Car Audio?

Zascar

Bit random but is anyone here into car audio? I've got a fairly decent system in my car at the moment. I've kinda always put good sounds systems in my cars cause I just have to have decent quality music (& bass) when driving etc. My current system is a Pioneer head unit 2x 400w (RMS) Phoenix Gold amps - one 2x200w powering Alpine Type R mids & tweets, the other 1x400w Mono powering a JL 12w6v2 with a stealth box install.

Problem is I'm not 100% happy with the sound of it - it needs fine tuning really. The highs are a bit harsh so I've had to take the treble down - I did this on the head unit although I should have done it with the resistors for the tweeters in the crossovers, but I can't be asses taking the doors apart again.
Although the bass is fairly savage, its kinda too much on the low end and not enough in the mid range. Really I need to spend time playing with the settings. I also need some form of specific cd for testing audio systems. Anyone know where I can get one?

Any of you guys into the same?

TURRICAN

just happened to get a sub myself.i have an amp and tweeters and all that.but ineed to build a box for the sub.i have found on youtube videos on how to make a box.

i think this might be handy for you.me thinks you have to choose a low level which you want to hear and then use this test to fine tune your amp.
also the box which the sub sits in must be tuned to the size of the amp.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC7WEQsiz08

let us kno how you get on.

Is mise le key

Zascar wrote: »

Bit random but is anyone here into car audio? I've got a fairly decent system in my car at the moment. I've kinda always put good sounds systems in my cars cause I just have to have decent quality music (& bass) when driving etc. My current system is a Pioneer head unit 2x 400w (RMS) Phoenix Gold amps - one 2x200w powering Alpine Type R mids & tweets, the other 1x400w Mono powering a JL 12w6v2 with a stealth box install.

Problem is I'm not 100% happy with the sound of it - it needs fine tuning really. The highs are a bit harsh so I've had to take the treble down - I did this on the head unit although I should have done it with the resistors for the tweeters in the crossovers, but I can't be asses taking the doors apart again.
Although the bass is fairly savage, its kinda too much on the low end and not enough in the mid range. Really I need to spend time playing with the settings. I also need some form of specific cd for testing audio systems. Anyone know where I can get one?

Any of you guys into the same?

I would be & would like to have all of what you said above if i had any cash to spare for such items, alas i am reduced to the original Nissan tape deck that was installed in my car when it was produced (fortunatley i still have loads of old tapes from way back that i can play in it & the sound is arguably better than an MP3 from a tape). But i would be interested in an audio testing tool for the gaff all the same.

Scubadevils

Is mise le key wrote: »

I would be & would like to have all of what you said above if i had any cash to spare for such items, alas i am reduced to the original Nissan tape deck that was installed in my car when it was produced (fortunatley i still have loads of old tapes from way back that i can play in it & the sound is arguably better than an MP3 from a tape). But i would be interested in an audio testing tool for the gaff all the same.

(fortunatley i still have loads of old tapes from way back that i can play in it & the sound is arguably better than an MP3 from a tape)

Yeah but do you have many tapes from way back that you can play in the car? :pac:

Is mise le key

Scubadevils wrote: »

Yeah but do you have many tapes from way back that you can play in the car? :pac:

Nice one Scuba.......taking advantage of a well hungover poster early in the morning:D

Meant to delete that after i inserted it in the post,

Scubadevils

Is mise le key wrote: »

Nice one Scuba.......taking advantage of a well hungover poster early in the morning:D

Meant to delete that after i inserted it in the post,

Haha... thought as much alright.

Scubadevils

And actually I'd love an aul tape deck in the car too, was just looking through a box of old tapes recently and thinking I'd love to convert them to MP3 for the car etc but too feckin lazy.

Sorry Zascar, dragging this way off from high-end in-car audio solutions to the humble cassette tape! TDK Chrome cassettes though were the mutts nuts. :pac:

jtsuited

best way to test any setup is just run a standard audio testing cd. I have no idea where you actually get one of these even though I've seen them used a load of times. Tbh, it'd be really simple to make one yourself.

To sort out my studio setup I just use a test oscillator sweeping up from 0-20K. And then do the same thing in each speaker separately, then quickly pan the tone at certain problem frequencies to make sure everything's sort of balanced.

I could stick something on a cd for you colly if you can't find a proper one (or make yourself one in Audacity or whatever).

BaZmO*

Scubadevils wrote: »

Sorry Zascar, dragging this way off from high-end in-car audio solutions to the humble cassette tape! TDK Chrome cassettes though were the mutts nuts. :pac:

The aul tapes were pretty cool alright, but I did prefer vinyl myself.


Zas, just to get back OT. Your system consists of Head Unit, Amps and Speakers yeah? That's an awful lot of power no? Is that not well more power than you can actually comfortably listen to?

I remember fitting a new system into my car a good few years ago. Pioneer Head Unit (which cost a fortune) 4 x 50w and 4 Pioneer Speakers to suit. Bit of a nightmare fitting it all in, but the sound was fantastic. Never felt that the addition of extra wattage, which would mean amps, was required.

Bought a new car recently and was looking at options for a new stereo. Although, the thoughts of fitting it makes me sigh.

Zascar

Cheers Jeff, a quick google gave me a load of results of test audio to download, I've yet to go through them but I'm sure I can find something, cheers for the offer though.

Baz, well, yeah its probably more than I really need but that's kinda the fun. Car Audio is a bit snobby like many things and basically powering just off the head unit generally just won't cut it. I basically bought mine in bits and pieces over a year and a half before actually fitting it all. I got the head unit, sub & box all second hand for approx half price. The amps I just got a great deal from the US. The sub amp is matched perfectly to the sub itself - 400-500 watts is recommended. The amp for the speakers is a little bit more than the recommended wattage, but its better to have a little but to much and keep it low, than not enough and maxing it out.

The system is built for quality not overall volume (SPL). Head unit volume goes up to 40, 15-20 is normal listening level, 25-30 has it cranking, I've never really gone much over 30. Yeah some people might think its ridiculous, but its like having a Porsche/Ferrari: you'll probably almost never drive it at 150mph+ but its still nice to have, and driving at normal levels is just, better. For the few times when its a nice day and you are doing a long drive, have some new tunes on a CD and just being able to crank up the bass and pump it out like you were in a club - its worth every penny Both Joker77 and Executive Steve have heard it...

I had one system a few years back and I had 2x 12" subs taking up almost the entire boot. With a bassy track on it moved so much air the whole car would shake - the seat felt like one of those massage chairs, you could actually feel your hair moving lol. My mates always slagged me saying I should have some furry dice and baseball cap at 45 degrees

Oh and Baz I fit mine myself, its not exactly rocket science and I thought it would be a fun project to do, which it was at the start, but ended up being a lot more work than I anticipated. Then when it doesn't work you nearly pull your hair out. You are better off getting someone who really knows what they are doing to fit it properly.

BaZmO*

Zascar wrote: »

The system is built for quality not overall volume (SPL). Head unit volume goes up to 40, 15-20 is normal listening level, 25-30 has it cranking, I've never really gone much over 30.

Huh? Everybody knows that the loudest systems only go up as far as 11

Zascar wrote: »

Oh and Baz I fit mine myself, its not exactly rocket science and I thought it would be a fun project to do, which it was at the start, but ended up being a lot more work than I anticipated. Then when it doesn't work you nearly pull your hair out. You are better off getting someone who really knows what they are doing to fit it properly.

I'd be fairly handy with the aul DIY, but what is and should've been a fairly simple job just turned into a bit of a nightmare. It was an old car so I had to get specialist gromits/tubing for the wiring for the speakers in the doors, which took me forever to track down. And then I had to get back plates made up so I could fit the speakers in the shelf in the boot. That and loads of other minor things that just ended up wrecking my head. I bought a new car recently that I should have for a good while so I was thinking about getting a new system for it. On that subject, can you recommend a good head unit?

Zascar

Head units are great now, they pretty much all have loads of features which a few years ago I was paying massive money for. I have this which was €600 new I got it for €300 on ebay. Its just decent quality with mp3 and a nice display. Display aside even the ones for €200 these days are as good if not better with more features. Have a look on the halfords website, there are a good few with mp3, USB port and Bluetooth for €150. Bluetooth means ready to go car kit without any wires, well handy. Some of the displays are a bit gay - personally I like to see all the track/album info and 12 characters just does not cut it (reminds me of CDJ's). Alpine or Kenwood are great makes you won't go far wrong.

Is mise le key

BaZmO* wrote: »

Huh? Everybody knows that the loudest systems only go up as far as 11

?

BaZmO*

Zascar wrote: »

Head units are great now, they pretty much all have loads of features which a few years ago I was paying massive money for. I have this which was €600 new I got it for €300 on ebay. Its just decent quality with mp3 and a nice display. Display aside even the ones for €200 these days are as good if not better with more features. Have a look on the halfords website, there are a good few with mp3, USB port and Bluetooth for €150. Bluetooth means ready to go car kit without any wires, well handy. Some of the displays are a bit gay - personally I like to see all the track/album info and 12 characters just does not cut it (reminds me of CDJ's). Alpine or Kenwood are great makes you won't go far wrong.

Cheers Colly. I actually have a Pioneer Head Unit, this model. And as I've said, I have it years but it's been lying around unused for yonks. Think I might set it up in the new car. There's a great sound off it and it'd be a shame not to use it. The only doubts I had about using it was that I wanted to get one that'd take my iPhone but just had a search and found this, which is the business if it works as I'll be able to play and charge the iPhone with it.

The only thing that's putting me off is the effort involved and the fact that I'd need to get a whole new fascia cover to fit anything other than the factory fitted stereo. Although it could be a challenge......

Is mise le key wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbVKWCpNFhY

Zascar

Tragically I have never seen that movie, must watch it asap!

jtsuited

Zascar wrote: »

Tragically I have never seen that movie, must watch it asap!

WHAT THE FCUK COLLY??????WHAAAAAAATTTTT THE FCUK±!!!!!!???????

Watch it now, or ring in sick to work in the morning. That is a crime.

So much great comedy owes sooooo much to spinal tap. Ricky Gervais has even said that all the office was just spinal tap in a tie with an awful haircut (youtube ricky gervais meets christopher guest)....

I've watched Spinal Tap more than any other film by far. You might need to have been in bands to get some of the more 'inside' jokes but it's a friggin masterpiece.

Zascar

Hahaha I knew I'd get that response. OK will do asap. I'm not much of a fan of 'The Office' though, I find a lot of that super-cringey British comedy just too hard to watch!

BaZmO*

ST is definite 'have to see' movie, although it might be a tough one if you don't like The Office. There'd be no Office if there was no ST. You still watch it though. Amazing film.