Just a post for those interested in ICE options for the Neo. What I have in my car:

- Sony CDX-GT800
- Kicker KS65.2 2-Way Components (Front)
- Kicker ES65 Coaxials (Rear)
- Kicker KS-80 8" Subwoofer
- Planet Audio EC20 Electronic Crossover
- Kenwood KAC846 4Ch Amp (driving front mids and sub)
- Audio Sysyem Twister F2 2Ch Amp (driving front tweets)
- Good cabling all round
- Dynamat everywhere

Total Cost: Around RM8k including installation and tuning.

Sony goes to rear speakers direct. One pre-out goes to crossover, and then is split three ways to front mids, front tweets and the sub. Both amp and sub are in the boot, and the crossover is under the driver's seat (there is a very nice recessed hole for it there. Perfect size).

I made a mistake at first. I set my budget at around RM3k, and then went to Quest Audio in Subang Jaya, and he gave me a system matching my budget (but still using factory head unit, and not including the Kenwood amp, which was a gift from a friend). It was improved, but the sound was nothing like what I was expecting. I wanted excellent clarity and fidelity, with good overall punch and soundstaging.

Two weeks later I went back to him and changed the head unit, thinking that was the problem. It improved things slightly again, but I just couldn't get the sound I wanted.

Finally I realised I would have to spend a lot more than I anticipated, and I went to KF Audio in Aman Suria. They added the second amp and the crossover, ripped out all the wiring and put good stuff in and ran my fronts full active. They also tuned the system.

I have had this for two months already, and it is very very very good. All the settings on the head unit are off (EQ is flat, time correction, soundstating tuning and loudness are all off) but it still sounds wonderful and is exactly what I was looking for.

I think my next step will be to upgrade the fronts to 3-way components (from Focal or DLS), upgrade the subwoofer and then the Kenwood amp, and then I will be done.

Hope this helps any Neo owners thinking of playing with their ICE!

Any questions please ask.

Just to say the magic ingredient in my setup is that I am running my front components full active, and that the tweeters have their own dedicated amp. The clarity and punch you get from the tweeters is amazing, and you can make out all the little details and hear the decay of the instruments - this is what makes the system very nice if you ask me.

some pics would be nice

But Sony HU + kenwood amp + 8" subwoofer

This post has been edited by loon1031: Sep 27 2006, 12:16 AM

Is your sweating a good thing or a bad thing?

it is not really a g00d setup (as in SQ).. 8" woofer delivers does not deliver good bass cz the bass produced are not deep enough..

kenwood amp.. no comment..

sony HU has been abandoned from pro-ICErs.. i'm not a user so i can't gif a comment..

if u relli interested to go for sound quality system,
HU - alpine, eclipse, pioneer 8series & above, clarion HXD2... etc..
AMP - a/d/s, alpine, genesis, audio system, xetec.. etc..
Woofer - adire, ImageDynamic, bravox, eclipse... etc..

bro, if u r interested in ICE, u can always try 2 go HERE o HERE..

more educational

u did a good choice 4 the dynamat thingy and also the audio system amp.. highly recomend for HU upgrade.. btw, who served u? siemen liew o the manager?

This post has been edited by mattchin: Sep 27 2006, 12:43 AM

Thanks for the feedback.

The Sony HU I have is their most high-end model. I agree that Sony have mostly catered for the budget market in the past by producing substandard units, but the one I have is very good. Or at least I think it is. The tuner in particular is the best I've ever had (and I've had high end Alpines, Pioneers and a JVC).

The 8" sub might not be deep or powerful, but it is very tight. And I like a good tight bass. Also, my car is a hatch (boot and passenger cabin are not separated by a wall), and a small car, so even though it's only an 8" sub (it's a tube though) it works pretty well. I may change it though, just to get better all-round quality, but I probably won't get one bigger than 8".

Siemen served me. Nice chap.

DeaDLocK@ wonder how badly was the 1st sound system when you setup at Quest Audio...

I spend about RM 5K on 1 Alpine head unit, 1 Magnat 4ch amp, 1 Magnat monoblock, 1 10" double voice core, cabling and workmanship for the side doors at Quest Audio. Brought my own focal component speakers (1 pair as only for front) and sound damn good dy...

think you really over budget yourself when you go to 2 different places for your audio...

This post has been edited by KidsCode: Sep 27 2006, 07:29 AM

For Sony HU although that is the most high end for Sony HU, but for that price I can find a better sound quality HU than that HU.

Kenwood amp try before, sound not so good....

Kicker 8" subwoofer bass not enough solid + low.

Why there are always got people like to say this brand no good and that brand is bad? When talking on entertainments, is there a general judgement for it?

plz don make ur statement here hard.. u'll feel the wonder wif 10" to 12" woofer.. u will here even more from them.. i'm not trying to say sony is not good but there r better ones out there.. and like i said, u'll here more and feel the wonder wif a better 1..

btw, once u haf stepped into KF audio, u're IN.. ha! ha! the ICE poison will circulate in ur blood now.. u won't go wrong wif 'em.. i've been a customer wif them since my father's gen till now..

do audit car's that has been setup by KF.. then ur poison is "kao kao" liao

Is your English is really bad or I cannot understand simple English?

warhh.. look.. u got a star..
dumbo..

So this means that my English standard is lower than you, ok, let you be the winner. Think can improve my English skill here but... It make me worst than earlier by reading your postings.

ha! ha!..

yeah.. bad english from me.. and urs r soooo great.. u can't win ICE now u talk ENGLISH.. wat a crap..

if ur talking in terms of Sony HUs then its because ever since the Xplod series their HU absolutely sucks in reliability.

alot of my friends Xplod started skipping like mad within the first 3-4 months. and 1 even died on him and another just wouldnt play CD at all anymore. simple as that.

as for kenwood amps (or other commercial brands) they dont really produce the oomph u would expect from their specs. another un-commercial brand of the same (or lower) specs can spank them easily.

but as with all audio equipment....to each their own.

@Deadlock
i drive a kelisa and i have a 12" sub in a sealed enclosure box in my boot man u should give the 12" subs a go and see if ur satisfied with it. the adire shiva would be a bang for buck SQ woofer. and some even say it can be used for SPL. never tested it out muhself though and dunno where to get oso... i know penang got easier to get it than KL.

my setup is more towards SPL as i listen to metal only. can see the specs in muh sig.


as for everyone else... ALL ur english oso suck la...

my engrand is more powderful than urs

yarh..

u r the good"est" aledi..

wat the fork

got flamed

He don't accept we say his stuft no good mah.....
If don't want let us give comment why post here??