[s-cars] AUDIophile! Stereo Options?

[Taka Mizutani]

What car is this going into, Ben? Sounds like a B3/B4 CQ?

I'm assuming you're talking about a standard DIN head unit?

There are not too many decent head units these days- the Pioneer DEX-P99RS
is one of the last ones that are currently produced that are really nice.

Eclipse CD7200 mk II is the last Eclipse unit that was really nice, probably
hasn't been sold new since 2008.

I think the last Alpine units that were really nice with the F#1 Status and
the 7998- out of production for at least 5-6 years.

Nakamichi units are good, but not the best in terms of reliability, out of
production for years, 10+.

Denon makes nice head units, not sold in the US, very expensive and don't
use the US FM band, so not useful as a radio, only as a CD player.

McIntosh units look like they're still available.

The top-of-the-line Sony ES units from the late '90s were also really,
really good.

You will not find a good quality head unit new for $300, nor will you have
an easy time finding one used for that price. With that price constraint, I
think you're limited to the higher end Pioneer units for a new head unit-
they're blue display, but they have great FM reception, have all of the
MP3/CDR/etc. hookups that you want, not terrible quality.

Amps are pretty easy- go for a class AB or if you can find a class A amp for
the car, that would be the way to go. My preference is for some really
old-school stuff- a/d/s, Precision Power, etc. Soundstream's higher end
lines are quite decent.

How old are your speakers and what kind? If they're not rubber surround made
of good materials, old speakers are probably going to be degraded- you'll
have to have them re-coned.

Taka


On Wed, Nov 3, 2010 at 12:43 PM, Ben Swann <benswann at verizon.net> wrote:

> AUDIophile!
>
> Looking for options, advice, information on vehicle infotainment.  This is
> probably
> opening an evil thread spawning much non-Audi related content, but figured
> who better to
> ask.  I used to be fairly up to date audiphile wise, but simply have not
> kept up with
> that area of expertise.
>
> I'm looking to put together a nice system, and specing out a good head unit
> might be a
> good idea instead of doing the usual JVC, Sony  $100 deal.  I could do more
> like $300 on
> the head if there is actual bang for the buck since one can get a lot even
>  in the $100
> price range.
>
> I had procured a lot of sound system stuff for my S2 Coupe Quattro build
> that started
> several years ago - thinking I would be done sooner.  Now probably most of
> the stuff is
> either obsolete or cannibalized for other cars.  So I figured I might do
> well to start
> from relative scratch if need be considering how much time and money has
> gone into this
> car already.
>
> I will likely do a bi-amp setup with subwoofer and like other systems, use
> both RCA out
> front and rear to amplifiers to drive a full set  of speakers and a sub,
> and utilize the
> speaker outputs from the head unit.  I have some AMPS, and can but may need
> to get a few
> new - my preference is an amp in trunk or under seat that has Front & Rear
> RCA in and
> lets me mix out to same and either integrated single SUB or separate sub
> signal out.
>
> I have tons of speakers so no need to discuss those.
>
> I still use tapes, but probably would migrate to newer digital media like
> MP3 if I have
> to choose between the two.  CD/CDR is a must.  To pre-empt a lecture on
> getting with the
> times, I'll simply state  I'm not about to re-invest in replacing music I
> have on older
> formats just to get modern.  I don't have the money or the time to
> re-record and collect
> the stuff, but would like to be able to play CD/DVDs I have created from a
> library.  I
> can  however leave the tapes in the Eurovan, or other cars that use them.
>  I hear the
> laughing about tapes and CDs now - surely the same laughs will come back to
> haunt in the
> future when present technology is obsoleted.
>
> So looking for recommendations that fit in well with the Coupe Quattro
> console - look
> good, not flashy and more Germanic function - hate fiddly little buttons
> and convoluted
> panels.  The Original wiring is gone and would not consider redoing that,
> so options are
> wide open.  I'd even consider investing more in DVD Screen, or even better
> a small
> computer system so I can run diagnostics, tune, answer the phone, etc. but
> what fits in
> Single DIN space?  Sound quality and reliability are most important - it
> cost me more to
> get a system like this wired properly than the components, so don't like to
> be replacing
> stuff a year or two after installation.
>
> I mostly play CDs - Remote CD changer is probably a given.  I could utilize
> a few Audi
> and ALPINE Changers if they would be compatable with the newer.  FM stereo
> and good
> reception is a must - I'd do Sattelite, but I will not have anything to do
> with Monthy
> Recurring Charges, so that option is nice to be in there, but will likely
> not be used.
>
> I'd certainly be open to a nice fairly new used unit as long as the hookups
> are complete
> and undamaged - no 2" pigtails that need to be spliced.
>
> Ben
>
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