Femi Adegoke's perfectly executed...
Femi Adegoke's perfectly executed amprack holds one Boston Acoustics GT-28 amplifier for the Boston Acoustics G5 10" subs.
After the completion of the aluminum and fiberglass work, Weitz and Curtis installed the McIntosh MX4000 head unit. For maximum system purity, they needed to install a fiber-optic cable to the outboard McIntosh MDA4000 digital/analog converter. The next link in the signal chain is the massively flexible Audio Control DQX audio processor, which splits the signal to two Boston Acoustics GT-28 amplifiers. Monster Cable M1001 cables complete the connections to their respective speakers. These include a set of Boston Acoustics Pro60's in each door with Boston Acoustics NEO Type-M tweeters in the A-pillars (which improves system imaging by a measurable margin), and Boston G5 subwoofers in the rear compartment.
One final change came just before completion. While Weitz and Curtis had the doors apart, the decision was made to trick out the speakers with the same kind of aluminum trim the subwoofers sport. There was only one minor problem: Since Adegoke lived two hours away, it wasn't really practical for him to add this final touch. Weitz and Curtis got around this issue by making the trim pieces themselves. "But since they [did] not have a CNC mill available at that time," relates Labao, "they fabricated by hand the necessary aluminum trim using a handheld router. Talk about precision and determination."
When everything was up and running, Labao turned to Al Patel, another SoCal car audio competitor, to lend his ear and tune the system. Patel, who once served as the Southern California Boston Acoustics rep (and also spent time at the legendary Competition Soundworks in Cerritos, CA), massaged the system settings to create the best audio experience you can get out on the road. Having listened to the system on several occasions, I can only say that Patel deserves his reputation for having a sharp ear. In spite of the very basic system architecture, its accuracy on well-known test tracks as well as on popular material is nothing short of amazing. It illustrates that, more often than not, less is truly more, at least as far as system performance is concerned.
When you've installed, listened to and reviewed thousands of systems over the years, it's really rare when a system jumps out and grabs your attention in the way that this system does. When you combine a well-executed theme, high-quality components, flawless installation and someone who knows how to tune for the most accurate sound quality, you end up with a system that, in subtle ways, outperforms systems with a far greater component count. Kudos to all concerned with this outstanding system-it shows the rest of us how it's done.
The crowning touch is a MOMO...
The crowning touch is a MOMO Trek R steering wheel.
Driver ProfileEdsel Labao started tuning in the Philippines. When he moved to the U.S. in 1993, the passion stayed alive. However, heavy modifications didn't take place until he attended his first car show. "I immediately spent every single dime and available time I had on my car," he relates. It scored a feature in eurotuner and gave Labao a new goal: getting on the mag's cover, which he achieved with this Audi. Of this build, Labao concludes, "I cannot be more proud of this achievement, and I still sometimes do not believe that I was able to pull it off."
McIntosh's MX4000 receiver...
McIntosh's MX4000 receiver heads the system from the dash.
Tech:Engine* Neuspeed Audi TT 225exhaust system* Neuspeed short shifter kit* Neuspeed 240hp K04turbo kit* Ignition Solutions plasmacoil packs* Neuspeed P-Flo air intake* Centerforce II clutch* Forge 007 diverter valve
Suspension* Neuspeed 22mm frontsway bar* Neuspeed 19mm rearsway bar* Neuspeed sports springs* Koni Super Sports frontand rear adjustable shocks* Miltek adjustable tie arms
Brakes / Wheels* HRE 441R 19" wheels* Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires, 235/25/19 front,265/30/19 rear* Wilwood 6-piston/13.1"2-piece rotor front big brakes* Wilwood 4-piston/11.5"2-piece rotor rear big brakes* Goodridge brake lines