First off, thanks for the e-mails you've been sending about our next project vehicle. It's interesting to note that my creativity is being kicked up a notch by your suggestions-thanks! Send your ideas to dereklee@mobiledynamics.com. Meanwhile, here are a couple of the latest messages I found especially motivating:
M.J. Green from Benton, AK, updated me on his Troubleshooting question from April 2006 and made a suggestion:
You were right: My crossover is active, not passive. I know the difference, but I made a mistake. I call them "learning experiences." Anyway, I tossed the free industrial-grade 2-gauge wire and bought some quality car audio 4-gauge wire. Also, instead of two 15" subs, I purchased one MA Audio MA151XQ 15" subwoofer to run off of my Sony XM-2200 GTX amplifier, bridged. I also bought Vance Dickason's latest Loudspeaker Cookbook, Vol. 7 to fill in the long weeks between issues of CA&E. It is great; I recommend it to anyone who likes reading the entire Troubleshooting section first each month.
I have noticed society is heading for high-definition video with jumbo screens and maximum pixilation, but it seems the opposite in music, with highly compressed satellite radio and MP3. MP3 is fine with portables and ear-buds, but you yourself said a car audio system is only as good as its weakest link. So why spend thousands of dollars on equipment just to play sub-par music? Which brings me to my question: Is it possible to burn CDs with only 10 to 20 songs on them and still retain the Lossless AIFF recording studio quality of the music?
And finally, why not have your students do a fancy or stealth install in a regular-sized cab of a nice new Ford F150 or GMC 3/4-ton 4-wheel-drive pickup? The space is limited, so you could use those thin subs like the Critical Mass LS122, Clarion PFW or Pioneer and Earthquake versions. Thin amps and component speakers could also be used and the goal would be for sound quality and a decent SPL. It would be very interesting.
I noticed a brain fade on my part with the April 2006 issue-I was referring to 4-gauge wire when you had said you had 2-gauge. As a result, you tossed the 2-gauge in favor of a more suitable but smaller wire. At least you are not using the wire to its limit, so no harm done. These little details slip by from time to time, and in your system, I still prefer 4-gauge intended for audio rather than 2-gauge "mystery wire." We both learned something and that is a victory to me!
I also recommend the Loudspeaker Design Cookbook. I have gone through a dozen copies, either because they keep getting stolen or I just wear them out. It's hefty science for the novice, but most of my subwoofer and crossover lessons are based on Vance's work.
Also, you "get it" when it comes to quality of source material as being the new "weakest link." Yes, audio seems to be declining in definition while high-def video is on the rise in every form. I love my new Apple laptop with its HD screen, since I do a bit of video editing using Final Cut Pro HD. Would I edit our TV show in high-def using a standard-def video monitor? No more than I would play compressed audio through an Alpine F1 system! It just makes no sense.
You certainly can record in AIFF. I have never worked with audio on the Windows platform, but anything musical I burn off my Mac Book Pro to CD for in-car play is through iTunes in glorious AIFF format. But note this important distinction: You will still have degradation regardless. The reason is that when you rip a CD into your computer, it is not a digital clone (which would be just a bit illegal with commercial music). If you were able to circumvent the law with a piece of software that would make a disk image of an audio CD, you would then have a bit-for-bit digital clone, exact in every way to the original. But when you burn your own compilation using a program like iTunes, the result is not a clone, although it is still better than any form of MP3 I have ever heard. My rule is: Burn music CDs using AIFF for quality, but for the beach party mix where people are too drunk to successfully change disks or care about the sound, nothing beats four hours of MP3 on a single disk. Even though it takes much more space on your computer's hard drive, import songs using AIFF unless it is poor quality to start with. Then you at least have the option as to what resolution you want on the output side.
Jeremy writes:
To start I would like to say thank you. I'm an avid reader of your column in CA&E and a past graduate of your Toronto campus. Your columns and the information I learned through your campus have helped me constantly through my career.
But onto why I was writing to begin with: I don't know what your availability is for vehicles, but I wouldn't mind seeing some exotic vehicles. Well, not necessarily exotics: TVR Tamora or Tuscan. I don't know if you are putting yourself on a budget (and if so, what that is), but I just don't see too many of them running around. I'm curious as to what you might be thinking about as far as the customization or if you're just waiting to decide on the vehicle first.
Great to hear from you, Jeremy! Thanks for the comments and for the nudge toward uncommon cars. It is good to know that your education continues and that I can still be part of it! I agree with you on the car possibilities, but I think you mean European more than exotic, since the TVR is not that expensive on the used market. I am up for that-I once did a late 1960s Aston Martin DB-7, which is the aluminum James Bond car with the rocket launchers, machine guns, ejection seats and other features essential to today's freeway driving missions. What I hated the most was the 6-volt positive ground electrical system that would need to be replaced before anything worthwhile happens.
You're right about waiting for the vehicle to be settled on before the level of customization is considered. But you know me-I love the totally sick approach, but the canvas determines the paintbrush. I recently saw an old E Type Jaguar Roadster (one of my dream cars) converted into a salad bar in a restaurant. I almost cried! If I had my hands on that platform, the build would depend on the existing conditions. If it were in good shape, I would be inclined to go for a more tasteful or maybe a stealth system. If the motor were shot, I would probably start by dumping in a powertrain from a new Dodge Charger Hemi and then break out massive amounts of fiberglass, polycrete and synthetics. And, of course, enough subs and power to totally mask road noise with the top dropped at 80 mph.
Q A friend of mine has a 2002 BMW 325ci. He wanted to have an amp for his subwoofer installed. Unfortunately, he took it to a chain store and they still have the car. To make a long story short, after installing the amp, the radio and speakers did not work. They took the amp out and put everything back the way it was: Still nothing worked. The installers then contacted BMW. BMW's final verdict was that their new cars are made so that you cannot do any modifications to them. I find this very hard to believe. Do you have any articles or projects that involve the 2002 BMW 325ci?Thank you for your time and consideration.Patrick Smith
A If it smells like crap, it probably is-I think you smelled this one out pretty well! I can't count how many car dealerships have spewed out the old "we'll void your warranty" line as soon as the word "aftermarket" is uttered. Mobile electronics installation has definitely become more challenging, especially for the old dog installers, and downright difficult for the novice. But let an auto mechanic touch your electronics and you see the true definition of disaster!
I believe the installers made a basic error in your case and, due to limited training, got stressed out and couldn't calmly troubleshoot to get to the solution. Without more detail, I can't begin to weigh in on this, but the biggest problem here in my opinion is BMW's opposition to the aftermarket. Overall, there is no reason why this can't work.
The restrictive nature of the dealerships and the auto manufacturers has led the Mobile Enhancement Retailer's Association (MERA) to start a website, www.yourrideyourway.com, to address this and other restrictive practices of the auto industry. They post a list on their site of cars that I would encourage buying. Meanwhile, if the current installers can't get it to work, take the car to a trained installer and you should be back in tune in no time.