Center Channel and Return of the Skippman

[Skippman]

Ok Ok, so I've been gone for a while. I was considering selling out and getting a <gulp> Durango <gulp>. I descided against it primarily because it's time to buy a house.

But anyways.

I recently purchased an Alphine H-510 to compliment my IVA-C800. It has outputs for a center chanel on the Doulby Digital decoder. I was wondering if anyone has mounted a center channel in the Explorer yet and if so how and where.

 

[4Wheelin]

I personally have not done this but if my plans work out accordingly, I would like to ass a pod above the dash or try and flush mount a coaxil wherever it could fit. I am also thinking of getting a tv in my explorer soon but I was not too sure so I am hoping you can answer some of my questions; How do you like the IVA-C800?, Do you think it was worth the money?, and Was it hard to install?

 

[Skippman]

Q: How do I like it?

A: I love it!


Q: Was it worth the money?

A: Probably not unless your an audiophile or have a specific use in mind. (I personally thought it was worth it.)


Q: How hard was it to install?

A: Acutally it was easier than most other head units I've installed over the years. Wiring for the amps had to be moved to plug into the brain unit. (To the rear of the drivers side door in the kick pannel.) Had to wire up a double throw for the emergency brake so I can use it as a monitor while driving. It has 2 aux inputs. I use one for the computer and the second one for the Playstation. One thing of note, since I've installed the DSP (Alphine H-510) the cool animated spectrum analaysis displays have been disabled. Oh well, I guess a 15 band parametric EQ w/ Time correction and Doulby Digital is more important than a screen saver.

 

[TheMattDaddy]

When are we going to get to see pics of your system??

 

[4Wheelin]

Thats cool, could i just pull out the HU I have now and then just plug this one into its place? and When you got it did you have to buy a surround sound processor or could you just get the deck and have it play through the speakers without a problem?

 

[Skippman]

Q: When can we see pic's.

A: Working on the pics. Waiting till the center console is done and the fiber glass is finished.


Q: Can I just remove the old HU and swap the new one?

A: No. The IVA-C800, like all multimedia HU's is a complex piece of equipment. You have the HU itself and the "brain" which is a seperate piece about the size of a notebook computer. The brain has a cable that runs to the HU. Your acutal line-level outputs are on the brain so you will have to re-wire the speakers to the brain.

If the IVA-C800 is the first piece you are buying for a growing system fantastic! If this is the ONLY piece you are buying for a system, I have to tell you no. Don't thow your money away. The IVA is designed to be a piece in a complex system. While it sports 45x4 outputs on the Line-Levels it was designed to run with amps (Note the 4Volt RCA outputs.) It's a system building piece. It sports built in cross-overs for the sub, 16bit DAC and a host of other Hi-Performance options. Your first upgrades should be amps and speakers. A HU like this belongs in a "system".

Sorry, had to preach. Forgive me JT

 

[4Wheelin]

I already have a Sony amp running my coaxils and components, and an 800a2 running 3 12in HX2's and inline I have a 7 band Kenwood EQ. Right now I have the Kenwood KDC-7007 "masking face" deck and its getting kind of old and a tv was in mind. This would be like the finishing touch after a 600a4 for the mids. For right now I would hook my playstation up to it but I would get a Playstation 2 soon after because it can play DVD's too. Do you think it would be worth it with this setup? and does it play cd's and am/fm radio too?

 

[Skippman]

Sounds good to me. I would loose the 7 band EQ when you hook it up to the IVA. Your going to be pumping a 4volt high quality output through a EQ? I wouldn't do it.

 

[rock883]

About the center channel. I saw one (forgot who made it , maybe MB Quart or Alpine) that went up on the rear view mirror and it seemed to be a very nice little speaker. You might check on ebay, that is where I saw that one.

 

[hakmazter]

If your vehicle is a 95+, you can pull out the factory deck, undo the 2) 7mm and pull off the plate that holds the deck, climate controls and upper vents. Now with it all open, you can remove the spacer part between the back wall and the front vents. After removal, cut a 3" by 1/2" groove in the top and bottom and slide a 3.5" speaker in the hole and twist it vertically into the slots so it is facing outwards. Now just reinstall the vent, connect spk wires, put on shroud, reinstall deck and the speaker is behind the air ducts. Totally stealth and it works.

Mike Mazza