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Alpine UTE-73BT Review (Head Unit)
- Thread starter amirm
- Start date
There are headunits that cost more with more power and there are autosound power amps that cost peanuts with gobs of power.
Assuming it has 4 channels.
This 5watts @4ohms will drive a system of 4, 90db sensitive speakers to 103db at 1meter.
If you use the 10 watt 1% figure, 106db.
Factor in cabin gain and you go over 110db SPL.
For the intended user, who plans to power their car with a budget headunit, this will work
$99 seems fair, top of the line headunits reach over $1k. I do use power amps myself, though I have no head unit at all.
Assuming it has 4 channels.
This 5watts @4ohms will drive a system of 4, 90db sensitive speakers to 103db at 1meter.
If you use the 10 watt 1% figure, 106db.
Factor in cabin gain and you go over 110db SPL.
For the intended user, who plans to power their car with a budget headunit, this will work
$99 seems fair, top of the line headunits reach over $1k. I do use power amps myself, though I have no head unit at all.
I wouldn't be surprised if it's something like the STPA002. From what I gather, there is rarely any innovation for head unit power. The Deh-4800FD and the sony MEX-XB100BT are rare and discontinued exceptions to this rule.
STPA002
4 x 52 W quad bridge power amplifier with low voltage operation
(52W is at 2ohm and 10%THD)
https://www.st.com/resource/en/datasheet/stpa002.pdf
Here is some guy doing benchmarks on the Sony.
STPA002
4 x 52 W quad bridge power amplifier with low voltage operation
(52W is at 2ohm and 10%THD)
https://www.st.com/resource/en/datasheet/stpa002.pdf
Here is some guy doing benchmarks on the Sony.
I had never seen this data.
Now the "loudness wars" is more easy to understand, or even see as a good thing for most listeners!
If I want to listen to classical music in my car I find Classic FM, which is heavily compressed, much better balanced than the high quality files I can play via USB or Radio 3 but it sounds poor on my home system.
I suppose that is why so many radio stations are compressed before broadcast.
Now the "loudness wars" is more easy to understand, or even see as a good thing for most listeners!
If I want to listen to classical music in my car I find Classic FM, which is heavily compressed, much better balanced than the high quality files I can play via USB or Radio 3 but it sounds poor on my home system.
I suppose that is why so many radio stations are compressed before broadcast.
hi Frank, may I ask you which car you drive (the quietest) and which soft top sport car?
maybe pressure level should be coupled with frequency right? my hobby measurements shows a reduction of noise as frequency increase due to interior dampening material.
aerodynamics
, tires, engine (vibs and pipe noise) and gears have different sound emission spectrum, so the curve (the noise inside car) changes in intensity and frequency according to speed and gear (keeping speed constant of course to remove one variable that is engine torque)... make sense?
maybe pressure level should be coupled with frequency right? my hobby measurements shows a reduction of noise as frequency increase due to interior dampening material.
aerodynamics
, tires, engine (vibs and pipe noise) and gears have different sound emission spectrum, so the curve (the noise inside car) changes in intensity and frequency according to speed and gear (keeping speed constant of course to remove one variable that is engine torque)... make sense?
hi Frank, may I ask you which car you drive (the quietest) and which soft top sport car?
maybe pressure level should be coupled with frequency right? my hobby measurements shows a reduction of noise as frequency increase due to interior dampening material.
aerodynamics, tires, engine (vibs and pipe noise) and gears have different sound emission spectrum, so the curve (the noise inside car) changes in intensity and frequency according to speed and gear (keeping speed constant of course to remove one variable that is engine torque)... make sense?
maybe pressure level should be coupled with frequency right? my hobby measurements shows a reduction of noise as frequency increase due to interior dampening material.
aerodynamics
, tires, engine (vibs and pipe noise) and gears have different sound emission spectrum, so the curve (the noise inside car) changes in intensity and frequency according to speed and gear (keeping speed constant of course to remove one variable that is engine torque)... make sense?
The type of music I like goes effectively silent for long periods in the car because it is below the ambient noise level. That is what I don't like. If I turn the level up the loud parts are way beyond what my car stereo or ears can cope with.
70dB used to be good for a car interior - Rolls-Royce - but with heavy luxury cars with double glazing 60dB is achieved in Merc S class and Lexus LS.
In a couple of years when road-noise cancellation is more widespread it could gain back another 10dB, maybe a bit more coupled with engine-order cancellation. Currently the Genesis GV80 has RNC and the Cadillac EV will also have it. Luxury cars normally also have loudness compensation curves and dynamic EQ based on speed and cabin noise so you can turn the volume up to hear quiet parts and not blow your eardrum when the loud parts come.
OP
Thread Starter
#76
Thread Starter
#76
Car makers have done a great job in obsoleting aftermarket head units. To the extent other functionality beside audio is integrated into the display, then you can't change that primary display. You can add a secondary system but not modify that. Many though use standard touchscreen dedicated to just navigation and audio in which case you can still upgrade.
OP
Thread Starter
#77
Thread Starter
#77
I tested a couple of high power head units (Sony MEX-XB120BT and Dual AM505BT) because I needed one for my boat: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ex-xb120bt-and-dual-am505bt-car-stereos.3695/
They definitely deliver far more power:
They definitely deliver far more power:
I know the Bowers & Wilkins audio system in our Volvo XC90 never ceases to amaze me. Car audio has come a long way since I installed a Kraco in-dash radio, 8-Track tape deck, 20 watt power booster and Jensen 4" coax in the kick panels and 6"x9" triax speakers in custom rear quarter panels in my 1974 Honda Civic.
Martin
Martin
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2020
- Messages
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- 26
The wild wild west of car audio, where manufacturers specs are questionable or simply don't exist, and where 10% distortion is completely normal.
I have a hard time even bothering trying to get better audio out of my car. Simply due to the lack of proper measurements of amps and dacs. Even finding speakers measurements is bit of a pain but at least some manufacturers still provide them.
Its a shame as i think i listen to the awful stereo im my car more then any of my other audio equipment.
I have a hard time even bothering trying to get better audio out of my car. Simply due to the lack of proper measurements of amps and dacs. Even finding speakers measurements is bit of a pain but at least some manufacturers still provide them.
Its a shame as i think i listen to the awful stereo im my car more then any of my other audio equipment.
