Entertainment/Audio System Upgrade

[lilmike2069]

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[SleeperSolara]

Not bad.
Sounds good to me.
Looks like you put under wrong section................

[Yanks0114]

Moved.

I would skip the cap and put the money towards a high output battery (optima red/orange/yellow top) or a high output alternator.

Caps are like bandaids that don't even work. They just look pretty.

Otherwise, great system

[theprodigy79]

Caps are like bandaids that don't even work. They just look pretty.

Not necessarily true... Caps are intended to compliment the "high output" battery and/or alternator... They are not a power supply on their own, however they are meant to buffer your electrical system and reduce the strain from temporary high output situations... They are also much quicker charge / release than a standard battery, so when you need the power it's there...

I currently push around 2000W RMS @ 12.6V using 2 old skool Soundstream amps (which aren't as efficient as the newer makes)... I have a high output battery and a 5 Farad cap, and it makes all the difference in the world...

Your setup looks pretty cool bro, I can't wait to hear what you think about it and see some pics!! The headunit is slick, let me know how the Audiobahn processor works with it!

-James

[ruffrydasean]

I don't remember where but i can bring the link later, but Caps are supposedly useless.. Do the big 3 first, then if that don't help then yea go ahead and get the cap. I have to go to work now. I wonder what c2x thinks of this setup

[FreakinJARED]

awesome. i have the d310 right now and it's worth every penny. damn, it sounds like you're gonna have a sweet setup...

what do you think of the alpine 701 processor though?

[lilmike2069]

FreakinJARED... i had actually not seen the 701 processessor before you mentioned it... so after much consideration... i think i am still going with the ADD51T for a couple reasons... First, the Alpine unit seems as though it only has the control i want for the center channel only... The audiobahn unit also has DSP features such as reverb and sound fields that sound great and that the alpine unit doesnt offer. One other thing is that the alpine unit would need to be tucked away, wereas the audiobahn unit is a sweet looking 1/2 DIN that would fit nicely under the monitor.

As far as the CAP goes... caps are misused by most. Most people think that they are used to help save alternators... this is not true(i will be getting high output alternator btw). Capacitors, as "theprodigy79" has indicated charge and discharge very quickly as opposed to a battery and yes, even the alternator... what does this mean as far as system performance? For fast paced sound/bass... the amplifier must also respond quicker, adding a cap will simply allow for faster and more accurate response. Sometimes the difference is negligable, but for a hardcore audio nut like me, a cap is going to be a must

[ruffrydasean]

Caps aren't useful

[solaraN8]

caps are pointless in my mind, they only work while the car is running i would much rather spend a little more money and buy a deepcycle battery that actually holds the charge you throw at it. and it still feeds extra power to the amp while the car isnt running

[TRAFFICBLOWS]

3.) Alpine MRA-D550 5 Channel Amp (About the only 5 chan amp i could find)

Acccording to the owner's manual, the MRA-D550 needs a Ai-NET compatible head unit to operate- have you investigated if putting the Audiobahn DTS unit inline would affect anything?

To open up your choices, you could also look at a lot of 6-ch amps where you can bridge two channels to get a total of 5 (or just use L or R and not both). Not all channels of 6-ch amps are full-range though- some reserve ch 5 & 6 for sub frequencies.

[lilmike2069]

TRAFFICBLOWS... i must say you have certainly done your homework lol... it appears as though the Ai-NET is just an audio output (or input in the case of the amplifier). As far as whether the Audiobahn DTS unit will work with the system... it certainly should... the D310 has Optical output and the Audiobahn unit has Optical input which can be used instead of the Ai-NET. Someone correct me if im wrong, i read a little about the Ai-NET and it seemed as if it was only a diff type of audio medium. Also... i think instead of the JBL center speaker... i'll get this one! check this s#it out!
http://www.alpine-usa.com/en/products/p ... 05DC&tab=D

[TRAFFICBLOWS]

haha i had already looked into that model before for my own... i think the h/u has to control the amp.

[cam2Xrunner]

I am going to be upgrading my sound/entertainment system yet again, probably spring or summer... Here is a list of components... let me know what you guys think(Oh and check out my www):

1.) Alpine IVA-D310 7" Motorized Touchscreen Display (1DIN)
2.) Audiobahn ADD51T DTS Decoder/DSP/Channel Delay/9V outs (1/2DIN)
(I realize the IVA-D310 has DTS Decoder, however the ADD51T allows for FAR more control and precision...also 9V pre-outs?!!? lol)

The H701 processor is the way to go man. No offense to any Audiobahn users, but it's junk. All of it. There is just much better stuff out there for the money than anything Audiobahn makes.

Your D310 can send an optical connection to the H701 processor mounted in your trunk next to your amps using atoslink fiber optic cable. This will elimnate the need for lengthy analog RCA wires going across the length of your car. The benefit to this is you practically rule out any chance of noise being introduced to your speakers through the system from the vehicles electronics.

The Alpine amp you are looking at is nice if you are going to utilize it for surround sound. The H701 has a very good surround sound decoder built into it.

If you are more focused on sound quality then instead of using rear speakers and surround you can use the H701 Processor to control a fully active 2/3 way front tweeter/mid speaker setup plus sub. (or 4 way if you have the room for another speaker up front)


http://www.alpine-usa.com/en/products/p ... g=en&tab=F

3.) Alpine MRA-D550 5 Channel Amp (About the only 5 chan amp i could find)

4.) (2)Audiobahn A2X600HQ (1x600@4 Ohms) 1 For each sub (Rack Mount)
5.) (2) Audiobahn ALUM12N 12" Subs (1000WRMS ea)
6.) Audiobahn Digital Rack-Mount 3 FARAD Cap
7.) Factory Jbl Door and 1 additional SBS-05DC 1DIN center channel spkr


Thanks for any input

Avoid Audiobahn like the plague


What are you spending on the two sub amps, and the subs? I can list different stuff to look at that will be a much better product and value.

[cam2Xrunner]

3.) Alpine MRA-D550 5 Channel Amp (About the only 5 chan amp i could find)

Acccording to the owner's manual, the MRA-D550 needs a Ai-NET compatible head unit to operate- have you investigated if putting the Audiobahn DTS unit inline would affect anything?

To open up your choices, you could also look at a lot of 6-ch amps where you can bridge two channels to get a total of 5 (or just use L or R and not both). Not all channels of 6-ch amps are full-range though- some reserve ch 5 & 6 for sub frequencies.

I agree, the Audiobahn stuff just isn't right for this system(or any

)

[lilmike2069]

well i have audiobahn subs, and they sound great... i have heard others and i will be sticking with audiobahn for LFE... but thanks for your opinion. Now as far as mids/highs.... audiobahn sucks bad, also there HU's are pretty fugly, but for my LFE im going audiobahn... to each his own. I am also aware of the H701's capabilities and its not what i'm looking for. It doesnt have enough control, no DSP, no sound fields. The audiobahn unit is also nearly $200 cheaper