Quote: Originally posted by diverse how does it sound? compared to another upgraded system (which has not had such attention to detail spent on it)?
Stay tuned, this is a slow project. I am mounting amps and running wires now...then the sound down...then the sound.
From the purist view point this will be as good as it gets given the fact that this is a car. The choice of componants might be better but this is a cost v/s benefit program to prove to myself I need to spend more. Speakers and amps are the first step.
The rear speaker enclosures are close to the book, being air tight with the proper volume and dampening. Nothing rattles. Bass should be accurate and deep without the boom of a ported tuned box.
The amps have plenty of power. Remember how small the MINI cabin is. There will be no clipping and harmonic distortion at good listening volumes.
The head unit could be a weak point. GaryM proved that by-passing the power amps is better. (Amplifying then driving a resister block to get back to low level imputs is not clean.) (My home system has a CD direct input that by-passes the preamp. I can hear the difference.) I think the Alpine head has pretty good decoding. Changing the front speakers reveled a big improvement in sound quality that wasn't getting out. I don't need features so I don't mind the generic look and single disc slot. I don't want to loose the speed volume compensation either.
It will look stock! This system will most often have to compete with 60 to 70 db of car noise as well so going over the top may only require being loud and clear. I think it will rock!
It is unfortunate that like a few other things in life, good sound (and great sex) is a judgement call. (I'm just making sure the bod is good, with no surprises.) What I think is good could be crap to the next guy...stand by for my raving review. It might be few weeks.
