Car Stereo Enthusiasts here on SBAF?

Discussion in 'Cars, Motorcycles, Boats, Airplanes Talk' started by crazychile, Mar 7, 2017.

  1. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    Damn that's a great idea. Never thought of doing that myself. I wonder if there are outdoor rated plugs that seal between them so you don't get anything in between that could short the + and -.
     
  2. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    There are, but they were like 10-15$, and these were like $3.
    Will be fine though, I don't have that much wet stuff or anything back there. Seems like shorting would only happen in extreme cases.
     
  3. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    Starting replacing the speakers. Stock speakers look terrible, look at the like tiny magnet, and the basket is plastic. These Focals look much better.
    IMG_20200325_135832337.jpg
     
  4. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    New speakers in. Sound deadening material should be here tomorrow, will put that in my doors. Looking at doors and knocking on them, they could really use the damping. Component speakers really help though. Instead of one full range cheap speaker at my feet, I have a nice midbass at my feet, then tweeter in the dashboard. I can really hear the soundstage being at a normal height instead of down low. Plus get some highs the full range woofer couldent do. Took some before measurements, will take some more after I do sound deadening and get the door panels back on.
    Door all stripped down ready for some deadening (after I remove the plastic water barrier)
    [​IMG]
     
  5. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    Sound treatment done, and doors back on. Definitely big improvement. Will have to do some final fine tuning to the system but it is sounding nice.
    IMG_20200327_142149721_HDR.jpg
    IMG_20200327_145346338_HDR.jpg
     
  6. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    Make sure the windows still work properly! :)
     
  7. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    Just checked, they are are good.
    Just finished doing eq and time alignment and everything.

    Before the upgrade (hadn't set subwoofer gain, but was having fun with big boom in car)
    [​IMG]

    After the upgrade and tuning of the system
    [​IMG]

    I would say it's a success. Had to do a bunch of eq to get it level though
    IMG_20200327_171319021.jpg
     
  8. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    Did a lot more work. Sound dampened rear doors and put matching focal coaxials in there.
    [​IMG]
    Installed stealthy bass knob next to dash light controller
    [​IMG]
    Sound dampened wheel well
    [​IMG]
    And sound dampened roof
    [​IMG]

    Next installing amp once it arrives, and working on making a volume knob for my head unit using the steering wheel control input, rotary encoder, and Arduino.
     
  9. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    Don't set your head unit screen on your knee when plugging hard to plug rca cables into the back...
    [​IMG]

    Anyway, new screen glass/touch panel ordered, radio taken apart. Should be here in a few days so I can re assemble it and put it back in my car. Was just about done hooking up my amp...
     
  10. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    New screen arrived and installed. Hooked up amp, doing some listening, then putting car back together and re tuning system.
    IMG_20200411_113645550.jpg
     
  11. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    Looking good! If you still have it disassembled, you should consider some putting some mass loaded vinyl on top of the dampener to better block road noise. Can also use closed cell foam to stop rattles and decouple stuff (like between plastic pieces of dash or rear deck, or license plate), or as a less effective noise blocker in water prone areas like doors.

    Second Skin has some good guides, but could probably order similar cheaper stuff elsewhere if you decide to do it. https://www.secondskinaudio.com/sound-blocking/
     
  12. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    Assembled now, I figured mass loaded vinyl wasn't worth it, as it really has to be close to 100% coverage to make it effective. Plus it costs more money.
    I did put come foam tape behind the license plate to prevent rattles. From here ill just listen for rattles and address those.
     
  13. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    Ok, now system is "done".
    Done for the near future at least. Keep it like this for a bit, next step would be to get a dsp of some sort, maybe go all out an get a helix dsp, run the fronts active 2 way, or maybe even 3 way.
    But for now, its good.
    Subwoofer strapped down better, more secure, and less bad looking.
    [​IMG]

    Final FR (for now)
    Note bass is kinda high, but I have a subwoofer knob mounted up front, so I can always change it. I like the bass though. Also the miracles of car acoustics, the bass from 2 10" woofers doesn't drop off until like 17 Hz.... Wouldent get that in home audio.
    [​IMG]
     
  14. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    Android Auto users: what's a good music player app that gives the option of selection by folders from the car screen? Pulsar works pretty well, but no folders. I've tried Neutron, but can't get it to unmute. (Samsung S8, 2019 VW Golf wagon).

    Also, I'd be grateful to know if you have any favourite tips/tricks/settings that cut down on Android Auto's general flakiness.
     
  15. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    My only advice is make sure you have a good cable, and just hope android auto likes you.
    Other then that it just kinda does what it wants sometimes.

    On another note, I cant help but feel my tweeters location in the dashboard is less than optimal. I may use the angled mounting pods included with my tweeters to relocated them to the door/sail panel window area. That way they would be directly above the woofers, and not reflecting off the windshield. Ill have to do some listening to see if that would be better.
     
  16. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    Well I bought a helix DSP.2
    Should be here soon, was playing around with the software, this stuff is crazy.
    30 bands of EQ per channel, 6 input 8 output, time alignment, crossovers, and much much more.
    Is it stupid I spent more on the DSP then the speakers? Maybe, but I can get better speakers later.
    Just look how much stuff there is in here:
    helix.PNG
     
  17. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    I think for a car system the money is especially well spent. My former system was completely transformed by using Alpine’s IMPRINT system for auto EQ and time alignment. Excited for you!
     
  18. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    That's what I was thinking, dsp is very important in a car, lots of things to correct.
    And I can import Rew equilization files from measurements as well, automatically generated to meet a target curve.
     
  19. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    Hmm, never trust that statement....

    New stuff
    [​IMG]
     
  20. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    Got my helix DSP all installed. With the DSP tuning complete, system is sounding good. Maybe ill add a bit more treble. but it seems like the system is easier to sound harsh in a car. here is where I am at. Red line is a "flatish" response, green is with the bass knob all the way up (can adjust between those two lines).
    CarComplete.jpg
     

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