sandt38

There's a reason they don't let you use aluminum wire in houses anymore :lol: It is actually because of expansion and contraction rates. They were causing the terminations to loosen over time and start fires.

Yes and yes. Welding cable is a fantastic conductor, and exceptionally flexible. Coaxial cable is basically just a shielded conductor. IMO it is superior to all UTPs out there. Also, if you go ahead and step up to a Canare system, including their cable and connector technology, you wind up with what many consider as superior to the vast majority of low level transfer out there. Being that you are a clipper, I would assume you are using Canare or similar crimping device, so getting a good set of ends will get you set up right.

You've been able to do that without issue for a couple decades. I know I've been doing it for over a decade without a single issue. Power cable induced noise is an old wives tale in car audio In today's systems, yes. But in the days of .5 and .25volt preouts we did see noise issues. I have been bundling my cables for years, but I still cringe in rememberance of the old days... back when Denon tape decks and CD changers were in my car... Yeah, Denon car audio.

Series parallel.

Yes, it will be just fine. In most cases it would suffice for long term use actually. The additional batteries reduce the stress load on the alternator, as it is voltage, not current regulated. With such a huge storehouse of power, the drop in voltage will be less significant, and the alternator will not have to work as hard. Keep in mind, though, that there is a point where you simply have too much battery, and it will start to overload the battery. I generally recommend that you stick with 2 batteries on a >120amp alt, just to be on the safe side, but because of the relatively low internal resistance of the yellow tops you should be OK.

Actually unshielded twisted pairs are not really designed to eliminate ground loops or induced noise, such as we see from car audio environments. They are intended to eliminate crosstalk. BUT! In a car we really are not terribly concerned about crosstalk. Rarely in a car audio environment will we see UTPs used correctly. Ideal usage of UTP usually involves multiple runs of twisted pairs in a single insulator sleeve. In order to reduce, or eliminate crosstalk transmission between the 2 twisted pair in the same sleeve, the twist rates (and in some cases, direction) need to be different. Considering that most manufacturers twisted pair RCAs for in car use are all the same twist rate (it may vary by mfg, but who is going to use multiple mfgs, as they typically don't match?), their ability to eliminate crosstalk is nearly nil. However, outside EMI/RFI and ground loops really are what cause the noise issues we hear in a car. The noisy environment in a car really makes crosstalk a non-issue, as it is generally a very fine distortion compared to typical ambient noise in a vehicle. A lot of people figure that twisted pair was the ingenious development that was cause for better noise rejection in car audio systems. In reality we saw better noise rejection technology introduced to our equipment including but not limited to increased low line voltages which help reduce noise on the input side by increasing the desired signal to interfering signal ratios. The best RCA to use for RFI/EMI noise rejection in a car is really good old fashioned shielded RCA cables. However, for the best of both worlds you can find shielded twisted pairs (STPs). But actually because today's noise rejection technology in our devices you could just about run your power cable next to an old school speaker wire type RCA cable without much noise issue, as long as the system is well gounded that is.

http://www.acousticdev.com/cms/ Contact Dan Wiggins there. He designed the Parthenon motor capable of 80 MM of Xmax.

That is copper. The CCA is not really a transparent covering, it is opaque pearl blue, and the CCA ground is pearl white. this is the 4ga CCA kit: http://www.knukonceptz.com/productDetail.cfm?prodID=KLM-K8

If you look at the truly high end companies, that is not out of line. The Utopias are really some of the nicest sets out there. You can look at the Rainbow CS360.30 Passive Reference set at $13,000, and it's sister the CS36.30 Active (just the drivers) for $11,350.00. Or if you would rather be cheap, they have a 2 way offering, the CS260.30 Reference which is a passive set for $7,400. These sets offer a certain amount of detail and sound that you won't get from a $200 component set. But they offer so much that they can show off any imperfections in the signal chain. So guys running these are running Milbert tubes or Sinfoni solid states, and they have amazing installs. Yes, in some people's opinions these sets are worth it. They feel there is no point of diminishing returns. The differences are so subtle that most couldn't pick them up, but critical listeners can. When you step into the realm of true audiophile quality you are stepping into another world. Home speakers can go for half a million dollars, is it worth it? Are they made of gold? To the people willing to spend the time and money on these systems, yes they are. Many people I know who don't care about car stereos shit themselves when they hear what kind of investment I have in my cars. Hell, most people here would scoff at the cash that has been shoveled into my front stage, as they prefer tons of overbearing bass to real sound quality. If I were running a vehicle set up well enough for a set of Utopias I might own a set, although I like the Seas Lotus RS-165/1 set's sound better, and I like it's $1700 pricetag much better as well... But what really matters is the system as a whole when you reach this level of performance. You can't toss a set of Utopias in stock locations with a Cadence amp and expect it to be worth that kind of money... However as a general rule I don't like Focal. The tweeters are extremely crisp, and very forward. To me it is like jamming glass in my ears. I greatly prefer a more delicate silk tweeter, and a more laid back mid to the aggressive Focal mids. So to answer your question, yes the Utopias are like sex with Jennifer Aniston and Megan Fox, and Bree Olsen all at the same time, but their regular everyday line is more like sex with this chick:

I have heard things about how they are too flimsy to work well. But on the plus side, I have also heard that with a little FG reinforcement inside they become really great units. I have seen them before, and even had my hands on them after they have been reinforced (never before hand, so I can't say how they feel from the factory), so I can say they fit really well and they are really nice looking.

I have had a lot of luck with this one. I had a Passport in the car about 7 years ago. I walked into the gas station to get smokes and left my windows open, came out and it was gone. I decided I didn't want to buy another $325 detector, so I bought a Cobra and I hated it. I returned it in 2 days, and I bought this Uniden. I have had it since, but now on really hot days it will start goingoff and won't stop. I think it is on it's way out. While it has been good to me, I think I will buy another Passport. They have one that has GPS on it and it remembers where false signals are located, to reduce false alerts. That pic wastaken 2 years ago in August, or maybe September, so it has been around for a while. Yeah I'm severely out of the loop with certain things...college seems to do that to people... Me too. I honestly didn't buy it for that, i just found out that it would function like that. Actually, I learned a lot when I bought this unit, like HDD connectivity and format reading, etc. So I got up to date then, and now I am likely back out of date Good luck! I am off to put an oil pan on a Toyota. I'll be back in 1/2 hour or so.

That pic wastaken 2 years ago in August, or maybe September, so it has been around for a while. Many bluetooth media phones can stream music over bluetooth. That is why they sell stereo bluetooth headphones . It just so happens I bought one of the early HUs that can also decode streaming bluetooth music. It is a nifty function, as I have hundreds of albums on my phone, and I also have GPS so I can stream music to my system and have my GPS function and override the music with voice commands so I don't miss them when I have it cranked. The quality is actually better then I had expected, but it isn't as clean as my USB hookup is.

Great article, Duran! Thanks for the read. I guess there really isn't anything wrong with CCA if you simply don't have the money. But that also gives rise to my opinion that if you simply can't afford the cable, you can't afford the system you intend to install. But, for those of use with bigger dreams than wallets, I would advise that you get yourself at least 1 size up from the standard cable required for the system. I considered using the 1/0 CCA from Knukonceptz, as my system really only needs 4Ga to run it, but instead I opted to use their 1/0 Kolossus Fleks cable. I figured I might wind up upgrading my sub stage to a ShivaX or 2, and it would be nice to have sufficient cable already installed. When I really thought about it I concluded that I just didn't see any reason to cheap out on the cable, after all it should outlast the vehicle it is installed in... so why be cheap about it? Seriously, if you can't afford $100 for a 1/0 pure copper cable, you shouldn't be running a system that demands 250-300 amps of supply side current.

Sure. For $200 i would look at the ID CTX65CS or the CDT COM626 or the CDT CL61i. If you do opt to save up for a $300 set, you really open up the option for some really fine passive sets, but at least those ~$200 sets will give you some ideas and goals to realize. Also of note, these are more laid back sets. If you prefer brighter components I could make some suggestions for you. But if you go with sail panel or A-pillar type installations, these tweeters will really brighten up because of window and dashboard refraction.

Thanks! I can't say enough about this unit. It is the most feature rich DD that does not have a touch screen interface, and does not have some cheeseball look that I could find, and the price was great. I love it's simplicity. I wish it had some more processing options, but that is what external processors are for.

Nice, now I wish I could stream from the phone to the radio while driving. Oh yeah!!

You won't be able to power much of anything properly off an HU. However, Cadence does have some Zenith series components that are designed for HU power. While I have never heard them, and frankly never really looked at them very much, Cadence does make some seriously loud ass component sets. I have played with several of their older comp sets, and was actually pretty surprized. While I found most of them pretty bright, a little EQ tweaking and they managed to be decent overall... and like I said, they were loud. Woofersetc has some of the Zeniths, and they fall right within your price range. However, I suggest (if you want a decent front stage) that you save your pennys... maybe 2 or 3 bills, and buy yourself a decent set. I promise, you won't be unhappy if you save the money and take the time to do it right.

See post 4

I thought that seemed high, but it has been years since I had renter's insurance. But it seemed like I was paying about $10 a month at the most.

a 10 inch sub will not handle vocals. I highly suggest you scrap the 10 inch sub idea. Just buy some bottom end subs and replace the Blose in door speakers with a good component set. The components will handle your midbass and vocals. Subwoofers are just not designed to do that. As far as subs, I am an SQ guy so i will pretty much steer clear of that debate. I will however highly suggest you stay away from anything that has Elemental Designs on it anywhere, unless you like getting screwed. But FWIW, I would look into Exodus Audio's Shiva X2 or Tempest X2. XBL2 motors are teh sex.

Jerking off makes one go blind

darn i really hate i missed that i bet there was grate sentince structure n awesum spelluing i love two reed posts lyk that

I just replaced one yesterday in a Ford F150 pickup truck with dual tanks. I also see them a lot on European cars, and my GN also has one.

As long as it doesn't freeze it is safe.

Pretty car, but admittedly I don't like the ass end. It just looks unfinished.