Audio upgrade

I bought some 13cm spacers and 13cm pioneer kevlar components. Then a good line level converter (lc2i) to convert the speaker outputs to RCA and then 2 amps (one for sub and one for components)

I've built a false floor under the boot and put the sub into a spare wheel . The original boot car just sits grand on top.

The power cable got routed through a grommet behind the airbox (battery, ecu and airbox had to come out.)

 

The bass is terrible because there's no sub and the speakers are pretty small with no porting (not sure they ever do that in anything south of a bentley if even in those...)

You can fit better speakers but it's a pain iirc you have to take the door card off and might need adaptor rings to fit them. I'd want to update the head unit too to get the most out of it, but because of the unique oem radios shaped into the dash they'd stick out like a sore thumb. There are inline options that feed off the oem head units but you might as well not bother, as they say 'you can't polish a turd' and once you've trashed your audio signal it's trashed down the chain.

Can't say I've ever noticed distortion, though I usually play rock/metal in the car but I'd like to think I'd notice as sometimes I have classic fm on too.

 

Just take it to an audio specialist, they'll be able to give you a great sounded system and have it fully integrated into the standard headunit.

 

I would mention the line level converter again - do not get a £15 ebay jobbie. As mentioned above, the HU will have processed the audio coming out so it will make a big difference if you get a converter that has the ability to take the signals coming out and recombine them to recreate the original source as best it can.

 

I have had different speakers, Sub/amps, in a R26R, and still, the sound was bad. I now use,IPhone,and a decent set of in ears,(Shure 846 OR Westone W60) sometimes combined with a different Dac/Amp. Its what you call, night and day difference. With the IPhone plugged into USB, the phone is constantly charged, plus it plays via a cheap,Pioneer single din,apple car play. As an Audiophile, I know that this is far,far superior. BUT, there is nothing wrong, with Amps/Subs, if that is what you are after.

 

The head units are beyond naff. Like... Awful

So firstly you must change that. Bad signal, amplified, is a worse signal.

Then you have two options:

1. Carve out the door and stick in bigger speakers. The 5" are always going to lack depth

2. Get some decent components for the front and stick in a sub

I went for 2 ; audison speakers and a decent sub. Should have gone ported but due to <reasons> went sealed. It's tons better

The original, even with the Arkamys system, was so incredibly rubbish that I had to change it. As in, had no choice - I'm no audiophile but my ears were offended by the experience

To make matters more fun, to do it right you'll want to get the stalk converter so you can still control the clock and everything else from the steering wheel

 

I'm having a bespoke system in mine, door speaker upgrades, a pillar mounted tweeters and a decent size sub in the boot.. digital amp with time alignment.. i too canp't believe how shit the standard audio is.. worst i have heard in a car in a long time.. maybe since the 80's!

 

Who's doing your install? Post up some pics after, sounds good!

What you going for speaker wise?

 

Will be done by the excellent skipton car radio.. they have done all of the installs in my cars.. wouldn't trust anyone else.