R36 Audio upgrade

[G-rig]

Hi Swallowtail, Drew said he's been doing a fair few VW's and that you were pretty happy with the audio upgrade. I think you chose some good gear and sounds like a decent upgrade over stock.

[Swallowtail]

In the interests of keeping this thread on topic (i.e. the improvements of my upgrade) and both as the OP of this thread and the mod in this area, I have deleted the last set of "discussions". Please guys, if you have nothing constructive to add, take it offline.

[Swallowtail]

Hi Swallowtail, Drew said he's been doing a fair few VW's and that you were pretty happy with the audio upgrade. I think you chose some good gear and sounds like a decent upgrade over stock.

The arc's are nice clean amps and my car has no noise or hiss at all. The line level inputs work great and I know of a few people using these with the OEM head unit but dont see why you'd need a LC6i as well, kind of doubling up (would be good for sub gain control then again the 500.1 mono block comes with a gain control knob anyway if you ever wanted to add one).

I think it is the right way to go about the audio upgrades as the VW RNS-510 HU is great in terms of functionality and integration (as is the MDI & fiscon/Skoda Bluetooth (i chose the Skoda), and not worth going to after market HU's in these cars IMO. I'm also using a Arc/Dynaudio & Image Dynamics with an Audison Bit One.1 in my Golf.

Thanks g-rig... I'm happy with it! Andrew's comment was that the RNS510 does not output line level, hence the need for the LC6i before the arc audio? I love the RNS510, it's a brilliant piece of equipment (apart from the SD-only reader! )

[G-rig]

Thanks g-rig... I'm happy with it! Andrew's comment was that the RNS510 does not output line level, hence the need for the LC6i before the arc audio? I love the RNS510, it's a brilliant piece of equipment (apart from the SD-only reader! )

Hi Swallowtail. I'm running high level (speaker wire) outputs from the RNS-510 to the Bit One which also accepts high level inputs (as would the LC6i).

Either way, it's a better solution than using a passive LOC as I tried that using the RCD-500 and a Sven2 LOC but was lacking detail and created noise in the process. The Audiocontrol LC6i is a good active LOC and gives you a sub gain remote if you ever did want to add a sub, but think it is a bit of a double up if the KS125.4 accepts high level inputs (DeanCorps Pirelli does).

I thought the KS125.4 could accept high level input but you have to make them into RCA type connections:

From the website:

KS125.2 states Hi Level speaker inputs for OEM integration onto most factory radios whereas the KS125.4 states Hi/Low Level balanced switchbladeRCA inputs for flexible integration into most applications .

Just something to check with them, but it's possible it doesn't work the way I thought.

Cheers,

[apom]

Ok.... thinking of going down the upgrade path similar here to what Swallowtail has done. I was thinking of getting the kit from onlinecarstereo.com as the prices they have seem to be been good.

For example the RRP for the Alpine speakers sets here are $599.00 These guys have them for $178.00 per set (USD) All up 2 sets landed is less than the 1 set here (I assume it used 2 sets, 1 for the font doors and 1 for the back doors???)

They dont have the Arc Amp so would need something else as well as the LC6.

(Swallowtail, did they replace the wiring to the speakers or use the stuff that was in there?)

What do people think... does is sound like a good plan (given I have a good install) or do people think its nuts

[Swallowtail]

Ok.... thinking of going down the upgrade path similar here to what Swallowtail has done. I was thinking of getting the kit from onlinecarstereo.com as the prices they have seem to be been good.

For example the RRP for the Alpine speakers sets here are $599.00 These guys have them for $178.00 per set (USD) All up 2 sets landed is less than the 1 set here (I assume it used 2 sets, 1 for the font doors and 1 for the back doors???)

They dont have the Arc Amp so would need something else as well as the LC6.

(Swallowtail, did they replace the wiring to the speakers or use the stuff that was in there?)

What do people think... does is sound like a good plan (given I have a good install) or do people think its nuts

I don't know about the wiring... I'd say your only issues may come from tweaking the LC6i and the amp to suit the output from the RNS510? Price on the speakers is excellent though...

[V6Passat]

Well my audio upgrade is done...



ArcAudio ks125.4 amp housed under the passenger seat. This is a high quality 4 x 75W (into 4 ohm) amp. Plenty enough power... goes quite loud.

Door speakers all replaced with Alpine SPX17REF 2-way speakers.

I'll take some photos tomorrow of the amp mounting (you can see it if you put the passenger seat right back).

Had about 1/2 hour with it on the way home, and it's a lot gruntier than the stock system, a lot more control in the bass and midrange, and just generally places everything a lot more cleanly. No subwoofer installed, but the bass is tight and you can feel it through the car. Testament to a well-built car, the whole thing doesn't rattle when it's going hard.

RRP value of the amp and speakers and the unit to connect the RNS510 to the amp is about $2500. Installation was on top of that.

Anyone in Brisbane wants to have a listen let me know. Northfield at Moorooka did the job, very happy with it so far.

EDIT - now I ned to decide what to do with the stock stuff - keep it for when I sell the car to put back in, or ebay it...

Congratulations on getting this sorted with the Dealer! Have they fixed up the other stuff?

Cheers
V6Passat

[Swallowtail]

Yes. Nav DVD supplied, audio sorted, USB and iPod MDI cables supplied free, and personal phone calls from the general manager.

[pj's]

Ok.... thinking of going down the upgrade path similar here to what Swallowtail has done. I was thinking of getting the kit from onlinecarstereo.com as the prices they have seem to be been good.

For example the RRP for the Alpine speakers sets here are $599.00 These guys have them for $178.00 per set (USD) All up 2 sets landed is less than the 1 set here (I assume it used 2 sets, 1 for the font doors and 1 for the back doors???)

They dont have the Arc Amp so would need something else as well as the LC6.

(Swallowtail, did they replace the wiring to the speakers or use the stuff that was in there?)

What do people think... does is sound like a good plan (given I have a good install) or do people think its nuts

apom

In my upgrade I have kept the original amp (under the front passenger's seat) to power the rear speakers and had installed a RE Audio XT(v2) 1600 amp to power the fronts. The new amp has been installed under the rear floor in front of the wheel well. For base a Bazooka sub woofer was added which is on the rear floor behind the rear seats. Much better sound that with just the original amp. If memory serves me correctly a question was asked about the original amp's xovers. The answer Theo gave me was yes they could be adjusted but only at the factory. cheers pj

[Swallowtail]

Sounds like a good upgrade pj's. Pics?