easy OEM Sound System Upgrade with DSP
 

Having never been a car audio person, even I can hear that the factory audio system leaves a lot to be desired. A fellow poster on a german forum hooked me up with a contact to a company that specialized in DSP solutions for OEM Car Audio systems, Audiotec Fischer:
http://www.audiotec-fischer.de/lng/en/about-us/
to alleviate this issue by some clever engineering. In the following writeup, I'd like to share my initial impressions with you.

What's it about?:
Some background info on DSP technology in general:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_signal_processor

Instead of replacing the OEM speakers with "better" ones to improve sound, the DSP route means improving the OEM sound setup via a custom tailored, vehicle-specific EQ setting and time alignment for the OEM speakers. So, instead of doing a lot of body-and wirework, get the Amp, the matching wire harness, add a sub if you like for even greater sound improvement and you are done. This is achieved by routing a small extra piece of hardware (the DSP) into the signal way which processes and optimizes the sound output.

A big plus for this route of improvement is that the installation is completely invisible and completely reversible, the stock wiring remains completely untouched.
Also, if you change Car Make or Model (who'd do such a thing? ;) ), just put the DSP in the new car, update the setup to the new car and enjoy the same improvement.

The vital part is the setup of the DSP to get the most out of the OEM (or any, for that matter) hardware. An individual setup is time consuming and expensive, and while you can do the whole customization process of the DSP by yourself via the supplied PC tool, I doubt that the vast majority of users can be bothered with that.

So Audiotec Fischer provides a pre-configured setting for a range of cars. The blueprint for the vehicle-specific OEM system can then be downloaded from their homepage and transferred via USB or SD card to the DSP and further configured if desired.

Since there aren't that many GT86s on the roads here and even less BRZs, I volunteered to donate my car for the setup process to them. Fellow forumite Psyke helped with install and setup. to anticipate the outcome, the result was amazing.

How's the Installation?
Start was yesterday "around midnight" or so, at least it was a couple minutes before waking up:
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...F8FE9CA72F.jpg

Arrival about 100 minutes later at a lovely industrial estate in Schmallenberg:
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...5F56A03993.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...DC412AC097.jpg

The Lab:
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...1C5D7C3E0A.jpg

Installation took about 45 minutes in total, but it's always hard to watch for me when "zee Baby" gets gutted and torn apart :cry:
Cable routing was done from head unit through the passenger side foot room, side skirt and under the passenger seat, then under the rear seat into the trunk for the (optional) sub:
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...31C31695A6.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...1E48A4DF29.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...A6828779F2.jpg

The DSP found its place under the passenger seat, invisible when the floor mat is put back in:
PP52DSP
http://www.audiotec-fischer.de/lng/e...sp.html?type=N
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...72204AC74B.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...8585992B7B.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...43725AB3A9.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...60532E96F7.jpg

Then the setup / initial calibration process commenced. The system was calibrated with / for two of their current subwoofers:
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...BB8ECD4A0D.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...D3ADA71521.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...74D69C453A.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...4DE2A3FA8B.jpg

The calibration was done really thorough and took about three hours in total (think: a lot of pink noise, sound field testing, clipping tests, samples etc.). For future users, this will not be necessary because you simply download the calibration file, install it and be done (matter of a couple minutes).

After hearing both subs, I chose the smaller one, a PP8 E-Q:
http://www.audiotec-fischer.de/lng/e...-q.html?type=N
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...69DB9C53E0.jpg

Some observations from the setup process:
One of the front speakers in my car was wired wrong, looks like it came that way from the factory. This was sorted out by the DSP.
The stock speakers really lack low range capability, the cutoff frequency for the sub had to be set at a rather high 90hz.

Results:
The improvement over the stock sound system is, for the lack of a better word, phenomenal. Even in our rather cramped and barely insulated cabin, you can now hear a real soundstage, the cabin "sounds" like double the size.

The definition and clarity of the music (even from the radio) is vastly improved and it's now actually a joy to listen to music in the twins.
The sub adds a good part to the overall experience, but the improvement of the DSP with only the stock system sans sub is also dramatic.
The overall experience is the complete opposite of
"BOOMBOOOMBOOOMTRUNKSIZEDSUBANDLOUDERISBETTER"
but a jump in sound quality and definition over stock.

All in all, a really interesting trip to a small manufacturer with a great product.
A big :thanks: to Patrick from Audiotec Fischer who spared his free saturday for this project and to Psyke for making the contact.

So, if you should choose this path / system, you can rest assured that it was actually custom-tailored for our twins on this actual car. :)

Disclaimer:
I paid retail price for all components, the only freebie was the setup process which was give and take for the company as well as me.

Link to manual of the DSP:
http://a248.e.akamai.net/pix.crutchf...975PP52DSP.PDF

Video review of an earlier model of the the DSP:
[ame]http://youtu.be/nlqBzzoy5ls[/ame]