[RunFlatOut]

I was looking at their products again and I was wondering if you gents could help me understand the role of those two:

RCA version:
http://umno-tech.com/catalog/product...20b647c9a5eb0b
RCA manual: http://umno-tech.com/catalog/images/...Manual_eng.pdf

Digital version:
http://umno-tech.com/catalog/product...20b647c9a5eb0b
Digital manual: http://umno-tech.com/catalog/images/...Manual_eng.pdf

More specifically, I'm trying to understand the value for money they represent. For example, what part of a DIY install do they remove or improve, do they solve something unsolvable etc. in the context of a fully active install, let's say fitting a 6 channel amp and an aftermarket three way component kit.

They look very neat in that they integrate at MOST level, they take care of the oem gongs and PDC beeps and more. But I haven't done my install yet and I don't have the understanding of how many headaches they solve.

They retail for around 250 euros / 222 GBP / 277 USD.

For those that are interested they also sell a product that helps integrate aftermarket head units.

[ctuna]

Looks like a most bus to analog(or toslink) preamp similar to the ones
offered by mobridge . This would be of interest if you already
have an L7 programmed head unit to use most to feed these
units then feed aftemarket amps. I believe mobridge has more
advanced units that include some signal processing and time delay.
One of these is for most to toslink format but then you still
have to feed the toslink output to and amp or processor that accepts
toslink. Visit the mobridge site for details on there units they
are more expensive but do more . Mobridge DA1, DA2 and DA3 is
what you would compare them to.
Going the other way is the problem if you want to use and aftermarket
head unit and want to keep the L7 amp I believe Dynavin is still the
only one that makes a box that will do this.
I didn't see anything on that website that would go from
analog to most to enable using and aftermarket head unit
with the L7 amp..

If you have a hi fi or base system its much easier to deal with the analog signals and use a good dsp or amp.
If you have the L7 system and you want to do aftermarket
amp this is one way to do it but its cheaper to reprogram
the head unit to hi fi output and deal with the analog
signals all the way through.

A fully active install with the whip cream and cherry on
top would be facilitated by something like the new
helix v8 or maybe 6 dsp if you didn't want to do the
back speakers.

[RunFlatOut]

Thanks a lot for looking into this. As it happens I am planning an audio upgrade but I'm still researching, trying to understand etc. I found some great articles on the subject that I will collect in a post somewhere. But now I end up doing so much reading that the process will take forever and a while. Here's a good one you'll like if you haven't seen it already, it's really worth reading all the way through.

http://www.zaphaudio.com/evaluation.html

I've got 676 HiFi euro and I think I'll go all the way, fully active, sub in trunk, amp, DSP. The articles on the web site I mentioned completely confirm what initial diagnosis. I'm at the point where I almost hate the sound even though I used to like it. I listened analytically and diagnosed no real bass, no clarity in the highs, all the sound provided by the mids and low mids with chaotic frequency overlapping resulting in unpleasant harmonic resonance occurring all over the place. Reading the articles I realized I had reached a fatigue point that I will never be able to roll back from. So yup, time to upgrade, and upgrade properly, I love my music too much.

[ctuna]

Yeah I had the Hi Fi to and thought it was the best BMW system
they call it the premium system right. I think it would be
better named the not quite tolerable system.
The HK I had in the e46 was way better.
It falls apart as soon as you turn it up with the highs becoming
harsh and scratchy and no bass at any level .
It causes ear fatigue.
One guy described it as having the perfect mudrange.
I got Morel Dotechs, Jehnert xe 200's and a jL xd 600/6 best car
sound I have ever had.
If I was doing it now I would look at the Helix V8 or 6 dsp and stay
with the same speakers or a better grade of morel doors.

[RunFlatOut]

Originally Posted by ctuna

...One guy described it as having the perfect mudrange.

Good one! and very true unfortunately.

Originally Posted by ctuna

I got Morel Dotechs, Jehnert xe 200's and a jL xd 600/6 best car sound I have ever had. If I was doing it now I would look at the Helix V8 or 6 dsp and stay with the same speakers or a better grade of morel doors.

I'm still looking around, trying to figure out what's what on the market. Hence my recent additions to Kaigoss' speaker reference thread.

For DSP I had a quick look at MiniDSP and it looks like outstanding value. I can't go straight off the shelf top recommended on this one else my wallet will go on a hunger strike.