STi audio set-ups...
Sound dampening if VERY important if you care at all about sound quality and/or speaker efficiency. Dynamat is good but in recent years many enthusiast have moved towards other brands. The biggest reasons are price and quality. Other brands like Cascade Audio Engineering (CAE) come to mind. I will be using they're products in my STI because I feel they are just as good (if not better) than Dynamat and other brands. From what I've seen and heard and large number of high end shops have embraced CAE and a highly respected local shop swears by them.
Some interesting products you may like to look into include their Deflex pads (for your speakers) and either VMAX or DB-2 sound dampening products. I've heard several cars with high end systems (Boston, a/d/s, mbquart components) before and after and you wouldn't believe the difference dampening makes. Almost sounds like double the power in some applications with a huge increase in clarity.
And if you look online you can find some great deals on dampening products....which is great because warranties aren't as great an issue like they are with equipment.
Some interesting products you may like to look into include their Deflex pads (for your speakers) and either VMAX or DB-2 sound dampening products. I've heard several cars with high end systems (Boston, a/d/s, mbquart components) before and after and you wouldn't believe the difference dampening makes. Almost sounds like double the power in some applications with a huge increase in clarity.
And if you look online you can find some great deals on dampening products....which is great because warranties aren't as great an issue like they are with equipment.
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 89
i do have one serious concern about dyna matting or any likes of it...and that is right after it rains or i wash the cars, i don't know if this is normal but when i roll the windows down and then put them back up, even when its dry outside, there are streaks of water that remains on the outer part which most likely came from the collected water that made itself within the door sills...would this in anyway affect the speakers that are within the door, let alone the matting --possible mold-later on? i ask this bc i'm wondering if other wrx owners have had a similar problem with this, even long hours later, one would assume that the water would be all dried up but when i roll my windows down and then put em back up, without fail, there appears the streaks of water from the previous wash or rain...just wondering if this is something to be concerned about and if i have a faulty door and window seal to keep the water out.
hee, hee... just got the 1/3 part of my system:
a used, but refurb'ed soundstream REF 604 amp.
okay... i'm old school car audio.
head: sony xr-c900
dig proc: sony xdp-210
changer: sony cdx-91
amp: SS ref 604
front speakers: mb quart 318's (almost 9 years old)
(all electronics circa 1996-99)
only 2 new things:
xm tuner: sony xm-xt1
sub: jl audio w6
a used, but refurb'ed soundstream REF 604 amp.
okay... i'm old school car audio.
head: sony xr-c900
dig proc: sony xdp-210
changer: sony cdx-91
amp: SS ref 604
front speakers: mb quart 318's (almost 9 years old)
(all electronics circa 1996-99)
only 2 new things:
xm tuner: sony xm-xt1
sub: jl audio w6
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I am gonna get iva-d900 also - such as AWESOME unit..
dvd/mp3/cd/xm/am/fm/NAV (optional).. so awesome..
dvd/mp3/cd/xm/am/fm/NAV (optional).. so awesome..
Originally posted by Ditchhanger
I'm looking at a Alpine IVA-D900 deck, 1 Alpine MRV-F450 amp, 1 set of Alpine Type R SPR-176A 6.5" separates for the front, 1 set of Alpine Type R SPR-174A 6.5" speakers for the rear deck and one Alpine Type R SBR-102CR 10" sub. I know...I'm an Alpine *****, but I've never had any problems with the 5 Alpine decks I've had in the past...
I'm looking at a Alpine IVA-D900 deck, 1 Alpine MRV-F450 amp, 1 set of Alpine Type R SPR-176A 6.5" separates for the front, 1 set of Alpine Type R SPR-174A 6.5" speakers for the rear deck and one Alpine Type R SBR-102CR 10" sub. I know...I'm an Alpine *****, but I've never had any problems with the 5 Alpine decks I've had in the past...
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 140
From: KC
Car Info: STi Stage 1
I now have my componets purchased.
Alpine CDA 9815
Alpine XM amp
Focal polyglass 165 v2 6.5" for front doors
Focal Access 130ca 5.25" for rear doors
JL 12w3v2 12" sub in box in trunk
JL 250/1 250 watt amp for sub
Now I need my car....sigh.
Alpine CDA 9815
Alpine XM amp
Focal polyglass 165 v2 6.5" for front doors
Focal Access 130ca 5.25" for rear doors
JL 12w3v2 12" sub in box in trunk
JL 250/1 250 watt amp for sub
Now I need my car....sigh.
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Originally posted by Hummer
I now have my componets purchased.
Alpine CDA 9815
Alpine XM amp
Focal polyglass 165 v2 6.5" for front doors
Focal Access 130ca 5.25" for rear doors
JL 12w3v2 12" sub in box in trunk
JL 250/1 250 watt amp for sub
Now I need my car....sigh.
I now have my componets purchased.
Alpine CDA 9815
Alpine XM amp
Focal polyglass 165 v2 6.5" for front doors
Focal Access 130ca 5.25" for rear doors
JL 12w3v2 12" sub in box in trunk
JL 250/1 250 watt amp for sub
Now I need my car....sigh.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 240
From: PA
Car Info: 2004 WRX STi
Originally posted by essogas
Let me know how those focals sound becuase I'm getting them too. I'm also getting the same alpine headunit or the 9811 (what's the main difference?) And then I put in an Image dynamics 12" sub and a Phoenix Gold amp. (500.4)
Let me know how those focals sound becuase I'm getting them too. I'm also getting the same alpine headunit or the 9811 (what's the main difference?) And then I put in an Image dynamics 12" sub and a Phoenix Gold amp. (500.4)
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I decided to pick up the 9813 yesterday, and it seems like, to me at least that the $100 difference isn't really justified. They appear to be the exact same units with the exception of the colors on the faceplate and the screen.
Last edited by Advan; Jun 17, 2003 at 08:04 AM.
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Originally posted by essogas
Let me know how those focals sound becuase I'm getting them too. I'm also getting the same alpine headunit or the 9811 (what's the main difference?) And then I put in an Image dynamics 12" sub and a Phoenix Gold amp. (500.4)
Let me know how those focals sound becuase I'm getting them too. I'm also getting the same alpine headunit or the 9811 (what's the main difference?) And then I put in an Image dynamics 12" sub and a Phoenix Gold amp. (500.4)
The bad thing is that the Access and Polyglass line share the same TN47 tweeter, while the Poly-K uses a different TN45 tweeter and the Utopias a yet different TN51 tweeter. So from my experience, the Poly-K's are going to sound much nicer than either the Access or Polyglass speakers. Admittedly this is based on one listening experience (though with three different types of music, and the difference was huge).
On head units, I've decided on the Alpine CDA-7897 instead of the CDA-9815. Looking at the two, I really like the flip face instead of the detachable (which I know I'd never bother detaching, so what is the point). The 9815 otherwise looks like it has a few better things (better built-in amp (worthless once I install an amp), ID3 v2, a few others), but otherwise they seem to have a lot of the same features.
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Well, my audio system is in and I've had about four days with it: It's the best audio I've heard! Even better than my home theatre sound. I'm preety blown away by it as I hould be because I spent 4 grand before taxes. I decided to hold off with the in car navigation for the time being. recap of my system:
10" Image Dynamics subwoofer
CDA-9811 Alpine head unit
Focal full components polykevlars speakers.
Phoenix Gold 500.4 4 channel amp.
Full dynomating around all doors.
10" Image Dynamics subwoofer
CDA-9811 Alpine head unit
Focal full components polykevlars speakers.
Phoenix Gold 500.4 4 channel amp.
Full dynomating around all doors.
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Boston Pro series
I was wondering if anyone installed any Boston Acoustic Pro Series speaker in there STI. What size will fit in the front and rear. I had these speaker in my last car and I loved them. I'm concerned with space. Would I need to fabricate a spacer in order for the magnet to clear?
I will be installing Boston Z6s in the front and my existing 5.5pros in the rear next week. You will need to build a baffle for both as far as I know....it will solve clearance issues as well as improve sound quality. If you'd like to know more when its done send me a PM. I'll be installing Cascade deflex pads and VMAX dampening in the doors too, along with new Xtant 1.1i amps if you want info on that too.
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Right now I still have the stock speakers in the back being used as the rear fill. I don't like them and I'm thinking of replacing them as well. Does anyone have an opinion on rear speakers; stock vrs. better aftermarkets? Does it make a big difference to the overall sound?