There are other threads detailing my stereo upgrade path and I will leave them be and create one thread that covers what I now have and will be keeping
(no more upgrades...honestly!) Those of you who are talk radio fans will be thinking I'm crazy, and I fine with that, you can line up right behind my wife....
(lol) A previous member here "IronChef" had a similar hi-end installation, but when I followed up with him recently, he had yanked it out of his Passport and sold off the stereo and his Passport..
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Now, I realize and respect that not everyone is into music, over the course of my life I've probably owned 5,000 records and CD's! And selling off my record collection (of rare and collectibles which I started collecting back in the early 70's - was the major source of the car stereo funding, so it was not money that came out of my paychecks or household finances, it was what some might consider fun or found money...
The Elite/Touring Stereo is very well designed and better than nearly every OEM stereo available in the 1980's, but I wanted MORE and the following is what I have today. I do have the Honda OEM CD player, it provides the BEST Source of files and the fullest frequency response (well more that FM, more than the OEM Hard drive and more that USB Sticks).
As for an DSP Amplifier, I am using the
Audison AP F8.9, it is an 8-Channel Amp that produces 85wpc (watts per channel). Since the Amp can "bridge" (combine) channels together, I have bridged 2 sets of them together, which decreases the number of channels to 6, but increases the bridged channels to 240wpc!
HERE IS MY AMP:
AP F8.9 bit | Audison - car audio processors, amplifiers and speakers
DSP stands for Digital Sound Processing and many OEM stereo's use this type of technology today, as it allows full customization of the sound fields (I think the Passport OEM stereo uses DSP). The DSP in my amp is managed by a Software program, in which you input the distance the driver/passenger is from each speaker and the software ensures that the sounds from each speaker are delayed and/or delivered at the exact same time, it also allows you to electronically set your crossover points (no need for old school Crossovers).
Controlling my Amp and Sub Amp is the Audison MP DRC Controller
HERE IS MY CONTROLLER:
DRC MP | Audison - car audio processors, amplifiers and speakers
My Amp also allows a Sub Woofer Amp to be connected and the signal to the Sub is also "DSP'd".
I am using the
Audison AP F1D Mono Amp, which delivers 500w to my Sub Woofer.
HERE IS MY SUB AMP:
AP F1D | Audison - car audio processors, amplifiers and speakers
The next part is going to sound wacky to some, but EVERY Car stereo professional will tell you it is the right way to go: I have NO speakers in the rear passenger area! No speakers in the doors, no speakers in the rear "C" Pillars, they are gone, removed and otherwise disconnected. AND I don't miss them one bit! The front sound is so powerfull and encompassing, you do not even notice there is no sound behind you...
What I did is install a VERY high-quality Front Sound Stage, all of which are some of the very best available anywhere in the world...!
Audison/Thesis is based in Italy and they manufacture there and in China.
For Tweeters, I went with the
Audison Thesis TH 1.5 II Violino, it is large, heavy and super well made. Constructed of the finest materials to the highest standards, they are SUPER clear and accurate, with zero distortion or dis-coloration of the high frequencies they so masterfully reproduce! These were mounted in the OEM location in the A-Pillars, however due to their size the A-Pillars had to be reworked. After reworking, they were sent to a very high-end upolstery shop and recovered with a exteremly hi-quality fabric, which matched the interior perfectly.
HERE ARE MY TWEETERS:
TH 1.5 II Violino | Audison - car audio processors, amplifiers and speakers
For the Midrange Speakers, I went with the Audison Thesis TH 3.0 II Voce, it is three inches across, also made of the finest components and designed to produce breathtakingly clear vocals and instruments (which are the primary frequency range of music) and project them to the listener in a manner that makes you think the singer/band is playing right there in the car with you...! The Mid ranges were mounted in custom made enclosures, which were fitting into the lower dash corners. The Mids were mounted "On-Axis" (facing the Driver/Passenger) which helps project the sound and the blend PERFECTLY with the tweeters!
HERE ARE MY MIDRANGES:
TH 3.0 II Voce | Audison - car audio processors, amplifiers and speakers
For Woofers, I went with the Audison Thesis TH 6.5 II Sax, It has a huge magnet structure which allows it to play down lower (produce MORE clear Bass) that most every other Woofer of it's size! And pumping 260 watts to them REALLY make them THUMP out the bass! Yet they are very clear and not sloppy or muddled at all.
HERE ARE MY WOOFERS:
TH 6.5 II Sax | Audison - car audio processors, amplifiers and speakers
For the Sub Woofer I went with the Audison APS 8D. It is an *" sub woofer that was mounted in a custom made fiberglass enclosure that fit perfectly in the Passenger side cubby in the rear area. It provides a ton of bass (well at least enough for the music I listen to) and is protected from damage by the grill.
HERE IS MY SUB WOOFER:
APS 8 D | Audison - car audio processors, amplifiers and speakers
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HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS (NOTE: Both Amps are mounted behind the rear panels and thus are not visible):
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Well, that's about it for now, like I said, I'M DONE, no more upgrades!
Any questions? Please feel free to ask...
www.woofersetc.com
