Preview into my new stereo

[James Crivellone]

As some of you know Luke has been in the Seattle area working on quite a few cars, and I finally got him to get some work done on mine.

Here are the specs of the system

Alpine 7998 Headunit
Alpine Sirius, Aux, CD Changer
Two A/D/S PQ20 Amps
A/D/S 300IS rear speakers
A/D/S 320IS Front Tweeters
MB Quart Reference Midrange Fronts
12inch Exile Sub
Custom E30 Ported Box





Still need to make custom tweeter pods for the A/D/S tweeters (they are huge) and install a few other odds and ends, but it sounds awesome and is very clean looking overall.

[Motorsports]

Looks really nice.

[Eric Giles]

I don't care what Luke said about newer equipment being better than the 'old school' a/d/s/ stuff-the a/d/s/ equipment is 'classy' and sounds superb-and is obviously very reliable and built to last.

Great choice on the Alpine 7998 head unit-I almost went with one of those a few years ago, but they were just too hard to find used. Found a great deal on a 9835 and have been very happy with it in my '88 M3.

Great job on the install, Luke-it looks great!

[ZM Blue Devil]

I really like that. Great job.

[smonkbmw]

where does one find those rear speaker covers?

[MC Hammered]

That older ADS equipment is hella better than the new stuff they have out on the market now.

I still run my old equipment from the 90's as they don't make anything as good now.

[KenC]

where does one find those rear speaker covers?

They're a/d/s/ 300is plate speakers.

James, are you using anything for signal processing?

[James Crivellone]

They're a/d/s/ 300is plate speakers.

James, are you using anything for signal processing?

The 642CSI was not really setup for my application, so I am using the 320is/300is crossovers, as well as the crossovers within my deck... best I need.

[Gooch]

Lookin' good, James. You know my thoughts on a/d/s/. :up:

[StereoInstaller1]

where does one find those rear speaker covers?

Oh my fucking gawd...you don't want to know just how much of a raging pain in the ass ALL FUCKING DAY job it was to put those rear speakers in...anyway, those are not just regular old ADS 300i's. The mounting rings were sold seperately, in like 1984 through 1989, meant to allow you to mount those speakers in the walls of your house...these are fucking RARE, and were rare back in the day, too...remember, I was there!


So about all of your old school love: YOU GUYS ARE FULL OF SHIT!

Seriously.

Remeber, again, I was there. I started installing in 1980, when I was 17.

When James' stuff was new, I was already a journeyman installer, working on higher-end cars...I did TONS of ADS shit, and yeah it is good...and remember I just installed his stuff, and think of this...I was THE purist-high-end-holier-than-thou snob from hell back in those days.

So, that being said, Exile (and many others) kick the crap out of this stuff.

Cleaner, smoother, louder, better and more power, far better detail.

I will agree on 2 points: most of todays shit is just that, shit. All of you WalMart loving cheap ass motherfuckers made it what it is, welcome to China.

Second, this old ADS stuff is really well made. These particular examples are incredibly clean, and except for minor scratches, really nice. There is no doubt that todays made in china shit will not be usable in 20 years, it just is not durable enough.

Now, let me make something clear: If we pulled out these 2 amps and replaced them with Exile (not their cheap line, but the good shit, same as my car) this car would sound better. No fucking joke, boys: better. Cleaner, more dynamic AND louder. Features, too.

Don't get me wrong, this car sounds fucking excellent. I built this fucker for someone I care about, and did the best SQ work I could, given the constraints of keeping the mode to a minimum...this is likely the most historic 1986 ETA in the world, right?

Those ADS amps were about $800 each back in the day. Triple the power today is about $900, and won't be a noise battle, and has excellent crossovers and better adjustability.


Seriously. We learned something over the past 20 years.

Luke

Oh yeah, PS: Jeff, if you find a set of the trim rings James has, I still have a set of 300i speakers sitting...rare collectors stuff, oh yeah baby....and I will kill you in your sleep if you make me install those fuckers.

[rkettner]

^ that is someone that cares!

excellent stereo.

[Sam Cogley]

I'm still a fan of the pre-Harman buyout Infinity Kappa equipment.

[StereoInstaller1]

I'm still a fan of the pre-Harman buyout Infinity Kappa equipment.

back when Rich Coe ran the store? Absolutely awesome shit there, man. Made in the USA and all.


Still take my Exile stuff over it, though.

[dashboardmonkey]

Those port tubes look fucking hot!

Andy

[StereoInstaller1]

Those port tubes look fucking hot!

Andy

because I melted them in place, yO!