Mondial T audio system upgrade

Hi Ted,

I am also upgrading my stereo system. I am going with Alpine head unit and speakers. No amp. I will be doing this as soon as I finish the timing belt work. Still waiting for parts. The "while you're in there" really detour your programmed completion date.

Did you get your Rolls yet?

 

I've got a system that was installed by the PO and it turned out fairly nice... it was a Sony head unit with separate amps for the front and rear speakers. Amps were installed under the driver & front passenger seat, and some fancy satellite speakers were tucked into the side compartments housing the convertible top mechanism.

I'm not savvy with brands in the stereo world, but I do know that going with a separate amp is always a good idea, especially when you plan to run the speakers loud (as you'll need to do in the Mondi). You'll get much cleaner audio when compared to running a head unit alone, plus you'll have the flexibility to change / upgrade your speakers at any time without being limited by what your head unit can handle.

I can get pictures and brands from my car if you like, just let me know...

 

Like this?

http://continentalautosports.com/inventory/details.aspx?id=NLIL0091.1/C158927&y=2008&d=Ferrari&m=612




Joe

 

I tried CD-121 paired with a Cspe 6000 speakers and seems adequate. It's the low end system but this will just be used occasionally. I don't want to put an amp on either boot thus no amp. Not closing the door totally though. We'll see once the system is in.

I am still waiting for my lower cam bearing. Once it comes, it should be done in a day or 2.

Good luck with your hunt.

 

Sweet ride Ted, hope you get it !
Cheers,

-Mike

 

really enjoyed my time with the Arnage, supreme comfort on european motorways, offers real contrast with the T Coupe, which seemed like a race kart by comparison when I'd hop back in.

 

I spent some time in an Arnage Red Label--great car!

 

I don't care what you do with the head unit and amps, unless you get much bigger speakers and more of them it ain't a going to matter. I know of what I speak.

 

Ted,
If you're going to upgrade, shop around for a good radio unit with DVD/MP3/CD, add two more speakers in the rear to go along with the doors and tweeters up front. You will need an amp for this set up, just find a professional audio installer that has experience in exotic installs. Not the BestBuy guys!!! They should also be knowledgeable enough to make recommendations on which brand to go with. I would not go with bigger speakers in the doors, but add some in the back. You may want to see what CrutchField has to offer: http://www.crutchfield.com/app/index_b.aspx All the best!

Also see my thread on speakers:
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=350524

 

Ted,

Since you've been looking at Rolls Royce & Bentleys, thought you'll be interested in my favorite car show on YouTube: Wheeler Dealers with Mike Brewster & his side kick Edd China.
These guys are amazing, I've seen just about every episode.

Wheeler Dealers - Bentley Mulsanne (Part 1), search Part 4 & Part 5 for ending.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zIfZyySOQQ[/ame]

 

Ted,
I would love to help with my 2 cents..
However, could you answer the below please?
1) What is your preference? Sound quality? Loudness?

2) Are you partial to any specific brands? (Example - I'm partial to Dynaudio system, and whenever given a choice, I try and build by system around that)

3) Do you want to order from the particular install only (and hence buy from the brands she/ he has to offer) or you are happy buying online?

4) What is your budget? - This is the most critical question

 

Lol I like that show also its on the Velocity channel
I get a kick out of Ed China when he says this job is going to be a bit fiidly to do!

 

Without cutting, you can fit some small enclosures in the rear cubbies that house the convertible top mechanism. Think a little more broadly than just speakers and you'll see a lot more possibilities.

I don't have a picture on hand right now, but I've got something like these as my rear speakers...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882290181&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Home+Audio+Speakers-_-Polk+Audio-_-82290181

 

Just a thought, does the cubbie corners still have room for speakers when the top is down? Depending on how big of an external speaker you use in there determines fitting I guess.
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I see. Amplifying the speakers seems to be in order.

NAK is a good brand.. however.. pretty expensive too at the same time. This kind of money isn't probably needed right now. A decent Alpine... Ok.. not Alpine.. maybe a Kenwood should have the features you need at a decent price point.
Example - http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Car_Entertainment/In-Dash_CD_n_DVD_Receivers/1-DIN_CD_Receiver/KDC-452U

There's a good chance that the OE speakers might be Autosonics. I posted a pic here - http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=141244133&postcount=264

Amplifying is always a good idea. The stereo systems / cd players / media hubs produce anywhere between 18 to 22W RMS from their tiny inbuilt amps. Compare this to pretty much any component speaker set out there... and you will see that having an amplifier is pretty much a no-brainer.

Example - http://www.rainbowcaraudio.com/slx265.html
Check the Specifications page.
Peak power :150 Watt - This is a the safe max RMS watts that you can continuously provide to the speaker.

Power rating :100 Watt - The speaker set likes this as an optimum level of continuous WRMS power input to perform at it's best.

Minimum amplifier power :30 Watt - The bare minimum that it needs to even perform half decent.

Power output of Stereo systems like the Kenwood above? Probably around 20WRMS.


Under seat install is a good way to go for the stealth look. However, be very careful when out in the rain with the car. Whenever you get in, the moisture from our footwear has an uncanny ability to find it's way to the nearby electronic circuit..

These are pretty basic suggestions for now. Whenever you have a budget in mind, post up / PM and I might be able to help you select something.

Sounds great!
So what speakers did you use? Car audio centric (4ohm impedance) speakers in those kind of enclosures are pretty rare to come by.

 

$500 for the install sounds like a decent amount of money if the install quality is good.
I like to go by this rule of thumb -
Sound quality is only 40% equipment. Rest is 30% installation quality and 30% professional tuning.

However, that said, if you are good at DIY jobs, you can probably save the $500 and do it yourself too.

The unit looks decent, but as your previous reply mentioned, MP3 playback and satellite inputs as one of your desires in the new headunit, this NAK has none of that.

I see your point about headunit not looking too ricer / being "period correct" as far as looks are concerned.. however, at the same time I feel that if you get a chance, check one of these out in person. Some of the Alpines, and the Kenwoods (especially with their black finish) look pretty understated. Plus, a lot of them give you the option of adjusting display / dial colours and intensities.. so I think it you might find it matching your interiors afterall.

As for NAK quality, they built their legendary reputation selling ultra premium radio and audio equipment. However, as they say, you get what you pay for. You got that kind of quality before, because you paid for it. After the re-org of their marketing efforts and brand position in the last decade or so, NAK has started to focus on the lower end of the segment too. However, expect quality to be in the same league as the price

Beyond this, I will only say that I haven't really used a NAK in any of my installs.

I have worked in the car audio industry for some time and the company I used to work for were exclusive importers of many high end brands. Hence, my recommendations could be biased. I will, however, give you some facts.

MB Quart has traditionally been all German engineered and produced. This changed after 2005 when Maxxsonics acquired all MB Quart rights going forward and shifted production to China. Since, then things haven't exactly been as rosy.

However, it is said that the teams / factories involved with the german MB Quart carried ahead as "German Maestro" - http://www.german-maestro.de/US/index.htm
The above link is their "US" link and the brand was brought into USA by this company, if I'm not wrong - http://www.leadershipsystemsconsulting.com/

Yes, the OE speakers and tweeters will need to go. Below is the ideal recipe that you need to look at.

1) MP3 / Satellite radio capable audio player

2) 2 way component speaker set - This will have your midbass + tweeter and a crossover module to separate frequencies for the midbass and the tweeter. I am not sure about the size that Mondial will take - 5.25 inch or 6.5 inch. (In the coming weeks, I will have some finish my current project and have some free time on my hands to find this for you... and also to keep a lookout for audio deals around that time).

3) A two / four channel amplifier - I am indifferent to both as buying either of them has their related pros and cons in the greater scheme of things. Pick whichever one is on sale.

4) Power wiring kit - Around 8 guage should be sufficient for your needs - Stinger, Connection Audison, Kicker, BULL etc. are good brands.

5) RCA cables and speaker wiring - Many different brands out there.. but same brands as above point should do for the RCA. Speaker wiring I'm not so sure about right now. I have used Connection Audison in the past with great results.

6) Misc. Install accessories - Damping sheets like Dynamat Extreme should do the trick as far as damping the doors. Spacer rings made out of MDF should be good to install the speakers.

Most of the cars have the amplifier and crossover modules mounted in the trunk. "Under the bonnet" would be Ferrari's equivalent of that.. so.. yeah.. that works!