[E60525d]

I can't seem to find the spec of the alpine amp, does anyone know what it is? Trying to find out how many watts per channel it is.

Also, i believe there is a small delay with the front speakers after installing the alpine amp. Roughly, how long is this delay?

[E60525d]

Anyone able to assist?

[Phil99z]

Do you mean the Alpine amp that comes as part of the Alpine upgrade? The PDA-F200?

If so then have a look over here:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...47&postcount=6

RajB is just in the process of installing my Alpine upgrade at the moment but when it's done I'll let you if there is a delay. There is a delay already in my standard CCC professional base stereo set up, when I turn the car on and press play on my iPod it's a couple of seconds before the music starts.

[RajB]

It's not massively powerful but it is certainly up the task of really lifting the sound a great deal. I think it's like 4x25w or 50w perhaps. There is the minimal in delay tbh but like Phil stated once we've fitted his we'll check (Tuesday).

[E60525d]

Thanks guys. Do you mind measuring the dimension of the amp? Trying to get a similar sized amp.

[Phil99z]

Originally Posted by E60525d

Thanks guys. Do you mind measuring the dimension of the amp? Trying to get a similar sized amp.

Measured the amp and it's 20cm x 14cm x 5cm

[E90-AMD]

Originally Posted by 2die4

Measured the amp and it's 20cm x 14cm x 5cm

Did you glue it or bolt it down? Can't tell from the picture.

[E60525d]

Originally Posted by 2die4

Measured the amp and it's 20cm x 14cm x 5cm

Thank you I am looking to get an aftermarket amp which is a similar size to the Alpine.

[Phil99z]

Originally Posted by E90-AMD

Did you glue it or bolt it down? Can't tell from the picture.

It sticks down with Velcro but I used 3m double sided tape - it ain't going anywhere!

[Aragorn30d]

Pioneer does a tiny class D amp, measuring 181 x 68 x 34, the D1004.

45w per channel RMS and pretty cheap. i was considering it for mine.

They also do a more powerful D8604, measuring 265 x 200 x 60, which will do 4x100w RMS.

[E60525d]

Thanks, I was actually looking at the D8604 as it has a good spec and should fit under the boot floor. But there was a member from the USA who recently fitted this amp but got bad interference from it.

I think he fixed the problem by coding to Hifi and using a LOC.

Ideally I dont want to code to Hifi as I believe the PDC volume goes too low.

The other amp I was looking at was the Rainbow Dream 4. Good spec and its available for £120

[Digitalize]

There's maybe a 2 second delay when you first turn audio on. If you're using a satnav without music playing it might go to sleep in between commands which is probably the most annoying thing but you don't miss the prompt. I have my rear speakers basically off so it's worse. Or have them off and you just have silence before the amp comes on.

[E60525d]

Originally Posted by Digitalize

There's maybe a 2 second delay when you first turn audio on. If you're using a satnav without music playing it might go to sleep in between commands which is probably the most annoying thing but you don't miss the prompt. I have my rear speakers basically off so it's worse. Or have them off and you just have silence before the amp comes on.

Thanks. This is one of the reason I am going towards using an aftermarket amp with a dedicated remote lead. This will mean that it switches on without any delay.

[Aragorn30d]

AFAIK PDC volume is fine, so long as you amplify all four speakers.

PDC volume only causes an issue if you leave the rears connected to the head unit, and only amplify the fronts.

Alpine also do a similar unit to the D1004.

[E60525d]

Good point. Although I was only planning on amping the front and the underseat subs, rears will continue to run from the HU.

And to be honest it will get rather expensive if i amped the rear speakers as I will need a 6 channel amp or an extra 2 channel one.

My 1st option is still the Rainbow Dream 4 amp, http://www.carsoundsandsecurity.co.uk/store/dream-4/

[Aragorn30d]

leaving it on base applies horrible EQ corrections to the signal which you surely want rid of though?

[E60525d]

Originally Posted by Aragorn30d

leaving it on base applies horrible EQ corrections to the signal which you surely want rid of though?

True, but I thought by using an amp with speaker level inputs will compensate for this?

[Aragorn30d]

No. The amp just amplifies what its sent, which in base coding is fiddled with to try and make the crappy base system sound less crap.

In Hifi mode, the head unit just sends out a plain unmolested signal.

[E60525d]

Ok thank you.

I have done some research and I have few questions regarding hifi coding. Obviously its the best way forward but i believe it has a few drawbacks.

- As discussed earlier, is there anyway to keep the PDC and other gongs volume up? Is it possible via other coding?

- As hifi coding gives you 5v, will the rear speakers continue to work?

[Aragorn30d]

Hifi does two things, as i understand it:

1) removes the equalisation
2) reduces the maximum output voltage

As standard, full power will output a signal which is around 24v peak to peak. This is fine for driving speakers but too high to drive another amplifier.

In hifi mode, the gain curve is adjusted such that maximum output is 5v. Much better for driving another amplifier.

The problem with the PDC, is if you dont amp the rear speakers, the rear speakers are only getting this much lower 5v peak signal, and as such become much quieter. PDC only comes out the rear speakers, unlike music, so the PDC tones become very quiet.

There is no mode where it still delivers the full 24v signal to the rear speakers but provides 5v output to the fronts. For Hifi mode to function correctly, all the speakers need to be amplified. If all speakers are amplified, as they are in a real HiFi car, the volume of PDC is fine.

Personally i'd run the four door speakers off a 4 channel amp, then i'd add a second amp (either a 2 channel, or a bridged 4) to drive the subs.

[E60525d]

Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately adding a 2nd amp is not really an option as it gets too expensive. I am not an audiophile so not wanting to do a big or expensive upgrade.

I think i will stick to my original plan and amp the front mids and subs off a 4 channel. I will see if this sounds good enough for me. Hopefully I can get away from doing the coding.

[Phil99z]

In my car the PDC and warning gongs sounds normal - like they did before the install. The Alpine amp powers the front midrange and tweeters via the cross over and also the pair of under seat MB Quart subwoofers I have. The rears are just powered off the head unit.

My CCC professional system has not been coded and to be honest i'm happy with the sound thus far. Since I've not heard a similar set up which has had Hifi coding I've got no comparison. Maybe if I heard one with Hifi coding it might be a different story.....