AudiAudio

[PAUL SOUZA 202-260-6061 <SOUZA.PAUL@epamail.epa.gov>]

          I'm really enjoying all this banter on everyone's audio systems.  
          It seems that there are some knowledgeable people on this list.
          I do need advice on a couple of things.  First, I'll describe my 
          system:
          
          In my quest for upgrading my system, I just spent a hell of a lot 
          of time listening to friends' systems, stereo store displays, 
          etc. I just made notes on what I liked and what I didn't.  Then I 
          listened some more.  I listen to a wide variety of music so I 
          brought CDs from my own collection with me.  Plus, I decided what 
          features I wanted beforehand and what I could live without. 
          
          I then reflected on what the damage would be to my wallet.
          
          What I wound up with was: 
          
          -a Sony ES in dash CD player (I didn't care for the Blaus or     
          Alpines that were in my budget...but that's just personal     
          opinion, I won't fight over it). 
          
          -Sony XEC-500 dash mounted crossover, if I wanted to "tailor" my   
          sound while at the wheel.  Hi/lo frequency cutoffs, subwoofer    
          level (the sub just don't go when you're listening to some    
          classic Billy Holiday or Django).  It was cheap and quiet too.
          
          -2 Rockford Fosgate amps. 1 two channel for the front speakers,  
          the second a 4 channel with 2 for the rears and 2 bridged to 
          mono for the sub. They're 30wpc and PLENTY loud enough, since I
          don't plan on driving through the neighborhood thumpin' away.
          
          -4 Boston Acoustic Plates (with the 5 1/4" woofer) and a Bazooka  
          bass tube (which was given to me free by a friend who was   
          moving).  The front plates are mounted in the doors.  I just 
          disconnected the dash speakers.
          
          The system (to me) sounds great.  I don't have a changer, but 
          with the bazooka, there wasn't much room in the trunk of my coupe 
          left for it. 
          
          Now for asking advice:
          I do experience alternator whine, but am pretty sure that's from 
          a poor ground on the amps.  I think I may have picked the 
          grounding point common to the taillights or window defroster, 
          since the whine gets louder when the defroster's on, and I hear a 
          small "click" when I hit the brakes.  No pops.  Any advice (on 
          the early coupes) where a good ground point would be?  Amps are 
          in the trunk.
          
          Because of the "funky trunk" of the Coupes, what would be the 
          best sub for such a system?  As you know, free-air, and subs 
          mounted behind the back seat or rear deck won't work (unless I 
          want to lose the shelf for the sunroof).  Or should I just keep 
          what I got?  The tube is not a "tight" bass.
          

          Thanks all,
          
          -Cello
          souza.paul@epamail.epa.gov
          -85 GT
          -85 5ks