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T H E L AT E S T M O B I L E E L E C T R O N I C S T R E N D S & T E C H N I Q U E S

4#2013

ICS S S CLA & NS ICO

A D N O H X S N HALLENGER

RCAR C

SUPE STUNNING

BACK TO BEETLE THE FUTURA MANIA! DEMISE OF FALCON ENDURES FUTURA

VW’S PEOPLE CAR… MAXED

HIG SOURH-END SPEA CES & KERS

REVIEWED

ALPINE // DYNAUDIO // MTX // OPTION AUDIO // PIONEER // SONY

FEATURE CAR

1964 Ford Futura

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Australian InCar Entertainment #04_2013

Ed Kramer

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Jun Sawa

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1964 Ford Futura FEATURE CAR

The Falcon will soon be history but this fully worked Futura from the 1960s will be an enduring icon to serve as an example for the marque.

Futura!

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FEATURE CAR

1964 FORD FUTURA

A

AH YES… THE THIN steel-formed steering wheel, the sliding needle instruments, the smell of vinyl and steel hardware in the morning, the heavy and ultra-stiff chassis… they don’t make them like that anymore. But here, at InCar, we bring to you a Ford Futura that has been modernised but with the utmost respect to the original design.

FUTURES MARKET Unusually, we’ll start at the engine because in this case the standard powerhouse has been substantially modified. The induction features a Barry Grant carb while the intake is an Edelbrock manifold. The internals have been upgraded with Hyperteuctic pistons, Hastings rings, ARP rod bolts and other improvements and the exhaust features Tri-Y extractors into an expanding system.

So while the engine, suspension and exhaust have all been tweaked and upgraded, the interior and exterior have been transformed but with an appreciation of the original design.

The Futura has been resprayed in a stunning custom mint green colour which features a DNA diamond clear while all the original chrome features have been re-plated. That means everything; from the front grille and its dress surround, to the bumper bar, the headlight surrounds, the bonnet feature, the side dress strip, the rear brake light and indicator trims, all the metal badges… you get where we’re going; nothing has been left out.

The same fanatical attention to detail has been carried through to the Futura’s interior.

The mint green theme is also used here and it

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Australian InCar Entertainment #04_2013

The smell of steel and vinyl in the morning...

The modernisation of the Futura has been carried out in immaculate perfection. And additions such as the custom lever at left just add to the overall extraordinary aesthetic.

FEATURE CAR

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1964 Ford Futura

Australian InCar Entertainment #04_2013

The vintage style may have been kept elsewhere but the bootâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s installation is a testament to modern equipment and techniques.

1964 FORD FUTURA FEATURE CAR

TECH SPECS owner Mario Pansino vehicle 1964 Ford Futura

engine: Ford 302ci Windsor induction: Barry Grant 650Carb intake: Edelbrock manifold internals: Hyperteuctic pistons, Hastings rings, Arp rod bolts, Mild cam and Crow filters controllers: ICE Ignitions transmission: C4 Auto with 3000 RPM stall convertor exhaust: Tri-Y extractors with 1.75-inch primaries into a twin 2.5-inch system suspension: King springs (front), Rest leaves and Koni adjustable shocks (rear) brakes: Ford XA ventilated discs, Holden HQ calipers wheels: 14 x 6-inch steel rims tyres: White Wall tyres

SYSTEM source: Alpine CDA-9886M marine head unit front speakers: Alpine SPR-176A Type-R splits rear speakers: Alpine SPR-174C Type-R coaxials subwoofers: 2 x Alpine SWR-1222D Type-R subwoofers front amplifiers: Alpine MRV-F340 4-channel amplifier for front and rear speakers sub amplifiers: Alpine MRD-M500 monobloc equaliser/processor: Alpine PXA-H100 wiring: Stinger Pro battery: Optima D 34 lighting: White LED lighting sound deadening: Stinger Roadkill Extreme total system power: 800 watts installed by: Phatt Audio Concepts total system component cost: $5000 total build time: 15 years total installation cost: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Brotherly love and lots of whining by Samâ&#x20AC;? credits: A big thanks to my brother Sam Pansino from Phatt Audio Concepts, Vito from Polo Bodyworks, Tim Parsons from Sew Fine Auto Interiors and my wife and kids for putting up with the long build time

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FEATURE CAR

Driver Profile Name: Mario Pansino Car: 1964 Ford Futura

What got you into car electronics? Since I was a kid I’ve always had a passion for audio, making my own ‘Mix’ tapes to listen to while cruising

How long have you been into it for? Over 20 years Occupation? My mates call me DOT.COM

Favourite music for testing audio gear? Anything with awesome bass

Dream car? 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback Other hobbies/interests? Ice hockey and anything cars

Where to next? Looking for a left hand drive classic American muscle car

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1964 Ford Futura

contrasts beautifully with the car’s white ‘ivory’ upholstery which is a vinyl retrim used in the seats, doors, kick trims, and parcel shelf. The factory look has been maintained in terms of the dash and instrumentation – aside from the mint respray – and the only give away is the centrallyinstalled Alpine CDA-9886M Marine head unit.

The functional controls have been replaced with ivory knobs to match the pearled white steering wheel and a period venetian blind adorns the rear window.

A further nice touch; the ADR approved seatbelts have been ‘hidden’ in a slot within the doors – builders Phatt Audio Concepts have thought of everything.

Period Pieces Although all efforts have been made to maintain the period look and feel, some subtly introduced modern touches have gone into the design of the audio system. Down low in the kick panel in front of the doors you’ll see custom designed pods, in ivory vinyl, that house Alpine SPR-176A Type-R splits.

The signal chain, by the way, starts at the dash’s aforementioned Alpine marine head unit

Australian InCar Entertainment #04_2013

“since i was a kid i’ve always had a passion for audio making my own ‘mix’ tapes to listen to while cruising...”

FEATURE CAR

1964 Ford Futura

which then feeds an Alpine PXA-H100 processor which in turn provides signal juice to an Alpine MVR-F340 4-channel amplifier and an Alpine MRD-M500 monobloc. The MVR-F340 supplies power to the Type-R SPR176C splits out front and the Type-R SPR174 coaxials in the rear. The MRD-M500 monobloc runs the two Alpine SWR-1222D Type-R 12-inch subwoofers in the boot.

The boot actually also houses the amplifiers which have been flushmounted side-by-side under an edge-lit and etched glass window in the floor cavity. A custom enclosure and baffle hold the subwoofers magnet out. The ivory theme has been used in the vinyl lining and custom 2-pack painted ivory fibre boot walls.

The whole car has been sound deadened with Stinger Roadkill Extreme and Stinger 12-gauge wire has been used throughout.

ConClusion This Futura total rebuild has probably more relevance now than ever before in light of Ford recently announcing the impending demise of the Australian-built Falcon in 2016. The Futura was originally a Falcon (although it lacked Falcon badging) and this unit will continue the tradition long after the Falconâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manufacturing has stopped. This is a true classicâ&#x20AC;Ś

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Australian InCar Entertainment #04_2013

1964 Ford Futura FEATURE CAR

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64 ALPINE ICS-X8 MIRRORLINK HEAD UNIT

AUDITION REVIEWER: MARTY PRICE

MIRRORING THE FUTURE. When it comes to allocating funds to various research and development avenues there is a very careful dance to partake in. It’s not wise to sink all of one’s finances into any one ability however you don’t want to be seen dragging the chain on any particular technological front either. This was the dilemma facing Japanese giant Alpine a few years back, when it was investing quite heavily in its new processing systems in the PXA-H100 and PXA-H800.

During this period the company’s head units started to lag behind the competition a little, especially where the mystical realm of smartphone interfacing was concerned. Put simply; while previous generations of Alpine decks were market leading navigators and receivers, they were yet to break into the highly competitive market of smartphone technology. Now if you’ve been around the car audio scene for a while you’ll no doubt know what’s coming here. You guessed it – Alpine, a company not known for letting anyone else get ahead of it audio visually began developing a smartphone integration system that would not only shape up to the competition; but utterly outperform it in every way.

Not long after this development commenced it teamed up with the Car Connectivity Consortium and introduced MirrorLink to various new head units, with the

new ICS-X8 receiver being the first flagship model to be equipped with this impressive new technology.

SMOKE & MIRRORS You might have gleamed by now that there is a fair bit of hullabaloo surrounding the MirrorLink concept so let us just delve into this topic a little further before we go on. MirrorLink is a communication technology that allows certain smartphones to integrate with the car’s infotainment systems. To simplify it a little further; MirrorLink allows you to access your phones applications and interact with it using the cars existing head unit, console and steering wheel controls. MirrorLink is the brainchild of the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC), a group comprised of various automotive and electronic manufacturers. Together they have established an industry standard for certifying the safest, best and most useful apps and devices for consumers and this concept they have aptly named MirrorLink.

Starting this year; Alpine has incorporated this technology into a select few of its head units and via the MirrorLink protocol these head units can display your smartphone’s display and information with ease. There is one minor downside to MirrorLink which ought to be mentioned in hush tones – that is the absence of a certain Apple Inc. MirrorLink is

primarily designed for Nokia phones operating the Symbian operating system and selected Android phones that are running the 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system.

So with MirrorLink briefly explained and out of the way let’s get back to the head unit itself because besides its smartphone interfacing abilities; the double-DIN sized ICS-X8 is also a conventional audio visual receiver that possesses not only significant interconnection ability for its $1499 asking price, but also comes equipped with an impressive digital sound processing suite on board. There is also a smaller $899 sibling in the ICS-X7 if you don’t require a disc mechanism.

The front face of the ICS-X8 is typical Alpine; very professional looking and super smooth. Most of the front real estate is consumed by the 7-inch panel itself which is a backlit transparent thin film liquid crystal unit which offers a resolution of 1,152,000 pixels or 480 x 800 (WVGA). Lined along the bottom of the face are the main control buttons and the disc slot is located behind the face which quietly motors down to allow access.

Surrounding the face is a flat black surround and this aids in enhancing the bright centre image in addition to helping the unit look right at home in most dash locales.

The unit comes standard with the trademark Alpine blue background however

you can customise the screen and button colours to suit your dash lighting.

Turning from the visual to the connectivity side of things you have various ways of getting your music and images into and out of the unit. Starting with the radio; the ICS-X8 includes Alpine’s latest variant of its powerful radio tuner chipset and the unit makes provision for 12 FM and six AM presets. A slim new disc mechanism is fitted snugly in the upper portion of the chassis and is able to play most media and formats including DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD-ROM through to VCD and CD including CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-R and CD-RW. Both PAL and NTSC are supported as are most software file types provided they’re stored on devices formatted within standard FAT12/16/32 protocols.

Not one but two additional version 2.0 USB ports hang from the rear and this is especially important if you permanently have an iDevice connected to one via the included associated audio video cable. Full V2.1+EDR Bluetooth functionality is also retained on board and this is not limited to just making and receiving phone calls. You can also stream information to the deck if you’re too lazy to physically plug your smartphone in. You can plug numerous other items into the unit including Alpine’s new NVE-M300P navigation system, the TUE-T150DVA digital TV tuner or a plethora of Alpine’s quality reverse cameras, for which the deck has a specific port and trigger.

There are multiple analogue inputs and outputs protruding from the rear including 4-volt front, rear and subwoofer pre-outs, auxiliary audio visual output and input and of course; rear entertainment specific leads too. If you aren’t looking to head down the aftermarket amplifier route then the ICS-X8 comes equipped with a powerful 4-channel

sive. The digital information is interpreted and manipulated via a quality sound processing suite before being sent to the 24-Bit digitalto-analogue convertor for conversion and transmission to the outside world.

Starting with the basic controls such as balance, fader and subwoofer phase and level controls; you’re then led into the more complex processing areas starting with time correction, which offers you the option of delaying each channel from 0ms through to 9.9ms (336.6cm).

Next item on the DSP menu is the crossover, which gives you high-pass for both the front and rear outputs and a low-pass for the subwoofer. Values range from 20Hz through to 200Hz in third octave steps and slopes range from 6dB through to 24dB in 6dB increments. The crossover section also allows for level attenuating for each output pairing.

Last, but not least, the DSP offers a 9-band parametric EQ. Now that may be easy to roll off the tongue but it’s actually quite a few more bands than many other decks at this price point.

Remember I said it’s parametric, not graphic – there’s a big difference.

With its parametric ability you can adjust the frequency centres for each band in addition to setting the ‘Q’ or influence logarithms between 1, 2 and 3. I would have liked to have seen a higher ‘Q’ option (perhaps 1, 3, 7 and 20 especially where treble is concerned) however it does have nine bands so I’m more than satisfied with what’s on offer here. Boost and attenuation ability is +/- 7dB. You can save multiple DSP presets and the unit comes with a few already preset which appear under the BassMaxEQ menu.

The box is a little smaller than previous ones however it’s still covered in Alpine’s

the colours and sounds upon which point I realised I only had my iPhone4. While that would allow me to use the Bluetooth functionality I soon went searching for another mobile device in order to use the MirrorLink system, finally obtaining a Samsung Galaxy S3.

With the DriveLink app installed on the phone, the ICS-X8 soon began mirroring what was displayed on the test phone, allowing control of many of its functions, apps and navigation directly from the head unit.

It must be said though that my phone did have a few little issues accessing short cuts however I’m confident with a software update this issue will quickly become a thing of the past.

Using the speaker outputs the unit is quite clean throughout its 0 to 35 volume range although noise does start to creep up a little when it’s pushed over about 28 – however this can be said of virtually every deck in the world. But when using the deck’s pre-outs, in conjunction with a quality power amplifier, system hiss quickly becomes a complete non-event.

The actual playback quality is superb, with everything sounding controlled, powerful and containing very little external noise at all.

Combine this crystal clear output with the unit’s DSP and you have one hell-of-a great sounding source unit.

ConClusion If you’re tossing up whether to use the ICS-X8 as a source can I assure you that, if you’d go ahead, it would be a widely made choice.

Because between the MirrorLink functionality, its connectivity, the built-in DSP and its other features this unit is perhaps one of the best value source units doing the rounds today.

HeAd unit witH Mirrorlink

Type: Double-DIN 7-inch touchscreen with MirrorLink and Bluetooth included power Handling: 4 x 22 watts continuous, 4 x 50 watts maximum FeaTures: DVD, VCD, CD, MP3, WMA and AAC playback ability. Multiple inputs and outputs including USB and iDevice control, comprehensive DSP included and camera, remote, navigation and DTV ready CosT: $1499

HigH EQ Moving from connectivity to actual sound manipulation and again the attributes are impres-

colours and contains the usual swag of goodies which Alpine includes to help you get it all in and running. The loom is clearly labeled and the unit comes with two printed manuals which is nice if you like hands on reading.

If you’re generation-Y onwards though and are not sure what paper actually is then rest assured you can download the manual from Alpine’s website too.

When it came to testing the unit, it was plugged in, fired up and I started setting all

ConTaCT: Alpine Electronics Australia on 1300 765 760 web: www.alpine.com.au

• Advanced MirrorLink technology • Superbly featured • As always, great sound • Some minor software glitches (can be firmware upgraded in future)

teCH SpeCS

Alpine iCS-X8

50 watt internal amplifier that happily outputs over 20 watts continuous when fed into a 4-ohms load. The unit is steering wheel control ready for later model cars, IR remote control ready and comes with an external microphone so as to not leave you screaming at the deck’s face like a drill instructor on a bad day.

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74 DYNAUDIO ESOTAR2 E110, E650, EX2-650 SPEAKERS

AUDITION REVIEWER: MARTY PRICE

THE DANES DON’T LIE. What’s in a name? If the discussion topic is extreme sound quality and the name is Dynaudio then a name is not only something to be revered, it’s akin to a passport; gaining you access to an audio world most people only dream of. With a humble start and founded in Denmark in 1977, Dynaudio’s products have become what are arguably the benchmark when it comes to high-end audio.

So pedantic is the company about its products that many of them are still built in house by hand. This is because the heart and identity of Dynaudio is and, always has been, in its drivers themselves. All Dynaudio drivers are required to offer superbly articulate sound reproduction, from the entry level Esotec systems right through to the flagship Esotar2 range. After reviewing the Esotec components in the past and holding them in very high regard, I’d be kidding if I didn’t admit to exuberance as I prepared to put the Esotar2 components through their paces – they’re the Bugatti Veyron of component speakers!

ESOTERIC STUFF An impressive evolution of the original award winning Esotars, the exquisite new Esotar2 range is not comprised of actual ‘sets’ but rather individual components which you mix and match to optimally suit your particular

application. Starting at the top end; the 1.1inch tweeter is called the E110, the 4-inch midrange is called the E430, the 6.5-inch midrange is called the E650 and the 12-inch subwoofer is imaginatively called the E1200.

Coincidentally, you might recall from a previous issue that it was this very subwoofer that started the unhealthy obsession with the Esotar2 range. So impressive was the E1200’s ability to actually play bass as opposed to just kicking the listener senseless, that I purchased the subwoofer right after the review and it now resides in the reference test car. Not long after this I set about obtaining other Esotar2 components for review and if they perform anything like the E1200 then we’re in for one hell of a ride. Out of the components available we opted for the most commonly requested configuration; the 2-way passive component set – this equates to two E110 tweeters, two E650 midranges and two EX2-650 crossovers.

We’ll embark with the E110 tweeter not only because it’s the driver with the most developmental technology injected into it, it’s the most expensive item too. Borrowing ideologies from the quarter-million dollar Dynaudio Master home range of high-end floorstanders, the E110 is a work of art in every sense of the word. It starts with a 1.1-inch chemically treated fine fabric diaphragm which flows into the suspension

system surrounding it. This coating is aurally transparent but gives the dome a tremendous strength and resilience against physical deformation. However because of the textile base, it doesn’t display any of the usual hardness associated with stiffer domes.

Matter of fact, Dynaudio Esotar tweeters are famed for their smooth response and to that end the E110 is completely devoid of any harsh peaks or shrill sonic characteristics.

Surrounding the dome is a massive light-grey powder coated alloy housing measuring 111mm in diameter! This large face is the result of countless hours of testing and is enormously successful at dispersing waves equally regardless of what axis the speaker is on in relation to the listener.

Turn the unit over and you’re again greeted with mechanical perfection. The entire back chamber is CNC machined alloy and draws back waves away from the underside of the dome in order that it may provide high detail without fighting against itself at various frequencies. Housed deep within this labyrinth chamber is a ferro-fluid cooled motor comprising of an aluminium 6-ohms voice coil encased by an extremely strong lightweight neodymium magnet. Besides cooling, the fluid also works with the back chamber in aiding damping and because the voice coil is incredibly light, the reduced moving mass

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AUDITION

means it’s far more accurate so far as linear reciprocation is concerned. The combination of the voice coil, magnet structure and the vented pole piece allows the tweeter to have a very low F3 point, far lower than many other tweeters could conceivably reach.

Geometrically speaking the unit features a unique flower shape footprint and above the dome is a triple pronged metal grille which protects it while providing as little interference to the rarefaction and compression waves as possible.

Moving along to the E650 midrange driver it must be said straight up that’s it’s a sexy piece of kit – it means business and one glance immediately tells you it’s going to be one very solid performer. Construction is based around a light-grey powder coated cast alloy basket which boasts the same flower shaped footprint as the tweeter. The frame is designed primarily for strength however each of the six fingers is carefully profiled to be as aerodynamically invisible as possible to the underside of the cone. Turning topside there is a 6.5-inch diaphragm that is constructed from magnesium silicate polymer, a material that offers extreme strength while possessing very little weight. The large centre dust cap features an array of reinforcement slits where it adjoins the cone and these work in conjunction with the slight parabolic curvature on the cone itself for a homogenous design offering superb diffusion. Bordering the cone is a butyl rubber surround which features a unique roll design that holds everything concentric together with the flat rolled polycotton spider below.

Between the suspension, dust cap, cone and surround you have one of the best designed mechanical moving masses available

tECH spECs

DynauDio

Esotar2 E110, E650, EX2-650 2-way splits Type: 1.1-inch tweeter (E110), 6.5-inch midrange (E650) and 2-way crossover (EX2-650) power Handling: 200 watts continuous, 1000 watts maximum Frequency response: 50Hz – 30000Hz impedance: 6-ohms tweeter, 4-ohms midrange cosT: $699 each (E110), $449 each (E650) and $349 each (EX2-650) conTacT: Syntec International on 1800 648 628 web: www.syntec.com.au

• Superb engineering & build • Outstanding sound quality • Component mix & match flexibility • We’re struggling…

and this provides for ultra-smooth and very linear sound no matter what frequency range you’re reproducing. Deep within the heart of the frame is the motor and you better believe this is not just any motor. Over the years Dynaudio midranges have become known for having gargantuan sized voice coils and they’re not this way for show – rather it’s all to do with magnetic field optimisation and cooling attributes. You’ll notice most mainstream speakers have perimeter vents in the basket and a pole vent in the bottom. Using these, the speaker’s reciprocal movement draws and expels air through the voice coil gap with each cycle. While this is adequate, it tends to focus cooling on those areas nearest to the vent locales.

Mad Magnets So what Dynaudio has done instead is mount the magnet inside the voice coil rather than outside and this methodology sees the coil with its back effectively to the wind hence it has more air than it’ll ever need. Having the magnet inside also allows the magnet, which is immensely strong neodymium, to be placed in a very precise location in relation to the voice coil, keeping the coil winds themselves closer to the densest magnet fluxes – those found at the top and bottom extremities.

This gives the voice coil superb control and enhanced deceleration ability which is an absolute must for producing accurate sound.

The one downside of this approach, if one could call it such; is that the 4-ohms voice coil measures a whooping three inches in diameter. Don’t despair though; for Dynaudio has addressed this by constructing it from lightweight aluminium and the former itself from Kapton. Between the motors physical design and the cooling system you have an impressive power handling ability of 200 watts continuous or up to 1000 watts for brief periods!

From the transducers to the brains of the operation; allow me to introduce the EX2-650 passive crossovers. Dynaudio offers different crossovers to employ depending on which particular drivers you select, however they all share similar brand components. Visually speaking they’re not as flashy as some you’ll encounter but you’ve probably gleaned by now that Dynaudio is all about sound and has precious little interest in visual appeal.

Located within the shock-resistant plastic cases are a whole host of quality components, many of which hale from France – these cross the speakers at 2400Hz with a second order (12dB) slope and the tweeter has the ability to be boosted or attenuated by 2dB. Each crossover features a thick 3mm glass circuit board and attached to this are six large Solen PA-MKP capacitors, three air-core coils and Dynaudio’s own newly developed flat ceramic resistors.

The crossovers not only split the frequencies but also combat various phase issues between the speakers, something we

often gloss over but should perhaps spend more time discussing. When speakers are installed apart (in the door and a-pillar for example) they tend to experience phase and level issues, especially at the cross point when the summation occurs. With a processor you can easily change things like roll-off logarithms between Linkwitz (0dB sum), Bessel (1.5dB sum), Butterworth (3dB sum) and Chebychev (6dB sum) however when your only weapon is the passive crossover it’s not quite so simple.

This is where companies like Dynaudio conduct countless hours of development work pertaining to the relationship between its crossovers and drivers and, besides the obvious frequency differences, this is another reason why you must be specific when selecting the right crossover for the drivers you’re planning on using. This will allow for the realisation of the full extent of their performance capabilities as they work harmoniously together.

So with the hype aside it was time to get down to having a listen. One benefit of these components is the modest mounting depth of 27mm and 67mm for the E110 and E650 respectively; however when finding real estate for the E650 you’ll need to ensure there is adequate clearance on the front side too because the cone can achieve some serious excursion when pushed.

With the run-in complete I began with softer genres of music such as classical, jazz, choir and country. It’s true that these components offer brilliantly smooth and beautifully detailed reproduction but what’s actually most impressive is something you won’t immediately notice; and that is their transparency.

The sound they reproduce is possibly the closest I’ve heard in years to actual instruments and real voices. It’s like you just close your eyes and… well, you’re now sitting in the concert hall! So with that effect on softer genres how would they go when it came time for the harder ones like heavy metal, rock and electronica?

Well the same can be said here; they’re clean, accurate and controlled beyond that which I’ve witnesses in a long time, to the point where you can actually hear the crack of double bass drumming rather than feel it alone and hear the slight click of a plectrum on a string. This is no accident; the motors within these drivers work tirelessly to provide you with some of the most controlled musical notes you’ll ever hear – testimony to just how far the Danish engineering team has come over the years.

ConClusion [The component set overall is superb in every sense of the word, with both E110 and E650 working seamlessly together to provide you with absolutely incredible resolution. It’s a cliché that’s way over used these days but it must be said here – you literally need to hear these speakers to believe them.