OEM AUDIO 400+ Reference

[Tmo]

I installed my reference series about a month ago. I was a little underwhelmed with the performance at first and I was just wondering if anyone else had similar issues and if they were able to resolve them. Here are the issues I have run across and what I have done so far.

CAR SET UP
2013 basic head unit
Reference series installed
Cat-back exhaust installed
Everything else is stock

ISSUES AND ACTIONS
After installing, I had a few issues that were my own fault. I couldn't get radio stations anymore-clearly I left the antenna cable fall back into the compartment behind the radio and didn't reconnect it -My Bad. I also didn't push the sub connection all the way in which I also quickly figured out. After I solved those problems, I went through the instructions and set the head unit specs to recommendations. SSP was on natural and the car type was on tC. Sitting in the car, with the engine off and all doors closed, it sounded...OK. It did sound better and the door cracking was indeed gone. But the sound was just kind of flat to me. On some songs, it sounded really good at really loud levels, but at normal levels it just didn't seem to sound very full.

It's at this point I started to mess around with the fade/bass/treble settings. Couldn't really get the sound I was going for and I felt like I may have just wasted a tone of money for an 8" woofer enclosure. Then I put the SSP setting on "feel" vice "natural". What a difference! It sounded great! Just one problem though, the front dash speakers (3.5" or 4" speakers...whatever they are) began cracking really bad when ever I turned it up slightly louder than what I would consider a normal level that 2 people could speak easily to one another. I have since faded to the back +2 in order to keep it from popping at normal levels. The sound is still much better than the original, but it isn't what I feel it could be. It sounded much better without having to fade the sound to the back, but this is the only happy medium I've found so far.

SUGGESTIONS?
I wrote OAP a PM yesterday, but they haven't had time to get back with me yet. They been great to this point and I have no doubt they will shortly, but I was just wondering if anyone had similar problems with their units and was able to improve the sound in any way. I have a read a few here today...One person said they bought a 2014 bespoke head unit and it sounded better than the 2013 basic unit he had. Anyone know this to be true? I was under the impression they had very similar output characteristics. I also read someone used the FRS Setting on the head unit instead of the suggested tC and that also made a difference. Anyone have experience or thoughts on that one? Not sure why I didn't think to try that one, but will do that later today just to see if it makes a difference.

Any other thoughts or suggestions will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[Tmo]

Nothing yet from OEM Audio Plus. I tried changing the car type in the radio yesterday from tC to FR-S. While it fixed the cracking in the front speaker, it definitely doesn't sound as good. tC is far superior than the FR-S setting. If I need replacement speakers for the dash, any suggestions? Anyone else replaced those speakers?

[shiro]

Hi Tmo,

You have some valid questions; some of which can only be answered by OEM Audio + guys. If you don't get a response I would give them a quick shout (1-855-OEM-ODIO). They are pretty cool to talk to and they will be able to explain in more detail how their system works.

As for your question on the settings for the FRS I have attached two screen shots from their manual. Yes, use the "TC" and "Natural" settings to get full use of the soundstage. Adjust the Bass and Treble to your liking.





EDIT:
My setup is a little different. I use all of OEM audio's components except the subwoofer and subwoofer amp. I have my own subwoofer setup (2x 10" Alpine Type Rs) with my amp tuned to what OEM audio Plus technical support recommended. So far love the setup and how loud the system goes.

Also recommend reading this part of our forums. Basically answers some of your questions on playing around with settings.

[Tmo]

Yup, followed those instructions exactly. Natural just sounded...terrible. I still have it on "feel". I'd rather replace the front speakers if that will fix the popping. Thanks for the number, I'll give them a call if I don't here from them in a bit.

[CruiseZen]

Originally Posted by Tmo

Yup, followed those instructions exactly. Natural just sounded...terrible. I still have it on "feel". I'd rather replace the front speakers if that will fix the popping. Thanks for the number, I'll give them a call if I don't here from them in a bit.

What bass setting did you order? Balanced, Full, or Robust? Several people on this forum have stated you should get full or robust if you have an aftermarket exhaust.

[Tmo]

I ordered the full. Haven't had time to call them yet. I'll update when I do.

[shiro]

I'm sorry buddy. I didn't add the link I was trying to reference last night... :/ But this one is it:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66212

[Tmo]

Originally Posted by shiro

I'm sorry buddy. I didn't add the link I was trying to reference last night... :/ But this one is it:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66212

Can't find the thanks button, I think maybe work IT policies might be blocking it???? Anyway, thanks for the link. I got some stuff to try there. It looks like many of the settings that have been suggested there I have already tried and gotten cracking out of the speakers. So I wonder if I might have some poor wiring...or maybe I just damaged the speakers as some point. I went back to tC and Natural last night and I heard some cracking on that setting as well at loud volumes and I don't remember hearing that before. I might have listened to it louder this time around though...hard to say. Guess I just need to talk to the experts...

[paiceyfan]

Talk to Daniel at OEM...he's an incredibly helpful guy. I had issues with my system and we tracked it to incorrect programming on the DSP. All's well now...

[Tmo]

I just wanted to post some closure on this as we solved in a while ago. I just haven't had time to fool around on the site in a while.

Kudos to Daniel at OEM for helping me track down the problem. Evidently, that little loopback cable that you plug into the existing amp on the reference series was bad. Daniel expedited a new cable and when I plugged it in...it was like heaven. I am now a happy customer!

[Abyssul]

Originally Posted by Tmo

I just wanted to post some closure on this as we solved in a while ago. I just haven't had time to fool around on the site in a while.

Kudos to Daniel at OEM for helping me track down the problem. Evidently, that little loopback cable that you plug into the existing amp on the reference series was bad. Daniel expedited a new cable and when I plugged it in...it was like heaven. I am now a happy customer!

Thank you for your response. I actually just got done talking to OEM+ last week about a very similar issue where the mids were recessed but not missing so it sounded empty at lower volumes, but more decent at louder volumes. I was instructed to send my amplifier back to them to make sure it was tuned with the right mapping. That loopback cable was mentioned in my call as well but the specialist felt sure it was the amplifier. I am hoping for a resolution as well once I get the amplifier back next week.

[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by Tmo

I just wanted to post some closure on this as we solved in a while ago. I just haven't had time to fool around on the site in a while.

Kudos to Daniel at OEM for helping me track down the problem. Evidently, that little loopback cable that you plug into the existing amp on the reference series was bad. Daniel expedited a new cable and when I plugged it in...it was like heaven. I am now a happy customer!

Bought my system from Daniel too
Nothing but good things from OEM

[Abyssul]

Originally Posted by Abyssul

Thank you for your response. I actually just got done talking to OEM+ last week about a very similar issue where the mids were recessed but not missing so it sounded empty at lower volumes, but more decent at louder volumes. I was instructed to send my amplifier back to them to make sure it was tuned with the right mapping. That loopback cable was mentioned in my call as well but the specialist felt sure it was the amplifier. I am hoping for a resolution as well once I get the amplifier back next week.

As an update to this post, I had my OEM Plus amplifier sent back for retuning. I received it back after making my recommendations and it definitely sounds better now. The bass is a little too punchy now (not a loudness issue), but I can make it work with headunit's EQ and is definitely a step up from the stock sound system. Whether it was wrongly tuned at first or I just prefer a specific sound signature, I no longer regret my purchase.

[ajcarson11]

All --

I recently purchased the OEM+ Reference system 2 or 3 weeks ago, and have had a few issues of my own. The install went great, and the system seems very high quality, but like Abyssul I have noticed a lack of mids (most music sounds very shimmery up top, with tight bass at bottom, very little in between) and also a somewhat harsh/fatiguing tone at loud volumes. It was difficult to EQ this out, and therefore I contacted Daniel who promptly sent me out another DSP amp to try. I should receive this amp tomorrow, and will report back. So far OEM+ and daniel have been very responsive to inquiries and seem very interested in assisting. Hope things turn out for me as well as others are reporting!