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advantex

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Posts posted by advantex

  3. Posted · Report reply

    Armorall for me, I think it looks great.

    Avoided Meguiars interior detailer like the plague, it turns everything white and has actually made parts of my trim perish and peal like sunburn.

    I would go for a product from Meguiars called silicon free dressing, its only available in bulk and only if you have an account. I can hook you up if you need 10 Ltrs.

    I also have not been impressed with that particular product although it has not done my interior any harm. However, I am very impressed with the bulk of their products, if you use them as directed (very important), they produce good results.

  4. Posted · Report reply

    I went to saddlerywarehouse.co.nz, actually went to the local store.

    They have an amazine array of leather care products covering all care and conditions of leather.

    Really good products but more importantly - great pricing.

    The hardest part was selecting a product to suit.

    Suggest that if you deal with people who know and use leather, trust in their advice perhaps. Let them reccomend. I did. I used a $10 product exactly how they told me to and the result was nothing short of astounding! Only used it yesterday so can't comment on long term result, but the if the immediate result is any indication, I have nothing to worry about.

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Bit off topic so I apologise in advance but is your car black-I was in Gissy over the weekend & spotted a very shiny & tidy e34 driving by.

    Also spotted a schnitzer e39(black) which got my attention as well.A little rough-Know anything about it.

    Also spotted-that "spider man" e34 that was on TM recently-not pretty!

    White and looking better now than it ever did (thanks Brent).

    Agree with Spider Man, have seen that about now and then. Not sure on schnitzer. Went to super cheap auto the other day and when I drove around the back I saw a bimmer with Schnitzer AC5 pinstriped across the back. There was a car coming other way so didn't get a good look - could be same one?

    There are heaps of BMW's in Gisborne, 10 within 1k radius of me that I have seen and plenty elsewhere around the city.

  7. Posted · Report reply

    Not sure thats why I posted this [All in E mode] - Around town, no different. Slow accel 50-70k feel change at about 65/70k. Slow accel 70-100k another change at about 100k (that makes 5). 100-90k decelerate, can feel change and engine braking if continuing to decelerate [slow accelerate up from this causes change back again at about 100k]

    Fast accel 70-120k no change, ease back acceleration and two changes follow.

  11. Posted · Report reply

    They're here

    Whilst we're on the subject of WoF's, LTSA is getting harder on WoF issuers:

    Thanks, that was interesting reading. Have bookmarked the page. I also not there does not seem to be any requirement for your spedo to read reasonably accurately - if I read that correctly - it just states that it must function (specifically) in forward motion.

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Perhaps there should be more accountability for people that do WOF? I personally know this guy who passes almost every car taken to him which isn't too encouraging having some old wreck with a hundred diagnosed problems on the road, similarly getting rejected for stupid minor stuff is just an annoyance!

    Totally agree here! I also have Toyota Hiace van. It is 89old and looks shabby. Every time I go through a warrent, it takes them at least 1/2hr. They pull everything apart, inspect every nook and cranny. Last time it failed because there was a rip in the seat and the foam had worn (getting in and out of van) and the metal under the seat was exposed. I cannot believe there is a "regulation" covering that - I may be wrong - but it is not a big hole nor is it a hazard of any kind I am aware of.

    Seems to me just a way of "we got to find something wrong with this old van!" type attitude. Opinions or fact? I believe you can read the entire inspection regulations somewhere online, but not found them yet.

  13. Posted · Report reply

    Had a mate round for a night. We ate piza and spent evening searching youtube for something different. Grabbed a few links you may wish to click and follow

    - wait this one out, he is really very good!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSmxaORvBQI...feature=related - gokart with a difference

    - bike riding extreme

    - different

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM3vOzq8fCY...feature=related - even more different

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V28w0bx5Vsc - kewl clip from a movie (can just imagine this)

    - anyone for a caravan for the holidays

    enjoy

  15. Posted · Edited by advantex · Report reply

    Found some Tui’s in the fridge so this is just a load of waffle really…

    I don’t want to go down the digital track. It is bad enough having CD’s and electronic media – but it is very practical. Technology is getting better, however the brain is better still and even though I am getting old and got hairy ears (LOL) there is an ‘overall’ difference between analogue and digital that one can’t necessarily put a definite finger on but it just doesn’t sound as good (and its not just a mind set thing, it is very real).

    That may change over time, but even today there is a big difference between a digital .wav file and the same .mp3/.wma or whatever and it’s not in the initial listening either, it comes from subtle things like overall presence of sound, long term comfort with what you’re listening to, missing bits that your brain remembers but are not there and that which your brain predicts will be next but doesn’t happen, unexpected distortion or aptitude drop etc. Same-same can be applied in similar sense to class A/ AB or D amps.

    Why do we need MP3 etc anyway? It was great back in the days when the biggest flash memory you could get was 64meg, but with the 16+gig CF cards of today? Today’s reason is surely copyright and royalty based or Apple/ Microsoft driven. You can get a cut down version of a song for nothing or little, but you need to pay the price for quality (the original CD sound). Big Boy commerce is locking us into a trend, which albeit is viable, is not necessarily good and just like fashion, it will eventually change once more. Just like vynal is on the way back! - or so I hear anyway.

    The more I think about sound, the more I feel it is a matter of comfort (i.e. harmony, melody, correct emphasis and other suchlike ‘mushy’ terms). It’s not what you listen to, its how your brain reacts on an emotional and comfort level to the composition. This is why I want .wav – at least I get what was originally recorded (good or bad).

    I like 3doors Down but I dislike some of their compositions because they just don’t sound good. I like Brook Fraser but I dislike some of her songs because they do nothing for me. Two scenarios – one doesn’t fit the ‘comfort’ criteria, the other doesn’t fit the ‘emotional’ criteria. Yet, others may like the ones I dislike.

    Same seems to go for in car sounds I have listened to so far. I (personally) find either find over-emphasis (uncomfortable) or blandness (unemotional – as in no impact). As Rogan rightly pointed out, the missing bits in many audio systems seem to be the bits your brain expects to hear when you are listening and feels short changed when it’s not there.

    This is the very important low to mid frequency range that we humans use most – i.e the vocal range, the guitar strum, the sax, the whatever you like to listen to that “fills†the emotional response because of its delicately balanced volume in conjunction with the rest of the composition and instruments used and creates the impact you like according to your taste.

    You can have your body moving bass, you ear piercing treble, but none of this matters if you don’t have the “overall sound†“the presence†that moves the heart which is in harmony with these other impactive and characterizing sounds, deep bass and spine chilling treble that are a part of the entire composition.

    If you’re favorite song brings tears to you eyes when you play it really loud, you got a good system. If it doesn’t either it’s not your favorite song, or your system does not do your song justice. Would that be fair comment?

    Edit: aptitude->amptitude

  16. Posted · Report reply

    What I do is just copy it as lossless and play it off my ipod.

    And yes, you'll need 6.5 inch drivers. Unless you're wanting to go 3 way, which is a lot more custom and complicated than what you're currently thinking.

    Might just end up doing that yet - though far perfer to have flash or CF cards with playlists and songs I like.

  17. Posted · Report reply

    I got the brochure of new Clarion devices today. Look good, smell good, taste good so visited their website and checked them out.

    Read the user manuals of the two top end head units that suited my specs, alas, lots of talk about ACC, MP3, WMA , iPod and timing etc but no mention of USB .wav.

    I can only assume you cannot play .wav files from anything unless it is a CD. That is what I gather based on what I read and is also not the way I want to go. Will grab the rep next time he is in Gisborne, toss him a .wav usb flash and see what the unit does (he has it in his car). The DXZ786USB is kind of along the ‘simplistic’ lines I am looking for, has colour changeable display (amber) which is matching, pity about the rear USB – however that could always be cabled and mounted elsewhere and such a thought might be more a practical idea anyway.

    They look very functional though. Speakers on outward appearance seem to be OK but I cannot find any specifics on their site about individual units, just overall specs on ‘the range’.

    Will keep looking.

    Might end up doing what you suggested Rogan, tell someone what I want, what type of music I listen to, cross my fingers and go buy it - end up saying ‘holy (something)’ depending on the result LOL.

  18. Posted · Report reply

    Rogan:

    These amps, along with others I have looked at seem fine. The speakers seem to be will respected.

    Apex:

    Not yet decided but will bear that in mind – thanks.

    Problem with listening to stuff in shops is there is no real way of telling what they are going to sound like in the vehicle. The kicker sounded good and would fit well as a 'sub' (in the shop that is). They sound great in my friends van, but that’s a van not a car. A lot of people I have talked with say kicker speakers are fine, some here wouldn't have them.

    What I have done is listened to quite a few 'other peoples' setups in their own cars. This is what I have found to be quite common with the set-ups of others - or it might just be me.

    • Bass is not punchy but booms to the point of being wildly unrealistic OR it has a punchy sound but has a clouded upper end which overpowers the low midrange and makes that mushy sounding.

    • Mid-range missing that harmonious 'presence' that is so distinctive with many female vocals. A sax does not sound like a sax – close, but not the same. Perhaps that is why I like the WM4’ so much. They excel in this range.

    • Most top end treble seemed to sound OK, some I listened to was distorted with percussion instruments (but that could have been the recording also).

    I didn’t use my CD’s, just whatever they had in the player at the time. Now this might not be the equipment, it could be how they have set it up to suit what they like. In other words, it sounds good to them and that is fine.

  21. Posted · Edited by advantex · Report reply

    Yesterday was a fantastic day. I got off early and went window/ear shopping.

    Conclusion:

    I have already spent more $ on this bimmer than it is worth so might as well go a bit further. At least I own it, love it and if I am gonna spend time in it I might as well get it reasonably right.

    Sub:

    Kicker 10†square sub would suit my requirement. It fits nicely, easy box to manufacture and install in boot space. Kicker S10L5 appeals because it has moderate low freq response, available in 4ohm and the mono amp designed to drive it seems ok also. The high response of 100hz should allow smooth transition at 24db per octave around the 80hz thanks recommendation and allow the front combos and especially the rear WM4’s (which full range down to 35hz) to work better in their spec ranges. I believe it will effectively give the rears a deeper punch rather than boom.

    Now talking to Eastland Hi-Fi (Paul), he gave me a lot of ideas. Although a true salesman – but still a nice person, he did come up with some interesting possibilities.

    Rears:

    As stated, I have spent more than the car’s worth so go the whole hog. I will wait till I get leather seats from Brent. My idea now is to remove the rear headrests and back shelf. I am skilled in 3dCAD so will draw up whole new back shelf to accommodate the WM4’s and rear headrests (detached from seat). This will be routed out on our works CNC milling machine from laminated boards, multi-sectioned so it is easy to install/ remove. It will be leathered on front to match headrests and blend into the seat line. Thus the back end is decided (bar comments on sub selection). Objective, you can still see easily out the back window but you have to look twice to tell the difference between the rear headrests and the WM4’s above them. This new shelf unit will be coved in similar lines and curves to match the car so it blends nicely.

    Dash Tweeters:

    Again, use 3dCAD. Remove dash grills, use as template to create new structure to house the tweeters and still give the ventilation system its needs. This will be routed out on CNC mill using black umphy (hope I spelled that right – an industrial nylon type substance) raising the tweeters and pointing them forward towards the cab.

    Centre Stage:

    This configuration lends itself to a mid front seat ‘centre-stage’ which I think is what I prefer anyway having listened to a lot of cars recently. The subtle sound delays between fronts and rears give a ‘surround sound’ or ‘live performance’ hint to the music which I like.

    There are some new head units to be released in the next month (in NZ). I have arranged for the PDF’s to be emailed to me and await their arrival. However, as amps are going to be the major sound drive devices, all I am going to need on the head end is good quality output to the amps. CD quality is important, but will not be used anywhere as much as removable electronic media. JVC KDG845 is similar to what I am looking for in simplicity, have not yet go in-depth with this unit.

    EDIT " thanks" is the forums way of translating T.H.X (a sound standard)

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Why an sq car would have 5 subs, let alone 14 speakers in beyond me. 10 speakers 2 sub is about the absolute max and most serious competitors are doing plenty less.

    He owns a huge van. Although not my style, his pics were very impressive. Open the back door and "holy shite" - open air concert sort of thing!

  23. Posted · Report reply

    A teenage girl comes home from school and asks her mother. "Is it true what Rita just told me? Babies come out of the same place where boys put their penises?"

    "Yes, dear," replies her mother, pleased that the subject had finally come up and she wouldn't have to explain it to her daughter.

    "But then when I have a baby," the teenager pondered, "won't it knock all my teeth out?"

    I like that one.

    Little boy comes out of shower pulling on his penis. “Mom†he says, “is this where God put my brains?â€

    “Not yet son†answers his mother, “but it won’t be longâ€.

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