[Ishlesh]

I am planning to upgrade my current ICE setup in Safari 2.2 EX. The current setup (company fitted) is:
HU: Blaupunkt Monte Carlo MP3
Speakers: Unbranded (both on front & rear Doors) + Tweeters

Reason for Change: Bass too bloomy on mid to high volumes (15+)

The set-up I have opted is:

Article Make Cost

• Head Unit Pioneer - 6950 2,000.0 (Replacement Cost)
• Amplifier JBL - GT5-A604 7,200.0
• Front Components JBL - GT5-650C 4,500.0
• Rear Door 6" NIL
• Rear Ovals JBL - GT5-963 3,500.0
• Sub-woofer JBL - GT5-12 4,500.0
• Wiring 1,000.0
• Total22,700.0

Please advise if this seems suitable.

• Amp will be available by next week (Checked with Sahil Intl).
• Front Comps and Subwoofer - to be driven by Amp
• Rear Oval to be driven by HU.

Advise if I really need to change HU?



Ishlesh

[tsk1979]

Nope, you don't need to change the HU.
No need to get rear ovals too. Change front soundstage, since thats the most important
1. Power front compo + Sub via amp
2. Let HU power rear door 6" loudspeaker.
If you don't like the sound you can go in for rear ovals.

[Ishlesh]

Thank you so much TSK.

Also would request advise from Sam Kapasi - as I have been following his thread on GT5 Series - which actually prompted me to go and study this option.

Ishlesh

[Ishlesh]

Finally JBLfied my Safari, on Sunday Dec 23, 2007

Dealer Elegant, Lajpat Nagar - ND

• Head Unit Pioneer - 6950 1,000.0 (Replacement Cost - for entire Blau OEM)
• Amplifier JBL - GT5-A604 7,000.0
• Front Components JBL - GT5-650C 4,500.0
• Rear Ovals JBL - GT5-963 3,500.0
• Wiring 1,000.0
• TOTAL 17000/-

Good - Clear, Warm sound. Enough Bass from Ovals-in-Box, no Sub required (Unless you want others to hear it).

JBL GT5 Series - Real Value for Money.

Regards,

Ishlesh

[sen2009]

Hi Guys,
I am getting my Dicor in a months time. I am planning to upgrade the stock ICE.
As such I have decided on a budget of around 30-35K for this.
From various reading in the forum, I understand (or I feel so) that I need the following stuff -

1. Head Unit
2. Three Piece Component Speakers (two Sets) for Front
3. Two Co-axial Speakers for Rear
4. One Subwoofer or Bass Tube
5. Total 9 channels of amplifiers i.e. two 4-channel and one 2 -channel amplifier
6. RCA Cables - 9 sets
7. Cross Over Cables
8. Other cables and mounting stuff


I shall highly appreciate help on the following queries -

1. I have been told by showroom people that the stock Head Unit is Alpine and it is one of the best. Is this true? If not, what HU can I get for say 3-4K plus whatever buy back value this stock HU may fetch. As such I would like to have an option of putting in a pen drive, but I can live with DVDs as well.

2. What are the good (medium good, not audiophile good) options for Component speakers?

3. Can i continue to use the stock speakers for my co-axial needs for rear speakers? or are they too bad?

4. What is a bass tube and what are its advantages or disadvantages over sub woofer? I think bass tubes take up less space. Are they greatly costlier than similar performing sub woofers? Please suggest options on both Subwoofers and Basstubes.

5. I was told my an accessory shop owner that a JBL 4-ch amp will cost about 4500/-. using simple arithmetic, my amplifier budget comes to about 10k (1K per channel.). Whatr are the options can I look at regarding this?

6. I think i shall have to buy the cables and installation material for the place I get it installed. My knowledge about these are very very less and I would rather trust a professional.
Please suggest me a good place to do the install in Mumbai. I think 50% of the performance of the ICE depends on the quality of install, so I would rather spend more money on install than on components.

I understand the queries are very diverse and broad based. However, I being a complete novice in this field have few other places to turn to for advice. Thanks to all in advance.

PS: I am ok to overspend a little. :-)

[Nandan]

Alpine Unit is a Good One. Just chk for the no of preouts. It is 2 i think.

1 Can be used for the front Compos and the other for the SUB.

Decent 3 way compos start around 15 K and will be difficult to include in ypur setup considering the budget.

Try for a good 4ch amp so that you can bridge 2 channels for the Sub.

Ideal Break Up of 35 K should be

2 Way Compos 12 K ( Rainbows, alpine type R, JBL power series etc should be in this range)

Sub + Enclosure 8 K (GZ, Alpine)
Amp 4 Ch - 14K
Wiring and Installation - 3K

You can use the stock speakers for the rear stage.

audition different setups before you decide.

Nandan

[anshuman77]

Hey Sen,

So what did you finally do?

I recently got my Safari and am looking to upgrade too

[ThE Godfather]

Me too getting a Dicor, want to know, can we replace the stock HU with touch screen or something within the dash?

[deepakbawa]

Hi guys
I have a Tata Safari 2.2VTT (may, 2008) comes with a basic Alpine HU
(something like this Alpine Electronics of Asia Pacific Co., Ltd.)

& with two front speakers.

Now I want to upgrade my speakers. My only requirement is tight & deep base at high volume.Should I go for front Compos+ Amp & a Sub on rear. or Should I go for a Co-axials for rear in a Box with Amp.

My budget is around 10-12K.

Yesterday I heard Kenwood KFC-HQ718 7" X 9" 320W & Blaupunkt Velocity Compos for front.I liked Velocity more but they were producing crackling sound at high volume while Kenwood were still good at high volume but not up to my satisfaction.
Kenwood price = Rs. 6800 per pair
Blaupunkt price= Rs. 5600 per pair.

Moreover, while searching the thread what ICE & what price, I came to know JBL compos are good. Agin got confused

Now, please tell me what should I do for my taste (tight & deep base)

Option 1. Front Compos (JBL/Velocity) with amp like megavox (price 5500)
Option 2. Rear Heavy Co-axials (Kenwood KFC-HQ718) with Amp
Option 3. Anyone of above options with a Sub or Basstube (JBL or Blaupunkt)
Option 4. None of these (then suggest your option)

Please guide me. Thanks a lot in advance.

[DerAlte]

1. Did you hear the speaker through an amp or directly connected to HU? If directly, the crackling sound was from HU amp distortion, and not due to speaker. Go for whichever component you like the sound of

2. Oh no, don't put the 6x9 (I don't think they are 7x9) speakers in boxes at the rear. If at all, think of putting them on the rear door (5th door). Also, the price of the Kenwood 6x9 is too high; comparatively JBL 6x9 is around 4-4.5K! Don't go by the dealers' nice language of "heavy" and all that

3. You definitely need an amp and a sub. The Megavox you have written about is quite likely made in Delhi, Lajpatrai Market - DON'T.
Perhaps a decent 4 channel (about 6K) like a Blaupunkt GT4 Mk2, JBL A604 or Kenwood 8404? Use 2 channels to power the front components, and the other 2 bridged for a sub (box or tube)

4. For all the above your budget would be about 15K, another 4K at least for the 6x9 - PLUS wiring, mounting materials (MDF etc.) and labor

5. You should also consider putting coaxes in the rear (middle) doors, otherwise your family will complain of hearing only loud bass, and not music

[deepakbawa]

Hey thanks a lot DerAlte !!

1. i will surely go for compos at the front. (the speakers I heard was directly through HU). i got your point of distortion at high volume.Please guide me good compos for the front. I heard JBL compos are good. Can you tell me any model no. of JBL compos or tell me other better options in the same price range of JBL.Are Blaupunkt Velocity are better than JBL compos?

2. You are correct in mentioning 'heavy' word by the dealer. actually it was 7" x 10". Still i did not like the sound that much.Are these three amps you told are in range of 6K?

3. Right now I am thinking to shift Alpine basic speaker (company fitted) to shift to rear doors & put a bass tube/ sub on the rear & compos in the front.later on I will change those alpines with JBL 6 X 9.

Now tell me for Deep & Clean, tight bass (does not like wuff wuff) JBL bass tube 12" would be a good option or some other woofer with MDF box.Tell me the difference in both & which model I should go for.

Moreover, I want to tell you are helping me a lot. Thnaks a ton !

[DerAlte]

1. Please don't say "I heard XYZ compos are good" - you should say "I heard XYZ compos myself and they were good" only after hearing, otherwise you will be disappointed after hearing them in your vehicle. Blaupunkt Velocity are not better or worse than JBL GTO (not GT5) - they just have a slightly different sound signature

2. Yes, the prices of those amps are in that range

3. Shift the Alpine speakers to the rear (middle) doors

4. "Deep & Clean, tight bass" - go for a sub in a sealed box (Blau, JBL, RF, Polk etc.), though some pre-built ported box subs like Infinity etc. sound just as good (obviously they are costlier). Avoid the tubes - they are likely to be "wuff wuff"

[navin]

Originally Posted by DerAlte

1. Please don't say "I heard XYZ compos are good" - you should say "I heard XYZ compos myself and they were good" only after hearing, otherwise you will be disappointed after hearing them in your vehicle. Blaupunkt Velocity are not better or worse than JBL GTO (not GT5) - they just have a slightly different sound signature

Many components have design changes made over their lifetime. Blau's Velocity series is a notable sample. The older Velocity (copper coloured cones) were well respected the newer ones are not as good.

[deepakbawa]

1. today I am going to listen JBL GTO & Blaupunkt velocity (again) & Pioneer compos.

2. Dealer advised me Sub of JBL 12" in 3700 & Pioneer 12" in 4000 with 1800 for 1" MDF box. I am going to hear these two subs today.

Are these prices Ok?

will tell you soon my today's experience of subs & compos.

[deepakbawa]

hey guys,

today i heard the Pioneer TS-A1702C (compos). They are really good but a bit costlier at the rate of Rs. 6300; could not find JBL GTO 608C, will try tomorrow.Dealer was saying there is no availability of JBL 608C before Feb, 2010. Is it True? He was claiming that Sai (Mumbai); Distributor of JBL in India has passed the information.

Also heard JBL bass tube 12", that was good but not producing clear & tight bass giving vibrations & wuff wuff sound.Also checked Pioner 12" sub fitted in bass bin made of MDF, but result was more or less same like JBL bass tube.

Also saw Pioneer TS-WX301 (Pioneer Blue cone Subwoofer (company) fitted in a box); but could not hear it.

Can somebody guide me a good sub / bass tube (range 5k) which can produce a tight & clear bass?

has somebody tried Pioneer 1702C or Blaupunkt velocity or JBL 608 C in a big car like Safari ?