My Audio Project

[Xenon]

Hey Everyone!

As I posted earlier (http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=15910) 2007 is going to be the year that I do all my audio:

Phase 1 - Deck, Sirius Satellite Radio & iPod Hook Up [COMPLETE]
Phase 2 - Steering Wheel Control Restoration, Amplifier & Subwoofer [In Progress, Completion July 2007]
Phase 3 - Full Speaker Swap, Final Details [Pending, Completion December 2007]

TOTAL FUNDS SPENT ON ALL PHASES THUS FAR: $414.18

I just thought I would post up my progress here, and use my other thread (http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=15910) for advise seeking. Keeping things clean.

[Xenon]

Phase 1 - Deck, Sirius Satellite Radio & iPod Hookup
Complete

Core Components
Deck: Alpine CDA-9857 (http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=CDA-9857) Retail Cost: $529.99 CDN
Satellite Radio: Sirius SIRALP2C Connect for Alpine (http://www.siriuscanada.ca/ProductsAlpine-e.htm) Retail Cost: $119.99 CDN
iPod Hook Up: Alpine KCE-422i (http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product_acc.php?model=KCE-422i) Retail Cost: $49.00 CDN

Additional Components
Dash Kit: Metra Dash Kit for Mazda3 Retail Cost: $16.00 CDN

Total Actual Funds Spent on Phase: $350.00 CDN

Comments
After much debate, I decided to go with an Alpine Deck over a Pioneer one. Thank you to all members who gave me their opinion in choosing the right deck. My alpine deck is amazing. The sound quality is significantly improved over the stock deck. It also has a lot of features that help you customize the sound to your liking, and the user interface is very easy to use and straight forward.

One of the main purposes to get a deck is to stop FM Modulating any external audio sources I had. Satellite radio is one of them. The SIRALP2C Connect was the matching Sirius Radio unit for my deck. The sound quality vs. FM Modulation is instantly noticable. The bass is richer and deeper, and the high treble sounds are much more pronounced with a huge improvement in clarity. The Sirius Module is hidden under the centre dash panel, behind the two middle vents. In the pictures below you can see that the module is totally hidden. I elected to have the Sirius antenna mounted in the centre of the dash. Switching the subscription from my FM Modulated Radio to the new SIRALP2C was easy. One 5 minute phone call and it was done, with no additional fee.

The iPod hookup was again made to end the FM Modulation. Although my Kensington FM Modulator did do a decent job in FM modulation, with minimal static, it still does not match with a direct wire into the deck. Like the satellite radio, the music had a much larger range, both up and down the scale. The "tactile encoder" (read: turn knob) on the deck acts just like your iPod click wheel, allowing a familiar user interface to find your music easily.

Of course the deck wouldn't go in to our standard Mazda3 dash, so a dash kit was required. The inexpensive Metra kit is OK. The cubby hole that replaces the stock LCD shipped a little deformed, but is still totally useable and was installed. The deck mounting brackets required a little bit of modification, to get the deck to stick out enough to have easy access to all the control buttons. However, the finished product looks good. The Metra Kit converts the LCD into storage space, and the opening under the deck can also be used for storage.

PICTURES
Entire Dash Shot (http://www.shadowmg.com/lawrence/DSCF0866.JPG)
Deck Shot, Showing Sirius Hookup (http://www.shadowmg.com/lawrence/DSCF0862.JPG)
Deck Shot, Showing iPod Hookup (http://www.shadowmg.com/lawrence/DSCF0863.JPG)
Unfortunately the install was done late at night, after sunset. I wasn't able to take any pictures during the install.

[Xenon]

Phase 2 - Steering Wheel Controls Restoration, Amplifier & Subwoofer
In Progress, Completion July 2007

Core Components
Steering Wheel Controls: PAC Module for Alpine Headunits (SWI-JACK) (http://www.pac-audio.com/products/productsCatagory.asp?mmSearch=Steering%20Wheel%20I nterface) Retail Price: $120.00
Amplifier: [None Chosen Yet]
Subwoofer: [None Chosen Yet]

Additional Components
[None Chosen Yet]

Total Actual Funds Spent on Phase Thus Far: $64.18 CDN

Comments
I finally got around to purchasing the PAC module for my headunit. The cheapest place seemed to be eBay where I was able to get it for a decent price, including shipping. I waited on this for Phase 2 since PAC was coming out with a new revision, which wasn't released until February 3rd. It wasn't until the 24th, was I able to find it on eBay. I am currently waiting for it to arrive in the mail, so I can install it.

PICTURES
[None]

[Xenon]

Phase 3 - Full Speaker Swap, Final Details
Pending, Completion December 2007

Core Components
Front Speakers: [None Chosen Yet]
Back Speakers: [None Chosen Yet]

Additional Components
[None Chosen Yet]

Total Actual Funds Spent on Phase Thus Far: $0.00 CDN

Comments
[None]

PICTURES
[None]

[BLKOUT]

What is "FM Modulating"?

[wardgroup]

i have always wanted to see what it looks like with the mounting kit for the radio....

very nice

[EvilEric]

What is "FM Modulating"?

He probably had a FM transmitter.

[Xenon]

What is "FM Modulating"?

Usually done so that you don't have the hassles of hard-wiring something in, FM Modulating takes the Audio signal (from a source like the iPod headphone jack, dock connector or satellite radio receiver) and broadcasts it on a user-set FM Radio Channel. This way all you have to do is tune your radio to the proper channel, and you can hear whatever is broadcast from your device.

The main disadvantage to this is loss of sound quality. FM radio, although stereo, cannot produce the distinct, clear sound as well as a hardwire solution. It is due to the nature of FM Transmission.

Because of the loss of quality, one of the main goals of Phase 1 was to eliminate any FM Modulation, to have the highest quality sound available.

[azn_outlaw]

sweet deck.....

skip the speakers, add 3 12's and shatter the windows :P

[FLIPDADY]

Nice set-up Law. Looking into audio after all the exterior mods are done.

[mit-gee-mui]

Looking good! =)

I've always loved how you're so organized, with the bolded subtitles and all.
And the phases - proceeding in an orderly fashion.

Can't wait to see everything when it's finished!