Group Buy / EOI new generation DNS head units (RNS-510 alternative)

[DkN]

Quick answer to the questions above, the OEM speaker level outputs do get a sound quality boost from the DSP chip, and it is much better than OEM. I'm not a audiophile like some but I see no real reason to upgrade to Dynaudio with the current sound quality I get out of the DNS series - it is significantly better than the OEM RCD-300 I had.

I did get an update from the manager just today, so they have been doing some work, but I've had no time to test it since my engagement party was tonight (when things start happening they like to do it all at once don't they...) Just got home to drop this message. I'll install and test the new update tomorrow.

It's not the delay that is concerning me it's the fact that if they release this unit with bugs they better fix them. since this is there flagship it should be better then the ans. if it's not then its a flagship of a fleet of piece of **** units. The ans was a flop in my eyes and the customer service to even get a how may I help you was useless. I have high hopes for this unit and rather see it release with no bugs then to get it as another ans

I realise there are a couple of issues with the ANS but most are related to the limited hardware, and despite this many are satisfied with them - I have been selling them for a year after all. It doesn't suit everyone, especially those looking for more advanced features, but I think your issue is that you had higher expectations because you weren't informed of the limitations before buying it from Audiosources. Customer service, again, I've mentioned before when you're dealing with the factory direct where they mostly deal with wholesale numbers, customer service is a bit hit or miss, though for the most part they give reasonable support.

[raymondtrudeau]

Congratulations sandy on your engagement

All speakers and subwoofers are "speaker level". The difference is that with an aftermarket head unit it will have line level outputs so that you can connect an external amplifier to power your speakers and/or subwoofer. Line level outputs are not amplified, therefore you're not relying on the small amplifer inside the head unit to power the speakers. Most amplifiers do have speaker level inputs, but this method has several shortcomings. It certainly accounts for lower sound quality.

But with stock speakers and no external amplifier, changing the head unit won't make a huge difference to the overall sound quality or SPL potential. You may get some benefit from a slightly more powerful inbuilt head unit amp and some slightly better sound processing hardware/software.

At the end of the day though, if you're playing through an iPod the sound quality isn't great anyway.

[moda]

^

Doubly congrats on the engagement Sandy

Looking forward to hearing how the updated software goes.

At the end of the day though, if you're playing through an iPod the sound quality isn't great anyway.

iPods actually have a fairly decent DAC in them anyways. If you're outputting via the dock connector, using ALAC encoded lossless files, it should be pretty good quality, since the dock connector is Digital and passes to the headunits DAC (which in all likelihood is better than the built in iPod one, or at the very least has more power behind it). Not *Foobar2k @ 96khz -> $3000 DAC -> $5000 Amp -> Audeze LCD3 headphones* type quality, but pretty damn good.

It's actually changed a bit now that Apple has gone to the Lightning connector. The lightning connector is digital, but the lightning to 30pin adapter actually has a DAC built into it (same as what is in the iPods) that decodes to analogue and passes out Analogue audio out to the 30pin. Bit of a shame, it means the only way to actually get a pure digital signal out of an iPod with a lightning port is a direct lightning cable.

You can probably tell by now that i'm an audiophile haha, but more for personal audio/headphones than speaker systems and cars.

For what it's worth the output with the stock VW speakers in the Golf (not Dynaudio) and my generic chinese unit isn't the best (fairly muddy in the bass and mids). I'm putting that down to the stock speakers (I ordered a set of Focal IFVWs), and the generic unit. We'll see how it goes I haven't actually heard it with the stock RCD300, so I can't comment on that.

[swyner]

Congrats Sandy!!!

Any word from them on shipping dates?

[Tobes_WIR35]

^

iPods actually have a fairly decent DAC in them anyways. If you're outputting via the dock connector, using ALAC encoded lossless files, it should be pretty good quality, since the dock connector is Digital and passes to the headunits DAC (which in all likelihood is better than the built in iPod one, or at the very least has more power behind it)

Yeah that's a fair comment, the sound quality is definitely better in the car than listening through headphones. I wouldn't class myself as an audiophile in the company of other audiophiles, but I would say that I do really enjoy clear, crisp music. I have a set of Sennheiser studio headphones and listening to my iPod nano I am rather frustrated by the sound quality. Compared to a CD it's quite rubbish. But then again, anything with an "i" in front of it is generally more focused on looking trendy and having a cool marketing campaign rather than actual technical quality and detail.

[kwalsh24]

I-phoney i-crap

[chillybone]

Congrats on the engagement sandy.

Sorry to be a nuisance with the ans. just getting antsy I suppose and just hope the dns comes out awesome

[Tobes_WIR35]

I-phoney i-crap

Haha, I didn't mean to go off topic and turn this into an Apple-bashing. What Apple do extremely well is package technology into a fairly good quality product which is easy to use and easy to understand for the average punter, and then they do a spectacular job at marketing it and creating their own captive market who are then locked in to Apple. But by no means is it the best, the most advanced, or the highest quality gear available though.

[Mister Jim Lahey]

Haha, I didn't mean to go off topic and turn this into an Apple-bashing. What Apple do extremely well is package technology into a fairly good quality product which is easy to use and easy to understand for the average punter, and then they do a spectacular job at marketing it and creating their own captive market who are then locked in to Apple. But by no means is it the best, the most advanced, or the highest quality gear available though.

That's interesting. What would you recommend as an alternative?

[Fanaki]

A Motorola, they are making a come back along with Blackberry :p

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