Take Five

Take Five!
Five teams from five Nations – each team is uniting max. five top notch car hifi installers. All of the teams
are aiming for the same goal: the EMMA@Work European Supercup 2008!
Five columns build the basis to win the Supercup:
1. A nice car
Each team is allowed to build the components into a vehicle which size is not bigger then a Minivan. From
Renault Clio (Team France) to Citroen Picasso (Team Romania) the size is various and the more
interesting will be the result. The different surroundings will show the skill of the installers and the team
with the best installation and sound will get the place at the sun in Sinsheim 2008.
2. The AlpineF#1 Status CD Headunit CDA-7990 side by side with the Alpine F#1 Status PXAH900 Digital Processor
AlpineF#1Status R&D Concept
Alpine is a world-renown leader in developing products and technologies for drastically improving invehicle acoustics and creation of superior sound quality.
Recently, the advent of breakthrough core digital technologies which have replaced traditional analog
approaches have transformed mobile lifestyles.
In the past, audio systems were the main in-vehicle systems. Recently, however, DVD-based visual
systems, navigation systems, and other information/communication components have been on the
increase. The traditional definition of mobile entertainment and convenience is rapidly being
transformed.
Since 1996, Alpine has defined its corporate vision under the slogan “Discover the Future of Mobile
Media”, and has focused its resources towards providing leading products and technologies for drivers
worldwide.
Within this Mobile Media era, Alpine firmly believes that one core element from past eras remain: the
importance of superior sound. In Alpine’s vision, sound serves as the most critical interface between
man and machine. Through developing and implementing the latest in digital technology, Alpine has
renewed its commitment to providing the ultimate in sound performance for the vehicle.
Under this challenge, Alpine has carefully selected its most experienced and elite R&D staff and
challenged them to develop an in-vehicle mobile media sound system that sets new standards of
excellence in the industry. The result of this special internal project is products and technologies called
“AlpineF#1Status”. These products are the result of years of built-up know-how and have been created
with no compromises in the initial visions of the R&D teams.
Alpine is confident that the performance of this new “AlpineF#1Status” system will completely re-define
the standards of how audio is judged in the vehicle, and will serve as the guideline for future mobile
media system performance.
Key Points of the “AlpineF#1Status” Products.
CDA-7990: A CD head unit designed for ultimate playback accuracy of compact discs
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Best Playback Precision in the Industry: Incorporating an extremely fine-tuned mechanism and
superior-quality parts chosen after painstaking inspection by Alpine engineers, this unit enables
superior, distortion-free playback of even the most delicate musical nuances, even under the harshest
of driving conditions.
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Technology for Perfect Silence (Noise Proofing): The CDA-7990 has been designed to thoroughly
withstand perverse influences caused by external noises generated by the vehicles electrical
systems. This prevents deteriation of the signal within the audio block of the unit, resulting in perfectly
pure reproduction of the original music.
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Dynamic & High Speed: Unprecedented dynamic range performance allows for sound reproduction
that is energetic, with superior realism and musicality.
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Super-Accurate Signal Transmission:
The unit is designed with the demanding in-vehicle
environment in mind, ensuring that the audio signals are not degraded in any way during transmission
stages nor effected by noise.
Man Machine Interface: Provides natural and easy system operation based on ergonomic design
concepts.
PXA-H900 Digital Processor: The Gateway to Mobile Media Sound
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-Super-Accurate Processing Calculations: This industry-first processor enables the complex acoustical
properties of the vehicle cabin to be precisely measured, displayed, and adjusted under real time
conditions. Even the most minute musical elements can be clearly reproduced thanks to the processors
capabilities.
-A Breakthrough in Installation Technology: What traditionally required many hours of analysis and
countermeasures by highly-trained professionals can now be achieved with a push of a button through the
use of this processor. Fine-tweaking of the system settings can also be manually performed.
-Ideal for all System Needs: The processor can be used to create personalized acoustic settings based
on each individual user preference and vehicle environment (full multi-media system, rear-entertainment
system, heavy-bass system etc.) Also incorporates control over a navigation systems voice guidance.
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Multi-Operation Capability: The unit’s operations and settings can be accessed and adjusted either
through the remote control incorporating a highly-detailed OELD display, or through connecting with a
PC for more detailed adjustments via computer.
Multi Media Decoder: Incorporates a signal decoder that copes with the latest sound technology used
in music and visual software.
Main Features of Products:
CDA-7990
- High Precision Black Mechanism based on DVD-mechanism technology
- Burr-Brown 24-bit High Precision DAC (K Rank)
- 24-bit Digital Filter
- Large Capacity Power Supply
- 4V Preout
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Originally-designed RCA Cables
Super-shield RCA Connectors
Optical Out
Titanium nosepiece
BioLite Display (OELD)
Fine-gauge Rotary Encoder Volume
Ergonomic-design Key Layout
PXA-H900
- Burr-Brown 24-bit DAC (K-Rank)
- Ultra High Speed Processor DSP
- 11-channel Auto Time Correction
- Auto-Adaptive EQ
- 31-band Real Time Analyzer
- 31-band Graphic EQ/ 10-band Parametric Equalizer
- 11-channel Divider
- Navigation Voice Guidance Input
- Auxiliary Input
- PC Control
www.alpine.com
3. The No. 7 Focal Utopia Be Component Speaker Kit together with the legendary Focal
Beryllium Subwoofer
Focal No. 7 Utopia Be – the Experts Formula
The BE stands for beryllium, an exotic material Focal uses in a proprietary tweeter dome that's
said to be far lighter — yet seven times more rigid — than titanium. It's used in the two 1-inch
tweeters that are part of the BE No. 7 three-way component set.
The set's pairs of 3-inch midranges and 6.5-inch woofers also borrow the famous W sandwich
cone. That's foam laminated between two thin sheets of glass fabric — same stuff used in the
French company's flagship and trés expensive Utopia home loudspeakers. Meanwhile, the
Crossblock crossover (exclusive to the car line) allows you to tweak the sound to your liking with
more than 4,000 filtering combinations.
Focal 21 WX – Bass for Beryllium
The Beryllium components are the absolute pinnacle of Focal’s car audio systems and expecting
the 21WX to be the flagship subwoofer is absolutely correct. While not designed to set any new
sound pressure level records, the 21WX will offer the most accurate bass reproduction ever heard
in a car. Beginning with the cone, the 21WX is adorned with a smart-looking grey composite ‘W’
sandwich cone. This is constructed from foam layer sandwiched between two composite layers.
The reason for the foam core is that it provides optimal acceleration and deceleration (which helps
amplifier damping factor stay high) without decay, plus the damping provides a neutral and colourfree sound.The heart of the 21WX is the voice coil, former and cone but the standout part is the
special magnet structure. There are six separate double-stacked multi-ferrite magnets (twelve in
total), painted bright red and equally-spaced around the voice coil perimeter. The substantial
benefit of this construction is cooling. Whereas most subwoofer manufacturers spend countless
hours trying to get air to flow in through the top of the voice coil gap and out through the pole vent
at the bottom, Focal has improved on this by designing the individual magnet structures to allow
cool air to flow directly between the magnets and into the motor itself. The result is the copper
50mm wide and 25mm high voice coil (wound on a black Kapton former) remains quite cool
during the sub’s operation. The incorporation of small holes on the former top itself, allows air to
get into the core as well, thus allowing cooling on both sides of the former. This design allows the
subwoofer a power handling of 250 watts continuous or 500 watts maximum. Holding the magnet
structure onto the bottom of the frame are two large brushes steel backing plates. The lower one
contains a gold-plated pole exit vent and screws hold the magnets in place.
www.focal.tm.fr
4. Powered by two Amps from Audison: The LRx 5.1K. ABD class amplifier and the LRx 2.4
stereo amplifier
Audison LRx 5.1K and Audison LRx 2.4
Objective: To achieve the maximum performances driving each loudspeaker with state-of-the-art
technology. .
LRx 5.1K. for SUBWOOFERS + TWEETERS: LRx 5.1K is an ABD class amplifier featuring “A class
based” channels to drive the detailed high frequency section, AB class channels to drive the dynamic
woofer section combined with the highly efficient auD-class technology1 for the high output subwoofer
section, all in the same heatsink.
LRx 2.4. MIDRANGE. LRx 2.4 is a stereo amplifier able to insure a very high output current thanks to the
high performance power supply section and final stages. Tonal accuracy is the best with detailed mid-high
frequency.
www.audison.eu
5. And last but not least AIV’s most capacious selection of high quality accessories – such as
cables, connectors, power capacitors, fuses, fuse holders, special customizing products
like adhesives and fiberglass mats, damping material, MDF rings and installation kits
etcetera.
AIV – Worlds Are Connected
Founded in 1976 AIV became one of Europe’s leading specialists in the automotive cable and
connector industry. In more than 30 years of activity, the company has worked out its unique knowhow. Meantime AIV products and components are available in over 30 countries. To ensure a
constantly high product quality the company is assembling cables and connectors at its own DIN EN
ISO 9001 certified production facility based in Germany.
Being a true pioneer in fielding a comprehensive line of CAN Bus Interfaces AIV presents a full range
of smart product solutions to enable a safe and easy integration of car entertainment, mobile phones
and navigation systems in any modern car.
Besides a highly professional Individual Custom Car Installation Component line AIV is also offering a
broad range of high quality devices for mobile infotainment as well as an extensive range of HomeHiFi accessories.
www.aiv.de