The FM modulator hookup is dead easy to do. The problem is that your Sirius digital satellite receiver gives you a superior signal that is reduced to the level of FM radio from a perfectly located broadcast station-a downgrade any way you slice it. Look for adapters or interface methods that use an auxiliary input or a special adapter cable that doesn't include the antenna connector. In that way, you're keeping your signal quality high. Also take a minute to look up the Feb. '08 issue of CA&E for some details regarding the correct installation of the antenna. I recently watched a do-it-yourself video showing how to run the cable for the satellite antenna into the trunk of a car. It was so bad, I used it as a "how-not-to" example with my students. For instance, it showed somebody (obviously not a trained installation technician) using a rat-tail file to hack a groove in the trunk lip under the pinch molding (wrong on so many levels). Then he poorly wrapped the antenna cable with electrical tape and pressed the pinch molding back over the wire and the trunk lip, leaving a gap that would all but guarantee rain would collect in the trunk, if the cable wasn't chewed up first. If any of this sounds difficult, don't leave it to chance-consult a trained installation specialist.
Q. I'm writing because I'm curious if head units really make a big difference in a sound system. Right now I have two 12" MTX 6000s connected to a Precision Power PPI2360 and some Infinity 6x9s connected to an MTX amp kicking out 325 watts. I keep getting told that I really should change my head unit-an old Sony Xplod CDX 4000, I think. My two amps are connected to each other and only one is running to the outputs on the back of my head unit. I have my eyes on an Alpine CDA-9827, because I've heard good things about Alpine and this head unit has a separate output just for the subs. Will a different/better head unit make much difference in the way my system will sound?
Dan McGee
A. I've found that the biggest sonic difference comes from the speaker choice, followed next by the head unit. While the variances between speakers are huge, the differences between head units are much smaller. Reading the spec sheet doesn't always tell the story. All quality head units have pretty similar specifications where it counts, but still there's a difference in the character of sound. For this, you're best off to stand in front of a head unit display in your local car audio specialist's store and compare the sonic differences. Choose the one that you like the most, based on more than just a few seconds of audition.
Q. I just bought an '87 Olds Calais. It has a 3.0L V-6. I installed a Sony Xplod CDX-CA860X CD player, tweeters in the dash and two 6.5" speakers in the door with a 100-watt amp. I have two 12" Ground Zero subwoofers powered by two Optimus 200-watt amps (one to each sub), a Realistic EQ and Rockford Fosgate 4-gauge wire for power. While I was at a stop sign, I noticed that my car's headlights were dimming and, at idle during the day, my voltmeter was going from 15 to 10 volts, dropping to 12 volts at driving speed. I know this will kill my electrical system so I bought a Rockford Fosgate 1-farad 16 VDC Punch capacitor, after being told that this would solve my problem. I charged it up, put it in and drove it around for a day with the same problem. My car has A/C so it has the high-output alternator but it has close to 200,000 miles on it. What do I do to solve this? I was thinking of getting a higher output alternator but really don't want to. Can you save my electrical system?
Thanks,
Ben Karaszkiewicz
Coxsackie, NY