Review..

Haven't been blogging for some time, suddenly just lost the interest to blog, or more like I've no inspiration to blog about anything, because lately I noticed that all of my post is mostly whining about my college life. See!! Here I am again, about to start whining all over again. But just a brief update of my college life, well, it hasn't change, it will get worst soon, finals is around the corner in November, and English Theme Study is really making me panic. Other then that?? I thank God I'm still alive... =)

So anyway, I still don't have any inspiration to blog about anything much, so I'm just going to review some stuff for my car, my finally "completed" sound system after so long.

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In Car Hi-Fi

After saving money for more then half a year, I finally have enough to complete my sound system for my car, actually I won't really say complete, just finally able to put in a proper amplifier and subwoofer. Earlier this year I bought a Alpine CDA-9853 head unit and Alpine Type X, SPX-177R front component speaker. The front comps was just runnning straight off the head unit, yes I know, is very depressing, but I didn't have the budget then to afford an amp.

So now, after half a year later, here is my current set up...

- Alpine CDA-9853 head unit
- Alpine Type-X, SPX-177R 6.25" component speaker
- Steg QmosII 105.4x; 4 channel; 105 Watts RMS amplifier
- JL Audio 12W3V3 12inch Subwoofer in custom 1 cubic feet sealed enclosure
- Phoenix Gold 4 gauge power cable (for amplifier)
- Stinger HPM 16 gauge speaker cable (for front comps)
- Stinger HPM 12 gauge speaker cable (for subwoofer)
- Custom DIY RCA interconnects; Canare GS-6
- Custom A-pillar mount for tweeter
- Custom fiber glass door panel kick box for mid woofers

This is my current set up, my Steg amp is wired so that 2 channel will be powering the front component speakers, and the other 2 channel is bridged to power my JL Audio subwoofer.

So how is it? Or is it worth the amount of money I've spent on it? (if you want to know please ask me, won't reveal here), Or is it worth it for suffering for so long, and have to be broke till next year for it you ask...my answer....YES, YES is so darn worth it. Honestly, this is probably the BEST THING I've ever bought in my entire life, totally no regrets at all, only regretted that I should have save up all my money instead of modding a little on performance earlier on.

When ONLY my amplifier was installed, I went into my car and listened to it first while the shop was still building my custom subwoofer enclosure, and the amount of difference then was simply AMAZING!! Even without even connecting my subwoofer, or even when they haven't do my custom A-pillar for my tweeter and custom kick box for my doors, the sound was already so amazing that I couldn't possibly describe it with words. Compared to when my speakers was just connected straight to the HU (head unit), it sounded so weak, so much details were missing and there were barely any power to produce any bass from my Type-X speakers. But with the Steg amp in, straight away the sound was totally different, everything instantly sounded so warm and smooth, Norah Jones voice became so much more crisp and refined, small little details emerge, even her breathing voice could be heard clearly!! and the bass was so much more powerful and tighter (this was even before the subwoofer was in)!

Already amazed, a short while later, they were finally done with my subwoofer and when they plugged it in, whoah, again, I was AMAZED!! I'm a person who used to REALLY HATE subwoofers, cause they just make the song sounds muddy and is actually annoying, but this subwoofer changed my view on subwoofers, for good!! It was really amazing!! The subwoofer can whack bass so amazingly accurate and solid, compared to all the other subs I hear which is so boomy. I was in awe, I was shock that a amplifier and a subwoofer can make SO MUCH difference to a car sound system.

Next was when they finally finished making my custom pillar and door panel a few days later, and I tell you this, making a custom mount for your tweeter (custom A-pillar) is probably the best, cheapest improvement you can do in car sound system. Even before proper tuning and time correction, the improvement was so obvious, the sound staging has been widen by so much!! Is like you're in a VIP seats right in the front row of a concert and the sound is coming from right infront of you, at eye level! And all the high frequency becomes even more refined and accurate, I could actually hear things from recording I've never noticed before in my life!! Effects added by sound engineers could be heard so clearly, every mistake from the vocalist voice or from instruments could be heard so clearly!! Simply amazing!! For the custom door panel, improvement was even tighter mid bass and also less vibration from the door panel, and it also looks quite cool.

Now even though my system is still currently in the running in stage, it is already so good that it is beyond what I expected and imagined. The word that I find best describe the sound now is "sweet", sweet and smooth. Every morning when I seat in my car, turn on the engine and then turn on my HU, the first sound that come out of my speakers and hit my ear never fail to amazed me. Especially my subwoofer, it takes at least 2 weeks to run in my subwoofer, so everyday when I listen to it, it never fail to make me smile, as everyday the bass produce by the sub is getting more and more tighter and accurate. At first it was directional, but now I could barely tell where it is coming from. That is what I call a good subwoofer!!

Another thing, my sound system actually help me to stop speeding already!! Now I would drive slowly, and just seat back and enjoy the music, good sound system really takes driving to a whole new level, I now enjoy being in my car more then ever! Can't wait for next Friday, to have a "final" tuning session with my tuner.


I don't usually do this, but I would really like to publicly thank Peter Chong, the owner of CV Audio for putting so much effort into tuning my sound system, so far he already spend at least 6 hours tuning my car already. For those who thinking where to do sound system installation for your car, well, I fully recommend CV Audio, it is located in Uptown (same row as TM Net/ Streamyx/ Telekom shop) not only because it's installation is extremely neat and tidy and professional, but Peter really put effort into making your system perfect before you drive off, leaving you with nothing less then a smile on your face and a satisfied feeling in your heart! Anything he can be contacted at 012-3376488.

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Here are a few pics my system taken from their original website..



Steg QmosII 105.4x amplifier


Alpine CDA-9853 head unit


Alpine Type-X, SPX-177R speakers


JL Audio 12W3V3 subwoofer