[topless_tart]

Has anybody heard of these guys before? If so what are they like???<p>I am looking at buying the following unit, but would like some info on it first if you can help.<p><IMG SRC="http://www.centurionsystems.co.uk/in-car-entertainment/images/punch.JPG" BORDER="0"><br><BR><BR>
[Modified by topless_tart, 2:31 PM 12-10-2002]

 

[c70pusher]

Re: Centurion (topless_tart)

Looks cool.

 

[Kai]

Re: Centurion (topless_tart)

When Clarion came out something like that many years ago, I always wanted to get something like that. But I was looking for something with touch screen option...and at that time only few not-so-popular-Japanese-brand ones were in the market with that option. <br>How big is the screen?<br>Got any more tech spec on that than just those few lines?

 

[topless_tart]

Re: Centurion (The_one_n_only)

The be honest, I've turned up bugger all!<p>This is what I can find:<p>Total Car Audio - October/November 2002<p>If you have a double-DIN space, you can make your dash all the more impressive by fitting the DVA-9690 from Centurion. It looks like a TV from the outside, and it can pick up all terrestrial channels to show on its 6.5 inch screen no-problem thanks to the built-in tuner, but the front display also slides down to reveal a disc slot where you can place a CD or DVD.<p>The unit has a built-in radio, 4 x 45W amp, an output for connection to a DSP unit that will give 5.1-channel Dolby sound, and it's supplied with a remote control.<p><br>What with the info in that other clipping, that is it.<p>It looks like a really good bit of kit, but my reservation is that they are only stocked in a few outlets and some of the large specialist car audio shops don't know them.<p>Perhaps I need to be the pioneer with this one?

 

[mike_c70]

Re: Centurion (topless_tart)

According to their website, it's 999.00 GBP. <br> <A HREF="http://www.centurionsystems.co.uk/in-car-entertainment/Press/screentest.shtml" TARGET="_blank">http://www.centurionsystems.co.uk/in-car-entertainment/Press/screentest.shtml</a> <p>The screen is 6.5". <br>Main Unit Size : W250mm x H82mm x D177mm<p>If you use google and type DVA-9690 or centurion electronics, you get quite a few hits. Ah yes, the power of google.

 

[[email protected]]

Re: Centurion (mike_c70)

hmm. I've never really looked at this type of stuff. Is there something similar sold here in the US?<p>"an output for connection to a DSP unit that will give 5.1-channel Dolby sound, and it's supplied with a remote control"<p>wonder if that would integrate into Doby surround my R? not that it is the same but it would be pretty neat.

 

[SG]

Re: Centurion (topless_tart)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR><p>The unit has a built-in radio, 4 x 45W amp, an output for connection to a DSP unit that will give 5.1-channel Dolby sound, and it's supplied with a remote control.<p><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><p>Without that separate DSP unit you will lose the surround sound capability of the OEM unit.<p>IMHO I don't think that the unit you're looking at is going to come anywhere close to the sound quality of the stock Alpine unit. Bear in mind that the Centurion is squeezing everything (i.e. TV, CD, DVD transport and amplification into a double-DIN enclosure. The stock unit uses a separate amplifier in the boot of the car which has been tuned to suit the car's speakers. Plus it's 4x100W compared to the centurion's 4x45W. (The stock dash unit only has to drive the centre speaker directly). It's a bit like comparing a hi-fi separates setup to an all-in-one midi system. Even if you do get that DSP unit, you will only get 5.1 sound from DVDs; the best that you can get from a CD is prologic - which is what you've got anyway.<p>The C70's sound system is recognised as one of the best you can get in a car (look at some of the other forums on Swedespeed - you can even speak to the original designer). It's a holistic design - any aftermarket unit is going to compromise this. If it's DVDs you want, why not get a tablet PC/Pocket PC/laptop for the glovebox. You'll get a much better screen and it can double up as a sat nav system.<p>Just a suggestion...

 

[topless_tart]

Re: Centurion (SG)

Well, it is a tricky situation to be in, I'd ideally like to keep the stock system and Surround Sound along with the "in dash" TV as per the V70, but this isn't possible or so I've been told.<p>With regards sound quality, I hear what you say about packing all that into a single unit, but there are two 4v pre-outs to run the stock Alpine V12 amp and speakers, which I think is fairly respectable.<p>I guess you could then bridge the 4x45w stereo amp to run the centre speaker - anyone know its power rating???<p>Sorry to show a lack of knowledge in the department, but what is the difference between Prologic and 5.1 Dolby???

 

[SG]

Re: Centurion (topless_tart)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR><br>Sorry to show a lack of knowledge in the department, but what is the difference between Prologic and 5.1 Dolby???<br><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><p>Prologic is a passive matrix system. The extra channels (i.e. the centre and rear) are extracted from a basic 2-channel stereo soundtrack. Roughly speaking, the decoded centre channel is the signal that was common to the original left- and right-channels while the decoded left channel is the signal that was unique to the original left channel (and vice-versa for the right). I think the rear is basically the inverse of the original left channel minus the original right channel (but I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm wrong).<p>If the producer of the original soundtrack knows that prologic decoding is going to be applied then the sound the be mixed specifically to take advantage of this. (As is the case for most of films you see on TV). Even if, like most music CDs, the original stereo soundtrack hasn't been mixed for surround, you can still apply prologic decoding to good effect. This is why the C70's system sounds so good although the surround effect varies according to how much out-of-phase info there happens to be in the recording you're listening to.<p>In a Dolby digital system there are 6 discrete channels to start with: 5 full-bandwidth channels and 1 tenth-bandwidth effects channel (hence 5.1). It's also 24bit @ 96kHz compared to the 16bit @ 44.1kHz you get on a CD. However it is compressed.<p>PS: I think the centre speaker is 25W.<p><br>[Modified by SG, 11:04 AM 12-11-2002]<BR><BR>
[Modified by SG, 11:05 AM 12-11-2002]