audio gurus - need input on system design

[derek murray]

I have an early car in which the radio has been replaced with a CHT gauge and voltmeter. And while I like the look and the piece of mind the added instrumentation brings... I'm starting to miss the tunes. So I've started to plan a fairly modest sound system that will use a portable mp3 player as its only source. But frankly, I have no clue on what is good or bad other than what could be gathered from the archives, so I need some help.

BTW, I like my music clean and tight, but not too bright (I'm 45) and listen to everything from Rage Against the Machine to Roland Kirk (primarily the latter, though)... So what do you guys think?

Source:
Ipod, 30G - colour: black

Direct to Amp Interface - Hifonics MM-1 Car Audio iPod/MP3 Interface:
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_7923_Hifonics+MM-1+Car+Audio+iPod-MP3+Interface.html

Amps - 2x MB Quart PAB 2100 Premium 2 Channel:
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_9483_MB+Quart+PAB+2100.html

Speakers (front doors) - MB Quart PCE 216
Premium Series 6-1/2":
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_699_MB+Quart+PCE+216.html

Sub (smugglers box) - MB Quart DWG 254
10" Discus Series Subwoofer:
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_8320_MB+Quart+DWG+254.html
or
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_9660_MB+Quart+RWE+204.html

[derek murray]

weekend bump... before I lay down the credit card

[mhackney]

Derek, I see you have a 70S too! Just curious, how does a sub in the smuggler's box work?

Take a look at the post I just made on retrofitting the Blaupunkt shelf speakers in my S: Blaupunkt shelf speaker rebuild

I didn't feel good about cutting holes in my door panels!
Cheers,
Michael

[RWebb]

MB Quarts are good speakers.

You'll get more responses if you list the items, rather than force people to follow URL to find out what you are talking about....

[bell]

sounds like your on the path i've been on for a bit......sirius stiletto as my only source
here is my thread.....amp rack is finally done
911 audio build....

the quart 6.5's are nice, they like power though, that "mb quart" amp isn't "that" powerful, look into the JL 300/2 if the budget permits. the hifonics source adapter will work, you'll probably need to add an rca ground isolator as they can be noisy.....a PAC rca filter works every time.

[derek murray]

Originally posted by RWebb
You'll get more responses if you list the items...

good suggestion, thanks

[derek murray]

Originally posted by mhackney
Just curious, how does a sub in the smuggler's box work

Michael - Actually I'm not sure, but I've been inspired by bell's work in this thread...

911 audio the way it was meant

That is a great retrofit, btw... nice work!

[dipso]

I put an amp under the passenger seat, a sub under the drivers seat (tried the sub in the trunk and it didn't work well), seperates in the door and shallow speakers just for fill in the rear. It sounds great.
Seperates in the front are very important to get the tweeter up high where it is not muddled.
Here are a couple of photos so you can see.
I get pretty anal about things sometimes and I think this is just about as good as I could get it.

Good luck

[bell]

Originally posted by derek murray
Michael - Actually I'm not sure, but I've been inspired by bell's work in this thread...

911 audio the way it was meant

That is a great retrofit, btw... nice work!

one thing i did learn with playing with the sub in the smugglers box is that output will always be limited, this is mainly due to the woofer firing strait up, you'll hear it, but there is a better way.

i am currently working on making the single 10" fire directly into the cabin from the base of the smugglers box, this will entail some cutting to make room for the magnet, the face of the enclosure will bolt where the pass foot board is and will become part of the chamber.
when the chamber of the smugglers box is made you end up with a right around 2/3 cu foot, so sub selection is important for it to work with the airspace you end up with......build the "box" first then measure the airspace.
for absolute accuracy place a trash bag in the "box" (triple bag it) and fill with water, that ammount of water can be converted to volume by some math, i cheat and use a 12"x12"x36" box on end and pour in the water, drop in my strait edge and there's my volume.....always better to be a little big for the woofer, as making the internal volume of the box smaller is as easy as adding some wood....once you have your numbers.

sorry for the ramble.....i spent the day installing a big ass radar system in a gallardo and am drinking some XX

[dipso]

I tried a bazooka bass tube strapped to the strut tower brace. Vibrated the hell out of the car but didn't provide the bass properly.
Then I ported about six 3'' holes into the cab above the feet to allow the sound into the cab. Still didn't work.
The sub under the seat is by far the best way to get bass in the cab, I think kenwood makes it. Look it up, it's made for under seat applications.

[RoninLB]

aimed mid between driver & passenger heads.

wedge is for 6.5

[Paulporsche]

Can't comment on audio systems, but I once saw Roland Kirk play a show @ the Fillmore in NYC about 1970 with Santana and the Tower of Power. It was amazing. He played the sax, flute and folding wooden chair all @ once!