In-Car Audio Section #16
      
     
The Future of Car Audio, According to Pioneer
Welcome to the world of Full Digital Processors and Time Alignment
 
     
A little bit country, a little bit rock-n-roll
 
 

FEATURING A PIONEER DIGITAL TIME ALIGNMENT SYSTEM INSTALLATION FOR A MERCEDES-BENZ E 320
PHOTOS 'DR AUDIO' MR KHO

  
 

 

  
 

Encik Naz is a businessman who travels extensively in his car, a Mercedes-Benz E 320. He relies on music to help while away the hours on the road, whether it is tackling traffic congestion or cruising along the highway. He needs a little bit of Country and a little bit of Rock-n-Roll to make his on-the-road sessions enjoyable. He has learnt to appreciate a good hi fi set-up in the car, and was familiar with the sound quality of a DTA system. Since his Merc has the prestige and quality, he had no second thoughts about spending the sort of money needed.

Right: The simplistic but classy presentation of the Pioneer fully digital head unit.

Head Unit
The entire stock audio system was removed. The head unit chosen is the Pioneer Digital Time Alignment CD player - the DEX P9R CD transport, matched by the DEQ P9 Digital Processor. The DEQ P9 houses a digital X-Over network, a 31-band digital EQ, and a DTA processor. It also boast of a 6-Burr Brown DAC. A Pioneer CDX P1280 CD Changer (12-disc) is mounted at the rear.

Below: Te Pioneer TS-V07A spekaer system.

  
     

Front-Staging Speaker
ETON NCS700 component speakers are used. The 7" driver is mounted on the original mount. The tweeter is mounted inside the speaker enclosure at both ends of the dashboard. The NCS 700 comes with its own passive X-Over network.

Rear-Fill Effect Speakers
Pioneer TS V07A component speakers are used. This is the top-end model from a company that started building speakers in 1937. The TS V07A is hand built in Japan. It is only meant for the Japan market. This unit was specially ordered by Klasse Car Audio. It comes with a set of passive X-Over network built using highgrade low-tolerance components. The speaker cone is made of Hi Acoustic Fibre and shaped in a honeycomb structure.
   

Subwoofer
A pair of 10" Crunch Fat Boy woofers are used to reproduce the low
frequency signal. It is mounted on a custom-made baffle board.

Amplifiers
Orion amps are used in this set up. Two units of the 2100 HCCA (2x100watts) and one unit of the Cobalt 2100 (2x100watts). One unit of the 2100 HCCA is used to drive the front-staging speakers and the other 2100HCCA is used to drive the woofers. The Cobalt 2100 is used to drive the fear-fill effect speakers. The 2100 HCCAs are mounted in the boot on a custom-made rack. The Cobalt 2100 mounted at the side.

Cabling
Interconnect RCA cable - the XLN 301 RCA cables from Monster
Cables are used throughout the set-up, linking the signal output
from the DEQ P9 to the amplifiers.
Speaker Cable - Aura Dynamic SV 2.12 series hot wire are used.
Power Cable - 4-gauge powerline from Aura Dynamics.

Power Back-up
Two units of 2-Farad Stiffening Capacitors from Cliff Audio are used. They are mounted next to the 2100 HCCA amp.

Tuning
Gains setting on amps were match using an Osciloscope. The settings of the X-Over points were determined by ear, and the EQ settings were done using the RTA. The final sound was tuned to the preference of the owner.

Conclusion
The next time you see someone in this car having a serene and contented look, you know that our 'Dr Audio' Mr Kho has got himself another satisfied customer.
Cost RM32.000 for the audio system. A further RM15,000 was spent on an alarm system, sport rims, and other accessories. Prices include installation and tuning.

From top: The DEQ P9 Digital Processor mounted under the front
passenger seat.
The boot space is left clean and uncluttered inspite of having quite a few
major components in there. The Pioneer Passive Network is also
installed in the boot.
Monster Cables with RCA plugs.
The speaker mounted in the front door.
The Orion Cobalt amps, Cliff Audio capacitors and the pair of Crunch
subwoofers.
   
 
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