When you think about it, the inside of a car is a terrible place to house an audio system: It's cramped, it's noisy and there's only so much electrical power to go around. But the cozy confines of your average automobile can also make for a truly transcendent surround-sound environment - you just have to work the kinks out first.
And that's precisely what the installers at Los Angeles-based Al & Ed's Autosound did last year when they outfitted company president Gabi Mashal's 2004 BMW X5 SUV with a full, 5.1 surround sound system. The project, which has since been dubbed the X5.1, was designed to showcase the sheer wow-power of modern car audio while highlighting the work that Al & Ed's shops do on a daily basis.
"We believe that we need to keep giving consumers reasons to upgrade their sound systems," Mashal says. "Even some of the inexpensive vehicles today come with amplified systems with subs, mids and tweeters." For car audio, he explains, 5.1 surround sound is just the next logical step. But Mashal's SUV is more than just a show car; it's a daily driver that's meant to highlight the real-world applications of mobile 5.1. "The nicks on the side prove that this car sees grocery stores as well as car shows," he says. After sketching out his dream system with some of the in-house audio designers, Mashal handed the keys over to the team at Al & Ed's Santa Monica location to handle the A/V installation and the body modifications that would be required to make it all happen.
Sound is all around
As with most high-end installations, the X5.1 started out with a full tear-down. Dynamat Xtreme sound dampening material was installed throughout the vehicle to cut down on vibrations and block out road noise. Also, the team mounted Dynaxorb behind all of the speakers and in the subwoofer enclosures to reduce boominess and ensure tight, focused sound.
For the head unit, Mashal knew he wanted something that would fit with the BMW's interior style while still allowing him to control his oversized A/V system right from the driver's seat. He found what he wanted in the Alpine IVA-D310, a CD/DVD receiver with a built-in 7-inch touchscreen monitor. The head unit was custom mounted in the center of the dash, flush with a piece of silver carbon-fiber paneling.
From there, an array of external components were added to the mix, including a 6-disc DVD changer, an iPod interface, XM satellite radio and, of course, a Sony PlayStation 2. A Bluetooth connection kit allows the driver to make hands-free calls from the road without even having to reach for a cell phone. "My family takes trips in the car all the time, and the kids love the fact that they can watch a movie or play the PlayStation 2." Mashal said of the various add-ons. "My wife and I love the fact that we can listen to our favorite music while all that is going on in the back seat."
That back seat entertainment, by the way, is provided by a pair of 6 1/2-inch touchscreen monitors installed in the front headrests. And that's where things get interesting. From the head unit, the signal runs through Alpine's PXA-H701 5.1 processor, which converts everything from stereo to full surround sound. It's a nifty trick - especially considering all of the different sources that Mashal has connected to the system - and it's at the heart of the X5.1's appeal, effectively turning the car into a rolling home theater.
Speak to me
As in any surround-sound setup, speaker placement is the key to the X5.1's incredible soundstage. Fortunately, the team was able use the factory front-door locations to mount a set of 6 1/2" Alpine 2-way component speakers. To fill out the rest of the stage, two identical Alpine 2-ways were installed in the sub/amp display panels in the hatch area. "With the 5.1 system engaged, the rear speakers provide the ambiance that makes surround systems sound so good," Mashal explains.
But, since the X5.1 is a show car, it's important to note that the rear speaker placements aren't exactly optimal. In fact, Mashal admits, from a surround perspective they're downright awful. "We know it isn't ideal for proper imaging and staging for front seat passengers," he says of the display-mounted components, "but this vehicle is often opened up and playing at local events, so rear mids and tweets were necessary."
Coming from a standard factory setup, the team had to get creative when installing the center channel. Since the X5, like most vehicles, didn't have a center location readily available, they had to cut out a new space in the dash for the 5 1/4" Alpine speakers. It worked great for the soundstage, but cost Mashal the use of his central air-conditioner vents, which were covered over with carbon-fiber and replaced with the midrange drivers and a single tweeter.
The team then mounted two 12" Alpine subs in a pair of custom fiberglass boxes in the rear of the SUV to handle the low frequencies. According to Mashal, building precisely sized boxes can be tough when you're working with hand-formed fiberglass enclosures like these, but this setup is, in his humble opinion, about perfect. "The bass is deep but not boomy. It's punchy and controlled." Like the rear components, quality bass really brings the surround sound effect to life.
As far as power is concerned, two Alpine multi-channel amps were installed to drive the subs and front/rear component speakers. They're both mounted on custom racks in the back of the SUV - conveniently located next to the drivers that they're powering. An Alpine MRPT220 amplifier handles the center channel speakers in the dash from underneath the rear hatch. The racks make it easy to show off the X5.1's amp and speaker array at shows and are covered with silver carbon-fiber to match the vehicle's exterior.
But how does it look?
For the interior, Mashal wanted to brighten things up without sacrificing the drivability of his X5. To achieve the look, the team created carbon-fiber accents for the dash, steering wheel, shift knob and trim. "This isn't a stick-on kit," he says of the carbon fiber. "Each piece was laid up with resin and hand sanded." And that's not all. In additional to the silver amp and sub racks, a set of 22" Antera wheels were added outside along with matching Michelin tires. A set of BMW running boards and smoked taillights round out the custom look.
The X5.1 has made a number of West Coast appearances for Al & Ed's, including the L.A. Autoshow, the Long Beach Grand Prix and the California Autoshow, to name a few. It's also been featured at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles and on CNBC.
"I know the installation is a little over-the-top for the general public," Mashal says, "but the goal was to do subtle enhancements to the exterior of the vehicle to give it a good look without destroying the natural good lines of the X5. Inside, we wanted to show the incredible performance of a true 5.1 processed system, while retaining usability of the vehicle in a flashy way."