Ford Fiesta S: Eclipse, XBL2 and NOW WITH HORNS!

frankmehta · 6th October 2009, 23:37

I think the copper is used here to prevent 'Noise'
The conduction abilities wouldn't be of much use here, since the internals are not made of copper. Only the outer chassis is made of copper so as to shield the preouts from interference. It's a dead head for the same reason.
One more reason why it is a dead head is to MAXIMISE pre out voltage too. It's a true 8V from the 3 pre outs of this head unit.

frankmehta · 9th October 2009, 22:00

I was DYING to post this update since the time I saw this about 2 hours back.
My pods are done. INSTALLED. And my oh my! I am totally stumped by the final product. Loving the pods totally.
Powered my system on, and WOAH. I noticed a marked change in response from the tweeters. 'Illusion' type sweetness, and some awesome resolution. They are burning in now, and should be totally 'demo' ready anytime soon.
The rear speakers have been removed. And there was one more revelation. The damn rears were acting like passive radiators (very very poor ones at that) and the bass was quite over the place. Fast forward to now, and NOW we are talking. Brilliant. I am in LOVE. AGAIN!
Tweeter pods for 'the all of you'

Mods: Please forgive me for the PLETHORA of pictures for the same DAMN thing, but I want to show the various angles. The craftmanship that has gone into these needs to be appreciated.
One more angle I forgot to click was from outside the car. Will click tomorrow, and also some daytime photos tomorrow.

pranava999 · 9th October 2009, 22:05

wonderful workmanship Frank. Kudos to AK and his team I guess!

santosh.s · 9th October 2009, 22:27

Great job... congratulations!
I guess this is more like ideal mounting for tweeters, best angle and least (early) reflections.

One question, though it is very subjective- Isn't the color used (white I suppose) look a bit odd as compared to rest of the interiors? (I mean neither a good match nor contrast, IMHO)

frankmehta · 9th October 2009, 22:33

Thank you so much Pranava.

@santosh: the stock fiesta a pillars *off white* in colour from day one. All we've done is to match the new pods to the erstwhile stock colour.

abhinav.gupta88 · 9th October 2009, 23:14

Simply amazing Doc.
Congrats. Looks damn amazing.

Give us a proper review of the equipment.

thelord · 10th October 2009, 00:29

What finish! Absolutely fantastic work.
I believe this is the best position for tweeter placement!

frankmehta · 10th October 2009, 07:46

I have also changed the phase link modules on both the crossovers to No. 6 as supplied by Alpine which are meant to be used when the tweeters are on/off axis and the woofers are on axis.
In my case, both woofers are on axis, considering the high position in the stock location.
The passenger side tweeter is on axis and the tweeter on the drivers side is slightly off axis for me (the driver)

gigy · 10th October 2009, 09:03

Very nice finish. the color i guess will look better in real than in photo. hope to have a demo soon.
I think any speaker you install in rear without isolating it from that monster sub will be bullied into submission and start radiating to its tune.

navin · 10th October 2009, 11:24

Beautiful! Oh man I am so jealous!

10th October 2009, 17:15

very nice tweeter install. I love the idea of ring radiator tweeters since my home speakers use similar so i am aware of how wide the dispersion is and IMHO that system should now be giving you some awesome imaging and soundstaging

i sincerely hope that you enjoy the setup because it seems like with the care and attention you are taking it is going to "something to listen to"

also glad that you figured out your subwoofer "problem"

because that could have affected how the entire system works for you

frankmehta · 10th October 2009, 17:51

Here are some day time photos as promised.
Outside angle too.
I was right. Looks better in the day as compared to photos with flash.
The car sounds quite amazing. Needs some more tuning. Time alignment is off, because the speaker positions have changed. Will work it out soon.

hellraiser_yank · 11th October 2009, 00:05

great positioning for the tweeters and a very neat job at it too. do share about the difference in imaging and overall experience after the change.

akbaree · 11th October 2009, 01:32

That's really nice job. Congratulations.

I would really like to listen to the setup some day.

vigsom · 11th October 2009, 19:20

Wah Wah Subhanallah !!!!!

6th October 2009, 23:37	#121
frankmehta Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,000 Thanked: 3,577 Times View My Garage	I think the copper is used here to prevent 'Noise' The conduction abilities wouldn't be of much use here, since the internals are not made of copper. Only the outer chassis is made of copper so as to shield the preouts from interference. It's a dead head for the same reason. One more reason why it is a dead head is to MAXIMISE pre out voltage too. It's a true 8V from the 3 pre outs of this head unit.
	() Thanks

9th October 2009, 22:00	#122
frankmehta Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,000 Thanked: 3,577 Times View My Garage	AND... We are back. I was DYING to post this update since the time I saw this about 2 hours back. My pods are done. INSTALLED. And my oh my! I am totally stumped by the final product. Loving the pods totally. Powered my system on, and WOAH. I noticed a marked change in response from the tweeters. 'Illusion' type sweetness, and some awesome resolution. They are burning in now, and should be totally 'demo' ready anytime soon. The rear speakers have been removed. And there was one more revelation. The damn rears were acting like passive radiators (very very poor ones at that) and the bass was quite over the place. Fast forward to now, and NOW we are talking. Brilliant. I am in LOVE. AGAIN! Tweeter pods for 'the all of you' Mods: Please forgive me for the PLETHORA of pictures for the same DAMN thing, but I want to show the various angles. The craftmanship that has gone into these needs to be appreciated. One more angle I forgot to click was from outside the car. Will click tomorrow, and also some daytime photos tomorrow. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

9th October 2009, 22:05	#123
pranava999 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: BANGALORE Posts: 845 Thanked: 23 Times View My Garage	wonderful workmanship Frank. Kudos to AK and his team I guess!
	() Thanks

9th October 2009, 22:27	#124
santosh.s Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,077 Thanked: 70 Times View My Garage	Great job... congratulations! I guess this is more like ideal mounting for tweeters, best angle and least (early) reflections. One question, though it is very subjective- Isn't the color used (white I suppose) look a bit odd as compared to rest of the interiors? (I mean neither a good match nor contrast, IMHO)
	() Thanks

9th October 2009, 22:33	#125
frankmehta Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,000 Thanked: 3,577 Times View My Garage	Thank you so much Pranava. @santosh: the stock fiesta a pillars off white in colour from day one. All we've done is to match the new pods to the erstwhile stock colour.
	() Thanks

9th October 2009, 23:14	#126
abhinav.gupta88 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Delhi , India Posts: 4,092 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	Simply amazing Doc. Congrats. Looks damn amazing. Give us a proper review of the equipment.
	() Thanks

10th October 2009, 00:29	#127
thelord BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 278 Thanked: 5 Times	What finish! Absolutely fantastic work. I believe this is the best position for tweeter placement!
	() Thanks

10th October 2009, 07:46	#128
frankmehta Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,000 Thanked: 3,577 Times View My Garage	I have also changed the phase link modules on both the crossovers to No. 6 as supplied by Alpine which are meant to be used when the tweeters are on/off axis and the woofers are on axis. In my case, both woofers are on axis, considering the high position in the stock location. The passenger side tweeter is on axis and the tweeter on the drivers side is slightly off axis for me (the driver)
	() Thanks

10th October 2009, 09:03	#129
gigy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 1,321 Thanked: 47 Times	Very nice finish. the color i guess will look better in real than in photo. hope to have a demo soon. I think any speaker you install in rear without isolating it from that monster sub will be bullied into submission and start radiating to its tune.
	() Thanks

10th October 2009, 11:24	#130
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,199 Thanked: 9,308 Times	Beautiful! Oh man I am so jealous!
	() Thanks

10th October 2009, 17:15	#131
naughty001 Posts: n/a	very nice tweeter install. I love the idea of ring radiator tweeters since my home speakers use similar so i am aware of how wide the dispersion is and IMHO that system should now be giving you some awesome imaging and soundstaging i sincerely hope that you enjoy the setup because it seems like with the care and attention you are taking it is going to "something to listen to" also glad that you figured out your subwoofer "problem" because that could have affected how the entire system works for you
	() Thanks

10th October 2009, 17:51	#132
frankmehta Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,000 Thanked: 3,577 Times View My Garage	Here are some day time photos as promised. Outside angle too. I was right. Looks better in the day as compared to photos with flash. The car sounds quite amazing. Needs some more tuning. Time alignment is off, because the speaker positions have changed. Will work it out soon. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

11th October 2009, 00:05	#133
hellraiser_yank BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Delhi/Noida Posts: 108 Thanked: 106 Times	great positioning for the tweeters and a very neat job at it too. do share about the difference in imaging and overall experience after the change.
	() Thanks

11th October 2009, 01:32	#134
akbaree BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad Posts: 613 Thanked: 107 Times View My Garage	That's really nice job. Congratulations. I would really like to listen to the setup some day.
	() Thanks

11th October 2009, 19:20	#135
vigsom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NSEW Posts: 3,768 Thanked: 25,496 Times	Wah Wah Subhanallah !!!!!
	() Thanks