Spending hours on end behind the wheel can be b-o-r-i-n-g - let alone when you're crawling along at a mind-numbing 5 km/h! Still, this is the kind of patience that spraying a sizeable crop of apples and stone fruit calls for. So, to help pass this time (which can sometimes drag on for up to 16 hours!), the Ghilardocci brothers have equipped their '99 New Holland TNF65 tractor with something "a bit different"; a full twin sub woofer sound system that's built to compete in sound-off competition!
Initially, the Ghilardocci lads had equipped their throbbing 65hp tractor with just a "little" sound system, comprising a Sony X-plod head unit and a pair of Kenwood 10x7s. This combo, however, was fairly short lived, as somebody broke into the storage shed and decided that they should become the new owner. And that's what triggered the decision to "go crazy" with a tractor sound system install. The somewhat unusual fitment job was handballed to Albert's Audio and Car Stereo (in Perth, Western Australia).
With the full intent of competing in sound-offs, a couple of sub woofers driven by a mega-power amplifier were a mandatory requirement; but the relatively small tractor's cabin space was not exactly bountiful. With a visual scan of all (any) available indoor space, James of Albert's Audio and Car Stereo opted to squeeze in a couple of JL Audio 10W3 10-inch subs in separate sealed enclosures. Where? Up above the driver's head in custom wooden enclosures, which are solidly bolted through the tractor roof. These enclosures, the roof 'console' (which was yet to be created) and much of the standard cabin were trimmed in matching blue vinyl.
Next came the job of locating the sub woofers' dedicated amplifier. Again - due to the lack of space - this Crossfire CFA-602 75W x 4 unit was mounted upside down on the roof in between the two subs. Bridged wiring was used to connect the amp to the subs to deliver increased SPL output.
Now with the ability to really rattle the TNF65's glass, mid-range and top-end frequencies had to be addressed. Without the opportunity to simply whack in a couple of door speakers (glass doors make it kinda difficult!), the forward section of the roof was also transformed into a speaker enclosure (which, by the way, is similar in size to a typical car door cavity). Into these enclosures were bolted MB Quart 218 6 ½-inch splits, with the tweeters aimed pretty much at the driver's head. Boosted signals are sent to the MB Quarts thanks to a Clarion V-Net Series 250 250W x 2 amp.
So what head unit is there? Well, at present, CD and tuner signals are put through an Alpine CDA-7865 competition deck mounted in a custom roof console, though there are plans to later upgrade to a TV/CD/tuner deck (if there's room!). Still, the CDA-7865 is just the thing to reproduce crystal clear audio - the workin' guys fill their ears with everything from '80s music through to current dance tracks.
With a fairly considerable amount of electric current being sucked, the tractor's standard 12-volt battery is managing quite all right. The only change in the power supply department is a Lightning Audio capacitor and heavy-duty wires. Ultra high quality speaker wires and RCA leads are used to connect dis to dat.
Unfortunately, the Ghilardocci brothers haven't yet had a chance to enter a sound-off competition and test the tractor's SPLs. The reason for that is they couldn't fit the tractor into the upstairs sound-off venue, and - when the next event came around - they had a prior commitment spraying a field!
Oh well, that's the downside of having a sound-off tractor I guess. On the other hand, I can't help wonder if sending bass tremors through the soil somehow improves the crop yield...
Contact:
Albert's Audio and Car Stereo
+61 8 9362 5800
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