ozziefudd

Should another group buy get past the pondering stage, I would commit to two Leviathan's.

The Group Buy is over, we are pondering do another one.

So is the preorder over and done with?

Knowing I would at the very least replace the factory speakers in my 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata I did not go with the Bose System when I purchased the car. It does have the PRHT or power retractable hard top as well as system controls on the steering wheel which is why for now I am going to try to keep the factory head unit. A couple of local installers have suggested I replace the current four speaker system with a better component system and amp. The factory four speaker system is all in the doors and consists of a a 3 1/2 tweeter and a 5 x 8. I need the little bit of trunk space I have so a sub box and amp board in the trunk are out. I have a passenger enough that a sub mounted in the passenger foot well is not practical either. This leaves me installing amps under the seats and buying high quality woofer/midbase/tweeters. The build the local installer is suggesting is: JL Audio ZR650 http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_components.php?comp_id=65 powered by Alpine PDX-4.150 http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/p...ng=en&tab=F The JL Audio sound good but I think I can do better and I think the alpine amp is way overpriced. Also driving with the top down I know I already lose alot and am thinking instead a 3 piece component system might be a better choice if I can mount the tweeter in the pillar and the mid and woofer in the current factory door locations. What I had in mind was the following. Dynaudio system 360 If I can fit the 8inch in the factory door location or if not dropping down to the system 340 http://www.dynaudiousa.com/products/car/3way.htm I have never liked Alpine equipment and loved the US Amps I had in my old Celica. Since I need something quite small if I am putting it under the seat I was thinking a pair of US Amps MD-21 which I think I could buy for less then the cost of the single Alpine unit. Does anyone have any experience with the 2008 Miata's, in talking to half a dozen different installers in the Dallas area no one had had any experience with the latest Miata. I've had alot of misinformaiton infact from people just looking to get a sale. What do you think about the two different builds and could you offer any suggestions of other similiar quality products to those mentioned that I could look into. Whats the general thinking Alpine PDX vs US Amps Merlins? I've heard the Dyn's and they sound fantastic, they produce enough base I think if powered and installed correctly I will not need a sub, which other manufacturer might offer me the similar bang for my buck.

Almost done with the build in my 2008 Mazda Miata with a powered hard top. The build make the car a true one seat SQ car. I guess you could call it a theme build in that I was going with the bigger is not always better. I was trying to get the highest possible quaility out of the smallest footprint of product possible. The gear used: Head Unit: Eclipse 55090 soon to be changed to the Denford 8250 Processor: Audison BitOne Tweeter: Hybrid Audio L-1Pro Mids: Hybrid Audio L-3 Mid/Base: Hybrid Audio L-6 Sub: JL Audio 13tw5 Amps: JL Audio HD-600/4 Running Tweeters and Mids JL Audio HD-600/4 Running Mid/Base and channels 7/8 bridged running sub Wires Stinger and Hooker 2008 Mazda MX-5 PHRT aka Miata Hardtop Top in the middle of comming down Interrior and Trunk before any work was done Dynamat goes down once interrior has been removed Wires are all tech flexed with a different color tech flex depending on application and then are anchored down every 6 inches or less. The doors are readied for the L-6 mid base speakers More to come

More pictures of the build The L6's are installed If you look hard at the screws used you will notice they are snake-eyes security screws Speaker wire runs down the transmission hump Wire harness is soldered together The ground installed in the trunk is wired to the ground fuse link. The amp rack goes in and the wires are run. A pillars are getting some love, the heiroglyphics are low spots that need more epoxy to even things out The pillars ready to be wrapped. The A pillars are wrapped in a really nice black vinyl

I love the Hybrid drivers and the speaker wire is all 12 awg.

The Alpine imprint stuff is more for bringing up the SQ of your OEM head unit and system. If you plan on doing a head unit and processor and can give it some time two new processor options will be on the market. The new processors are Audison's BitOne and JBL's MS8 both will have way more options than Alpine's Imprint. I preordered the Audison and have been told that cost of the JBL is very similiar. Expect to be able to buy either in the $700-800 range. Both the JBL and the Audison will have the usb port to allow connection of a pc to help with settings and staging. The BitOne has started shipping but just a hand full of units to preordered customers. More comming between now and Thanksgiving. Stock on it will be limited but you should be able to order one and have it by December. I am not as sure on the MS8's shipping time other than first quarter. Here are some of the spec's on the Audison, the Jbl does similiar things and has about the same inputs the TOS-link being the exception as JBL does not feel it worth the added expense. Eight channels of speaker level or RCA inputs, as well as a single TOS-Link fiber optic input Eight independently adjustable channels, both input and output Channel summing for OEM integration via high-level inputs (up to 20 volts RMS) 8 channel RCA input (up to 6 volts RMS) All channels are user selectable and configurable via USB/PC interface 1/3 octave (31-band) equalization on all channels Fully configurable time alignment across all channels High pass/low pass/bandpass selectable 6/12/18/24/36/48 db per octave for all channels 2 auxiliary inputs which also feature independent time alignment, 1/3 octave EQ, and level output adjustment for level matching auxiliary sources (iPod, portable satellite radio, DVD, etc) As far as head units go, You can pick up a nice Pioneer from SSA's shop http://www.soundsolutionsaudio.com/zencart...;products_id=66 It seems to me Head Unit technology is going backwards the last few years so if your looking for a really high end head unit go old school and avoid the new garbage.

Hybrid Audio Technologies L-6 would be a great or even the L4 though its not a 6.5.

Anyone have the specs or a link to TRU's new Steel line, Tru's webpage does not have the latest models. Interested in spec's on the S45. Was told to look on diyma but only found the S44 specs. Thanks

Its true that Alpine does have excellent SNR on their line of head units. Infact for similar dollars to the Clarion in questions 87dB you can buy and Alpine head unit with 105dB. I don't like the looks on the Alpine and I would have to bet ///M5 would also say that looks would be one of the last reasons he would buy a head unit. The question on what SNR for your usb input would be interesting to know. I can't find that information, you might try looking in the owners manual. The number is probably bad enough that manufacturers dont want you to know what it is. MANY things will contribute to USB SNR like what was SNR from orginal cd to Ipod, what is ipod SNR out to head unit. This is the reason why I would never buy the Alpine head units that have no CD player like the IDA-x100. Yea mp3 are nice and very very convienent but why put thousands of dollars into a SQ system and then listen to . We are at the point that DVD quality audio is going to replace the cd so where is my blueray headunit!

Keep in mind that every source on your head unit has a different SNR so AM, FM, CD will all be different. Additionally say your head unit has built in amps your going to have a different SNR for that as well. The spec's your going to see most often is the SNR output for the CD player. The Clarion unit mentioned in the thread has a SNR measured at 87dB for its CD output, not bad for a middle of the road budget minded unit but you can do better for similar dollars in Pioneer or Eclipse 95db for similar priced units and high end Pioneer decks SNR will hit 105db

One of the indicators of quality in electronics equipment used in communication or sound reproduction be it analog or digital is signal-to-noise ratio. Being a bit of the computer geek I run into this alot when downloading information but the theory is sound in just about any situation where a signal is received by something. It is even used in the measurement of biological signal sending like human brain waves or synaptic response. Generally the higher the SNR the cleaner the signal. SNR is a measurement of the strength of signal relative to background noise and for our needs is measured in dB's. As noise levels increase they compete with your signal to the point your signal will become unreadable. This can cause all kinds of problems in digital equipment, reduction in data rate speeds and packet loss all the way up to point your noise overwealms the signal. So this is foundational stuff with regards to putting together a system that has the best sound quality possible. The better/cleaner your signal the better your headunit can reproduce the music you want to hear. If your headunit can't make use of a high quality signal or because of poor quality actually degrades the signal then you have purchased

I was much like you, I had heard some glowing things said about the Hybrid speaker line. I called Hybrid wanting to find a dealer near me, I called fairly late in the evening 7-8 ish in the central time zone expecting to get voicemail and having to leave contact information. What I got was not only a live person but Scott Buwalda. Scott was able to not only put me in contact with a Hybrid Audio Technologies dealer but also went to the trouble of emailing a Team Hybrid member and asking him to get in touch with me. The Team Hybrid member was quite a bit closer to my home so I drove to his home and was able to listen to what in my opinion was the best sounding automotive speakers I had ever heard. I have sense purchased the L-3's and the L-1pro's and now that I have finally had the door panels off the car I will be buying the L-8's. I know this isn't the product review you wanted but it does offer a look at the founder of the company and his passion for not only his product but also in providing unsurpassed customer service. E-Mail info@hybrid-audio.com and explain the situation, they want to earn your business.

I know there were still a few duces left to sell of the old product but I am looking for a pair of 4 channel amps or a 6 channel and a mono block. Any chance the new product will be out before Christmas? Are there production models yet?

I believe your address becomes verified the first time you successfully have something shipped to the shipping address on file with paypal. Could be wrong though but that info is on their web page

For some reason I can't see any of the pictures from the diyma thread but in reading it they are dealing with the 2nd generation Miata and mine is the 3rd generation and neither is a hard top. One of them is also in the Dallas area so I might just see if I can contact him and get a look at the car. There are options and as one of the team hybrid guys reminded me its all about how much I am willing to work/spend to make what I want happen. I know I am going to have to do alot of playing around with the speaker locations I do have to find something thats actually going to work. I am set on getting a three way system installed.

With a budget of $600 what individual comps would you order from Madisound to fill out your system. Your size choices are limited to 7inches for the woofer, 4 inch mid and 1 inch for the tweeter.

For some reason I can't see any of the pictures from the diyma thread but in reading it they are dealing with the 2nd generation Miata and mine is the 3rd generation and neither is a hard top. One of them is also in the Dallas area so I might just see if I can contact him and get a look at the car. There are options and as one of the team hybrid guys reminded me its all about how much I am willing to work/spend to make what I want happen. I know I am going to have to do alot of playing around with the speaker locations I do have to find something thats actually going to work. I am set on getting a three way system installed.

I really dont see any way of getting the mids in the dash, just not any room to give them any kind of seperation. The kicks are a possibility but that would mean putting my tweeters very low as well if I am trying to keep the tweeters and the mids close to one another and as close to on the same axis. As far as what music do I listen to its all over the place 70's to current rock so Eagles to Daughtry, I also like spanish guitar and celtic folk music, Older R&B, Jazz and Blues. 20 string celtic guitar to the b-52.

Yea the Bose system is crap and I was not planning on using the spot where the bose sub is unless for some reason in the future I need to spend time in my car watching dvd's(maybe my girlfriend is really pissed) and I want a center channel to enjoy a good movie while sitting in the car in the garage. Not very likely, needing the center channel that is, girlfirend being mad at me is a forgone conclusion.

The vehicle is a 08 Mazda MX-5PRHT aka Miata Hardtop. Why wouldnt I want the mids in the door. While I have a spot in the dash for a 5 1/2 its a single spot in the middle of the dash that holds the factory bose systems sub and fires right into the windshield.

I can fit everything in the doors but will probably go with the tweeter in the A pillar just to get it up closer to ear level. As far as processing goes I am thinking about the Zapco DSP6-SL unless I go with the Zapco DC amps in which case I wouldnt need it but would go with just the indash controller hooked to the zapco amps. I am hoping Zed comes out with the new line very soon but may pick up the Dsp6-sl and couple of SAX-100.4. Presale price is hard to pass on. Alpine 701 remains the fallback.

Was just using Madisound as an example, as long as they can be ordered in the US it doesnt matter.

I wanted to add more to the original post but the wifi where I was kept dropping me or was taking 2-3 minutes to load a page. So the question is: If buying all individual component speakers to make up a SQ 3 way active systems front stage and give a $600 budget what would you buy to fit in a 7 inch woofer, 4 inch mid and a 1 inch tweeter. There maybe just enough room to fit an 8" woofer instead of the 7" so if you have an option or opinion on that size please offer it. This is also an almost perfect world so depth is not an issue unless something way out of left field.