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Alpine Electronics Unveils Third Generation AlpineF#1Status System in a 2018 Tesla Model S

2022-02-16T15:36:06+00:00

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (Feb. 16, 2022) – Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. unveiled the third generation AlpineF#1Status System in a Tesla Model S during an exclusive event with AlpineF#1Status Authorized Dealers and Alpine Executive Management at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.

The AlpineF#1Status system is the first complete premium car audio system to achieve 384kHz/32bit High-Resolution Audio Playback, the highest recording spec possible in a car audio system. This is Alpine Electronics of America’s first complete vehicle install of the third-generation sound system.

Complete, High-Resolution Sound System

AlpineF#1Status was designed with one goal in mind: to bring recording studio-level sound performance into the challenging vehicle interior environment and reproduce the ultimate, high-resolution sound.

Comprised of six components – the HDS-7909 Head Unit Commander, DAP-7909 Digital Audio Player, HDP-H900 Digital Signal Processor, two HDA-F900 4-Channel Amplifiers, and HDZ-9000 4-Way Speakers including an HDZ-9000SW 11-inch Subwoofer – the entire system was designed in perfect synchronization to handle the ultra-Hi-Res audio files.

To maintain the High-Resolution Audio Playback spec, the system’s signal path uses custom connectivity, including XLR cables and A2B, making AlpineF#1Status a fully integrated, complete system, and includes RCA connections with up to six channels of high-level input to integrate the factory head unit or aftermarket head unit into the system.

Custom Build for Premium Performance

To demonstrate a premium listening and driving experience, Alpine chose a 2018 Tesla Model S P100D to showcase this ultra-high-resolution sound system. A near-silent Electric Vehicle (EV) powertrain, coupled with the large EV battery bank, made the Tesla Model S an optimal acoustical choice to house and power the AlpineF#1Status system. Additionally, the interior design of the Tesla enabled a custom, recording studio-like interior build.

Built in-house by Alpine’s Detroit Fabrication Team, the Tesla Model S boasts a complete custom dashboard, center console, and trunk fabrication built from scratch. The top plane of the dash was lowered over three inches to install custom, on-axis speaker housings that host the 3-inch midrange speakers and 2.5-inch tweeters. This location was not only ideal to showcase the premium speaker design, but also serves as an optimal listening position for a true front passenger center stage sound experience.

To showcase the system’s ability to retain a factory radio, the build retains the original Tesla 17-inch touchscreen, which controls most of the car’s functions including media, backup camera, interior vehicle controls, and more. Housed underneath the massive screen is the AlpineF#1Status Head Unit Commander, which dons the iconic Alpine green chiclets and controls the media on the Digital Audio Player. A custom, motorized mechanism located at the top center of the dash reveals the factory instrument cluster panel for monitoring speed.

The front door panels house the 7-inch mid-bass speakers that replaced the Tesla factory speakers, with the lower portion fabricated from scratch. From the tweeters to the woofers, all AlpineF#1Status speakers are made from the same high-performance cone material, Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) and feature Alpine proprietary technology including DDDrive, DDLinear, and Dual Emission for a completely unified, 4-way system that produces a true stereo image.

The true showstopper of the build is in the rear trunk, which was designed in perfect symmetry to represent the balance of the sound system. The factory panels were removed to utilize the entire cabin space for this premium system. A combination of wood and fiberglass custom panels were added to the sides of the trunk, where the dual 11-inch subwoofers are housed in 1.5 cu ft sealed enclosures for optimal performance.

Multiple levels were added to the bottom of the trunk to showcase the workhorse of the sound system: the Digital Signal Processor and dual, 4-channel amplifiers. A replication Alpine amplifier is featured at the crown of the install as a homage to the Alpine power indicator’s unique design.

Drawing inspiration from the heritage of the third-generation system, aesthetic touches to the front cabin include custom wood paneling and LED lights fixed around the inside of the vehicle, for an “old-school” meets “new-school” design. The wood is authentic Makore veneer (African species of wood) with a clear coat and polish. Premium black leather surrounds the trunk for a modern, clean finish.

The system was meticulously tuned by Alpine’s Detroit Fabrication Team using a specialized, High-Resolution Tuning Kit. The result is a perfectly balanced system that reproduces hair-raising details only found in this ultra-high-resolution system.

Following the unveiling ceremony, the AlpineF#1Status demo vehicle will begin a country-wide tour of the U.S. starting on the West Coast in Spring 2022, where it will be featured at local AlpineF#1Status Authorized Dealers. Details of the vehicle’s journey can be found on www.alpine-usa.com.

Tesla© is a copyright of Tesla, Inc

About Alps Alpine

Alps Alpine, a leading manufacturer of electronic components and automotive infotainment systems, has brought the world numerous “First 1” and “Number 1” products since its founding in 1948. The Alps Alpine Group currently operates 110 bases in 26 countries and regions, supplying roughly 40,000 different products and solutions to around 2,000 companies worldwide. Those offerings include devices such as switches, sensors, data communication modules, touch input panels, actuators, and power inductors; electronic shifters, remote keyless entry systems and other automotive units; consumer electronics like car navigation and audio-visual systems; and systems and services such as digital keys based on a smartphone app and blockchain technology, and remote monitoring. For more information: www.alpsalpine.com/e/.

Understanding Audio Radiators w/ KICKER

2023-12-20T20:17:14+00:00

You hear that bump. It’s the ubiquitous association with someone’s massive subwoofer system. That pulsing power that fills you with curiosity and, quite possibly, a bit of envy. Big sound usually means a lot of subwoofers, lots of amplification, and an enclosure that takes nearly every square millimeter of available trunk space - but does the box always have to be so bloody big? Actually, no.

Passive radiators (AKA Reflex Subwoofers) have been around since the 1930s. The use of radiators allows an enclosure to be far smaller than its ported cousins, because of the similarities in resistance to the active subwoofer accompanying it. The goal of the box size and port together create resistance. At the end of the day, that resistance is the tuning frequency of the box, which helps to determine the performance of the speaker and how much power it can take.

Think like a scale, with the box on one side and the active sub on the other. The sub wants air but the box resists, creating pressure. This battle for atmosphere happens hundreds of times per second. Want less resistance? Change the box. The sub plays deeper but it may not play louder. Want a little more punch to the bass? Tighten the box up. It won't play as deeply, but the higher frequencies and the impact will make that kick drum really kick.

“But what can I do if I don’t have tons of room in my trunk for a big enclosure?” you ask. Here’s where the reflex sub comes into play. Tuning a ported enclosure usually comes down to the port length and enclosure size. As those two sliding scales move, so does the response of the sub. Now replace that port with a different kind of resistance – a passive radiator. Change the radiator’s weight or how much it resists pressure (a stiffer suspension), and you get a similar effect as changing the port and enclosure size. The resulting resistance changes the tuning frequency, without needing additional airspace like you would with a ported enclosure. Ultimately, you get a far thinner enclosure that performs like a much larger one, without sacrificing power handling or frequency response.

One misconception is that passive radiators are strictly for subs. In fact, KICKER has been using radiators since 1980, when company Founder, Steve Irby, made his very first production full-range enclosure. A pair of 6.5-inch drivers and piezo tweeters accompanied a single 10-inch radiator in the center. The enclosure was meant to be a full-range solution installed in the back of a single-cab truck. In recent years, radiators have made a resurgence in the KICKER lineup.

“We revisited passive radiators about a decade ago,” says Aaron Surratt, KICKER’s New Product Develop-ment Manager. “We wanted to make a subwoofer that saved space, but took gobs of power and played low. The radiator helped us do that. The design trickled down to the CompRT loaded enclosure, and then to other projects.” Currently, KICKER makes a trio of subwoofer lines, built to take up minimal space under a truck seat or in a cargo area. All three are less than seven inches deep.

Surratt pointed out that without the radiator, the only way to get the enclosure to play low is to include an extremely long port, which increases the size of the overall enclosure. The radiator solves that problem. Even in high SPL applications, where extreme volume and extraordinarily deep bass are commonplace, a radiator can still take the place of a port, and lower the required size of the enclosure without sacrificing performance.

The tradeoff is cost. As of the publishing of this article, research showed the price of passive radiators ranging widely from $13 up to $235, depending on the brand, materials, and feature sets (mainly if the radiator is adjustable or not). Deeper bass often requires additional resistance, so the adjustability of the radiator allows the DIY enthusiast to play with varying weights to find the best balance of bass and efficiency.

Ultimately, deciding on a tuning solution is a matter of convenience and price. The majority of sub enclosures that feature a passive radiator are intentionally thin, made for the crowd who don’t want a big box, don’t want to build their own, and just want it to work. However, if you are more of a mind to tinker and make things sound perfect for your particular taste, grab some wood, a few subs (both active and passive), then ponder the possibilities. The results can be truly impressive.

Kicker ST Series Explained

2023-02-27T22:05:24+00:00

Most every Basshead remembers experiencing their first “windy build.” Tightly contained in an unsuspecting volume knob, the anticipation is akin to voluntarily standing in the path of an oncoming hurricane. It’s a rite of passage containing varying mixtures of terror, anticipation and excitement.

The moment you fire up that first song, those alluring low notes come rocketing toward you with the unique promise of your own private seismic event. Straining against primal in- stincts of fight and flight, the bass rips through your senses. Your eyes can’t focus. Breathing becomes a conscious exercise, and your hair - well, when did you get cast in a Tim Burton film? Three-ish minutes later, the song is over. Your endorphins ebb to a dull roar as your heart rate returns to something under triple digits. Some- how, you feel as though surviving the onslaught of barometric pressure is a sort of achievement, as you mentally tick the experience off of the bucket list. The thrill instinctively begs an immediate question; “Can I have some more?”

Yes, Oliver. Yes, you can - and here’s a hairbrush. You’ll need it about three minutes from now. Keeping the subwoofers from drowning out the voices and instruments in a song can be a massive challenge in ultra-high-power systems. At extreme volume levels, the traditional midrange and tweeter set is completely outclassed, unable to keep up with subs that are deliver- ing volume from tens of thousands of watts or more. In order to fix this rather quickly- identified deficiency, a dramatic addition to the stereo often becomes necessary. Custom door, A-pillar, and kick panels are fabricated, then packed with multiple sets of mid and high-range speakers in an attempt to fill in the system’s otherwise gaping acoustic holes. Only then is every component of the song given a fighting chance of reaching your ears in their intended proportion.

KICKER approaches PA-style tweeters and midrange drivers with two priorities in mind: power handling and efficiency. The ST (aka “Street Series”) 7- and 9-inch speakers are engineered specifically for use in a basshead’s system, using the company’s signature square design. “We used a paper cone because it is extremely efficient, as well as a treated cloth surround. It’s voiced to allow listeners to hear clean, clear vocals through exceptionally loud bass,” reported Aaron Surratt, KICKER’s New Product Development Manager. “It’s perfect for competition- level SPL systems.”

To make the speakers easier to mount in different doors, beefy low-profile ferrite magnets were used. Unlike traditional door speakers, the recommended power rating skyrockets to 300 watts RMS for the ST series 9-inch midrange – literally double the power handling of KICKER’s highest-rated coaxial door speaker, the CS series 6x9. Both sizes of midrange speakers will come in 4 or 8 ohms, allowing the designer to wire multiple speakers in different configurations.

It’s common knowledge in the audio world that every midrange needs a tweeter to go with it, completing the acoustic picture. Creating a tweeter for such a specific environment means that it has to be designed in a decidedly different fashion, cutting through bass while acoustically blending with the song itself. The ST series 1-inch and 1.5-inch bullet tweeters were made for this specific purpose. Both versions are equipped with a long, custom engineered lens to direct the sound over longer distances, then equipped with a replaceable aluminum diaphragm and tuned to project audio long distances; a necessity in high SPL-style setups. To offer installation options, KICKER includes a pair of trim bezels for flush or surface mounting. Completing the sound of competition-level SPL systems requires constant experimentation, exorbitant amounts of power and next-level tuning techniques. To allow the listener to hear the remaining 19,900 frequencies in the audible spectrum in their proper proportion above 100 Hz is the ultimate goal. If KICKER wants us to remember anything, it’s this: for all its fury, bass requires balance.

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