| Author | Message | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 548 Registered: 9-2001 |
See the other thread I created since others may be looking for it. Mondial T Convertible Top - JMG | ||
| Bill Woodward (Slackjaw)
New member Username: Slackjaw Post Number: 7 Registered: 7-2003 |
JMG, Please post pictures! The guy who sold me my '89 showed me how to fold the top down, and insisted that to do it properly you had to roll a towel lengthwise and lay it against the plastic rear window so that it wouldn't crease. It's such a pain putting the top down that I pretty much *leave* it down once I get it buttoned in securely. --Woody | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 532 Registered: 9-2001 |
I did not know I had a secret method of lowering the roof...I will take some pictures but essentially, I lower the roof collapsing each section between the cross members with the exception of the back window, which I wrap over the top. It keeps the rear window from getting creased and does give the car a nicer look IMHO. - JMG On second thought, if that is not clear, let me know and I will post pictures... | ||
| steve coleby (Ferraridriver)
Junior Member Username: Ferraridriver Post Number: 130 Registered: 6-2003 |
Hi You can restore sound which has been converted. You can covert MP3 to WAV format so there is a way of doing this. maybe the unit has a converting process Cheers Steve | ||
| steve coleby (Ferraridriver)
Junior Member Username: Ferraridriver Post Number: 129 Registered: 6-2003 |
Hi Brian Thanks for the info. I have been told that the UK version of the Alpine D900R will play dvdr's the USA model is different. The new pioneer DVD unit plays DVD R's for sure 100 percent sure on this one Thanks Steve | ||
| Brian W (Jetx)
Junior Member Username: Jetx Post Number: 115 Registered: 6-2003 |
BTW - Alpine isn't false advertising. They just don't get into all the technical things required to help someone understand what it is that's being done. They're using DSPs to shape the signal to a pre-configured output signal. So is Alpine changing the sound? Yes. Is it identical to the original? No. How can you prove that? You can't. Like most things in life, it's subjective. | ||
| Brian W (Jetx)
Junior Member Username: Jetx Post Number: 114 Registered: 6-2003 |
>>x-pander does work. have you actually tried this unit. If you have not can you really give an opinion?<< Because you can't restore what is lost. All the Alpine is doing is interpolating what data it has in order to try and reconstruct what it thinks was lost. MediaXpander is there version of an interpolator, nothing more, nothing less. Plenty of audio companies have something similar. But the bottom line is you can't restore what isn't there. There are plenty of white papers and technical papers on the 'net that would explain it. Put your unit to the test, take a song you own the CD too, compress it to 128Kbs, play it back through the unit, then play the CD back. Should speak for itself. Additionally, I downloaded the user manual for this particular unit, and according to the manual it not only won't take DVD-Rs, but will only take DVD encoded with video, not audio (or even files). Regardless, if you enjoy it, that's all that matters. | ||
| steve coleby (Ferraridriver)
Junior Member Username: Ferraridriver Post Number: 128 Registered: 6-2003 |
Brian May is suggest that we both sue alpine for false advertising? we could make a fortune!!! the x-pander does work. have you actually tried this unit. If you have not can you really give an opinion? I have one and it works. don't ask me how I do not now, all I know is that is does! Thanks Steve | ||
| Brian W (Jetx)
Junior Member Username: Jetx Post Number: 113 Registered: 6-2003 |
Steve, I hate to disappoint you, but you really gain nothing. First, you have a compressed audio file (anything less than 320k is nothing like an uncompressed audio file). You cannot restore what is lost, even through interpolation. Second, you're going from a 48KHz MP3 to a 44KHz .wav file. And 99% of all MP3s start as 44KHz audio sources, upconverted to 48KHz, and are then compressed. Then going back to 44Khz for the .wav portion adds further reduction of quality. I'm aware that most DVD units play DVD-R/RW. However, putting a ton of .wav files (red book audio) onto a DVD-R and expecting it to play as a large CD hasn't worked on any device. That's why I'm intrigued if the new Alpine really will play .wavs off of a DVD-R. Unless it's a PC, most standalone DVD units are looking for a specific directory structure which copying .wav files to a DVD-R does not have. | ||
| steve coleby (Ferraridriver)
Junior Member Username: Ferraridriver Post Number: 127 Registered: 6-2003 |
Brian You are gaining something. This unit does bring back the quality very very close to the original. The new alpine unit does playback DVDR/RW | ||
| Brian W (Jetx)
Junior Member Username: Jetx Post Number: 112 Registered: 6-2003 |
>>This particular head unit has a X-pander feature which converts the low MP3 quality back to the high WAV quality<< Problem is you're gaining nothing. Once a file is compressed, conversion won't bring back the quality lost in the compression. Staying in .wav from the beginning is the way to go. I have yet to find a DVD player that will play .wav files from a DVD-R. If you're does in fact do that, that's great. | ||
| steve coleby (Ferraridriver)
Junior Member Username: Ferraridriver Post Number: 125 Registered: 6-2003 |
Allen The stereo sound great thanks! I am about to fit the new Alpine D900R dvd/screen all-in-on unit. This will take audio dvd's so I can record onto them and then playback. With the very high capacity of DVD's I do not need a cd changer. As I will be able to fit about 8 cd's on it in WAV format (same as original cd's) I currently have a head unit that can play mp3 so I am currently getting 10 cd's on the single disk. This particular head unit has a X-pander feature which converts the low MP3 quality back to the high WAV quality. Thanks Steve | ||
| Brian W (Jetx)
Junior Member Username: Jetx Post Number: 111 Registered: 6-2003 |
Yeah JMG, show us how to lower the top!!! I had an 88, and my Mondial T top doesn't lower as easily. What's worse, the handles that clamp the top to the front pillar, when I have it back, stick up (as you can see in the photo). I know it shouldn't look that pointy, and my 88 never looked like that and neither does yours  | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 527 Registered: 9-2001 |
Hey Allen, You need to pull the rear valence but not the bumper. My son (who was about 3 at the time) was helping me find the right wrench sizes and it took about an hour. (Indicating as much about his skills as it was easy I guess :-) - JMG | ||
| tCoupe (Allen)
Junior Member Username: Allen Post Number: 118 Registered: 3-2001 |
JMG I see you made it home OK from Cali. Nice meeting up with you down here. The Rally pics are awsome. Roads around Yosemite are great. Did you pull the rear bumper to install the Tubi? Steve how is the Stereo sounding? Did you install a CD changer? | ||
| Thomas I (Wax)
Junior Member Username: Wax Post Number: 169 Registered: 7-2003 |
I respect the '89-'93 Mondial t. It has the power of the 348, and is certainly roomier. To boot, there is a much more aggressive appearance/stance than prior Mondials with significant upgrades to the interior as well. Tubi, or not tubi. That is the question. Tubi is the answer. | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 525 Registered: 9-2001 |
Thanks Sam. I was on the tarmac ready to head out to look at a Ferrari when the events started to unfold in NYC. Between that and the totaled Mondial T, I don't take the whole Ferrari thing too seriously, I just love 'em and drive 'em. Life is too short to put the car away in the garage. And don't feel like you left something behind by getting a pratical 2+2...in the FCR Rally, we posted 8th and 4th fastest times during the closed stages proving once and for all that the T was/is a seriously balanced car with just enough power when driven by reasonably capable hands. We even made the Owners site since we were posting great times in the T. I only wish they had come up with something post the T...I asked the president of FNA to remember us and bring out a replacement. Which speakers are you talking about...in the 92 or the 89? (92 was done in...) Neither interferes, just different speakers. The 92s were screwed into place (before my ownership), the 89s are held in place with velcro. Radio Shack bookshelfs... The pedals are from Ultimate Pedals - www.ultimatepedals.com. He designed the T pedals off of my car. The gate is from Hill Engineering - http://www.hill-engineering.co.uk/ The knob is from George Evans - [email protected] - JMG | ||
| Sam NYCFERRARIS (Sam)
Member Username: Sam Post Number: 400 Registered: 4-2001 |
WOW JMG, I have the identical car and you have to give us all mondial lovers (you , I and ..oh well not many of us here) and leson on how to lower the top and put on the tonneau cover! I visited your family web site and I was amazed...I was just the victim of a credit card clone theft so your info was very helpful..also your thought on 9/11 were respectful and vry very comforting to me, as I was present there in NYC on that day and it affects me profoundly and your words brought comfort... where did you get your shifter/gate? How do you put the top down withthe speakers in the wells? | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 504 Registered: 9-2001 |
It does...really. I felt the stock exhaust only sounded decent above 3500 where as the Tubi added a rumble at the lower revs and simply screams above. The Ferrari Challenge video guys said the car sounded awesome when I rolled past them a few times and said that they were going to use it in the video when that is sent out to all folks. Time will tell. As for recording mine, I can do it but I am not really set up to transfer video into my machines right now, in the midst of building up a new Media Server box and when that is done, I will be able to do so easily. - JMG | ||
| steve coleby (Ferraridriver)
Junior Member Username: Ferraridriver Post Number: 120 Registered: 6-2003 |
Hi I have listened to the file you suggested. Does the tubi really sound that good? Thanks Steve | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 503 Registered: 9-2001 |
Short of doing this myself, take a look at http://www.scuderiasystems.com/m-media.htm - the 348 there sounds very similar to my Mondial T. Sam, mine is in my profile. Changes I have made are: K&N, Tubi, PIAA bulb replacement, challenge pedals, quick gate and aluminum shifter. Worthwhile? Your mileage will vary based on what you want out of the car. I would say the K&N and Tubi really open up the car to what I want it to sound like when I am driving. The car now sounds like it should when I am on reving it out. Tunnels, underpasses? You would undersand when I fugettaboutit! Pretty loud for some folks (not to be sexist but really only ladies have complained - incl my wife). As for the other mods, the low beams on the Mondial T are crap, the PIAAs help a bit. The quick gate and aluminum shifter were a feel thing for me. I honestly feel smoother with them in, not sure if it is the greater mass in the shifter or the gate that makes the difference but I know I can row through the gears rather more quickly now. The pedals? Maybe a slight improvement as there is a little better feel, honestly, they just make the interior look better. - JMG | ||
| Sam NYCFERRARIS (Sam)
Member Username: Sam Post Number: 391 Registered: 4-2001 |
hey jmg...I have a 89 T cab as well, what is your color, any mods you found worht while... | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 501 Registered: 9-2001 |
Let me see if I can find a simple recording device for mine... | ||
| steve coleby (Ferraridriver)
Junior Member Username: Ferraridriver Post Number: 118 Registered: 6-2003 |
Hi Does anyone have any audio with a Mondial T fitted with a tubi exhaust. Just want to listen to see what it sounds like. Thanks Steve |