Odyssey & Sienna”” over Alphard is amazing!

“I could listen to it for the rest of my life! …Toyota Alphard Part 2 [Car Audio Newcomer].

Mr. Iwamoto has started to upgrade the system in his beloved Toyota Alphard. He installed Focal’s K2 Power Series 3-way system at Sound Station Quantum in Ibaraki, Japan, and got a clear high frequency range and thick mid-low range.

◆Feeling the clarity of the highs and the thickness of the mids and lows
K2 Power Series speakers were chosen.
Mr. Iwamoto finally installed the audio system he had longed for in his Alphard after overcoming a major problem with the theft of his car, and installed Focal K2 Power Series speakers and 3-way ES 165KX3 speakers in his second Alphard just as he did in his first Alphard. As mentioned in the previous article, the second Alphard was equipped with Focal K2 Power Series speakers and 3-way (ES 165KX3) speakers. We asked Mr. Iwamoto why he chose this series of speakers.

The reason I became interested in the K2 Power speakers was the pleasant sound of female vocals. I usually listen to female vocalists, so I wanted speakers with clear mid and high frequencies that would allow me to hear their voices beautifully. I also wanted to reproduce a wide bandwidth and a thick sound with just the front speakers, so I was also looking for speakers with a thick mid-low range. K2 Power speakers fit the bill perfectly.

The owner had already had experience with 2-way models, so he decided to take it to the next level by upgrading to a 3-way system.

I thought that since the 2-way speakers were good, the 3-way KX3s should sound even better,”” he said. As it turned out, it was a great decision.

This is how Mr. Iwamoto chose the Focal ES 165KX3 speakers. He decided to leave the installation to the store.

The sound of the Focal ES 165KX3s is very good,”” said Mr. Iwamoto, “”and the vocals are very forward, which I felt during the listening session.
I could listen to this sound for the rest of my life! I could listen to this sound for the rest of my life!
After listening to the completed installation in his car, Mr. Iwamoto was satisfied with the sound, which was even better than he had imagined.

I actually got into the driver’s seat to listen to it after installation, and the moment the sound first came out, I had a great impression. The sound in the mid-range is especially prominent, which gives the vocals an outstanding presence. The smoothness of the treble was also impressive, and I liked that the sound was clean, just the way I like it.

The owner was shocked by the vocals that came forward when he listened to the music.

I thought I could listen to this sound for the rest of my life. The audio system was finished in such a way that I never got tired of listening to it, and even if I listened to it for a long time, I would never get tired of it, and the feeling of comfort would last forever.

The owner also ordered a design treatment that included a built-in tweeter and midrange by modifying the A-pillar to show off the yellow cone that is a feature of the K2 Power Series.

It has now been about six months since the installation. The speakers had aged well and it was time for readjustment. At that time, he noticed a slight difference in the impression of the speakers.

The low frequency range feels a little lacking after listening to the speakers for a while. At first, I was listening mainly to female vocals, but once the audio system was assembled, I started listening to hard rock and R&B more often. Then I began to feel that it would be better to have more volume and power in the bass. I’m not sure if I can get more bass by adjusting the front speakers or if I need to add a subwoofer.

◆Listening to music in the car and being immersed in your own personal space
Realizing the effect of the audio system to enjoy tunes at high volume
The owner finally installed the audio system he wanted in his car and created a high quality sound specification. The car is now fully utilized from the daily commute to the office to the weekend family drive. He especially enjoys playing his favorite songs at high volume during his daily commute.

When I get out of my garage to go to work, I start the car and turn the volume up a little bit. At that moment, my own personal space spreads out inside the car, and I feel very relaxed. When I come home from work, I sometimes take the long way home because I want to listen to a little more music. At home, I can’t turn up the volume to listen to music, but in the car, I can do so freely. That’s the beauty of car audio.

On weekends, the car is transformed into a family car for leisure activities with the children. The DC model of the Cyber Navi plays an important role in this. The kids love YouTube, so they have mastered the use of the Cyber Navi, and they enjoy searching for their favorite YouTube sites in the car.

I’m considering adding a subwoofer to increase the power of the bass. I would also like to consider adding outer door baffles when my child gets a little older and stops kicking the door. I would also like to upgrade my DAP to a high quality sound model. I plan to continue to evolve my audio system and enjoy it even more.

Mr. Iwamoto overcame difficulties to obtain the sound he likes. He has gradually learned how to enjoy audio and is in the process of upgrading his own system.

After working as a digital audio engineer, Mr. Tsuchida became an editor at a publishing company. He worked in the editorial departments of motorcycle and 4WD magazines. After becoming independent, he has been involved in writing for car audio, cars, wristwatches, mono-related products, interior design, and outdoor-related products, and was also contracted as the chief editor of a car audio magazine. Currently, he is still active in writing mainly for car audio magazines.

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“A luxury minivan similar to Toyota’s “”Alphard”” is now available! Pros and cons of the new “”Red Flag HQ9″”! Will the “”luxury minivan”” become a “”global trend””?

Many say it looks like the Alphard! Some predict a “”global luxury minivan boom”” in the future
　On August 13, 2022, China FAW’s luxury car brand “”Red Flag”” unveiled a new luxury minivan “”HQ9″” in China.

Does it really look like it? Comparison of the new Hongqi top-end minivan “”HQ9″” and Toyota’s “”Alphard”” in 79 images.

　The HQ9 is a luxurious minivan with an overall length of over 5 meters and a large front grille, but it has been receiving a lot of feedback on social networking sites, such as “”It looks like an Alphard.

　Red Flag is the top luxury car brand of China’s long-established automaker, China FAW, which was established in 1958. Among them, the “”L5,”” which is the symbolic sedan of the Red Flag brand, can only be purchased if it meets the criteria after being investigated for criminal records, antisocial ties, social status, social contribution, economic strength, and relatives, making it similar to the Toyota Century in the domestic car market.

　Red Flag announced the HQ9 as the company’s first minivan on August 13, 2022. With a body size of 5222 mm (overall length) x 2005 mm (overall width) x 1892 mm (overall height) and a wheelbase of 3200 mm (overall length), it is a large minivan exceeding 5 meters in length.

　The powertrain is a 2-liter inline 4-cylinder turbo engine + 48V mild hybrid system, mated to an 8-speed AT.

　The front face is characterized by a large, vertical grille with a red center decoration, which is typical of a Red Flag vehicle, and a large number of chrome decorations.

　The price is estimated to start at 400,000 yuan (about 7.9 million Japanese yen).

* * * *

　Various opinions about the new HQ9 have been gathered on social networking sites.

　The most common are: “”Did you put an Alphard and an Elgrand together?”” The most common opinions about the new HQ9 are that it resembles the Toyota Alphard, such as “”The face looks like an Alphard,”” “”The headlights are completely Alphard,”” and “”I thought it was the next model of Alphard.

There are also many opinions that expect that the popularity of the Alphard in China will lead to the growth of luxury minivans like the Alphard into a globally trending category in the future, such as “”The Alphard has been a hit and is trending worldwide,”” and “”The popularity of the Alphard in China is amazing.

　There were also many opinions expressing concern about Chinese products, such as “”I’m worried about durability,”” “”It’s going to break down all the time when it gets old,”” and “”I want to buy a place where I can feel safe,”” indicating the low level of trust in Chinese products in Japan.

　On the other hand, there were many comments such as, “”This is exactly what I mean by ‘majestic. I have a feeling that this is a great car,”” and “”I think the interior and exterior are both at a very good level,”” etc. Some people said that they liked the interior and exterior design of the HQ9, and we can sense the possibility that demand can be expected even if the model is introduced in Japan.

　Some people seem to have realized that China poses a threat to their products, saying that “”Chinese products are already at the same level as Japanese products”” and “”I’m rather worried about the future of Japanese cars.

* * *

　While “”the luxury minivan market is growing,”” a few people expressed their expectations for the next model of Nissan’s “”Elgrand,”” the original model of this genre, saying, “”I look forward to seeing how the original large minivan, the Elgrand, will turn things around.

　There were also comments such as, “”I wonder if Porsche or Maserati will launch a luxury minivan in the near future,”” and others speculated that following the SUV trend, “”luxury minivans”” would become a trend and that automakers from other countries would also introduce luxury minivans.

　In addition to the topic of the HQ9 itself, various opinions were expressed about “”Chinese products”” and “”luxury minivans. It seems that people are paying attention to how the luxury minivan will change in the automobile market in the future.

　HQ9’s “”Red Flag”” brand, which has created such a buzz, is also being developed in countries other than China, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Norway, and will land here in Japan in 2021. The first model to land in Japan is the H9 sedan, which has a showroom in front of Namba Station in Osaka.

　There is no word on the introduction of the HQ9 in Japan, but perhaps one day we will see it in Japan.”