What have you done to your ICE?

F

ferd

Well-Known Member
Hi Guys,

I'm just curious what you guys have done with your ICE setups? There are a few categories here.

1. Completely Stock
2. Changed HU but not CD changer
3. Changed HU & CDC
4. Installed DVD

iPod installed?

I was looking back at when I changed my HU to the alpine and then went without a CDC and steering wheel controls. Felt rather helpless at that point... That's why I did the crazy thing and removed my HU and replaced it with a Mac Mini. Now I am thinking if I should put my CDC back and make my Mac Mini control it. :)

Currently I do not have time alignment, I'm not crazy enough yet to throw a Alpine H701 DSP and pipe a optical out from the Mac Mini ... but I may someday do that... :)

Would appreciate it if you guys could share some of your thoughts or setup.

Cheer!
 
Re: What have you done to your ICE?

The 701 will take care of everything you want inside the car. I just fitted mine, and gosh, it really does the biz. 31 band EQ, 8 ch time alignment, parametric eq, DTS/DD decoding etc.

If yr mac mini can give a good optical out signal that is compatible, then the 701 will do all the rest.

The 701 will give you better sound too, as it has better DACs inside, and gives you a healthy 4V preout for your amps.
 
Re: What have you done to your ICE?

Yeah, agree. Actually I wanted to go that route. But since my Mac Mini install was meant to be a demo car. I didn't want to go too high-end. Most people wouldn't appreciate such an install.

I just might do it in a few months time after I've done basic installs.

BTW, how does the install look like in your car now? Did you retain the BMW HU? Is there a remote control available for the 701?

701 must have set up back by about 1.3k?
 
Re: What have you done to your ICE?

Ideally, should change the HU, and some would even suggest adding a H701. But most aint willin to spend additional, so they do either or. In a "either or" scenario, i wud choose a H701 for its flexibility and user-friendliness vis-a-vis say even a alpine 9835. The thing to note is that the stock HU will still hinder performance so use a better LOC (hi-lo converter such as DAvid Navone) to squeeze wat ever little from the stock HU.

iceman is prob having a good time tuning the 31band para EQ.. not forgettin the crossover, the TA etc... more white hairs now i m sure haha...
 
Re: What have you done to your ICE?

First thing to be stripped - the original paper cone speakers, and second thing, original HU + cd changer.

I'm now using a very simple alpine HU (9833) until my IVA-D310 comes in. The 701 display is mounted in the space above the ashtray.

The best part of this is... the 701 processor is mounted in the boot. I save on cost of cables to amps, and only need to have one ainet, 701 display signal, and optical cable running to the front. The optical cable is to standby for my new HU... and I also ran a pair of good RCAs to the front, just in case I need to use it in the future.

White hair while tuning?? Let's just say that the first serious tuning session cost me 1/4 tank of petrol... just idling away :p and best part is that my tuner can tell him that its only 60% done.
 
Re: What have you done to your ICE?

Ferd.. with regards to your comment:

"But since my Mac Mini install was meant to be a demo car. I didn't want to go too high-end. Most people wouldn't appreciate such an install."

I beg to differ. Good ICE is, and always has been a basic requirement. You'll be able to raise even more eyebrows if you can demonstrate intgration of the mini mac, IN ADDITION to incorporate crispy clear time aligned sound, and even DTS 5.1 channel effects... your demo audience will be on their knees with tears in their eyes liao!

You know the thingy about how audiophiles scoff at all that PC jazz... imagine sound cards boasting hi fidelity music, and even speaker sets capable of 7.1 channels... many write it off as... "as long as its PC related, or MP3... forget about quality, its all just for fun only".

That's the reason why, especially since you're licked the most difficult part of integration, you should push further to cover the other part - quality ICE...
 
Re: What have you done to your ICE?

Hi Iceman,

Hmm, you got a point there... I have trouble looking for a spot to mount the 701 control panel. Where you have your 701, I have my aircon controls. So that was also a problem for me.

Say can the 701 be controlled via remote? Or purely knobs and button. If that's possible, then maybe I'll do the basic control mapping to the steering wheel and hide the 701 controller in the glove box.

Maybe one day we could catch up and you can give me pointers.
 
Re: What have you done to your ICE?

my fren didnt mount the control panel....it was plug and play...pretty cool.
 
Re: What have you done to your ICE?

so he controlled only the HU ? ... which means after configuring the 701 he unplugged the control panel and kept it? so will the 701 DSP power on by itself after that?
 
Re: What have you done to your ICE?

I cant really recall the specifics.. but i do know that after completing his tuning (at least for that particular attempt), he wud unplug the control panel and put it in the glove box. He just control the HU for listening...

I believe the 701 powers on when he powers on the HU...? er.... i think so.
 
Re: What have you done to your ICE?

alpine HU...but he doesnt drive a beemer... altho its a live concert inside..
 
Re: What have you done to your ICE?

just found out that the 701 can be used with selected HU but cannot be used without a controller or HU.

that could explain why your friend is able to use it without the controller...
 
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