Demo car install

Ok, to kick this board off, here's the description of the empeg install in our demo car, a blue metallic Mercedes A-Class (A140 Avantgarde). I don't know if this model is sold in the US, but it's a futuristic looking small car with a completely flat floor - you sit quite high up and in the event of an accident the engine goes *under* the passenger compartment instead of into it.

Anyway: the A-Class has a standard DIN slot, so the empeg just fits into the dash easily. The battery is under the drivers seat, so the amp feeds are taken from here to a custom box in the trunk, which raises the floor by about 3" and holds two amps (Kicker ix404 and ix1302), fuses and a cooling fan.

The speakers in this install all fit in the OEM mounting holes - the fronts are Infinity Kappa 652 components (an off-the-shelf spacer was needed to get the main drivers to fit), the rears are Infinity references. A custom (removable) sub box with an Infinity Kappa 10" sub sits in the trunk.

The ix404 drives all 4 speakers, with the line-out of this amp driving the ix1302 in bridged mode for the subwoofer.

Problems with the install included some noise supression (the cooling fan was inducing noise back into the empeg as it was powered from the amp remote signal - adding a choke and a cap solved this one, but a relay would have done the job too) and the fact that the flat floor of the car meant that cable routing was a bit of a pain.

It sounds very nice, and very loud :)

Hugo

Any new on getting some piccy's of the install up on the empeg site Hugo?



- Given two theories.... pick the one that sounds funniest -

I'll try and dig out the digital camera, wash the car (!) and take some pics, yes :)

Hugo

I assume you have an empeg in your MX5 Hugo ?
Where did you put the amp ? (I am wondering if there is room in the central console or under the dash on the passenger side)

Number 330 in the queue...

Well if you lend it to me I'll clean it for you and take
the pics :-)

This sounds similar to what Camb Car Audio recommended to me.
I'm not familiar with Kicker Amps - are they good?
Any reason for not going Kappa's all round?

What about arranging a 10% discount at Camb Car Audio for
empeg customers that get the entire things installed?

Cheers

Paul

No, I've still got the mp3mobile in the MX5. I will get round to replacing it with an empeg (well, with an empeg slide bay. I can only drive one car at a time, so it'll move between the CRX and the MX5 depending on the weather :) ). The CRX has a JVC Digifine X504 amp and the stock rear speakers (soon to be replaced with a single sub), and Infinity Kappa's in the front.

The MX5 has kenwood components in the doors, clearwater headrest speakers (both driven off the head unit) and a Pioneer TSLX80 powered sub in the passenger footwell (it's a flat box). When I get an amp it'll probably go behind the drivers seat, as I'm only short and don't need the room :)

Hugo

Hugo,

I haven't heard back from any of your people yet but I have a '99 MX5 with the Bose system. I
was wondering if you have any idea if I'll have any trouble installing the Empeg. Bose, of course,
was completely uncooperative when I asked them for just general information.

Unfortunately, I really have no idea about the bose system in the MX5. I've seen one in passing in a japanese import '99 (6-speed) last year, but it's not an option on UK cars. From what I saw it was a 2xDIN unit, so without taking it out there is simply no way to fit an empeg into the car :(

Hugo

so we can have some piccy's ;o)



- Given two theories.... pick the one that sounds funniest -

Following my message about a 10% discount for empeg Installs carried
out by Cambbridge Car Audio I received the following reply from them:

"Finally, we all sat down with the boss yesterday, to discuss the possibility
of offering a discount to Empeg customers, as you initially suggested. We've
now come to the decision (and notified Hugo accordingly) that we're happy to
offer a 10% discount off all parts, when an Empeg customer buys a system
from us comprising of an amp and a pair of speakers, or more. That's 10% off
all parts, including cabling, accessories, etc, but unfortunately, due to
the minimal margins involved, can't be extended to labour charges - we quite
simply can't afford

Yes, I did wash it at the weekend, but it's now off with a journalist ;)

Back later this week. Rob might be able to get some pics as it's in his custody until tomorrow morning I think.

Hugo

Still no pics? ;o)



- Given two theories.... pick the one that sounds funniest -