What's Your Car Audio System?

[Suhit Gupta]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.mbusa.com/brand/models/C55.jsp' target='_blank'>http://www.mbusa.com/brand/models/C55.jsp</a><br /><br /></div>Since I just moved from the NYC jungle where no one in their right mind owns a car, to Seattle where it is just the opposite, I was forced to buy a car. I have always relished the thought of owning a car, hoping that a Lamborghini would be my first car. But of course, coming up with a couple of hundred-thousand dollars straight out of school was a bit tough.<br /><br />Anyways, I just bought a Mercedes C55 AMG and of course, being the digital media nut that I am, the audio system in the car was an important criterion. My car has a Harman/Kardon LOGIC7 digital surround sound system. It come with twelve speakers, including dual surround speakers and a subwoofer, 7.1-channel amplifier with 320 watts total output. But most importantly, it has a stereo audio jack where I can plug in my iRiver. Several other car manufacturers sell iPod accessory kits and of course there was no way I was buying that, and I was anxious about whether I would be able to play any other digital audio player (and my precious few OGGs) in my car. Thankfully, it all ended well.<br /><br />Anyways, I figured that since this is a Friday, a relatively slow day for news, it would cool to hear about what kind of sound systems people have in their cars and what format they listen to their music in (radio, sattelite radio, CD, ripped music, music purchased from online vendors, etc.). So feel free to tell us about your car audio workflow.

[Bob12]

2005 Nissan Xterra - Rockford Fosgate system. Eight speakers including subwoofer, 380 watts, 6 disc CD changer, MP3 compatible. I currently have 90 of my favorite CDs converted to MP3 on 6 CD-Rs with the changer shuffling between all 1255 tracks.

[Jason Eaton]

2003 MINI Cooper, Harmon Kardon Head unit with a 3.5mm jack connected to the AUX (optional part self installed).

Previous set up was an iPod but the 3.5mm jack is standard and any headphone device can be used to play through it with a male to male patch cable.

Current hack attempt is blue tooth phone (lg vx8100 MP3) to BMW handsfree to stereo kit. This way I can take calls, and listen to music all at the same time through a built in microphone and car speakers. Biggest roadblock is the lack of bluetooth profiles on the phone that support MP3 transfer, phone calls are fine however. A 3.5mm to 2.5mm is working for now.

[Felix Torres]

Nothing fancy.
Just an Acura TSX 2004.
Factory audio with aftermarket Auxiliary line-in adapter.
I added a console mount for my Rio Riot, which keeps the 3" display clearly visible during playback.

[Chris Gohlke]

2002 Honda CRV - I swapped out the factory unit for an Aiwa unit that will play MP3 CD's and has a front aux input for my iRiver. My wife has a 2003 Infiniti G35 with the factory stereo. Unfortunately it has no inputs, and because of the way it is integrated into the dash (as well as the electronics) there is no easy way to swap it out.

[Gordo]

My car audio workflow is limited to pushing the power button on the radio.
:D

[Doug Johnson]

Car is a 2006 Honda Ridgeline truck.

I pulled the factory audio system and put in my own. Sony products exclusively for the audio (otherwise they wouldn't talk to each other), including CD head unit, DSP/EQ/RTA/Surround/Dynamics proc, XM receiver, aux input adapter, 10 disc changer. On the video side, DEI DVD player, Sony 7" widescreen LCD, Pioneer 7" widescreen LCD, XBOX, Clarion video router, Sony TV tuner. Main channel amplifier is by Planet Audio, suwoofer amplifier by Rockford Fosgate. Other audio processors (graphic EQ and bass restoration) by Audio Control. Speakers are Infinity all the way, although I have yet to select a subwoofer. Other goodies include a USB hub connected to a GPS receiver, wireless mouse receiver, bluetooth radio, a DriveBlue bluetooth handsfree kit, a laptop mount, and Toshiba Gigabeat MP3 player.

I took pictures along the way during the installation.

http://www.thebaseonline.com/ridgeline

[Jason Eaton]

Car is a 2006 Honda Ridgeline truck...I took pictures along the way during the installation.

Some pretty impressive mods there. Any significant drain on the battery or is the alternator able to keep up with everything going?

[Suhit Gupta]

I took pictures along the way during the installation.

http://www.thebaseonline.com/ridgeline
Wow, that is pretty impressive.

Suhit

[Suhit Gupta]

2005 Nissan Xterra - Rockford Fosgate system. Eight speakers including subwoofer, 380 watts, 6 disc CD changer, MP3 compatible. I currently have 90 of my favorite CDs converted to MP3 on 6 CD-Rs with the changer shuffling between all 1255 tracks.
Very cool.

Suhit

[Suhit Gupta]

2003 MINI Cooper, Harmon Kardon Head unit with a 3.5mm jack connected to the AUX (optional part self installed).
How do you find the MINI Cooper btw? I heard from a friend of mine that is 6' 4" that it is quite comfortable - hard to swallow when you look at it from the outside.

Suhit

[Jason Eaton]

How do you find the MINI Cooper btw?

It is deceptive, about 6'2" myself and plenty of leg room and headroom. The same can't be said for the back seat however. That really is a made for kids, a place to throw a bag or two, or the optional third person who sits sorta sideways type area. I am actually toying around with the idea of stripping the rear seat out and making a flat deck.

Stock Cooper is a good commuter car in my opinion, it gets good gas mileage, great handling, easy to toss around and park, but the engine is lacking until you wind it up above 4000 rpms. Insurance is low and resale on them is great from a cost of ownership point of view.

So in a realistic driving sense of getting the job done, the car is good no complaints. You want to endulge at the stop light well the stock Cooper isn't your cup of tea at about 130 horse.

If your willing to put in some wrench time and have the money however you can make a killer 'sleeper' with about 240 horse (http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/NMK1047/AddedFrom/CatBrowse%2D%20ENGINE%2DTRANS%5FNM/InvDetail.cfm). Much higher and you over power the gear box and start breaking things. Mine is not as exotic as that... yet. :D

[Doug Johnson]

Some pretty impressive mods there. Any significant drain on the battery or is the alternator able to keep up with everything going?
So far the alternator has more than kept up. With these newer vehicles that have more electronics from the factory they put bigger alternators to start with.

[Bob12]

2005 Nissan Xterra - Rockford Fosgate system. Eight speakers including subwoofer, 380 watts, 6 disc CD changer, MP3 compatible. I currently have 90 of my favorite CDs converted to MP3 on 6 CD-Rs with the changer shuffling between all 1255 tracks.
Very cool.

Suhit

Thanks! It's my concession to decadence :)

[Jason Dunn]

Anyways, I just bought a Mercedes C55 AMG...

What? You bought a Mercedes? I'm paying you too much! :lol:

[sohel]

Suhit:

I've been reading all your posts about the HDTV you are looking to buy and now the Benz C55 AMG. You mentioned moving from NYC to Seattle and looking for an apt. I was curious why you aren't buying a condo instead. Is the Seattle real estate market flipped towards renting vs buying like in NYC, SF, San Jose and other areas?

BTW, the C55 AMG is a great car, but it's real pricey. Did you get a new '05 or '06 model or is it a used model. I don't mean to pry, just curious. I'm a huge car nut ( Have you seen Top Gear on the Discovery ch a few months ago? - it's off the air now - great show)

Bobby