I would like to setup a 5.1 Home Theater System in my ride as it doesn't come with one. I do listen to all kinds of songs too, but mostly when I'm driving alone. Majority of the time, I would be ferrying my family around in long distance trips. Hence, I'm preferring to have an ideal video setup over an ideal audio setup. However, being a complete retard in ICE, I would need some help and information on how I can go about having an ideal 5.1 setup.

Setup and Layout
What would be the ideal setup and layout so that both front and rear (2nd & 3rd row) passengers would truly experience the 5.1 channel system?

Head Unit
Which would be the ideal head unit? I would prefer one with 9", I'm afraid the options are very limited. I like the Alpine X009E, but the price is just too steep.

Sound Processor
I know it improves the sound quality a lot, but is this necessary for movies? I'm digging the Alpine H800 if I need one. Or any other recommendation with better value in terms of price vs sound quality?

Amplifier
Is the Audison Prima 8.9 good? Was recommended by someone. It does have a lot of channels to power more speakers and comes with a DSP.

Subwoofer
I guess an 8" would be sufficient? Any recommendation?

Speakers
How many speakers would be ideal? I don't intend to replicate the original 18 speakers in those high spec-ed Alphard/Vellfire, but again, I would like to have both the front and rear passengers to experience ideal 5.1 channel system. So, how many speakers would I need and how would it be laid out? Which is better - less units but more power or more units but less power? And is it even possible to even install a speaker as a center channel in the middle of the front dashboard? This seems to be the difficult part for a 5.1 installation, for both the front and rear passengers. Which brand of speakers are recommended by the way?

I'm prepared to burn 8k-10k for this. Hopefully all the sifus here are able to help me out to garner some valuable information and suggestions before I pay the local shops for visits and enquiries.

What you need

1. Headunit with Optical output
2. Alpine H800
3. 2x 4ch amplifier
4. 2 pair component, 1 pair mid range
5. 1 slim subwoofer
6. a good installer that know what he doing

optional
1. a second processor for front component active
2. another 4ch amp for front speaker active
3. more money to burn.

For a budget of 10k, you can only get a very basic 5.1

the perfect position of the 5.1 can be only done at 1 position, which most people will make it at driver seat. But of course it doesn't mean the rest of the passenger won't get it, it's just not as good as the ideal position.

EA's KIA FORTE DTS 5.1

That, is my biggest concern!! You hit the nail right on the head!! Finding the right knowledgeable person with good workmanship is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Adding in the options you mentioned for a better setup like the one on the KIA Forte, it would easily set me back for around 15K I suppose? Just wondering, with 2 processors and 12-channel on the speakers, would the 2 units of Audison Prima 8.9 amplifiers be able to cover that? Theoratically, it should work right, just probably sacrificing some quality with probably a more inferior built in DSP and less power output from the amps? Or maybe going with 2 units of Helix P Six DSP for more power?

I guess I belong to the minority, I would want the ideal position to be at the 2nd row. I'll be looking at the road 99% of the time rather than looking at the screen. But still, it would be nice to be able to hear it while driving.

This post has been edited by kanasai: Sep 11 2015, 12:41 AM

just fyi, the amp u mention are meant for oem integration. in which it wont be the best fit for price vs performance for a 5.1 system. and if someone who intro u to this, he is seriously in need of your money.

focus on second row is good, if you have a driver.
But if you are the driver, and you paid attention to the road. The ideal position is in "YOUR Place".

A perfect or almost perfect system can let you feel the environment even though you are not watching the screen. This is the special about car surround system. Because we won't be putting a big screen in a car, mostly. We make the sound environment become more realistic which meant you are into the scene instead of you are watching some puppets playing show in front of you. This realistic environment can transfer the scene's environment to you from the sound and feel, not by visual.

From my experience, 99.99999% passenger wont appreciate how much you spend and how good it sound. So my opinion is, don't waste time and money to please them even though they are close to you. It's not worth it.

But driver is supposed to drive and not watch video.
I thought the ideal should be the seat behind the driver ?
I'm just guessing. I'm not very good in ICE.

No one recommended this actually. It was just something that just crossed my mind since I have almost ZERO knowledge in this. I'm just thinking out loud on what are the available options as I would have to strike a balance between quality and cost as seeing how the potential for performance pretty much depends on how deep one's pocket goes.

1 unit of HU with optical out
2 units of Processors
3 units 4-Channel Amps
2 sets of component speakers
1 pair of mid-range speakers
1 slim woofer

Depending on the brands, I'm looking at least 15K-20K for equipments alone. Not to mention other electrical components, sound proofing/dampening and labor cost that would easily drive the whole thing to 20K-25K. I don't want to chop of my limbs in pursuit of perfection, and my pocket is not deep


That actually triggers some further thinking on my side. I get your point. I'll have to think it over.

Come to think of this, I'll agree with you on this. I doubt anyone in my family member would be able to appreciate how great the surround system is other than me. I mean, they would appreciate that the surround is great, but they wouldn't be bothered with the details on what made it so great. Like I mentioned above, I'll have to reconsider what I want.

Kanasai

Very simple solution to your requirement, but 10K is not enough.

http://www.alpine-asia.com/AlpineStyle/1-T...rd-and-Vellfire

https://www.facebook.com/CNAUDIO?fref=ts

If you got money to burn and just focus on the "big screen" rather than the overall system, this is the simplest solution. But don hope it give u good quality sound.

btw, fishy on the advertisement....
How come the eagle can come out from the 9" screen but stay inside the 7" screen? LOL

lol

can i tumpang tanya ?

any head unit recommendation for vellfire ? and continue using with multi function steering as well ?

thanks

any hu can match with ur steering wheel

hi Howie, long time no see, the last time i saw you was in Serdang ? Still remembered your friend gave me a ride on his RX-7 ... still gives me the goosebumps till now ...

the OEM 18 speakers (home theater) from Toyota also not bad, tested when i was viewing a few cars ... i'm not sure it's the quality or the placement of the speakers .. but i think it's quite good alrdy for me ...

This post has been edited by 812799: Nov 12 2015, 09:47 AM

hi, ya long time ago...

if ur system is come with ht, then u wont able to use it after change hu..

Hi, did anyone try to play android TV box in Vellfire (2013) before? As there is a AV output in the front passenger sit. Power supply from the cigarette socket. Will this cause the system go haywire??