals mainly with high end audio equipment, namely Rainbow, Arc Audio, Eclipse, Diamond Audio. His number is 732-921-9046. He's located in Edison, NJ so pickup on parts would be an option. Just tell him you were referred by MacAlert from maxima.org.

 

Yup, works absolutely perfect. In fact, I had it in the corner on top of the strut brace before (further away from the middle of the car), and it worked worse than it does now. As I mentioned earlier...about 98% of the time it works. Worth the 2% just to not have the damn thing on the exterior of the car.

 

I agree D thanks

Apreciate the recommendation for the shop - might consider it, though a friend of mine in Boston also has access to most, if not all of what I am considering......but never hurts to have more than 1 source!

 

I thought you meant you put it under the panel, but I really didn't know the antenna would work well there. Thanks for the pics!

 

that looks great - I think I foud the spot to mount it!

 

any good refemce sites where I can see some reviews of the higher end speakers and amps?

a buddy is paying a visit for me to morel on Wednesday - will see what they say (hopefully they know of someone local to me with them in a car som I can demo or something)

 

Oh just for any sort of reference, here's one of our sponsored cars in Mobile Entertainments magazine. He's one of top people for SQL and here's what he used in his latest project:

 

DLS... that's some good sh|t.