Nosj,
Quite a resume buddy, very impressed, job and installs!
I have only heard one system that had the dynamics of a horn and that is listed below but the cost was insane, retail was $20k, of course I did not pay retail, my cost was around $12-13k, just for the gear.
You were into the higher end before I was, not until 96 did I dabble there though I had nice sounding systems since the early 70s' and did my first install in 1968 in my mothers pristine 57 Bonneville.
I have used audio control, Zapco, ID, Arc Audio, Dynaudio, Morel, McIntosh and many other brands, ..this will be my first digital processor as I preferred analog before. ID horns a few times, dual 7" mids, single per side X69 ID is an amazing driver for horn installs, Eric is working on an even higher output design for all his new line, EricStevensAudio.
I have had $2500 HUs and my favorite all time for SQ and tuning was the Eclipse 8443 and 8053, I had a bunch of them I collected over the years as put them in everything I owned, could buy them dirt cheap used....
This was the biggest, baddest system I have ever done or will do, Rainbow References, ID DAC with 20 volt balanced out, 118db SN and Dynamic Range, custom modded processors, amps, custom built midbasses with 300 per driver, active mids and tweets with 200/100 watts so 900 per side up front, two of the first ID Max subs, custom assembled for me. Two months before this build I beat a prior world champion with an all Dynaudio, Zapco and McIntosh setup, outboard DAC again as well. He build a new truck in his big name shop and came out to get even but did not bring his pro football player customers as I rather embarrassed him in front of them the last time, I beat him again in my build in my back yard, parked the truck outside, running a business and full time Navy job.....he quite after that, he was a prick to me, why I did what I did
Harmon used some of my materials in some demo cars they built, I had a good chat with the head car audio engineer about the 07 Tundra LTD I had, and loved, all it needed was some real bass and an amp for the speakers, it had the best sound stage I have ever heard in a stock vehicle, amazing really, good enough to compete with even with stock drivers! They had a set and not big budget and spent a good deal of it on placement and tuning and the best speakers they could afford. It just had a tiny amp and sub so that is all it needed.
I am using D class amps for the first time, tested many in the past, did not like them, not even on subs. The Arc KS H class amps are very good for the money, power and sound and the just came out with their latest D class so switching to them for all three systems, truck, car, trailer. I am going to use the PPI 88R in the ST, had the Audison Bit 10, sold it last week, the 88R should do all I need, I hope
I bought one for the truck but my buddy Jason said the Pioneer AVH 4000 NEX will not really need it, he has done a few installs with it and very impressed and he does know high end audio quite well so going to give it a try in the truck but have the 88R just in case. If the 88R does not do the job well enough in either app I will get two Bit 10's.
The trailer has a limited space for a BR player, amps, etc...so it has a Harmon Kardon BR receiver, I wanted to use my Oppo 83 SE, incredible sounding, and tube amp.....not a good match...to rough a ride, etc.....I have KEF line array speakers beside the 50" smart TV and an Arc Black Line 12 under the stairs with an Arc 1100.5 amp, gets it on really well!
In our travels we will demo all three rigs, truck, trailer and ST
As for deadening, the truck has 150 sq ft of mat, around 10 yards of Ensolite and a couple of sq yards of acoustic foam, 100 hours labor, like driving a limo now
ST, getting one of my effective but very low weight deadening jobs, I use aluminum channels bonded to door skins and rear qtr panels so much less mat is needed. Alumalite fillers for access holes, hatch holes, as it fits, if not then aluminum sheet metal covered with just enough mat to get them wehre needed. Acoustical foam where ever it fits including up under and inside the dash, under the seats, pillars, etc, and Ensolite on just about everything you cannot see as well. I should be able to keep the deadening weight to under 20 lbs and the system will be very light as well.
I have to go make some Vette parts, I still dabble a bit when asked, have a great day
Rick
