Honda Civic In Car Entertainment

Thanks Anshul,

I just Googled for Hermit Audio and found their website. They have got really good brands, however, I am not sure if they have got anything for us. Illusion Audio and Ground Zero are the only brands in our budget. And top of this, no guru here has really recommended any of the two! Not sure at all. I will try calling them tomorrow to understand the auditioning process.

Dear Banwari,

Your friend will need three preouts from the hu. Whichever way he runs his setup. Front comps bi-amped or front and rears, plus the sub. Since the civic stock hu would not give this, he would have to use splitters etc.

The minute you do this, you are messing up the signal with issues of channel seperation, levelling etc. So if the signal from the source is less than perfect, whats the point of putting expensive stuff downstream in the audio chain? You won't hear the potential of whatever is installed. Again, this is my thought. Enough people use splitters and are content with the results.

If the stock look and the audio remote in the back seat is more important than the quality of sound, yes you can mod the hu and get by. 

I guess the Eclipse 7200 retails here for 35k. A bluetooth adapter would be a good idea on a pioneer/alpine. If he is very very keen on it.

By the way I just spoke to Pankaj. He says:

• Alpine 9887 is available for around 19k with b/w. The bluetooth adapater is for around 8k. He says to get maximum out of the 9887, we will have to get some imprinting/callibration done (whatever that is!). The cost for the same is around 1.5k. So the Alpine 9887 Bluetooth will cost 29k!.
• He challenges that unless you an audiophile, you won't be able to make out any difference in sound quality between 9887 and 103EBT.
• Both 9887 and 103BT have same voltage preouts. And even entry-level Alpine is a very very good device. He says it's your money and I can sell you either, you choose!
• He agrees to Arun's suggestion, says rear speakers not required. He also says that now a good 4-channel amp will do the needful. No need for separate amplifier for the sub now. If not satisfied, we'll try a monoblock.
• He says, he doesn't know theoritical knowledge but practically Morels sound more lively than Momos.
• He is not married to any brand and suggests based upon cars. He thinks this setup is best suited for Civic, had it been a Lancer, he would have suggested an entirely different thing. He doesn't know why but his experience says he has got this ability to judge what's best for what car.
• Last but not the least, if we are not satisfied with the sound setup, he will replace everything to whatever we say at no cost!

What say? I am going to him tomorrow to try my luck.

1. In a system with amp/components/sub(all good ones), a person will be able to make out the difference once the systems are properly tuned.

2. Skipping on the monoblock and driving it thru the 4 channel amp will be a VFM option.

3. Morels/MOMO's - Personal preferences would also come into play. A person should listen to both in the same environment and then decide.

4. He may not be married to any brands, but the commisions on each product would vary.

5. Last point is quite good. So the buyer will be totally satisfied in the end.

...this is what few installer have confidence like this!.. As I told earlier, I again repeat u r in safe & more importantly in competent hand of pankajbhai...

BUT...don't forget two things: 1. try to take max audition & believe to your ears only

2. have a good skill of negotiation to save some bucks!

Yaar, the biggest problem I am facing here in Mumbai is that nobody is offering any kind of audition. And even if they do, I'm not always available. For example, Pankaj called this morning saying that he has a similar setup in the car. The car is available for next four hours. Vashi-Santacruz to-and-fro is like four hours flat, that too if you are lucky enough. Plus the audition time. No way!

Anyways, I think I am going ahead with the install (whatever it is!) tomorrow evening if I don't get occupied in office! Anyways after all you guys' suggestions, I am sure the setup Pankaj is suggesting is not bad. And then me nor my friend is an audiophile! +-2% is okay.

So how is the final setup standing as...

I seriously feel as if the HU is the weakest link in the chain.

So, here is the final deal:

We'll audition both 9887 and 103bt. will go for whatever sounds better. Morel Tempo 6 in front. An Alpine 4-channel amp (not sure model no), Polk Momo 8" subwoofer (if we don't like, we will get a 10" one). That's it. Tomorrow is the installation. We get the car tomorrow evening. A friend will take the car, I got occupied as suspected! Will try to update you guys with photos by evening (Have asked Pankaj to click pictures for me ).

I hope it sounds good. Sigh.

@Banwari : He challenges that unless you an audiophile, you won't be able to make out any difference in sound quality between 9887 and 103EBT.

If the 9887 is not set properly, he's right. If however it is set properly there will be a huge difference. For tuning the 9887 you will have to buy the imprint unit which will be an additional cost. Thats what I don't like about alpine. They sell a bare bone unit and then you buy everything extra so by the time you add it all up its not VFM. Look at the pioneer p-80rsII. This will be around 20k.

Tell him you want to bi-amp the front components therefore you need all four channels of the amp for the front comps. Hence you will need a mono for the sub. If you get the pio HU you should run active and hence will need to biamp. In case he's not sure how to do this I can explain.

I would suggest install the hu, amps and subs first. Connect everything and run the speaker wires from the amp to the front doors. Then A/B/C between the MM's and the morels and the ID's if he has them.