 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-10-25 07:29
I'm thinking about building up my car stereo system. I get GREAT discounts through Panasonic with my new job, and so can afford to put a little money into my car. I did a search on the boards and found tons of stuff on a HOME stereo system, but nothing on a car system. And if I were to ask the store clerks, I'm sure I'd get help on how to get my system "bumpin" for club or rap or rock music, but honestly doubt they could help me with classical or chamber music.
Anyone have ideas on what TYPES of equipment I would need? Amp? Tweeters? Do I need a sub or just good woofers and good midrange? Anything would help. Thanks!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-10-25 12:53
You need a good alarm system first - cause whatever you get will be quickly stolen if you don't 
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-10-25 13:17
DavidBlumberg wrote:
> You need a good alarm system first - cause whatever you get
> will be quickly stolen if you don't
>
lol. Nice one. I do remove my faceplate, and I guess the alarm depends on what is necessary. If I need some crazy amp and a subwoofer and all sorts of 'obvious' components, yes, I can definitely see the need for an alarm. If I just need a better pair of speakers, or can easily hide anything else, I don't really see the point.
It's not like I'm going to be advertising my 'system' as I roll down the street with my windows down rockin' out to the clarinet polka at 108 dB............
........
Or am I ..........
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-10-25 13:45
Nothing attracts the ladies like cruising down the boulevard with Robert Marcellus coming through 6 speakers at 500 watts ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif) ...GBK
/ still waiting for the return of 8 track tapes
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Author: msloss
Date: 2004-10-25 13:53
Well, you could buy a Mark Levinson car stereo system, which is perfectly suited to classical music. Comes wrapped in a nice package -- a Lexus.
In all seriousness, you need clean amplification and good speakers. Alpine and Blaupunkt are both good for head units, and Panasonic certainly doesn't have anything to apologize for in their higher end units. Speakers are the most important though -- check out Dynaudio. Subwoofer is actually useful because it takes the load off the main amp and speakers for low frequencies, which cleans up the sound a lot.
But, the most important and cheapest thing you can do to any car to improve the sound for classical music is soundproofing. There is an adhesive backed material called Dynamat that works wonders. Put it inside the doors and everywhere else you can and it will deaden road noise transmission, rattles, squeaks, etc.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-10-25 14:34
BobD wrote:
> Look into crutchfield.com
>
I get a discount through them as well. But the main thing is I'm not even sure WHAT I should be looking for. As in what components would be the best matchups for classical music and whether I need such things as an amp or high end subwoofer or blue strobe light that dances to the beat.
Just kidding about that last one, but seriously, are such power/bass/treble enhancers going to make it sound better/clearer/fuller or would I be better with just a high end 6 x 9 speaker in the doorpanel?
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2004-10-25 14:36)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-10-25 14:41
My first thot was, which is to be classical, car or music-playing, or BOTH?? I like old cars myself, nostalgia I guess. With them, if the owner competes in car shows, original [appearing?] stereo/monaurel is best. Otherwise, go to auto parts stores to see what they have, perhaps, have it augmented by pro-electronics types to your desires. One needs a "quiet" car, some tires are noiser than others, smooth roads, no conversation, good, well focussed speakers, so good luck, it may be costly. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-10-25 15:25
Quote:
My first thot was, which is to be classical, car or music-playing, or BOTH?? I see how that could be confusing. I was looking for a classical stereo system for my car, in which case I won't have to worry about it being the OE stereo and can use aftermarket components.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2004-10-25 15:45
1000 watts is not necessary. You can generate enough db with 20 or 30 per channel in an enclosed environment.
Another issue is --do you want a changer....if so-- where to mount it.
Are you playing subtle music (Brahms sonata) or Sousa? If the former, check the reproduction characteristics of the tuner like channel separation etc.
Where are the current speakers mounted? Door, dash, both?
Rattles??
In all likelihood u can do well with a system that is "good" rather than "great" (read 10 on the Richter scale) and spend the remainder at Boston Records.
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2004-10-25 15:54
This discussion reminded me of an incident that took place about 30 years ago. If you were into music in the early 70s you probably remember those serious component stereo systems that the afficionados cherished in those days...you know, the rack mounted ones that look like the dash board off the star ship Enterprise. Anyway, I was in my dorm room listening to some classical music on my Radio Shack cheapo sysytem. A friend from down the hall stopped by and told me how lucky I was that I liked classical music...I asked why...he replied that classical music requires a much less sophisticated stereo system than rock music required! How does one reply to that!
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Author: msloss
Date: 2004-10-25 17:35
By saying BS. You put in as much as is necessary to get as close as you want to the music (and note I said "music" and not "sound"). For one person, it is RS cheapo, for another it might be $250K worth of aluminum slabs and 1000 lb. speakers. The question is "are you as the listener happy with the result?".
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-10-25 19:38
Back when I was commuting by car, I listened to classical all the way. I was very happy with Alpine, which was for me as good as Blaupunkt and considerably less expensive (though not cheap) and less attractive to thieves. However, any custom installation is an open invitation to theft, even if it comes with a removable faceplate. Unfortunately, Benzi boxes (which let you slide out the entire unit) don't seem to be made anymore. If you want to keep the system, you have to have a garage at night.
In-dash units don't have enough amplifier power to run decent speakers, even at non-rock volume. You'll need at least the minimum outboard amplifier (usually mounted under the front passenger's seat).
It's important to go to a place that specializes in sound systems. The low-end places stick everything in with hot glue, which soon comes loose. The good places use mounting hardware and do it right.
Also, speakers are completely individual, since so much depends on where they're mounted. Therefore, you have to go to a place that will mount the speakers temporarily and let you listen to how they sound. No two dashboards, doors or trunks are the same size or shape. If you make it clear that you're going to buy a system, the good places will actually invite you to make the listenting test.
Generally, I'm not fond of Alpine speakers, which I don't like as well as their electronics. I like the sound of Boston Audio speakers, which seem to do well in doors. On one car, I picked Infinity speakers for the rear deck. They have a "hot" treble, which compensated for pointing upward and having the treble absorbed by a soft top liner. On another car, I ended up with fairly inexpensive Sonys, which were less hot on top and less boomy on the bottom, to compensate for a larger trunk.
Good luck. Listen in the car before you buy.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Shawn
Date: 2004-10-25 23:07
It's been some time since I have bought car stereo equipment, but at the time MB Quart made very nice speakers. I use to have about $3k invested in my car stereo system with an alarm, but none of that stopped the thieves. They have ways of getting around alarms. I personally wouldn't spend much because I have had my car broken into 4 times, and I've had my car completely stolen once. So, I use the stock stereo system and spend money on my home theater. I guess I'm just saying to be careful.
Good luck!
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Author: Fred
Date: 2004-10-25 23:59
I recently had a 200w (peak) Alpine unit (main unit only - no external amp)put in my '97 Camry, with 2 - Alpine 6"X9"s in the rear deck and 2 Alpine 6.5"s in the front doors. It sounds really good. It won't win volume contests against the external power units and banks of speakers, but it goes louder than I can stand. And I do like to crank it up!
The Alpines were my favorite speakers after several months of auditioning speakers at all the local stores.
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2004-10-27 04:44
Get Crutchfield's print catalog, there is a world of info in there.
How bad is the car's system? recent ones can be rather decent.
Consider upgrading the factory speakers.
CD changers can be added to any stereo unit via an RF connection through the antenna jack. I have a 97 Chevy pickup with the 4 speaker factory systen and a Sony 10 disc changer. It does fine. Changers can be installed in the trunk, (it's behind the seat in the truck,) and operate with a remote.
Be aware that the sound systems in some newer cars can't be removed as other functions are controlled through the radio. My wife's 04 Impala is like that. But, to get anti-lock brakes we had to take a package that included a 250 watt premium sound system. Though it only has a single CD, that thing's not bad at all.
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2004-10-27 14:07
My Dodge Dakota pickup truck (No extended cab, just plain) has a single CD port but manages a decent von Karajan/ BerlinerPhil. with enough pizzazz to keep me happy. This is with a standard sound system (factory standard without upgrade).
Trouble is....i accelerate with the tempi...and that red flashing light in the rear mirror costs me more than if I upgrade the sound system. (darn Pa Turnpike police)
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