Hi Guys,
Just wanted to start a thread about audio reproduction and our experiences. Please, let’s not get into any “mine is better than yours” discussions, just what you have experienced.
My audiophile journey started in the summer of 1987 with the purchase of a Luxman M02 power amp and matching C02 preamp along with a cost effective Denon DP 23F turntable and Magnat Sonobull speakers. Doing some research I knew separated was the way to go and start building with a solid foundation- the amplifier. As a few years went by I listened to A LOT of gear and realized that law of diminishing returns was in effect. To move to what I felt was amazing I had to spend $8500 in 1989 on speakers (monitors in the audiophile language). No thanks as I still needed a turntable and CD player to accommodate. I then turned to car audio because I knew I could get more cheaper.
In a small chamber (cockpit of a car) sound waves are much easier to control. I purchased a 1987 Nissan Maxima in 1992 and went to work. Back then the “boomer” cars and competitions did not exist. It was all about sound quality.
I built a system of used amplifiers (Alpine 3545 for the subs and two Apline 3555’s bridged for the front and rear speakers), discontinued head unit- Alpine 7390 with 6pk trunk CD changer (new) with a 5 band parametric Alpine 3401 (used) and an 11 band graphic equalizer Alpine 3331 with sub control. Subs were Cerwin Vega 15in diameter 102db 1W/1m (new) with MB Quart 5.25” separates with crossover front and back (used). Dynamat all around- about 100lbs in total but not brand name, I bought Bitumen which is the same but for dump trucks instead. It is sound deadinging material to stop vibrations. It has one sticky side to peel and adhere to body panels.
I installed everything myself using string and straight pins to arm drivers. Back then “stealth” was all the rage. I installed everything. Took black fabric to cover the three piece built into the trunk 6.6 cubic foot box. Total amateur looking job. Head unit and eq were taped together and installed into the glove box on the passenger side. When the back seats were upright ONLY the titanium dome tweeters could be seen.
I spent many a day tweaking the system. When done on an RTA (real time analyzer which measures frequency response) I could “flat line” 32Hz to 14k Hz which is plus minus 1.5 decibels- industry standards in competition. When switched to “sound quality” it was sublime. I could close my eyes and the instruments disappeared in a broad soundstage a mile wide. Dynamics were instantly available. It was like a $20,000 home audio system. I achieved my goal. Total cost to me- $3,500 including a second battery and isolator.
I decided to enter car audio competitions. I had 1,100 watts of rated power so I was in the unlimited category. Car audio had many categories depending on rated power back then- 0 to 50W, 51 to 100W, 101 to 250W, 251 to 500W, 501 to 1000W then unlimited.
I’ll keep this brief now. On my first competition you park on a row and the judges move from car to car with an evaluation sheet for parameters such as soundstage, dynamics, accuracy, channel separation, sound pressure and installation quality. I was not watching, speaking with others and the judge walked by my car. I noticed and ran up to him saying “you missed my car”. He’ responds “Im sorry, I looked inside and didn’t see anything. I thought you were just parked there”
I opened the passenger door and he sat down, I closed his door, jumped into the drivers seat. He said “Well where is the stereo”. In 10 seconds I reached into the back, pulled down the back seats revealing 2 15in woofers and opened the glovebox. His eyes opened like saucers saying “I can’t believe this” I pressed play on the standard CD everyone must use for evaluation to keep all equal. He rated me, took my RTA printout and left.
I won first in unlimited and first overall taking grand prize money with trophy. I won every competition I entered by A LOT until I entered an IASCA (International Audio Sound Challenge) in other words “The Big Time”- Professionals.
In scoring I got fucking slaughtered on installation placing 9th out of 35 cars overall in the unlimited division. They had moulded fibreglass, neon lights and all sorts of stuff. I was called “The over achieving amateur”.
Funny thing is I won highest score in imaging, soundstage and channel separation in my class. Tied on sound pressure level which is cut off at 130 decibels C weighted. Professionals stood in line to listen to my car at one time 8 long.
The industry changed im 1995 to SPL (sound pressure level) drag races which is where we stand today. SQ (sound quality) is a minor competition now. I miss the old days
My litmus test for control and accuracy. Please take a listen to….
1. Madonna- Vogue. The beginning starts with finger snaps. Listen to the bass as it hits. There are 4 beats on the bass over and over again. Please listen to it carefully. It is actually a computer and those 4 beats are NOT equal- there is a 2 hertz difference between each one downward regression!
2. Murry Head- One Night in Bangkok. There is an absolute shit ton of many different bass notes happening in that song but again the frequencies are very, very close to each other. Try 52 second into the song. The complications of bass notes is outrageous.
In both these songs there in an absolutely amazing amount of bass “information”
3. Metallica- Eye of the Beholder. This album does not use real drums they are pads Ulrich uses. The kick drum is exactly 50Hz. Crank it up! You will hear a distinct “tick, tick,tick” as the volume rises. Wait until the song is at full gain
Finally listen to the last song Dyer’s Eve. The kick drum is so fast that if you listen to it with a “boomer” system it sounds like one big long note all muddied. It is smoking fast! With an accurate stereo you will feel each and every one of the approximately 300 beats per minute.
Just wanted to start a thread about audio reproduction and our experiences. Please, let’s not get into any “mine is better than yours” discussions, just what you have experienced.
My audiophile journey started in the summer of 1987 with the purchase of a Luxman M02 power amp and matching C02 preamp along with a cost effective Denon DP 23F turntable and Magnat Sonobull speakers. Doing some research I knew separated was the way to go and start building with a solid foundation- the amplifier. As a few years went by I listened to A LOT of gear and realized that law of diminishing returns was in effect. To move to what I felt was amazing I had to spend $8500 in 1989 on speakers (monitors in the audiophile language). No thanks as I still needed a turntable and CD player to accommodate. I then turned to car audio because I knew I could get more cheaper.
In a small chamber (cockpit of a car) sound waves are much easier to control. I purchased a 1987 Nissan Maxima in 1992 and went to work. Back then the “boomer” cars and competitions did not exist. It was all about sound quality.
I built a system of used amplifiers (Alpine 3545 for the subs and two Apline 3555’s bridged for the front and rear speakers), discontinued head unit- Alpine 7390 with 6pk trunk CD changer (new) with a 5 band parametric Alpine 3401 (used) and an 11 band graphic equalizer Alpine 3331 with sub control. Subs were Cerwin Vega 15in diameter 102db 1W/1m (new) with MB Quart 5.25” separates with crossover front and back (used). Dynamat all around- about 100lbs in total but not brand name, I bought Bitumen which is the same but for dump trucks instead. It is sound deadinging material to stop vibrations. It has one sticky side to peel and adhere to body panels.
I installed everything myself using string and straight pins to arm drivers. Back then “stealth” was all the rage. I installed everything. Took black fabric to cover the three piece built into the trunk 6.6 cubic foot box. Total amateur looking job. Head unit and eq were taped together and installed into the glove box on the passenger side. When the back seats were upright ONLY the titanium dome tweeters could be seen.
I spent many a day tweaking the system. When done on an RTA (real time analyzer which measures frequency response) I could “flat line” 32Hz to 14k Hz which is plus minus 1.5 decibels- industry standards in competition. When switched to “sound quality” it was sublime. I could close my eyes and the instruments disappeared in a broad soundstage a mile wide. Dynamics were instantly available. It was like a $20,000 home audio system. I achieved my goal. Total cost to me- $3,500 including a second battery and isolator.
I decided to enter car audio competitions. I had 1,100 watts of rated power so I was in the unlimited category. Car audio had many categories depending on rated power back then- 0 to 50W, 51 to 100W, 101 to 250W, 251 to 500W, 501 to 1000W then unlimited.
I’ll keep this brief now. On my first competition you park on a row and the judges move from car to car with an evaluation sheet for parameters such as soundstage, dynamics, accuracy, channel separation, sound pressure and installation quality. I was not watching, speaking with others and the judge walked by my car. I noticed and ran up to him saying “you missed my car”. He’ responds “Im sorry, I looked inside and didn’t see anything. I thought you were just parked there”
I opened the passenger door and he sat down, I closed his door, jumped into the drivers seat. He said “Well where is the stereo”. In 10 seconds I reached into the back, pulled down the back seats revealing 2 15in woofers and opened the glovebox. His eyes opened like saucers saying “I can’t believe this” I pressed play on the standard CD everyone must use for evaluation to keep all equal. He rated me, took my RTA printout and left.
I won first in unlimited and first overall taking grand prize money with trophy. I won every competition I entered by A LOT until I entered an IASCA (International Audio Sound Challenge) in other words “The Big Time”- Professionals.
In scoring I got fucking slaughtered on installation placing 9th out of 35 cars overall in the unlimited division. They had moulded fibreglass, neon lights and all sorts of stuff. I was called “The over achieving amateur”.
Funny thing is I won highest score in imaging, soundstage and channel separation in my class. Tied on sound pressure level which is cut off at 130 decibels C weighted. Professionals stood in line to listen to my car at one time 8 long.
The industry changed im 1995 to SPL (sound pressure level) drag races which is where we stand today. SQ (sound quality) is a minor competition now. I miss the old days
My litmus test for control and accuracy. Please take a listen to….
1. Madonna- Vogue. The beginning starts with finger snaps. Listen to the bass as it hits. There are 4 beats on the bass over and over again. Please listen to it carefully. It is actually a computer and those 4 beats are NOT equal- there is a 2 hertz difference between each one downward regression!
2. Murry Head- One Night in Bangkok. There is an absolute shit ton of many different bass notes happening in that song but again the frequencies are very, very close to each other. Try 52 second into the song. The complications of bass notes is outrageous.
In both these songs there in an absolutely amazing amount of bass “information”
3. Metallica- Eye of the Beholder. This album does not use real drums they are pads Ulrich uses. The kick drum is exactly 50Hz. Crank it up! You will hear a distinct “tick, tick,tick” as the volume rises. Wait until the song is at full gain
Finally listen to the last song Dyer’s Eve. The kick drum is so fast that if you listen to it with a “boomer” system it sounds like one big long note all muddied. It is smoking fast! With an accurate stereo you will feel each and every one of the approximately 300 beats per minute.
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