(I've said this in this forum before, so if you've heard it, bear with me.
Back in the 90s, Richard Clark had two cars that were simply incredible on the IASCA circuit. A Cadillac and a Buick Grand National. The GN was the later car for him. But you could be sure of one thing. If you were competing in his power class and you saw the Grand National roll off the trailer (yes, it was trailered to every show), you knew the best you could do on that day was 2nd place.
Those cars opened my eyes to what was possible with high end audio in a car cabin. Still some of the best sound I've heard anywhere, including many high end home systems.
Oz)
As a car audio enthusiast I remember that car. Clark’s team had compression drivers in specially made horns under the dash, pro audio eq, crossovers, time alignment rack units wired to run off 12v in the trunk.
The doors and voids in the body were filled with cement, I’m not sure if the car ever moved under its own power.
I think that particular example was unrealistic in a (real) car. But it was a winner, on all the magazine covers, and the sponsors were happy.
The stock premium system in my GTI is plenty good enough. I have a set of separates running off a NOS A/D/S Power Plate 80, and an 8in woofer in my F150 that has a clean sound.
I have exhaustively sourced a close to period correct system for my 86 BMW 735. It consists of a pair of A/D/S 320i separates for the front, A/D/S 300i plates for the rear, and a pair of early Cadence 12’s. A couple A/D/S PS5 amps for the highs and a Precision Power Art series for the woofers. Also an Audio Control crossover, although I’m still on the fence regarding a head unit.
To say an ungraded car audio system is useless when you are driving is a stretch. Music and fidelity is as important to me in my car as it is in my home, even if it can’t be perfect, it can be better.
