Recommendation for an Installer In So Cal?

[fnelson9]

This is my first post but I've been lurking for a while and I've learned alot from all of you - thanks!

I would like to upgrade my speakers and amps BUT I have DSP. Obviously, I'd like to give this job to an installer who has experience integrating upgrades into a system with DSP. Any recommendations? I'm in the Pasadena area but I'd obviously be willing to travel for an installer I could trust.

TIA

[inlacal]

Originally Posted by fnelson9

This is my first post but I've been lurking for a while and I've learned alot from all of you - thanks!

I would like to upgrade my speakers and amps BUT I have DSP. Obviously, I'd like to give this job to an installer who has experience integrating upgrades into a system with DSP. Any recommendations? I'm in the Pasadena area but I'd obviously be willing to travel for an installer I could trust.

TIA

Fnelson9: Call Alarm Connection in North Hollywood. 818.508.8000. Ask for Roger. He has owned and driven BMW's for the last 20 years. He currently owns an e30 325i and an e39 528it.

I've trusted him with all of my BMW's: http://www.inlacal.com

Two most important points: He won't hack your car and he's VERY reasonable. He's performed the TV/DVD integration on my 2004 X5 and the bluetooth retrofit on my M5.

He's very knowledgeable.

Chris

[fnelson9]

Outstanding!

Thanks Chris!

I'd like to know more about the TV/DVD integration on your X5. I'm actually planning on doing that first but I've still got to decide who's kit to buy. I want to make sure I get stereo when I play DVD's and I'd also like to feed the video signal to headrest monitors (and perhaps a video switch to allow a portable dvd player to plug into the headrest monitors on occasion).

Frank

[aus]

Check out Automotive Entertainment in Pasadena. They do some VERY high end work. My buddy put $25k in to an M3. It had 3 McIntosh amps- the huge ones with transformers on top, Alpine F1 speakers, Alpine F1 sound processor, McIntosh subs mounted infinite baffle, and Alpine DVD/Nav/Screen.

The install was amazing and the sound was awesome. They also did my install in my M3 with custom kick panels and two subs infinite baffle.

http://www.sounddomain.com/ride/193485/2

Ask for Zack or Mike.

[fnelson9]

Just got off the phone w/Mike. He sounds like he knows what he's talking about and has the added advantage of being only a mile away from my house! Thanks Aus!

[aus]

Mike's the owner and main installer. Zack is the sales guy and ears who does the tuning.

Tell them you know Austin. They carry mainly high end to ultra high end stuff. Just an FYI.

[aus]

Any update? Would love to see the results of any install.

[fnelson9]

The question on the table at the moment is whether I want to install the amps before the DSP crossovers (which would give me a cleaner signal but would require opening the DSP amp and soldering connections) or after the crossovers (won't void the warranty on the DSP amp but the signal I'll get will be a processed signal)

I'll definitely post the final design as well as progress reports for the install.

[asawadude]

This thread might get better play in the Stereo section. There's a couple of audio/video vendors like el_duderino who chime in on your questions.

Jeff or Drex - can you give this thread a shove?

[aus]

Here's some infor on the signal from the DSP amp and head unit.

http://www.janixworld.com/x5/Stereo/DSP.html

I just used a single quality LOC from the head. I didn't open the amp at all. We just tapped into the signal before the amp. The main problem is with the front/rear signal with a DSP set-up. There's only 2 channels in a DSP stereo. This makes fader control a problem. We ended up tapping into the rear channles from the "head unit (which is really in the tire well)" to the aftermarket amp. This gave me fader control with the "Fader" controls. I had a pretty complete post on bimmerforums.com, but that site is overloaded and the Search function is never enabled. If you get it working, search for aus in the stereo section.