Project Blackburd - HiFiDelity's 2005 Dodge Magnum R/T build

[chithead]

[Hi-FiDelity]

OK, it's been a while but here's something..I guess

Taped up the trunk and did the first couple layers of glass, will sand and add more if this isn't a complete mess of goo and fibers. It's been about 10 years since I even helped glass anything so...not holding my breath.

[Notloudenuf]

Good to see you back working again!

[Hi-FiDelity]

Good to see you back working again!

Thanks Kendall, glad to be back working on it.

Sent from my HUAWEI NXT-L29 using Tapatalk

[chefhow]

I miss my Maggie

[Hi-FiDelity]

Ok after waffling between DSP's based on what was available and reviews I've said Fuck IT. As much as I want to us the McIntosh HU I'd be giving up steering wheel controls and I can't find a DSP that I'm not afraid will disappear and give me nothing but headaches in the sub $300 range that I could pair with the stock HU. So I just decided I would just get a new HU with built in processing preferably non touch (I don't think even the stock Touch Screen looks good in the first gen LX's). After looking around I settled on one I've messed with in the past with a simple DSP that will get the job done well enough, a Sony WX-900BT (yes the same model that was slated to be installed in the cavalier when I still had it). It's got T/A as well as the other standard processing features for a regular HU (HP/LPF, 10 band EQ, ect).

I was tempted to go with Pioneers new Non-Touch Double Din FH-S700BS which has similar features as well as support for 2 way active setups but Best Buy had a super deal for black friday on the 900BT taking it from $130 to $69 out the door so...yeah no brainer. Also the 900BT is better looking in real life using a rubberized textured face with a glossy finish on just the screen as apposed to just glossy black all around, which unless it's a McIntosh HU looks real tacky. So in a week or so should have the HU and will be getting the dash kit and steering wheel control module so I can install it.

Then I'll be working on building the amp rack over the winter.

[cadaver]

Wow, that is a great deal! i was gonna suggest the Pioneer MWH-S600s. 13 band, ta, active 3-way, etc. MECHLESS. But, AWESOME score on your part. Im glad Sony is starting to make their way back up.

[Hi-FiDelity]

Oddly enough 3 years ago when I was looking at HU options Sony was the only one making multiple head units in the sub 200 dollar range with T/A, 10 band EQ, and 6 channel pre-outs. Pioneer has jumped in but there HUs are double the price and in most cases don't have double the features. Kenwood hasn't made anything aside from the x998 that has a DSP and JVC has just become bottom tier junk, despite having 2 nice options a couple years back and Alpine has just stopped careing.

[cadaver]

believe it or not, i got a jvc recently that had all of those features-active 3-way, ta, 13 band, bluetooth(sub $100) and was mechless. Not bad but just wasnt my cup of tea. However, jvc and kenwood have merged and its difficult to find ANY of their headunits that do active sub $200. I will agree with you about pioneer being double the price(compared to $69) but their mechless stuff-hell, anybody's mechless stuff-is so cheap, Ill never buy a unit with a transport again. The pioneer I reference to(mvh-s600bs) is 109 at crutchfield now.

[Hi-FiDelity]

Look what arrived last night, I really love how it's just a Sony single din they grafted a DD face onto.

I'm interested to play with the DSO (dynamic Stage Organizer) feature which is new for this revision of the 900BT. It seems to be separate from T/A and let's you make it sound like the sound is coming from "speakers on the dash". The manual is about as vauge as the blurb on the box, so I'll just have to install it to see, honestly I'm expecting it to be more of a gimmick but...since they put a competent DSP in here I'm willing to play ball and see.