Thanks ToSpecial thanks go to Pioneer Electronics and www.4smartcar.com.
With an invitation in hand to the '08 Pioneer Demo Car Build-Off, car audio installer Elie Rothstein knew he needed a killer car to set himself apart. After all, every competitor in the build-off would have the exact same Pioneer gear to fashion a sound quality system. What immediately came to mind was a Smart Car Passion Coupe. "I chose this car because it is so unique and because it had just been released in the U.S. Most people still don't know what this car is or who it is made by," Rothstein explains.
Although the Smart Car's unique design is sure to catch some eyes, the size presents some obvious problems when it comes to a competition-class audio system. Luckily, Rothstein works with some of the best in the business at Al and Ed's Autosound in West Hollywood, Calif. The first step though, was getting the engine up to his standards, which began with the installation of a Doug Thorley single exit cat-back exhaust. The car also received an ECU performance upgrade courtesy of www.4smartcar.com, including a remapping of gearshift points. This upgrade increased horsepower by 14 and torque by 10, Rothstein says.
Head Unit
A great system begins with a great head unit. Pioneer provided the competitors with its Pioneer Premier DEH-P880PRS. Thanks to built-in dual six-band graphic EQ (viewable on a white OEL display) and Auto Time Alignment (which adjusts for speaker placement and takes some of the hassle out of staging and imaging), extra processors wouldn't be necessary. It was a definite bonus in the micro car. The head unit also comes satellite radio ready, and although you need an adapter for full iPod control, it had the right amount of simplicity and delivery for Rothstein's purposes.
Door Panels
Because of the Smart Car's size, there's no reason to overwhelm the audio environment with loads of sound. Instead of using all the equipment they had on call, the team went instead with a single pair of Pioneer TS-C720PRS 6.75-inch front component midrange speakers, which they custom-molded and angled in the door panels. The speakers are designed for a fast response with low distortion, and the custom fiberglass enclosures give them an even tighter sound.
A-Pillars
When looking at the front stage, it's hard to miss the tweeters from the TS-C720PRS component set. Lacking a great deal of headroom, Rothstein and company mounted the tweeters in the A-pillars. The speakers were custom-mounted at mirror height, making for a practical, yet unique, installation. Understanding the importance of speaker location and direction, they "spent a lot of time calculating the correct angle for the door mounts, mids, and tweeters' angles," Rothstein reveals.
Subwoofers
Luckily, the installation crew found a creative solution. Mounting brackets were welded to the back of each seat to hold custom fiberglass enclosures, one for each of the two Pioneer Premier 12-inch TS-W3001D4 woofers. "The bass does not sound as intimidating as it looks," Rothstein confesses. "I am very pleased with the overall sound quality and especially the bass response in the car. It definitely exceeded my goals."
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