I see no reason to why you shouldn't be able to use your Mac as a source for sound... but you probably need to get an amplifier to drive the speakers, But that depends on what capabilities your Clarion CD has. That is to say does it have any low level outputs? Low level inputs? If it has low level outputs and not inputs you could get an amp and feed that from either the Clarion or your Mac. If you then match the rear spekers with a decent set of either coaxial or separate speakers up front you will have a reasonably good soundsystem in your vanagon!

In my vanagon doublecab I have a set of 3-way component speakers up front and a sobwoofer with 2x10" subs in it and a 4x200w (real watts not a cheap amp) amplifier, with a portable HP Omnibook as a headunit.

/Markus Samuelson

-98 Audi A3 TDi -92 Vanagon Syncro Panel van -88 Vanagon Syncro DoubleCab -88 Vanagon DoubleCab -87 Vanagon Syncro Panel Van

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf Of Ben McCafferty Sent: den 6 april 2002 21:14 To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Stereo experts? was: Re: who has upgraded their front vanagon door SPEAKERS??

OK, while we're on the stereo topic.... PO installed a Clarion CD player in my westy, with Boston Acoustics speakers. They are in the back, and with the fader all the way to the rear, the sound is clear at any volume level. My front speakers were stock, and they crackled pretty bad, so I replaced them with some Pioneers that I had laying around. If I put all sound to the rear, it's crystal clear at any volume setting. If I put it 50/50 front/rear or all to the front, the Pioneers crackle at louder volume settings, but not at lower ones. Maybe the Pioneers are just blown, but I didn't think they were. Here's the relevant info:

Clarion BD216 CD/tuner, 45Wx4 max, 17Wx4 normal, 4-8 Ohms allowable for the speakers.

Boston Acoustics RC820 system, with two 5x7" RC820 woofers, and two Neo 3R Tweeters. There is a crossover on each side (820X from BA). The crossover has an input from the stereo, then an output to woofer, tweeter and amb.tw. (ambient tweeter?). The amb tw socket is not in use. The system calls for a recommended amp of 20-275W, 4 Ohms.

Pioneer 10cm 2-way, model TS-A1090. 50W max, 10W nom. (nominal?) power, 4 Ohms.

Is this simpler than I think, and the Pioneers are just blown, or is something mismatched? If the Pioneers are blown, what would be the best way to take advantage of the Clarion and BA stuff, since it's new? Can I wire my Mac DVD in for surround sound in the westy (just kidding, but it would be sweet!....)

Thanks for any thoughts. bmc :) "Faith will move mountains, but you'd better bring a shovel...."

> From: Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA> > Reply-To: Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA> > Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2002 02:44:27 -0500 > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: who has upgraded their front vanagon door SPEAKERS?? > > I have a kick ass system... > http://pages.infinit.net/eurokit/westy_modifications.htm > > And i speak what ever i can, indian for now....it's late. > > Lol, Ben >