When it comes to maximising thequality of in-carentertainment(ICE) systems, there is no denying that cabin space is essentially one of the most important attribute to extract the best possible sound reproduction due to the theory on audio soundscape. ICE might be very common in our bread and butter cars, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that drivers of other modes of transport cannot enjoy the beauty of expanding on their passion for
beautiful sound on four wheels.

Vans, judging by the lack of spatial constraints, can be argued as one that has the near-perfect solution and talent to produce top-notch sound quality on the move. The Toyota Hiace featured here adopts a no-holds-barred approach, utilising every inch of cabin space to deliver optimal sound quality. All these are made possible by the experienced team at New Generation Autosound, headed by Mr Cartoon – a kingpin the local ICE industry. The “boxy” representation of the Hiace is played out to good effct here, as Mr Cartoon can fully express his flir for mobile media customisations without much restriction.

Andy, the owner of this ride, loves listening to clear and loud soundtracks, and left the task of transforming his pride and joy into a mobile media machine to New Generation Autosound, Well known for installing some of the best systems in Singapore, the humble ICE installer has managed to rake in countless awards year-on-year in EMMA competitions till today. REV understands that this particular van is no “slouch” by itself, having been awarded top honours inthe most recent EMMA Singapore Championship 2014 under the “ESQL Unlimited” category, which is a segment that requires participants to play songs in a loud and clear format with the judges standing fie metres away.

Through our photoshoot with Andy’s prized possession, we got the opportunity to view the inner workings that justifis its awardwinning association. Pioneer inflence is clearly seen especially when the source unit is Pioneer’s top end DEX-P90 that runs in tune with DEQ-P90. This is one of the best units in the market today due to the relatively reasonable price point that does well to fi into the budget of a regular audiophile. With the L/R independent EQ and crossover network, it makes the work of tuning much more effient for professionals, as it makes use of Pioneer’s cuttingedge technology. Mr Cartoon could combine the frequencies of the diffrent speakers into a singular entity – an important trait especially when
the van is tuned to compete in toplevel sound competitions.

The legendary Rockford Fosgate Type RF amplifirs are used to power a portion of the system, with the high frequencies from the ride boosted by the X2 that pumps 50 watts of raw power in 4 Ohms load. The other unit of X2 powers the midrange – certainly a deadly combination to extract the best sound from the speakers. Meanwhile, the sub-frequency is dominated by a single piece of Power series T1500.1 monoblock. This unusual setup might be seen as a compromise, but this utilisation of only one unit represents the peak performance Rockford Fosgate amplifirs can deliver. It comes as little surprise that they are followed by countless loyal fans throughout the years due to its unyielding endeavor to push the limits of research and development across the globe in USA.

The speakers of this award-winning ride are also sourced from some of the most refied drivers in audio trade. The hi frequency Rockford Fosgate Pro PP4-T is a 1.5-inch 4-ohm horn tweeter, featuring 50 watts which is compatible with the X2. Four pieces of 8-inch mid-range Pro PPS4-8, also from Rockford Fosgate, features 125 watts that powers by the X2 in 2 Ohms rating. Upon learning about the intricacies of this ride, it still comes as a pleasant surprise as to how New Generation Autosound can tie everything together and package the sound quality into one cohesive mix.

This Hiace still has one neat trick up its sleeve; six pieces of 12-inch sub-woofer from Rockford Fosgate R1S412 Prime Series are attached and these single voice coil woofers handle 150 watts in 4 Ohms rating, powered singly by the Power Series T1500.1 monoblock. With six woofers in charge of pumping non-stop hits, “ESQL” quality does not come much better than this. Defiing the quality of mobile media haulers could very well reach a higher threshold when more vans
enter the ICE scene, and this could only spell good news for the local ICE industry that will be more than willing a new segment of audio enthusiasts.