very noob guy asking about audio here [SERIOUSLY]

[Zenn]

since you're only interested in the boom-boom part & on a tight budget, sell off your 6x9, buy a 10 inch sub in a small box for kancil, buy 2ch amp to power the sub.

 

[simonlim]

hi all sifus, im a newbie in ICE and have followed some threads about ICE here and there recently just to get more info which is essential before doing anything to my myvi. i wanted to upgrade but i have limited budget. im a musician myself so im pretty fussy as a newbie could be and i have understood that i cannot save on good SQ. as im still a student, so i planned to go step by step in the right way.

previously i have done something which is kinda stupid and money wasting. i bought 4" and 6" coaxial speakers for both the front dash and for the rear doors respectively which cost about RM350 a few months back. my dad had a waja, which its SQ became my benchmark when i started driving. he sold it and got himself a used camry, the SQ is poorer than a waja's. but im studying out from hometown already so i often drive the myvi so i think it would be better to install better sound system in the myvi rather than the camry.

other than the coaxial speakers, everything is stock. i started some surveys thru the internet and also met some shops for advises. im currently in Penang, i visited Beng Auto and also Golden Auto. as im a little fussy for SQ, i guess i could not save my budget to below RM4k after the surveys done. i plan to go for the right way by getting a decent newbie HU like JVC KD series which has normal features costing RM400+, Alpine Component Speakers for the front, an amplifier like RDS or used Gravity then finally a 10"(RM400+/Kicker) or 12"(RM700+/not sure) subwoofer.

i wish to get advises from all of u sifus whether such a setup is the right way and whether is it better than my benchmark. i also heard that the Golden Auto is a pretty good installer in my area and they are honest guys, can confirm ar? i normally listen to vocal songs and most of the time, i drive here and there in short distances, the ICE is my only companion other than my gf hahaha..im not those "boom-ing" goers, just enjoy music to the fullest possible..

Questions:
1) is the HU in my list acceptable to match the other stuff? i understand the RCA is important, but i dont know how to check whether the suggested HU is capable enough in every little term that i do not know..

2) the alpine component cost about RM700-800, did not jot down the model..or could i get anything better or near to equal with lower budget for this? with installation, it would exceed RM1k just for this..

3) i was suggested to use a 4-channel amplifier, 2ch for the component speakers and the other 2ch to drive the subwoofer in the boot. is this the right way? are there any other kinds of amplifiers that suit me better or maybe i could not save on amps also?

4) i was told that a 10" woofer is enough in a myvi but a 12" will produce softer and longer bass, what do u sifus recommend? i think i personally enjoy softer ones, i dont like punching bass or loud ones.

5) i also heard that the current from the battery to the HU is not stable for stock setups. so adding a 16awg power cable from the batt to the HU would be necessary..any recommendations?

6) are grounding wires, voltage stabilizer really needed in ICE?

i was also suggested to get rid of the front 4" coaxial speakers and just let the components do their work then keep the 6" coaxial but power them directly from the HU and lower it's significance so that it does not kacau the better stuff working..how ar? in the beginning, my budget was RM1k and it gets me nothing but crap if i want all the stuff in the car. so i would have to work and save more during the coming long holidays

all sifus, i need ur advise seriously and urgently, i cant stand the SQ in my car now..planning to get new HU by end of the week. that's the most i can afford by now, would proceed to the others in time..cant wait to graduate and start working already a million thanks in advance to all of u

 

[Zenn]

no need to rush, just keep on saving

all u need is HU, 4ch amp, components and sub

in the mean time can try to sell off your coaxials

try up your HU budget bit more la, wont regret, maybe get a pioneer around 600

 

[simonlim]

no need to rush, just keep on saving

all u need is HU, 4ch amp, components and sub

in the mean time can try to sell off your coaxials

try up your HU budget bit more la, wont regret, maybe get a pioneer around 600

hi sifu zenn, i have read this thread completely from the start so i will take ur advise seriously..

i have advertised to sell the 4" coaxial but not the 6", do u suggest me to sell off the 6" also or just leave it there?

i saw a pioneer also, costing RM500+ but im not able to recognize and hence could not locate it in the net..would take ur advise for a pioneer. thanks zenn

 

[simonlim]

i searched for this in Golden Auto Penang just now:

Pioneer DEHP-4050UB Head Deck 2008 MODEL

Plays MP3 / WMA/ACC
MOSFET 50W x 4
USB adapter ready
iPod adapter ready
AUX-in
FM tuner & AM tuner
Wireless remote control
Direct Sub Drive
Advanced Sound Retriever
EEQ
3-band parametric equalizer
7-Way Rotary Commander
3 RCA pre-outs (front + rear + subwoofer) (HI VOLT)

the boss, mr yeoh, charges RM695 including installation, single DIN panel about RM110, so total RM805.

there were advertisements previously to promote the last stocks of this thing in this forum, asking for just RM655 by yohannes. but i think that's cash & carry without installation. is mr yeoh's price reasonable for an old model like this? it has the essential functions which i need and i managed to squeeze out my budget to RM800. what do u guys think?

mr yeoh said the things every year are almost the same, just that the latest units are equipped with maybe SD slot and the USB connection is upfront whereas the old model has no SD slot and the USB is another wire by the side or back. do u all think it's worth it?? seriously need to know, else i would just get it tomorrow morning..thanks!

 

[simonlim]

changed my mind, found pioneer 5250 which is a 2010 model, better in terms of USB upfront and nicer face only. but cheaper price, RM600 cash and carry. hope that the transaction would be successful.

 

[simonlim]

there is something i wish to know about the modification part. since this pioneer 5250UD provides 3 RCA out with high voltage, so do i need to do anything else to cope with the higher voltage flow or anything else essential when i install it? really got no experiences with HU change..

i heard somewhere before that adding a power cable from the battery to the HU would stabilize the current flow and hence better performance and SQ, any confirmation?? if yes then what kind of power cable? 16awg enough?

really need help from sifus, will be getting the HU when i meet my friend in KL next weekend. thanks in advance!

 

[Zenn]

high voltage rca output is good for the amp, the amp gain no need to be so high, less noise, better sound

as for the HU, not necessary to get power direct from battery at this level yet, normal power from OEM wire harness is ok

 

[simonlim]

thanks zenn..

 

[raj2519]

Hi guys,

This is my first time writing something in a thread..I believe i can give you a few advise regarding your matter..I'm a full time sound engineer working in the music industry..and i'll try my level best not to use any jargon..

1. First of all cross-overs are actually a device to split frequency range to the mid-bass and tweeter speakers so that these speakers plays their intended sounds based on their frequency response.
For an example a mid-bass usually plays frequency range from 70 Hz - 2000 kHz ( depending on the speakers ) and tweeters plays frequency range from 2000 Hz - 16000 Hz / 20000 Hz (depending on the speakers again). The splitting of frequency range depends on the speaker manufacturer.

2. Depending on whether to buy an amp or not can sometimes be very crucial but here is the tip..If your speakers can handle high power outputs than you could get yourself a set of amps..Your overall sound will definitely sound 'beefier'. Based on your system setup that you mention earlier, you could get yourself a 4 channel amp.

3. A pre-amp primary function is to boost low volume sounds to sound louder. Thats its function..We use pre-amp to record artist vocal because sometimes their singing can be to soft so we use pre-amp to boost their vocal to sound a little louder. But songs that you listen from MP3 and CDs are already at its maximum loudness which is playing at 0dB volume. So its not a necessary to use pre-amp unless you want to add-in a subwoofer but your HeadUnit does not have a 'SUB' output than you can use a pre-amp..But then you can get a HeadUnit that comes with a 'Sub" output so you eliminate the use of pre-amps.

And last but not the least try your best not to play MP3s in your car speakers because overtime it could damage your speakers because all MP3s 'Clip'..Clip is actually what we call Soft Saturated Distortion..Its a digital distortion which can not be heard by our normal human ears..But the problem is even original CDs that we buy 'Clips' sometimes which is bad..One of the very few original CD album that I have bought which never clipped is Linkin Park-Reanimation..But we can actually Clean-Up these digital errors from MP3s and make it sound as good or sometimes even better than the original..For reference you can check out from my blog at http://raj-mastering.vox.com and click on the icon that says 'For Zerotohundred viewing'..you will find two song files :

1. Sexy Chick-Cleaned
2. Secy Chick-MP3

Play the both songs and you will find out that the Cleaned version of the song Sexy Chick will sound titer and smoother than the MP3 version. What i've done is that i've removed the DC offset in the MP3 and lowered its volume to -0.1 dB so that the song got more 'room' to breath when its volume is pushed louder.

note : my reply is in regards to the first original post. Thank you.