New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome

Posted by: Ri-ON

New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 07/12/2005 19:39

I am installing a new empeg in my civic. Its a Mk2a with Eutronix lights and im using 2x 60gb 16mb drives. I am also installing the Eutronix sound card with all of the hook ups. Here is a list of components that I will use. Let me know if you have a good suggestion for alternatives. This is being installed in a 93 civic.

- Head unit: Empeg Mk2a
- Speakers: JBL 608C Gti, and 508C Gti
- Qlogic Kick panel box in front
- Speaker Wire: All monster 12guage
- Amps: Mcintosh MCC444 4 Channel 110x4 at 4ohm for mains Phoenix gold 500 w 2 ch for subs
- BAttery: Optima Red
- 4guage power from battery to trunk
- Subs 2 rockford fosgate 10s in sealed box
- Orion DEQ30 Digial EQ (In trunk and interfaced from empeg via
TOslink cable
- Monster m1001 1m from orion deq30 to mcintosh amp and phoenix gold amp

I am especially interested in knowing if there is an eq that can use the i2s interface. Or if there is a better trunk mounted eq period. THe orion is fairly cheap on ebay.

Ri-ON
Posted by: matthew_k

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 07/12/2005 20:48

Ditch the monster cable, other than that it looks like a nice system.

In my system I regret going for 2 10's, and wish I'd gone with one. I don't need both, and they take up a lot of room.

Matthew
Posted by: FireFox31

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 08/12/2005 00:50

Not trying to sound like a jerk, but maybe some stealth features would help security. If there are some bad people in your town, I'd hate to them rip off all that good gear.

Fake stock faceplates are fun (I can never find sphengali's super stealth install pics). I haven't (yet) gotten into an accident because of it: removing my empeg and Alpine face, putting them in the Pelican case, and putting the fake plate in place WHILE driving (or at a light) a few blocks from my destination so nobody sees me take in out in a parking lot.
Posted by: Ri-ON

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 09/12/2005 15:13

Does the toslink cable used really matter? Glass versus the cheaper optical fibers? If its digital wont it all be the same? I have used cheap and expensive dvi cables for example and not noticed a difference. Toslink cables are immune to EMI and noise.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 09/12/2005 15:33

I imagine that glass is more optically clear than plastic, but I can't imagine that that makes much difference until you get to really long runs.
Posted by: Ri-ON

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 12/12/2005 05:29

I am thinking about using audioquest rca 1m. I dont know which grade, but probably one of the higher end ones that has an active dialectric neutralization system. Anyone heard amps running off of these types of cables? Is it worth the premium over monster?

Ri-ON
Posted by: andy

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 12/12/2005 06:13

active dialectric neutralization system

sounds like a load of old bollocks to me
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 12/12/2005 15:11

Remember that "dielectric" is simply another word for "insulator".

That said, I'm not sure how you can have an active insulator.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 12/12/2005 15:24

Here are some gems from Audioquest's FAQ:

Quote:
All cables are directional, from hardware store electrical cable to the nest pure silver cables. All AudioQuest cables are marked for direction.


Quote:
A cable's performance takes time to optimize because of the way a dielectric behaves (the way the insulating material absorbs and releases energy), changes in the presence of a charge. Cables will continue to improve in sound or picture quality over a period of several weeks.


Quote:
Since human perception is more aware of the existence of a distortion than the quantity, the better the cable, the worse in some ways it will sound when new, because the anemic forced two-dimensional effect reulting from being new will not be ameliorated by other gentler distortions. Please be patient when rst listening to any superior product.


Quote:
S/PDIF or digital coax cables look like normal cables. However, for superior performance, they must be specially designed for wideband applications.

I wouldn't buy anything from these goobers.

Also check out Audioquest Cable Theories Exposed.
Posted by: Ri-ON

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 12/12/2005 15:59

LOL... thanks

Ri-ON
Posted by: Ri-ON

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 12/12/2005 16:09

I am just gonna go with the m1001's after reading that article.. now im looking at some components. How do these rate in terms of sound quality (assuming the highest end model in their line.) Opinions please.

MQ QUart
DYN Audio
JL
JBL
Diamond
Boston

THanks
Ri-ON
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 12/12/2005 22:44

Here are some gems from Audioquest's FAQ:


Thanks, Bitt, for brightening my day.

People in the office are looking strangely me as I laugh out loud...

tanstaafl.
Posted by: StigOE

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 13/12/2005 04:47

Slight thread hijacking...

Since I need to get an amplifier for the install in my new car, I would like to get a smallish amplifier (as in physical size), and was thinking about getting a class-T amplifier. Since it's good enough for Doug, it's probably good enough for me... Does anybody know any brands and model numbers? I checked the Blaupunkt site, but couldn't find anything there about class-T.

Stig
Posted by: gbeer

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 15/12/2005 01:34

Quote:
...active dielectric neutralization system...
Ri-ON


Or, reading it a bit sideways...

Why would one want a system that actively neutralizes their dielectrics?
Posted by: andy

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 15/12/2005 17:44

Did you read the stuff on their "dielectric bias system" ?

http://www.audioquest.com/pdfs/earth_feature/everest.pdf

Yes, there really is a battery in each cable providing a permanent 72 Volt (really???) DC voltage between two parts of the cable (I can't work out from there blurb where the voltage is actually across).
Posted by: andy

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 15/12/2005 17:48

Quote:
I am just gonna go with the m1001's


Of course Monster are not beyond trotting out psuedo-techno babble either...

http://www.monstercable.com/productPagePrint.asp?pin=170
Posted by: tman

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 17/12/2005 22:41

Yup. Monster cables are a waste of money. Admittedly, they're very well made but you're not going to hear any difference. The only place you'll see a difference is in your bank balance. Buying some good quality generic ones will do.
Posted by: tman

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 17/12/2005 22:49

Quote:
Yes, there really is a battery in each cable providing a permanent 72 Volt (really???) DC voltage between two parts of the cable (I can't work out from there blurb where the voltage is actually across).

I'm more impressed that they've managed to make two common hardware store batteries last for years whilst having some sort of DC-DC converter attached to bump it up to 72V. The cynic in me would think that the batteries will turn out to be a couple of lithium coin cells connected to the test switch and LED...

All this to keep the insulator "charged". Does this mean that I should be careful of my mains cables? They've been plugged in for years so the charge must be huge

Anybody who buys this crap has too much money to spare. Feel free to send it to me if you want to waste it.
Posted by: tman

Re: New Semi-High End Install Comments or Advice Welcome - 17/12/2005 22:50

Quote:
Does the toslink cable used really matter?

Nope. Not unless you've got a super long run of it which you won't if you're installing this into a car.

Quote:
I have used cheap and expensive dvi cables for example and not noticed a difference

Same reason again. It'll only matter if you've got a long run or if your cheap cable is very poorly made.