USACi Install, Stage 1

**Skippman** · 06-05-2003, 02:41 PM

Ok, now that I have my new car it's time to do the install. I had orignally planned on using an Impreza WRX as the car, but the way things worked out the Stratus was the better choice. This will be my first year participating in USACi and I'm wanting to make a good impression in my area. I plan on competing in the Sound Quality arena as that is what interests me as an audiophile. Here is the setup I've got planned. I'm seeking constructive critisim of my choices. Some of them are set in stone, others are still fluid.

SOURCE UNIT: Alpine CDA-7998 A/I NET Reciever

DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSOR: Alpine PXA-H510 Dolby DSP

MOBILE HUB: Alpine CXA-B200NK Nokia Mobile Hub

AMP: Phoenix Gold Ti900.7 7 Channel Amp 50X5+200X2

FRONT SPEAKERS: Boston Acoustics Pro Series 5.5 Components Rated at 20-400 watts

REAR SPEAKERS: Boston Acoustics 5.5 Rally Woofers Rated at 20-250 watts

CENTER CHANNEL: Boston Acoustics 4" Coaxial Rated at 15-40 watts

SUBS: 2 Boston Acoustics 10.4LF 10" Subwoofers Rated at 50-1100 watts

MONITOR: Xenarc 7" VGA Touchscreen Widescreen LCD

CARPUTER: Custom fabricated MINI-ITX PC based on the VIA Eden Me6000 Motherboard with DC/DC PSU and optical output to the Alpine DSP. The PC will contain all hardware nessicary for DVD playback and GPS navigation.

I plan on having a custom fabricated sub enclosure and amp rack made for the trunk. I will mount one sub behind each rear wheel well in a 1sqft enclosure and bridge the two together with an amp rack hugging the rear trunk wall below the trunk lip. The Amp will be mounted vertically there and encased in MDF and Lexan. The boxes will be carpeted to match the interior of the trunk and to be as transparent as possible. Full access to he spare tire will be retained at all times.

I'm also having the front dash firberglassed to house the head unit, monitor, factory vents, climate controls, and the display from the PXA-H510. Since I am in a 2003, the dual DIN Eclipse swap is not possible. Factory wheel controls will be connected to the Alpine Head Unit.

**mp3z24** · 06-05-2003, 04:05 PM

wow!!!! now i see why saving money on your car purcahse was such a priority.

looks like you have your work cut out for you. sounds like it should be a nice setup. but, since i know squat about high-end car audio, i think i'll keep quiet regarding component selection.

good luck with the competitions... and be sure to post lots of pics. im very curious to see how this all comes together when you are done.

~Mike

**Skippman** · 06-05-2003, 04:38 PM

Yeah, the Phoenix amp alone is running me $1400. I already have all the speakers and the DSP. All I need to get is the Head Unit, amp, and mobile hub and I'm set.

**albysure** · 06-05-2003, 04:49 PM

if you're going to compete in usac make sure you build the system for usac. join and get a manual. take pics as you go of each category. for example--fuse at battery less than 18" away...you'll need to make a book anyway of your system. the novice category isn't as critical as the others. the big thing will be your sound stage. go on some car sound forums and see how they do it.

http://www.carsound.com

http://forum.sounddomain.com/

i had a friend that never had a good system but about 4 years ago finally got one together. the manager of the local shop helped him tune his car and he went all the way to the finals in kansas city!

good luck

**Skippman** · 06-05-2003, 05:24 PM

Thanks guys. I'm working very closely with my local installer here in St. Louis. The guys at Elite Auto Sound have been great so far. They're very interested in working on this carputer setup. Besides, I don't want to tear up a perfectly good car just to have a terrible system.

**Gutter** · 06-05-2003, 07:59 PM

How do they judge entries at the USACi? Who can cause the most epileptic seizures?

**albysure** · 06-05-2003, 10:15 PM

http://www.soundoff.org/03basicsqrules.htm

**mikeinsanmarcos** · 06-12-2003, 01:56 PM

Sounds like you are gonna have some nice stuff, once you get it installed you get to spend countless hours listening & tweaking. That is almost as much work as installing the stuff. Is this something like IASCA? I use to be a sound quality judge for IASCA back in the 90's..

Goodluck with the install,

Mike

P.S. make sure you can get someone to let you use an RTA, this will give you a great starting point for tuning your system.

**Skippman** · 06-12-2003, 02:52 PM

USACi (United Sound and Car Audio, International) is alot like IASCA. I go to the finals of each as often as possible. USAC is closer to home (Kansas City vs. Oklahoma City).

Yeah, tunings going to be a pain. I had my Navajo all tweaked out with the H510 when my alternator died. Had to replace it and lost all the settings on the DSP when I did. It never sounded the same.

I'm working with the supposed best installers in St. Louis, Elite Auto Sound. So far, aside from not selling the brands I want, they've been great. What's an RTA? Never heard of it before.

**mikeinsanmarcos** · 06-12-2003, 03:55 PM

An RTA stands for "Real Time Analyzer" or sometimes called "Real Time Octive Analyzer". It shows you graphically the sound levels across the spectrum while you play white noise. It allows you to adjust your system as flat as possible. The flatter the response of your audio system, the more accurate it will represent the original sound that the artist was trying to accomplish.

http://www.audiocontrol.com/MobileAu...ers/index.html

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