OEM Audio Plus BRZ Issue

[Anakin]

Just wondering what happened with this ?


Since I love 80's Hard Rock !


I purchased a 400+ system for my BRZ directly through OEM Audio.
I specified for it to be matched to my aftermarket Kenwood head unit & work with my aftermarket Pioneer door speakers. I was told that this would be no problem.


I received my system & upon opening the box the first thing I see is a pair of door speakers & a harness jumper for a Reference series install.
So I know that the amps are not flashed correctly for my set up.


Daniel sent a UPS pick up tag for the amps & reference parts and will have the amps reflashed for my set up.


While I'm waiting for the amps to come back; I was preparing for the install by going through the instructions & video.
I laid out my parts & wiring harness only to discover that in the middle of the harness where there should be a wiring pigtail & plug at the factory amp location = there was none.


So I now have the wrong harness or a misassembled one = ARGH !


I emailed Daniel on this...but it is the weekend...will have to see on Monday.


I'm getting bummed out on this unit as I keep having problems & I haven't even begun the install yet.


I would REALLY hate to go through all this & then the install just to have a less than premium experience with my 80's hard rock in the end !

[paiceyfan]

Originally Posted by Anakin

Just wondering what happened with this ?


Since I love 80's Hard Rock !


I purchased a 400+ system for my BRZ directly through OEM Audio.
I specified for it to be matched to my aftermarket Kenwood head unit & work with my aftermarket Pioneer door speakers. I was told that this would be no problem.


I received my system & upon opening the box the first thing I see is a pair of door speakers & a harness jumper for a Reference series install.
So I know that the amps are not flashed correctly for my set up.


Daniel sent a UPS pick up tag for the amps & reference parts and will have the amps reflashed for my set up.


While I'm waiting for the amps to come back; I was preparing for the install by going through the instructions & video.
I laid out my parts & wiring harness only to discover that in the middle of the harness where there should be a wiring pigtail & plug at the factory amp location = there was none.


So I now have the wrong harness or a misassembled one = ARGH !


I emailed Daniel on this...but it is the weekend...will have to see on Monday.


I'm getting bummed out on this unit as I keep having problems & I haven't even begun the install yet.


I would REALLY hate to go through all this & then the install just to have a less than premium experience with my 80's hard rock in the end !

Anakin...stick with it...I now have the reference system, which is how OEM tried to make things right. I have some settings that will bring the best out of this system for you, but it is never worth $1500. Let me know if I can help...

[Anakin]

Daniel emailed me today to let me know that he will be sending me the correct System Series harness.
Evidentally the harness I have is Reference Series "only".
Neither of us thought of that difference when sending the other parts back.


Daniel's customer service has been great.

It's good to know that this was not a misassembled harness ; it restores a little confidence in the techs at the company.


paiceyfan ; thanks for your input !
Hopefully this will come out well; but I'm sticking with the System Series as I love Pioneer speakers & don't want to have to open up the doors again.


I changed the head unit out because the stock one was ; too hard to use, created too much distracting light on the dash, & I hate navigation / satellite units. I just wanted simplicity / single DIN / great CD & HD radio only.


When I did the door speakers I was unaware that they really functioned as woofers...but the replacements still function better due to their extremely wide frequency response range.


Now I will have better tweeters & a sub-woofer (never been a sub fan as I don't listen to music that requires one).


Hopefully someone will come out with improved direct replacement dash mid-speakers & rear speakers.
If anyone has found some = Let me know !


Well...that's it until I receive my parts...stay tuned...

[Anakin]

Well...I received the correct wiring harness & installed my system last weekend.


A lot of people have complained that they could never hear their rear speakers on the BRZ... well on mine I found out at least one reason why.
When I reinstalled my rear side panels I shined my work light in through the grill as I always do when installing speakers to make sure everything looks correct; on my passenger side I noticed that some of the grill holes were not fully punched through in the manufacturing process.
Then I looked at the drivers side & about 80% of the holes were not punched through at all !
So I took a 5/64" drill bit & carefully punched all the holes through on both sides by hand...very tedious.

On to my findings :

The Good :
(1) The system has cleared up / cleaned up the sound from my door woofers.
(2) I can now hear my rear speakers.
(3) It seems to have a good amount of power.

The Bad :
(1) You can definitely tell that the sub woofer is working & where the sound is coming from.
(2) The sub woofer's sound almost seems delayed in timing.
(3) No matter where you adjust the equalizer (Kenwood only has 3 adjustments : Bass / Mid / Treble) you get too much sub woofer "blort blort".
(4) It is not natural sounding at all.


I am currently corresponding with Daniel on this & they are purchasing another Kenwood head unit to replicate my system to see if they can correct the problems. He even asked for a few of my favorite test tracks to use as a guide line when evaluating the system.


So...I'm patiently waiting for their findings & hopefully a great solution.


Stay tuned again...

[Jyn]

OEM Audio+ has ridiculous customer service. Purchasing a headunit and asking for songs you listen to in order to replicate the environment? Geeze.

[Anakin]

Yep...I have to agree ; so far Daniel's customer service has been fantastic.

[Anakin]

I received my Kewood matched amplifiers this week & installed it :


Comments on new flash / programing :
(1) The sub woofer timing is WAY better / no longer seems delayed
(2) Front door speakers are not as clear as before & seems as if more power is going into the dash mounted mids
(3) Overall sound is much more natural
(4) Sub woofer is not as pronounced & is more controllable / Yeah !
(5) Unfortunately my head unit has limited EQ adjustability & I still have the "missing" mid bass response (the frequencies just above the sub woofers range)
(6) Control over CD reproduction is better than control over FM reproduction with this head unit & the OEM + combination

This is the best it has ever been though.

I spent 4 hours listening & adjusting today (still haven't gotten on the road with it yet).
Also tested with sub woofer disconnected ; this is definitely not the answer for this set up / but did confirm the lack of "mid" bass I described.

I realize everyone's ear & perception is different & due to what I listen to & the cars configuration this is probably as good as it gets.


OEM Audio +'s customer service IS top notch.

[paiceyfan]

Here's my final settings for standard head unit with OEM Audio Plus...
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...2&postcount=78