Got some new gear. The best part is the design, and layout.

[Rock Dog]

Well, I purchased some new audio gear. The unit has CD, DTS Audio, DVD-Audio (including a full 5.1 discrete channels of audio) and XM Sat Radio. Plus a full Blue Tooth setup.

The best part about the new gear is the packaging and design/layout. I think it's awesome. Remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Not everyone will like the layout, but too each his own. What do you think?


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The Gray (Quartz) interior pictures from their gallery are the better ones IMHO. I decided to get the black (Ebony) interior. The car is the Satin Silver Metallic outside.

I've only had it for a week, so I'm still adjusting and playing around with the audio system. But so far. 8O 8O 8O I've heard the Mark Levinson option in the Lexus LS430. It's a wonderfull system, a 2 channel auto marvel. But it's part of a $6,000+ option package if I'm not mistaken. And I'm not sure that it's much better than this, except in the power output area. But it does not support DTS/DVD-Audio (they claim THIS is the 1st production vehicle to have such wonderment ) I have not heard the LINN system in any of the Aston Martins. (I WISH!!!) I've read reviews, I can only imagine.

This is without a doubt the best sounding (even 2 channel) OEM system I have ever heard. I was very happy just for the simple fact that they dumped BOSE for this car. It's Panasonic components designed in conjunction with a 5 time Grammy award winning Producer/Engineer named Elliot Scheiner. I had heard the name before, but to be honest, I wasn't really familiar with him. I guess he told Panasonic what he wanted, and worked with the interior folks on the best possible placement of the drivers. I'm still trying to get the inside skinny on the whole system.

I've already got 1,000+ miles on it. Mostly because I take it out almost every night after the kids go to bed, grab a couple of DVDs, (actually it swallows 6, in dash 8) ) and crusie around town just listening, and enjoying.




-Thomas-

The easiest way to find something lost around the house, is to buy a replacement.

Hey You! Make sure you stop by the HTguide Off-Topic section. It's FUN!!!

[Sonnie Parker]

Sounds like a nice system but the pics aren't showing up.

I love my XM Radio.

Careful watching those flicks while driving. :P






SONNIE

Cedar Creek Cinema

DVD Collection

BFD Comprehensive Setup Guide

[David Meek]

Dawg, I can't see the images either fella. New wheels eh? Cool. The system "sounds" nice.




David - HTGuide flunky
Our "Theater"
Our DVDs on DVD Tracker

[Rock Dog]

Sorry fella's. I don't know what the heck happened. Can you see them now?




-Thomas-

The easiest way to find something lost around the house, is to buy a replacement.

Hey You! Make sure you stop by the HTguide Off-Topic section. It's FUN!!!

[Chris D]

I can see 'em fine... looks good! Wow, you really get stuff like DVD-A and bluetooth as OEM parts? Cool, man. I've never been an Acura guy (okay, well maybe for the NSX) but it looks like you've got a real winner there. Good for you! :banana:




CHRIS
Luke: "Hey, I'm not such a bad pilot myself, you know"

[Chris D]

Thomas- Curious... where is the center channel located on the 5.1 channels? Is it in front of you, the driver, or the center of the car? How does that work out for you in creating a sound stage?




CHRIS
Luke: "Hey, I'm not such a bad pilot myself, you know"

[David Meek]

Wow. 8O Eees preeety fine looking Thomas, congratulations.




David - HTGuide flunky
Our "Theater"
Our DVDs on DVD Tracker

[Eduardo]

Congratulations!!!!!!

Thats a goegous car. I've always like the Acura. Very fast cars. :twisted:

Chris - it looks like the center channel is in the top center of the dash. At least thats what it looked like in the picture. :huh:




http://home.nc.rr.com/ejimenez

[Aeromos]

Very nice car!! I wouldn't mind owning an Acura. I've always liked their vehicles.




Aeromos
Enjoy life, it's too short to waste!!
My Collection

[Bruce]

I wonder if this uses the same digital amplifier technology (TI chips) as the new Panasonic SA XR-45 HT receivers ?

User commentary says the sound quality is really top notch.




Bruce
____________________________________________

[Rock Dog]

I wonder if this uses the same digital amplifier technology (TI chips) as the new Panasonic SA XR-45 HT receivers ?

User commentary says the sound quality is really top notch.

Well, first of all I compared it to other car audio, not home audio. So I'm not sure it would use said chipset. Let's not get too crazy here. It's still an OEM car stereo. And not a Lexicon, Parasound or ROTEL rig driving B&Ws.

In automotive applications they have a lot of things to worry about, not the least of which is cost. Consider the fact the rear 6X9s are full range drivers. Now they most likely have been tuned so that they have a limited freq. response. Especially since they have an 8" sub between them. I doubt they kick out any real bass, or really high "highs." Never the less, it sounds fantastic.

Although the separation is great (DVD-A and DTS-Audio) it does not compare to home theater, due to the fact that the cabin is not 25' by 18' like my family room.

Yes, the center channel is right up in the top of the dash. It's rather far forward (closer to the driver) than you’d expect. There are 2 tweeters up there pushed out to the corners (the previous 2- channel model had it's tweeters in a pod on the A-pillar right behind the side view mirror bracket. I did not like this design because it seemed like the tweeters were firing across the front of the driver and passenger. This tweeter location is much better even if they are reflected off the windshield. You can hear them a lot better, and they are more discernible than the previous car's.

Then there or 6.5" mid-bass' in the doors. The only thing I would improve so far is the power output. It's a little lacking, 225 or 250 watts, something like that. Mainly with DVD-As (I wonder why they seem to be mixed much lower.) It goes up to 40 (relative of course) but I will say this. It goes to 40 without ANY distortion AT ALL. It's as clean at 40 as it is at 20.

I've been listening to:
Tipper-Surrounded HIGHLY RECOMMENDED DISC. It is a little weird music and content wise, at one point I think he actually used a cork coming out of a wine bottle for an effect musically. But this is probably the best 5.1, discrete mix I’ve heard yet. If you're a 5.1 music fan at all, buy this disc.
Queen-Night at the Opera, and some of the Silverline stuff. So Far!

I'm very happy with it. I've never heard such a great sounding OEM unit. Let alone the DVD-A and DTS audio ability.

The DTS discs I've been listening to have been just as good (discrete channel wise.) The tweeters up front are rather impressive for what must be drivers based a lot on cost, rather than on all out performance.

I would suggest (just for fun) if you get a chance to grab a DVD-A or two, find your local Acura dealer and ask for a test drive. Who cares if you're really not going to buy the car. Just plug in your disk and drive around for 10 minutes or so. It's really cool hearing what I've been listening to at home for over a year now.

PLUS this new model is much quieter than the previous version. The new windshield is some nutty polymer on glass on polymer stack that reduced the interior noise 10db all by itself.

My car (due to the Navigation unit) has well over 250 voice commands. It's really cool, for the techie, toy geek in a lot of us, to press the button on the steering wheel and say. "DISC 5, TRACK 6 and in a matter of seconds there it is.

My car (due to the Navigation unit) has well over 250 voice commands. It's really cool, for the techie, toy geek in a lot of us, to press the button on the steering wheel and say. "DISC 5, TRACK 6 and in a matter of seconds there it is. TFC!!!

The adjustments for the audio system are your typical Bass, Treble, Fade and Balance. Plus a Center and Subwoofer Volume control.

The front drivers are virtually seamless. There could be a little more separation. But consider the amount of area up there. All in all, so far, after about 2 weeks, it's a sound system that just keeps getting better.

When the details start to leak out regarding exactly what Acura and Elliot Scheiner used for this system, I'll get some more information on the type of components and such.

In the meantime, I've put over 1,000 miles on in in just over 2 weeks. As night, after the kids go to bed, I take it out for 30 minutes or so and just listen to the audio system, including the XM radio portion. Which by the way is no slouch itself.




-Thomas-

The easiest way to find something lost around the house, is to buy a replacement.

Hey You! Make sure you stop by the HTguide Off-Topic section. It's FUN!!!

[Rock Dog]

Congratulations!!!!!!

Thats a goegous car. I've always like the Acura. Very fast cars. :twisted:

Euduardo. I had the 2001 CL-S prior to this. And that car was fast. I lost very little traffic light jumps, or 2 lane merges in that car. It would beat just about anyhting out there in it's class, and some out of it's class. Let's not get crazy though, it was not match for a Vette or an M3 or M5. But I did enjoy the looks on some peoples faces with it. Sure you can buy a Subaru WRX STi and smoke this car. But The Sti will leave the above 35 crowd a little road weary after a long drive.

Thia car is even better in that regard. @ reasons.

1) It's a real sleeper. NO ONE expects a 4 door sedan to pull away like this thing does.

2) The last car was 260 HP rated. This one is 270. But I think Acura is sand-bagging on that number. I've reached break-in miles and started to run it a bit. And it is a lot faster than my CL-S, seat of the pants test equipment.

I wonder what the 6 speed manual is going to be like when it comes out in a couple of months or so. Maybe I should have waited.

but then again, you can't hold a bottle of water and shift at the same time. And a stick in stop and go traffic just plain old SUCKS! IMO.




-Thomas-

The easiest way to find something lost around the house, is to buy a replacement.

Hey You! Make sure you stop by the HTguide Off-Topic section. It's FUN!!!

[Eduardo]

Thomas,


Only a half hour a day. I would move into to car. Your car sounds awesom. To bad the GPS screen doesn't display video. Now that would be realy cool.




http://home.nc.rr.com/ejimenez

[Rock Dog]

Thomas,


Only a half hour a day. I would move into to car. Your car sounds awesom. To bad the GPS screen doesn't display video. Now that would be realy cool.

All I need is an RGB convertor, and a player and I'm ready to do.

The only problem... I had a friend who did it in the 03 TL, as well as 2 screens in the headrests. One day he blew into town (from Toronto) we're out driving around, and he uses the remote to load a DVD from the unit in the trunk. IT'S PORN! do you have any idea how dangerous and distracting it was flying down the freeway, while some 3rd leg freak is pulverizing this little blond a few inches from my face?


Thank goodness it was doytime, and he had really dark tins on the windows.




-Thomas-

The easiest way to find something lost around the house, is to buy a replacement.

Hey You! Make sure you stop by the HTguide Off-Topic section. It's FUN!!!

[Eduardo]

Hey the porn might be tied to the Alarm System. I don't know any person that wouldn't look outside if they heard some porn action. :twisted:




http://home.nc.rr.com/ejimenez