vancouver83ltd

Well been a few years since I last logged in.
Figured since I'm back looking for car stereo stuff again, new car with an 11 year old audio system, etc... Well, here she is.


1993 Volvo 940 Turbo Estate with a 5-speed transmission - the tranny was never offered here, and the transmission was swapped from auto to stick and the transmission imported from Europe. I have owned the car since July 2008, and have suffered with the stereo it has now.

When I got it in July 2008:



Yeah so so. Whatever, haven't really cared, only one front speaker works because some *** stole the stereo and decided it was easier to cut one of the wires - and THEN unplug the other three cables . They're home audio cables anyway so I've got replacements ready to go (Monster brand - whatever the hell future shop sells, I had a friend working there).
Hard bumps cause the front left to cut out, and always has. I'll probably re-run those... Any suggestions for those?

Currently I have a DEH-P6900UB that I bought brand new. Got it from the Pioneer rep, and supposedly it was the first one in Canada, since I was working for FutureShop at the time.
I really like it and I'm SUPER happy with it, it's followed me from my last car, but with me now having an iPhone and with new cell phone bans in B.C., it's time to move to something else. I've been so happy with the pioneer, I'm really leaning very strongly towards another though I'm open to suggestions. Additionally I'm happy with the look of the new pioneers with the dark appearance with my black interior and the fact the gauges in that photo are going to be replaced with something that's completely black when the car is turned off. I'm thinking about grabbing a new Pioneer DEH-P7100BT but what about the DEH-P710BT? What's the big differences?
So make a suggestion for something with bluetooth and ipod connectivity if you're going to make a suggestion.

As for speakers, currently the front are ADR components. They're 5 1/4 up front with ghetto plywood mounts. Ugh. Crutchfield says I can only put 5.25 but I'll try a 6.5" if I can get away with it, still need to play around. I'll probably do something similar in the back, the components in 6 1/2 if I can or maybe just 5 1/4 I'm not sure yet. Really not sure.
As for speakers... Well you might all cringe, butttt.....
I'm thinking of the energy convertible components. I know I know. Futureshop home brand blah blah but I used to sell them when they were $300+ and I had customers that loved them. Fantastic bass and they seemed well built too. And f*** me, they're only $89.99 now regular price!? Possibly the best deal on the market right now?
As for subs, I had a 12" Infinity Perfect 12.1 in my last car and was happy, so I kept it. Sealed box. I listen to everything and really, I found that I was happy with it in terms of the tightness of the bass. I figure it'll be good in the wagon, but I'd really like a custom built box for the wagon that's integrated into the side well a little...
However the amp I had, I had two channels bridged on an MTX MXA4004. Not going to cut it. I'll run the four Energy speakers off that, but it's time for a monoblock. Any suggestions? The specs on the power range: 75-350 watts RMS (1,400 watts peak power)

So I guess that's it. Let's recap?

- Energy components - Good idea? Thoughts? Bang for the buck anything better?
- Imaging with the energy speakers - mount it low in the door panel, up top on the dash corner facing windshield, or somewhere else?
- If I don't keep the tweeters in the dash top, should I put a pair of 3.5" speakers there?
- What head unit should I get? MUST have iPhone capability and be plugged into the glovebox, no touch operation. Leaning towards Pioneer DEH-P7100BT or DEH-P710BT but make a suggestion. Don't want to spend more than that and I don't want to get anything that isn't single din.
- What's a good monoblock amp for an Infinity Perfect 12.1 that's still reasonably priced?
- Good place in the Vancouver area, or a guy out of his backyard with some fab skills to build a 1.0 cu-ft box for a 1993 Volvo 940 wagon that will be as close to the rear side wall as much as possible?
- What gauge wiring should I rock for the speaker wire?
- What's a fair price for the old ADR components and the Pioneer Deck it has now, as well as the old amp in the pics?

Anyway, looking forward to thoughts and suggestions. Thanks!

-Brett

Vancouver Canada

vancouver83ltd

Really? Nobody has ANY opinions or suggestions?
C'mon my plans can't be THAT perfect.

MR2NR

iTrader: (66)

I will have a look at some items for you in the morning when I make it to the shop. That price on the component speakers is untouchable, if you like them go for it. I would not use the 3.5" in the dash personally. I have a deal on a Soundstream mono amp, 400rms into 2 ohm (I am assuming that your sub is dvc 4ohm). For a headunit, the Eclipse CD5030 has onboard bluetooth for the handsfree law now in effect (first ticket already issued btw), and it also has a i-pod cable for it as well. The i-phone plugged into the deck will only operate the i-pod functions. The phone portion will all be done by bluetooth. Hit me up tomorrow to see what we can do for you.

vancouver83ltd

It's single actually, believe it or not.
Honestly I really liked the sound better than the top end component infinity.
I mean SQ is all subjective, so you know. Being the future shop home brand they can't be more than forty bucks to build so without a doubt they threw them on sale and realized they could make a load more money selling them cheap so they fly out the door.
Have you tested an iPhone with the eclipse? I'm just worried how well it will interface with the iPhone when I'm using it as an iPod & a call comes in. Maybe it'll work as it does when I have my headphones in. Maybe not. I need to go visit my friend at work over town and drop into the futureshop nearby and play with the decks and glare at the dumbass salesmen (LOL I used to be one a few years ago) and tell them I'm just browsing.
My mechanic was a big audio guy back in the day but he still knows about mobile audio. Unfortunately he sold all his amps back in the day and only has some speakers and a cd changer the size of a 12" sub box. :P
anyway. What's your opinion on tweeter placement for best imaging while retaining the stock door panels?

scribbz

bump k?

MR2NR

iTrader: (66)

I have a deal on the large 4 channel Eclipse amp. 100w rms x 4... this would be ideal to power your fronts and a sub... or perhaps just a big 2 channel amp to power the sub. It would be a real waste of a mono amp to power only a single 4 ohm coil and have the amp to work to only 33% or 50% of it's abilities. Here is a link to the amp. It is a full range ICEpower class D amp, 100w x 2 to the front and 400w x 1 for the sub, all into 4 ohms. This would be an ideal amp for you. Just a thought for the amp....

When I hit the store in an hours time I will test an i-phone on the CD5030 and give you the results. The i-pod functions would automatically mute when a phone is detected by Bluetooth. The phone functions are not part of the cable plug in as would a i-pod. Phone functions are all Bluetooth and the circuit is designed to mute any audio source when the Bluetooth circuit is activated.

I would try the tweeters in numerous positions compliments of 3M double sided tape and install them in the area that has the best tonal response. Then I would make them look like they are supposed to be there.

ECLIPSE 4/3/2 Channel Class D Amplifier with Channelflex Crossover plus Subsonic Filter XA4200 | Fujitsu Ten

MR2NR

iTrader: (66)

The CD5030 appears to have a issue with I-phone and I-pod at the same time. While it will play a file from the I-pod it will not activate the Bluetooth if the phone rings. This is a software issue in the I-phone and not the head unit it seems. I will keep trying to sort this out.

vancouver83ltd

That's what I was afraid of. Not too surprised though really. I do really appreciate you checking it out but advances in tech can be a beautiful thing or a beautiful nightmare. And my ex has the old iPod that used to live in my glove box, now. :lol:
I need to research amps. I haven't touched car audio in four years and as stupid as it may sound, I've retained almost nothing I knew about amps. :P
I appreciate you taking the time to fool around with the iPhone though. I almost wonder if a software update would take care of it although who knows, it could Be that the phone doesn't want to pair with the deck when it is 'docked'.
Basically don't kill yourself trying to work it on my account.
I like your idea about moving the tweet around and figuring out what sounds good. As for integrating it in the Volvo squared door panel makes it pretty easy to put it just about anywhere cleanly.