Amp can do wonders?

[Sparetyre]

Yup, the latest addition to the already solid range of CDT speakers. One notch above the CDT HD.

 

Just sound proofed the front 2 doors and fabricated a pair of new tweeter mounts at Zoom. Workmanship is excellent.

 

But most importantly, the effect is even better. Mid bass has improved so much that can feel the punch even with the sub turned off.

 

The re-positioning of the tweeters has also raised the sound stage and dynamics.

 

Very satisfied!

[Sparetyre]

IMHO, the important thing is that you like the speakers and not what others say. Your listening preferences may be different from others.

 

Listen for yourself to help in the decision making process. The good thing about this forum is that many bros here would not mind letting you test out the speakers.

 

Happy shopping.

[Max1218]

hmmm bros out there,

 

just curious, I would love to own a MP3 player and at the same time upgrade my audio sys. what can a budget of $1600 get me???

 

What I have....

- I have 2 amp liao..(Alpine 2 channel amp and Porforma 2 channel amp as well)

- speakers are still the original 2002 Civic's......

[Sparetyre]

Sorry, can't help much regarding HU and pricing.

 

Why not drop AutoS a message and I am sure he would be more than willing to offer his expert advise.

 

Personally, the first thing I would change are the front speakers.

[Hot_ice]

Hi all! I'm new to this forum so nice to meet you all! I will be taking delivery of a new Ford Focus sedan next week. Question is whether anyone know about sound system of Focus and whether any improvements, if any, can be made to the existing system. I think they use Alpine HU. Speakers on all 4 doors only. I only have limited budget which do not run into the thousand. Appreciate any advice!

rgds

Mike

Edited November 14, 2002 by Hot_ice

[Sparetyre]

Hi,

 

Important thing is to know what you are looking for and set a realistic budget.

If budget is tight for a full system (front component speakers, amp, sub), then start from the front speakers and slowly upgrade.

 

Happy shopping....

[Hot_ice]

Thanks for the advice. I guess have to listen to the stock speakers before I make any decisions.

[AutoS]

Change to good front speakers.

[AutoS]

No need to listen to long to the original speakers. Just change to good front speakers and enjoy. Later if wanna upgrade summore can just add more stuff slowly.

 

BTW AMP CAN DO WONDERS? .... yeah for sure can make a system wonderfully better or wonderfully terrible and worse.!

[Fabiaman]

Amps imho, is the most important element of a audio set up... that is at least what I feel for home audiophile. The only darn way to tell is BlindFold test.

 

I always tell my friends that in audiopile, a lot of your experince with it also depends on perception on what the pdt is supposed to do. If you have formed a perception abt a pdt, the experience you have using it will be very clouded and biased. So best not to know how it looked and what brand it is, just sit back and experience the pdt w/o any pre-conceived judgement on how its supposed to sound or perform. Toggle between a few brands (w/o knowing what brands) and you decide which is the best.

 

Honestly, that is why I bot the Skoda Fabia... beats a lot of other car for the same price if you ask me.

 

Back to amp, I did an experiment with a close friend before doing blindfold tests on home audiophile and boy, the conculsion is that mods or upgrades etc are all in the mind. You upgrade this, change that under blindfold and you really can't tell if the system provides any better or worst (because we either upgrade or downgrade) the system when under blindfold.

 

The only noticeable diff was the amp, you change the amp to this and that, can tell the diff immediately whether its better or worst... but the funny things is that if you place a price tag to it ie. how much are u willing to pay for the amp that was changed, the valuation under blindfold is shocking far from the actual price of the amp - ie. far lower than it costs. I had almost 6 amps on test that day. The amp that came out tops in terms of valuation and actual cost matching is a Musical Fidelity A1... which is a cheap amp but does the job terribly well for that kind of money (amp cost just abt 450$)

 

End of it - just get a amp that is very reputable but comes with a reasonable price tag.... spend more, waste more.

 

Disclaimer... the above is just IMHO... flames expected... hee....

[AutoS]

Fabia,

 

Totally agree! Always go 4 value for $$. Lower budget aim for good system. Hi-budget should get stupendous performance not just brand name. For amps and all other hardware.

 

But...

 

U never explain why U felt the amp is the most important hardware more so than speakers?

 

No need disclaimer, we're all here to discuss and flames don't even come into the pic.

 

AutoS

[Fabiaman]

Why is amp more impt than speakers? Hee... my ears tell me so. I hear so many speakers and conclusion ... again , its my conclusion , is that speakers is impt only in the right combi with the amplifier.

 

I have heard a lot a lot abt the Mission speakers many years back with all the solid reviews from all magazines. They wrote the review like macham u r a goon not to buy a pair! I was bent to get a AUDIOLAB amp which IMHO is one of the best amp ever for that kind of price. I tried it many times at the shop selling it - ATLAS and is very satisfied.

 

So I bot one Audiolab from Atlas HiFi and carried it over to Pertama who is selling teh Mission Tower speakers as I was also bent to get that Mission spkrs since its supposed to be damn good. I asked the uncle to hook it up for me with my brand new amp.

 

When the salesman started playing the CD I brought there, I was given a shock! Its sounded like so horrible & is nothing like the sort I hear when I tried the Audiolab at Atlas Hifi.

 

It then dawned on me that the problem is neither the well acclaimed Mission spkrs, and neither is it that the AudioLab amp was spoilt or I was shortchanged. IT IS THE COMBINATION!

 

So this is another impt thing a ICE shiao shld bear in mind... not sure if the above applies to ICE so comments on matching the components in ICE are welcomed.

 

I started a new thread on choosing a right combi here so that experts in ICE can share which ICE components match with which components exudes the most beautiful music. Hee...

 

http://www.mycarforum.com/forum/gforum.cgi?post=77538#77538

 

Appreciate comments.

Edited November 16, 2002 by Fabiaman

[AutoS]

Fabia,

 

U'r obviously a keen enthusiast who knows his stuff.

 

But unless I missed something, what U are telling us is that Audiolab amps are good, (I will say since I do not know home audio I will trust Ur word); and that Mission speakers despite all those favourable reviews cannot make it. Yes Car Audio Mission speakers are identical to the home ones, and I find them only so-so and not so good value at the Px. All agreed!

 

But...

 

The fact that those missions couldn't make it and couldn't get good sound even from the first rate Audiolab Amp ...... doesn't that just show that selecting speakers that really can perform are so much more important. ie SPEAKER SELECTION velly-jelly important. Even so-called Mission supposed to be tokong is not tokong straightaway can hear so need to select better performing ones not necessarily better name ones if want to have good SQ? So doesn't this show the importance of the speakers in the system?

 

Matching up for sure as important in Car Audio as W/ home audio. But Car Audio has two more crucial aspects to add in ie Install Expertise and Tuning Savy.

 

For Car Audio anyway, a change of front speakers alone in any OEM system will give the biggest instantaneous improvement in SQ everytime as compared to adding or changing anything else. A few of the Bros here have done this and can attest to it.

 

And for fully set up system for good SQ, again the front speakers are the most crucial. Amp can even go for budget so long as, as U point out matched properly. Cheap speakers or expensive but lousy speakers on the other hand U can match all U like and they will still sound rough.

 

In retrospect Fabia there is really no disagreements here. Just trying to get across my suggestion to Bros, any upgrade put the most focus on those front speakers first and foremost, don't skimp.

Edited November 16, 2002 by AutoS

[Cool]

Hi Fab,

 

Do you think our Mission Speakers for home can just put in our car ??

 

I got 6 speakers sitting around as coffee tables.

[Assassin]

What models are they ? I'm using 780SE's and they are heavy !!

Want to sell them ?

Or you hook up your own surround sound system liao.

Edited November 16, 2002 by Assassin

[AutoS]

Cool,

 

I'll just kay-po a bit and answer Ur question.

 

First of all home are 8ohm as opposed to car 4ohm. Meaning most car amps will lose half the power if driving the home ones. This will be even more crucial for subs which require the most power.

 

If U'r talking mids then the dispersion characteristics for car tend to be wider since we don't get to face speaker in the car.

 

However use is can but how is result ... will need a lot of ingenuity if want to get a better result.

 

AutoS

[Cool]

ok.. thanks.. me not into the sound thingy.. just seeing my speakers doing naughty struck a ridiculous thought..

[Bernielac]

Change to good front speakers.

 

hi

any recommendation for a pair of front speakers? must be value for money.