Sound & Style - April 2004

The Audi A4 Avant in its stock form blends sporty styling and turbocharged performance; and when treated to a healthy dose of aftermarket upgrades quickly becomes the sleek, pavement pounder you see here. Don't let the added cargo space fool you, owner Gregor Rothensee-Siles built this grocery-getter to accelerate and corner with the best of them. As a sales rep for CEC, Gregor has upgraded his 2000 Avant with a host of Oettinger performance accessories and body modifications that his company distributes. Not surprisingly, the A/V system follows in form and function with the rest of the Avant's body modifications and performance upgrades.

An Alpine CVA-1004 AM/FM receiver with motorized fold out 6.5-inch LCD monitor serves as the source unit and controller for the Alpine DVA-5205 in-dash DVD player that shares the double-DIN radio opening, an Alpine CHA-S634 six-disc CD changer mounted in the factory location in the rear, and the Alpine N852A DVD-based navigation system. For rear seat entertainment, an Alpine TMX-R700 fold-down monitor was mounted behind the moonroof, and for uninterrupted music during more lengthy treks, XM Satellite Radio was also added.

For the front and rear stage drivers, Gregor turned to Oettinger Mobile Systems for its high-end components and coaxials, which are designed to drop into the factory Audi locations without any modifications. Up front, a set of NEO200 components, which features a 200mm midrange and 25cm titanium dome tweeter, is now concealed behind the factory grilles. Similarly, the rear doors now sing to the tune of a set of 165mm A-GF-165 coaxials, also tucked neatly behind the factory grilles.

Amplification for the entire audio system comes by way of a single Alpine MRV-F540 four-channel, mounted out of sight in the spare tire well. To accommodate the amplifier, the factory full-size spare was replaced with a smaller emergency spare. Also mounted in the spare tire well is the navigation system and XM radio receiver.

Although the Audi's audio system is rather simple when compared to most of the vehicles featured here in the pages of CA&E, Gregor is perfectly satisfied with the accurate "musical" sounds created by the combination of Alpine and Oettinger Mobile audio equipment. He thanks Jaime at Paris Audio for the flawless installation, and both Alpine Electronics and Oettinger Mobile Systems for product support.

AdditionalModifications

Alcantara Leather Interior

Amplifier: An Alpine MRV-F540 four-channel amplifier mounted in the spare tire well powers the entire system. To accommodate the amp, a smaller emergency spare replaces the original full size unit. Also mounted in the well is the navigation system and the XM radio receiver.	Head Unit: The source unit for the audio/video system is an Alpine CVA-1004 AM/FM receiver, which was mounted in the factory radio opening above an Alpine DVA-5205 in-dash DVD player. The source unit also controls the Alpine CHA-S64 six-disc CD changer and N852A DVD-based navigation system, mounted in the rear.	Front and Rear Stage: The front doors received a set of Oettinger Mobile Systems NEO200 components, which feature a 200mm midrange and 25cm titanium dome tweeter mounted in the factory locations. The rear doors received a set of Oettinger 165mm A-GF-165 coaxials in the factory locations. All drivers were installed without any modification to the door panels and are concealed behind the factory speaker grilles.
Overhead Monitor: A single Alpine TMX-R700 fold-down monitor, mounted behind the moonroof, supplies the video signal from the in-dash DVD player to the rear seat passengers.