ICEing a Safari

soulforged

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Hi,

I find the factory-fitted system in the Safari woefully inadequate. Though the system is Alpine (and I have a very good experience with this brand), the bass is thin, the treble is tinny and it gives an ear-fatigue while listening to it for a long time.

I don't think it's essentially the fault of the audio equipment, its just that it's probably not suited for Safari.

I am thinking of cannibalizing it to ICE my i10 and get a new setup of Safari. Any suggestions?

My budget: 40K max (just my take, it could go down or less likely, up)
Music taste: Prog rock, prog metal, jazz, old bollywood
Not a bass junkie

I'm only starting my R&D now and it may not crystallize anytime soon.

cheers!
 
May be that line is the culprit for less replies. ;)

Oh! let me clarify...the Safari is here...and so is the i10 waiting for the cannibalization...what I meant was that I plan to go slow on the ICE to ensure I get something that I'd want to keep for a long time (and also give me time to save up)
 
you want to do the safari or the i10

the safari will require considerable work for it to sound good
you will need to damp the inner front doors at miniumum

Do you normally drive or are you chauffer driven?

Any idea what alpine HU the safari has?
how many preouts does it have etc

the safari will need a minimum or 2 components upfront
2 rears ( ovals or rounds)
1 subwoofer at the back

what would be ideal is a monoblock for the Sub and a 4 channel amp for the rest but this will take your budget to the 50-60s

the other option is getting a powerful 4 channel amp and feeding 2 channels to the sub and two to the fronts
however i know the safari will always want more!

more later.....
 
your budget limits the brands you have a choice too
in one way thats not very bad since you wont be confused!

you will need an HU with a minimum or 2 pre outs ( one for the fronts , one for the subwoofer)
if its got 3 preouts you can amplify even the rear speakers through a sub


look at following options
for front components

JL Audio TR 6.5" Component Speakers 8500
Infinity Kappa 60.9cs Component System 6500rs -
Illusion Audio electras - 6500-7000rs
ID CTX65CS Comps: About 13.5K-entry level 100rms 93db
focal polyglass 165 vr - 15k- 70rms 93db
Boston Acoustics SR60 2-way 6.5" Component Speakers - 11k

for rears
if going 6 inch rounds ( if they can be fit into the rear door panels )
look at
options form JBL like the GTO 628
JBL - Car Audio - Speakers - Multi-Element
even the GT5 series will do

or if your installers can do ovals in boxs tucked away neatly they will do fine too
Use these especially if you are not gonna amplify rear speakers through an external amp
GTO 938
the GT5 series should be second choice

other options are from Ground Zero
:: Ground Zero :: speaker systems / Entry Level

for amps
JBL bought in grey gives most bang for buck
though there are better amps you will have to spend more on them
in a safari i would advice a monoblock for the sub and a 4 channel for each speaker

ASK for a GT5 series monoblock amp for the sub ( if you can affort the GTO series all the better)
GTO 3501 or 301.1 about 8-9k grey

for the 4 channel amp the favorite is GTO1004
JBL - Car Audio - Amplifiers - Full-Range

this amp has enough power to even drive a sub if 2 chanels are bridged

there are hundreds of options some ive listed below for subs and amps

for the sub here are options other than JBL
Image Dynamics ID12V3D4 (14K)
Rainbow Hammer12(16k)
The Image dynamics IDQv2 is around 16K
Ground Zero - :: Ground Zero :: Subwoofer / GZTW 30TX

but since you are in banglore the easiest thing you could do is just head off to one of the many known ICE installers there
their advice is super
the guys a i know are not cheats and will advice well
Any of these guys will do

for the sub try and do a ported enclosure
these ones are more efficient and less power hungry
hence you can make do with a smaller monoblock

if youre going sealed you will need some serieous power considering the safari

i have sent you the list on PM

regards
Ali

p.S remember you will be charges probably 5k for wiring
Installation cost may be waived if you buy everything from the same store
 
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Now we are talking! :clapping:

Got the PM with the details, thanks a ton!

I plan to ICE the Safari and use the system it came with in the i10. The safari came with 8920 (I think) and it has only one pre-out. It would be driven entirely by me.

Like you suggested, I plan to go to the installer (Sathya most likely) to discuss the options. Wanted to know what components I can consider within my budget.

I can up the budget if I could stagger it over a couple of months.
 
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the safari does need some good power
dont skimp on the amps you will never be happy

stagger your budgets to get the monoblock (a nice 300W minimum at that ) and another 4 channel amp with at least 75rms/channel of power
the JBL GTO1004 i recommended comes with more than that

there are many compoents you can consider but your budget is already BLOWN!

if you buy the amps im talking about they have already cost you close to 20-24k ( grey!)
wiring will cost you 5-6k
the Sub will cost you anywhere between 6-16k depending on brand
JBL GTO series being the cheaper and Image dynamics and ground zero being the more expensive ones
( well there are subs costing close to a lac too but then we arent considering anything above 15k are we?)

NOW youve already HIT 40k and you still need components and rear speakers and god knows if you need an HU !

if you are stggering this look at doing the following

step 1
Get an HU with 3 preouts ( budget 8k-10k )
consider
alpine 9884 with bill 12800
kenwood 6539 - 9k with bill
alpine 9872 - 8k
alpine 9845 -8.5k
Eclipse 3100 for 10k in grey
on a pioneer 6000 series will also do well

Step2
Get component speakers ( dont know budget but there are many options-ive listed old prices though also i havent listed some exotics that cost 18k and more)
some are below
Focal Access A1 6.5" Component Speakers 13500 - best buy in banglore
Illusion Audio electras - 6500-7k
Rainbow SLX 265 Deluxe: About 13.5K-100rms 91db
ID CTX65CS Comps: About 13.5K-entry level 100rms 93db
focal polyglass 165 vr 15k- 70rms 93db
Boston Acoustics SR60 2-way 6.5" Component Speakers - 11k
or Ground Zero titanium series ( 8k )

step 3
get a Sub as listed earlier

Step 4
get a 4 channel AMp like the JBL GTO 1004 for 14k grey

step 5
wiring and instal will cost 5k

now connect two channels of the amp to your compos and bridge the other two to drive your sub
youre done with some music for now and youve hit 45k-55kdepending on your choices
Note: rear passengers will not hear much other than the sub since e havent put in rear fill as yet for now . but if youre driving its fine

later add rear speakers and monoblock when youve got more grub.also get some damping done later
 
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in my scorpio i put Hertz speakers (component) with ovals in the back all with a 4 channel amp. that was a bit cheapo (from what i hear) for 25K..but i really do not miss a sub. am sure you can do a lot better with 40K.

a sub might just need to be your last option. a good amp adds oodles of midbass which is necessary.
 
Got a couple of options today -

Opt 1 - 50K
Kenwood 7016 HU
Rockford Fosgate prime 6.5 (comp front/coax rears)
Cerwin Vega HED 300.4 4-ch ampRockford Fosgate Prime 12''
Cerwin Vega HED 500.1 mono for sub

Opt 2 - 58K
Kenwood 7016 HU
Cervin Vega Vega400.4 amp
Cerwin Vega Vega65cs 6.5 (comp front/coax rears)
Memphis PR 10'' sub
Cerwin vega HED 500.1 mono

Opt 3 - 68K
Kenwood 7016 HU
Diamond Audio DI 6.5 (comp front/coax rears)
Cerwin Vega VEGA400.4 amp
Diamond Audio D1 10'' sub
Cerwin Vega Vega500.1 mono
Audison Cables

Couldn't get an audition...so waiting...thoughts in the meantime?
 
Dear Folks,

This has had me wondering for some time..

I own a pair of Bose 161s with wall mount facility. It has 10-100 watts input power at 8 ohms.

I was wondering whether they could be used as rear speakers in a car.

Of course, a subwoofer will be a great bonus..

For the price of around Rs. 10 -11 k they make for great surrounds in my Home Theater.

If it is possible to use these speakers.. Mounting is easy and one can avoid making holes in the board behind the rear seats..and only a hole for the speaker wires will do.. Then one can, I feel, prevent any coloration due to the shape of ones boot and also the reflections due to the round/oval speakers' firing in the reverse direction too.

I have a wild hunch they will sound great.

Does anyone want to risk a try?:clapping:

Yours,

Subcenter2009
 
which installer has given you that quote
i dont know many who will push cervin vega so fiercely

i have heard cervin only once and i dont have an opinion about them
youre the better judge

howver one this is for sure
option 1 with no 4 channel amp is totally wrong

as i have listed earlier
get HU
get front compos
get 4 channel amp 75rms /channel miniumum
JBL GTO 1004 at 14k (grey) is very rarely beat for value for money
get a 12 inch sub in ported enclosure

give two channles to the front compos and 2 to the sub

later get the mono when you can afford

other than the kenwood HU and audison cables im not a great fan of any of the other equipment
 
See if you can source Alpine or Eclipse HUs from abroad. Even the new JVC units come with burrbrown dac.

magma listed the best of components available. :clapping:
 
Won't Focal Solid 4 would be a better bet than a JBL GTO1004 for around 13k? If budget is an issue than Rockford Fosgate Prime 300.4 is also a good VFM amp for around 10k.
Also Diamond D1 are bit brighter speakers, better to get something else unless you like bright sound.

BTW, what would be the best price for Focal Polyglass 165VB?
 
Finally an update on this front :yahoo:

After weeks of confusion, finally decided to take the plunge....

Source - Pioneer DEH-P80RS with CD UB100 USB adapter (bought used)
4-ch amp - Arc Audio XXD4080
Front Compos - Diamond Audio D3
Rear - Rockford Fosgate Prime
Sub - Diamond Audio D312

Sounds way better than the stock system. Would listen for a couple of weeks before I form an opinion.

Thanks for all your suggestions. :clapping:
 
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