Surround Sound Yaris

[seriousfun]

I just upgraded my system so I can play SA-CD, DVD-V/A (Dolby Digital and DTS), and CD/Radio/Aux (Dolby Pro Logic II) in surround.

The Sony MEX-DV2000 is the first aftermarket head unit that does all this (I wish it did DVD-A at high resolution - MLP - but all DVD-A discs have either a DTS or DD track as well). I may add amps for more power in the future, but for now it seems a little beefier than the stock HU.


http://www.xplodsony.com/video/av_centers/MEX-DV2000

I replaced the stock front door speakers with MB Quart QSC-216s. I had the component tweeters mounted on the doors up near the side mirrors. I may add another pair of these for the rears at some point.


http://www.mbquart.de/en/produkte/ca...php?nr=qsc_216

I already had a Kenwood KSC-SW1 from my first, totalled, Yaris. It mounted easily under the passenger seat.


http://www.kenwoodusa.com/products/L...k3=158&pr=2024

Someday, I might post pics of tweeter location, subwoofer location, HU install (I have my Scanguage II stuck underneath it).

A local installer put this in for about $230, and it took about four hours. He didn't quite get the surround aspects of the system, so I am still setting the crossovers (built in to the Sony), speaker distance and level calibration, etc.

I don't have a video screen, but I may get one before a long trip next month. $100-150 will get me a small screen that I can tuck into the passenger-side glove compartment, to access DVD-A menus, watch movies, etc.

The sound is spacious and dynamic, and works well with any kind of music. SA-CD and DVD-A have not taken over the world, but there are a lot of titles out there, and more being made. A car can be an ideal environment for surround, since you can calibrate the system for an audience that can't move around too much by definition.