Alright, I just registered so I figured I'd show off my system.

Headunit: Alpine CDA-9847 with Aux input adapter (for iPod)
Fronts: Infinity Kappa 60.5cs
Rear: Infinity Kappa 693.7i
Amp: Alpine MRP-F450
Sub: Alpine Type-R 10"
Sub Amp: Alpine MRP-M650
Monster speaker wire all around

And, my custom amp rack.

Pardon the comments... I put those on there when I was the only person I knew with a hardwired car iPod connection (Note the 3G iPod).


Picture of the trunk - The box is a purchased sealed enclosure.


Close up on amp rack


Amp Rack at night

 

Custom amp rack but not custom box? *scratches head*

No offense, but the ipod cord looks ghetto like that, especially the two cord thing.

You should look in to a part made by peripheral electronics called the PXP01. Gives you a/v out and charges the ipod all using the bottom connector.

Sounds better too.

 

I've thought about the other iPod cable, but occasionally I'll use the audio out from my laptop in my car, so the headphone jack is useful for that. Also, when I bought that cable, I don't think the RCA out dock connectors had been released yet.

Similar story with the sub box. I've had the sub for about a year and a half, but only built the amp rack a couple months ago. Personally, I'm happy with the way that it looks right now.

I also have a holder for my iPod that isn't in that picture.


Modified by BimmerM3 at 6:07 PM 3/16/2008

 

coooool

 

Looks ok. Keep it up!

 

nice amp rack!

My system is currently being built at Tweeter. The amps will be housed inside a low-profile box for a discrete look and the sub is inside a JL Stealthbox.

question: I suppose that the answer to this will be "No," but does having the amp rack and sub placed against the back seat like that affect bass quality/loudness at all? I mean, surely it must to at least some degree-- but do you think that difference is audible?

PS I had those speakers (not sub) inside my last system -- they definitely rock!

 

Good job, looks clean, other then the iPod wiring.

You could improve SQ, [a lot] from your iPod and control it from the HU with the Alpine KCA-420i and if you want another input add the Alpine KCA-410C.

You can also improve overall SQ by getting rid of the power distribution box, run separate power leads from the batt. for each amp.

The MRP-M650 should have a 4ga power lead [1x600W RMS into 2 ohms].
The MRP-F450 needs an 8ga power lead, [4x70W RMS into 4 ohms].

I assume the sub is a DVC 4 ohm wired in parallel. 94

 

fcm,

How would the KCA-420i improve sound quality? Isn't the cable just a medium to send binary data to the receiver? Isn't the DAC still performing as usuall?

I have the Alpine 9887, which has what they call "Full Speed Connection For iPod" and uses just a cable (KCE-422i) to connect to iPod. Will the sound quality be any different listing to a track stored on iPod compared to one stored on a CD, assuming that they are both 320Kb/s MP3s? Or are both uncompressed (CDA on CD versus WAV on iPod)?

I completely understand the differences between the formats themselves (CDA/WAV versus MP3), but specifically I am inquiring as to if there is any perceivable difference if the medium changes (iPod versus CD)? I just bought an iPod with the hope that I will never have to use CDs again. But if there is some SQ benefit to burning high-quality MP3s on CD versus listening to them on iPod then I would like to know. I haven't got my system yet so I can't test for myself.

I appreciate your wisdom in this matter!

 

I'm not sure about this, but this is how I understand the difference. Someone pelease correct me if I'm wrong.

When using a headphone jack like in my step-up, the iPod will take the digital audio, convert it into analog audio, and then the receiver converts it back into digital, then back into analog when output to the amps. Using the KCA-420i, the iPod outputs digital information via the dock connector, is decoded by the KCA-420i and transfered to the headunit digitally, just like it would decode an mp3 CD.

One of the reasons that I don't like the

Thanks for the compliment. I built the amp rack myself (my first endeavor into custom amp-racks/sub boxes/etc.), so I'm glad you guys like it. I was trying to make the rack look custom and display the amps without looking too flashy and still retaining most of my trunk usage.

Before I built the rack, I just had the sub and the sub amp in the trunk (the fronts were powered by a cheap amp under the driver's seat, and I had stock rears), and I haven't noticed much of a difference in the quality of the sub. That said, I don't have the most tuned ear, so a true audiophile might notice a difference. I haven't really spent too much time researching the acoustics of cars.


I'll have to look into the KCA-420i. I also didn't realize that running two power leads would improve SQ.

And this is going to sound lame, but I'm honestly not sure how the sub is wired. I got that before I really started researching car audio myself, so my friend wired it. I haven't opened the box since he put it in.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DC_Civic08 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">fcm,

How would the KCA-420i improve sound quality? Isn't the cable just a medium to send binary data to the receiver? Isn't the DAC still performing as usuall?

I have the Alpine 9887, which has what they call "Full Speed Connection For iPod" and uses just a cable (KCE-422i) to connect to iPod. Will the sound quality be any different listing to a track stored on iPod compared to one stored on a CD, assuming that they are both 320Kb/s MP3s? Or are both uncompressed (CDA on CD versus WAV on iPod)?

I completely understand the differences between the formats themselves (CDA/WAV versus MP3), but specifically I am inquiring as to if there is any perceivable difference if the medium changes (iPod versus CD)? I just bought an iPod with the hope that I will never have to use CDs again. But if there is some SQ benefit to burning high-quality MP3s on CD versus listening to them on iPod then I would like to know. I haven't got my system yet so I can't test for myself.

I appreciate your wisdom in this matter!

</TD></TR></TABLE> The OPs HU is not a "Full Speed Connection" and must use the KCA-420i, [for best SQ and iPod control] you do not, your HU has the 420i "built in".
You also have the advantage of not needing the KCA-410C as the CD port is not used for the iPod cable, allowing you to use it for the changer or as an AUX input. 94

 

Thanks for the responses, guys.

Bimmer: I could definitely see how using the headphone jack to output to the receiver would not be ideal (after taking a closer look at the picture you submitted, I can see where this suggestion would come from.) Definitely stay digital till the receiver's DAC can perform its magic. Good work on the install! I'm anxiously awaiting mine to complete.

 

looks nice ;]

 

very clean install, what kind of amp do you have?

 

Would this also work with an Alpine CDA-9833?