The Future of
Car Audio, According to Pioneer Welcome to the world of Full Digital
Processors and Time Alignment
WORDS & PHOTOS 'DR' AUDIO' MR KHO
It seems mobile AudioVideo setups are stamping their presence in ICE's territory. When I was in Tokyo recently, even taxis had them. The taxis there are originally equipped with a roadmap system, with a video screen installed smack in front and in the middle of the dashboard. Most of them have the system upgraded to receive TV programmes, and they can play DVD discs, too!
Back home I find lots of my clients coming to enquire about AV setups. I was really curious. What is driving them into owning one? Well, the grapevine has been really busy with the latest developments. It has become widely known that an AudioVideo setup not only plays audio discs and receives radio programmes, it can also receive TV programmes and, most importantly, play DVDs and VCDs, not just movies but your own recordings as well. Video games are finding their way into AV setups as well!
And the good news is, more features can be integrated into AV setups; cameras fitted at the rear or front of the vehicles can have their images shown on the screen. Hmm.. what an interesting technology.
It so happened that a customer brought in this brandnew Honda Civic, which is for his daughter, who requested an AV system in the car. He decided to add on a GPS tracker.
Lots of work done in this car, but little of it shows, only the essential bits. This should be the way an installation of this magnitude is carried out, with the dashboard, rear parcel shelf, doors and cabin retaining their original looks and condition. The boot space, too, is reasonably retained, as is the condition of the space. Plus, the sound and vision should be clear and crisp, and dynamic, too.
Pioneers flagship multi media player - the AVH-P7550DVD. with its retractable large screen, takes up only hatf of the 2-Din compartment on the dash of the Honda Civic. Left: A neat installation.
Head-unit
The original CD player was replaced by Pioneer's flagship multi media player - the AVH-P7550DVD, and a multi disc changer - the CDX-P1280. The AVH-P7550DVD is a single disc player/receiver with a touchpanel capability LCD screen built in. It can play VCD discs, DVD-Video discs, DVD-Audio discs, as well as normal Audio CDs. The unit is equipped with the industry's best DAC - the Burr Brown Corporation's 192khz/24 bit resolution Digital Analog Convertor. The AVH-P7550DVD comes with an outboard 5.1-channel decoder (DSP), which can reproduce DTS, Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic II formatted software. The processor features the industry's first Auto Time Alignment function capability. The unit has a built-in 50wattsx5-channel MOSFET amplifier.
The 7-inch TFT (Transistor Film Tinting) active matrix LCD screen features Pioneer's revolutionary AGLR (Anti-Glare, Low-Reflection) technology.
Amplifiers
Two units of Italian-made Steg amplifiers are used in this setup. The Steg AQ 75.2X, a stereo 75watts-per-channel amplifier, is bridged to drive the subwoofer system. A unit of Steg QX75.4, a four-channel amplifier with 75watts-per-channel, is used to drive the front and rear speakers systems. Both amps are installed behind the rear seat, secured by a custom-made rack.
Front Speakers System
A set of Eton's Adventure Series Component speakers - the A1-160 - are used. The 6 1/2inch midwoofers are installed at the front door original speaker mounts, and the high transducers are mounted at the end corners of the dashboard. The passive cross-over networks are installed below the dashboard.
Rear Speakers System
A set of Eton's newly-introduced component speakers line - the RS 160 Series - is installed at the rear deck, replacing the stock speakers. The RS160 consists of a pair of 6 1/2inch midwoofers, a pair of high transducers and a pair of passive cross-over networks.
Centre Speaker System
A single unit of Pioneer's TS-CX7 centre speaker is installed on top of the centre of the dashboard. The TS-CX7 is specially designed for use in 5.1-channel multi sound reproduction. The centre channel speaker is also known as 'dialogue speaker' in a 5.1-channel setup. Its function is to reproduce the dialogue of the movie so that they sound clear and focused on the screen. The centre speaker is driven by the output from the AVH-P7550DVD.
Subwoofer system
A single unit of Orion NTense 12inch subwoofer is used. The subwoofer is installed in a custom-designed 1.3 cubic feet sealed enclosure, and secured in the boot.
Total cost
RM18.8k, inclusive of labour. RM3.2k for tracker. Details of this in the next issue.
The system was installed by Klasse Car Audio, no 210, Jln Pahang, Setapak, KL. Contact 'Dr Audio' Mr Kho @ 019 3352029, 03 40225516 or email ckkho@carhifi.com.my.
