I've been happy. Well, until Ken at CDT calls or emails me with the latest new gadget, then I get itchy. Itchy for the new CDT audio product that's going to make my current CDT stuff sound that much better, go figure. And yes, alot of new stuff out there is tempting, but, I've been so excited about the CDT product for sooo long now, I'm sticking with what works. To be honest, I used to change audio like I changed my kids diapers, but for the past half a decade now it's been CDT all the way! And that for me is like a life time.
Their latest incarnation is the StageFront™ Technology UpStage System which replaces the older Image Enhancement Kit. The 'IEK' was great, note "WAS".
And i'll be using it in my 'old school' CDT install in a 4 door 92 Civic coming soon. But the new StageFront™ kit is just a BIT better. Well, maybe more than a bit...
The kit was designed to take the IEK to a whole new level. not only does it bring the sound to the windshield, as the IEK kit was to do as well, it disperses it a whole heck of alot better. The IEK was simply a way to vary the input to a set of Tweeters to give the illusion of a raised sound stage.
The StageFront™ kit is actually a full crossover network and Titanium Tweeters to bring the whole sound environment to the windshield. It moves the sound image towards the front, gradually shifting the higher frequencies alone to he front of the car/van, cross firing them inward and at an angle, using the windshielf as a ground plane. It takes car audio to a whole new level!
Something that the StageFront™ kit does as well is contours and shapes the mid frequencies to the doors. I was going to run the kit off of an unused set of channels on my amp, but CDT said "NO!, the crossovers actually change the sound to the doors, so you'll need to run them inline with the component crossovers."
Who am I to argue!

The M519 System:
It comes in a pretty good size box. Long, deep and only about 2" tall. I opened it up to see some very cool stuff! I love the new color CDT went with. A magnesium grey color with a slight hint of pearl? or something that gives the color a nice shimmer. The Tweeters are awesome! Very small super Tweeter, titanium dome, with flush/surface/angle mount options. I also like what CDT did with the flush mount option...they added a screw-on mount bracket from the rear to hold them in place as opposed to the "3M" mounting tape I'm used to that never worked for me on there other Tweeters.
Also in the box are 2 crossovers, similar in size to the component set crossover, which is a bit large. These babies are pretty sharp looking, so plan to show them! You'll need allot of hiding space to keep them out of site, between the ES 2 way crossover, the SX1000 (review coming later) and the UpStage™ system kit, I have a floor FULL of crossover components!! I hope they have plans to incorporate some of the items together as to lessen the needed space for the units. This is the only drawback to the entire CDT setup so far I've found.
In addition you'll find 2 small bags with all the necessary mounting rings and screws.
Points: possible 10 - "10" Great looks, great mount options!

The install:
It was pretty straight forward. Your power from the amp goes to the crossovers, then to the component crossovers. The UpStage network had outs to their Tweeters as well as the out to the regular component crossover network. The UpStage™ kit also has the option of 'low', 'mid', and 'high'
signal options to the Tweeters. They also have "damping" and "frequency"
jumpers that can be set at 'HIGH' and 'LOW', as well as a 'bypass' and 'protect' jumper.
I mounted the Tweeters in the Odyssey A-pillar, as it's the recommended and ideal spot for them. The 19mm 519T set Tweeters are adjustable in there housing as well. I flush mounted and can roll them from side to side and up and down as I need. I have them firing across the glass, about 2" above the dash. They look great mounted as well! Nice job CDT!
Like I said though, there are allot of crossovers now, 5 total, and they aren't small. The units are all about the same, 4.5" by 6.5". However with all that they do I'm not really complaining! Size is relative.
Points: "9" aside from the crossover size, near perfect!

The listening test:
I was sooo excited! I slapped everything in and test mounted the UpStage™ kit. I put the Tweeters on the dash, sort of firing in the proper direction. It is vital you mount them properly! They need to be a few inches off the dash, in the A-Pillar, or using the angled dash mount/cobra dash mount options. And they have to be firing slightly toward the glass.
Just imagine the sound hitting and rolling across the plane of the window, NOT firing at and bouncing off!
I turned on the radio and dropped in my Crash Test Dummies disc. I listened for about 20 seconds and quickly shut it off. Why? I was amazed at the sound coming from my van and was ready to permanently mount the UpStage™ kit and really listen! I get very itchy when things go well.
I mounted the Tweeters in the desired location (as per above) and got ready to be "WOWWED!" I put my old favorite in, the "FORD DEMONSTRATION DISC".
Don't ask where I got it as I have no clue! And even though it says "FORD"
on it, it's actually pretty high quality. It's the single cleanest disc I own for sound checks.
My eyes shut, I waited for Track 1 to start. (Why do I shut my eyes? Well, I've found that no matter how well the sound is being staged and reproduced, my eyes have a tendency to 'listen' for my ears. I'll see those speakers in the door next to me, and hear them there. By closing my eyes, I couldn't focus on where the speakers were, but were the sound was being processed to come from!) "Endless summer nights" by Dave Koz starts slowly, a sprinkling of chimes, guitar and synthesizer. The sound just flowed! I was 'watching', with my ears, the music play from side to side, rolling back and forth across the dash! It was amazing! I kept my eyes shut soaking it all in. I could hear background vocals "back there", and picture the leads right up front.
I usually have to artificially enhance the right side of the van to balance the sound. If I sat in the center it would be ok, but the van is so big and the door speakers so low, it's a harsh environment to listen and try and produce proper sound in. I immediately noticed with my eyes closed I had hardly any bias at all! And everything was centered! Thank goodness.
I clicked on the advance button and listened to " Forty-Mile Town " and "Cold sweat/funky broad way" and just listened in amazement. Something I thought sounded sooo good before, just became better! Every breath, every placement, every background noise, perfectly reproduced!
I put in my Bruce Hornsby "Harbor Lights" disc next. The first track "Harbor lights" starts out with just a piano playing. It's a bit background sounding because when the music starts it's much louder. I was listening, waiting for the song to begin and as the piano stopped playing I heard what sounded like a page turn and fingers slide from the keyboard! Yes, something I've NEVER noticed before! I 'rewound' that last 10 seconds, thought I was imagining things, and heard it again! WOW! I wish you were here now to see my glowing smile.
All of this with just a hint of subwoofer and it all came together. Those 2 ES10 10" subs just punched right the whole time...
Points: "11" (can I do that?)
I could go on forever, and I'm sure Ken at CDT wishes I would, but for now all I can say is "Thanks CDT!" an amazing job and I can't wait for the next best thing from CDT Californa.