ICE Advice ?

[S2central.net]

Right as much as I love a certain engine note... I've finally decided that I need to do something with that Sony (should be a swear word) shyte in my car. The speakers are well tired of course and one of them (or the amp channel) is just white noise now.

So what to do ?

Here's my needs - I'm NOT in the market for some gold plated oxygen free bit of Japanese nonsense in the audio department that requires a cubic metre of space for a massiv sub woofer install (booyakasha bling DnB innit etc etc)

1. Music tastes are primarily rock - needs to retain clarity when its loud - them guitars are overdriven enough - I don't need square waves coming out of the car stereo. I dunno - say 100W capability if I had to put a value on it. Thats loud enough for my needs... Quality / CLarity is more important at moderate levels and I don't wish to break open the piggy bank.

2. I don't bother with radio at all - nothing there for me to be listening too

3. I don't do tapes either

4. Only current source of music is the shyte Sony 10-CD stack in the boot which is playing up big time... I'd like to really get rid of that and run with a hard-wired iPod instead - none of this FM transmitter nonsense - kinda defeats the purpose.

5. New speakers all round - must fit in standard locations - can't be arsed with big rework - but new ones must be good sound without costing a fortune... Suppose the whole front dash needs to come out - doh

6. Given I only need the iPod to source the tunes I'm wondering is there some kind of simple 4-channel amp I can use - ideally in the boot with a remote volume control in the cabin. This would free up the radio slot in the console for more gauges - is there anyway I can put the head / amp elsewhere ?

A normal iPod dock delivers line level stereo audio at a fixed output volume so I'm hoping its not impossible to find a simple amp that I can hook up some volume control with....

I am totally lost in the ICE world - what I need is really simple, but what I generally find is lots of complex boxes with umpteen I/O options and flashing lights that add little or no value.

Failing that, a nice subtle head-unit (detachable front) with single CD capability and proper support for iPod connection - clicking thru playlists so I can keep the iPod in the glovebox for example. Will that provide decent 4 x 25W output ?

Any ideas or recommendations to short-cut the search for me ?

[Greg_S]

The Alpine other ranges of head unit offer ipod control now from the unit so you will have control over volume as well as the track selection from the head unit

[S2central.net]

Like the Alpine CDE-9874RB ?

Seems incredibly cheap here for what it claims to do - http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpi...rb-p-6357.html

[Rusty]

Remove the rear seats and fit four 15" subs I heard that HPMuirt was doing this to compete with Jamo

[Jamo]

Like the Alpine CDE-9874RB ?

Seems incredibly cheap here for what it claims to do - http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpi...rb-p-6357.html

Any good Alpine in conjunction with this http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpi...ce-p-3723.html

or you can get http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpi...rm-p-6371.html and connect the Ipod direct but I think the seperate controller is what you are after

[Jamo]

I'll have a search later on and see what's out there

[HPmuirt]

Any ideas or recommendations to short-cut the search for me ?

Let me start by saying that along with not polishing my car, I am not some audio-geek with oxygen free bass bins and cross-dressing amps ....

ICE - wassat? As far as I am concerned, ICE is the first word in a sentence that should either finish with '....in your martini sir' or '....ice baby - All right stop collaborate and listen'

Speakers I'll leave Jamo and Fatty to argue over so that just leaves the front box thingie wid de flashy lights an de twiddly knobs un stuff.

There is only one answer - Go German - Go Becker Forget all your flashy Jap boxes with their blue displays etc, they just attract hoodies to your car. Becker units are top notch quality and German, so they look dull....I mean OEM.

Check out the Becker Grand Prix. It has an iPONCE connection and also plays MP3's on CD so you just burn a few CDs and keep your original CD's at home.

Cheers n

Si

[Jamo]

2nd that for Becker, although I didn't suggest this as they are higher priced! http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/pro...s_id/5039.html

[S2central.net]

Mmmm - I actually really like this one (http://www.alpine-electronics.co.uk/...CDE-9874RR.jpg) - more bells and whistles than I need on day 1, but it has the built-in iPod support - needs the 422i cable out the back which I can route to the glovebox... No need for funky external amps - and has the right colour of illumination for about 100 quid - seems amazingly cheap.

What about speakers ?

[S2central.net]

Becker you say - thats thrice the price... But its no prettier than the Alpine thing. I assume it sounds better, and being made in EU its going to more expensive...

Must admit the name Alpine is also associated in my mind with spides, hoodies and other ***** in Saxos that are stickered up accordingly... I presume the stickers add some strcutural rigidity to those cars.

That Alpine has the MP3 CD support as well - which is cool - just in case I forgot the 'iPonce' - LOL

[Jamo]

Fronts 4" MB Quart do a grand job if you don't want to "mod" the dash to make 5.25 speakers fit.

Rears i'm unsure of with the Coupe as I had custom builds, Andy Casey over to you on that one.

[Jonas_R]

Get a Hertz Hi Energy speaker set with 6.5", 4" and tweeter. Stick the 4" in the stock location in the dashboard, stick the tweeters in the small air vent holes in the dashboard. And then for the love of god, please make some kinda door builds
Music is supposed to come from the front and not the back

Anyways I would recommend this Audison Amp - srx5

[Fat Audi 80]

Let me start by saying that along with not polishing my car, I am not some audio-geek with oxygen free bass bins and cross-dressing amps ....

ICE - wassat? As far as I am concerned, ICE is the first word in a sentence that should either finish with '....in your martini sir' or '....ice baby - All right stop collaborate and listen'

Si

I have seriously just laughed loud enough to wake my daughter, and she is asleep upstairs!!!

@ Paul and ICE. Next thing I know you will be posting in the detiling forum!

I think some grand suggestions have already been made.

IMVHO, you DO NOT need door builds! A decent (I have Kenwood) 4" speaker in the dash locations (can be fitted in less than an hour) along with optional tweeters in the air vent location will provide more than enough sound staging if you get the bass bit right.

I have NOT changed the rear speakers as:
A.) It is a pain in the ****

B.) I don't EVER sit in the back

C.) I have a good enough setup that the rear speakers are faded down and crossed over to reduce the bass.

I do think you should budget for a small subwoofer if you are going to go to the trouble of trying to get some relatively decent sounds.

For this either:

A.) Lose your spare wheel and mount something in the spare wheel well.

B.) Go for a small under seat or rear mounted active sub (Built in amplification)

If you buy an amp you are, IMO wasting your time if you don't get a sub. But I guess you could upgrade the rear speaker for some additional bass, but it will never be particularly good.

Some random thoughts there, but I hope that helps!

[HPmuirt]

I have seriously just laughed loud enough to wake my daughter, and she is asleep upstairs!!!

Sorry , just making sure Paul didn't think I was some kinda ICE ICE boffin

Cheers n rock-a-bye-babies

Si

[stiglet]

Decent 6"-ish speakers will fit into the standard rear door cards, i have 2 boss audio speakers in the back which sound brilliant but you would never know they were there.