What would you do? Audio discussion.

[thill]

Originally Posted by ean611

FYI. I would recommend NOT keeping the stock HU if you add EQ / DSP into the car. The stock Fujistu HU works ok the way you're using it, but I would not recommend running it through another DSP due to some of the processing the HU adds.

If you're going to spring for a 3Sixty.3 or Audison Bit1/10, You're going to want a new HU. I've run the stock Fujitsu HU into processors, and the results were less than adequate.

EDIT: To be explicitly clear, this is BRZ only with the Fujitsu HU. I have not used any of the Pioneer HU's from the Toyota/Scion side.

Man, you like spending my money, don't you

Jokes aside, I have never loved this headunit, but have not found one in the $500 or so range that I really love either. Mainly I am looking for a head unit with much larger GUI buttons, and hopefully more physical buttons to aide when driving and wanting to change tracks/stations, etc.

Any recommendations?

[Zippy]

If you have a smart phone, the Pioneer AVH-X3500BHS is a great double din. You can integrate apps from your phone to the touch screen and use your phones GPS NAV(cheeper to update than a headunit). MSRP is around $400

[ean611]

Originally Posted by Zippy

If you have a smart phone, the Pioneer AVH-X3500BHS is a great double din. You can integrate apps from your phone to the touch screen and use your phones GPS NAV(cheeper to update than a headunit). MSRP is around $400

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-AVHX8500BHS-Double-DIN-Multimedia-Bluetooth/dp/B00B8DRG9Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376062941&sr=8-1&keywords=x8500bhs"]Amazon.com : Pioneer AVHX8500BHS Double-DIN Multimedia DVD Receiver With Bluetooth And HD Radio : Car Video Dvd Players : Electronics[/ame]

You can get the X8500BHS for around that too if you like Amazon. X8500BHS is what I have, and is the highest end unit without built in NAV that Pioneer makes. If you want Nav built in you need the AVIC-Z150, but expect to spend 800 or so on Amazon.

The X8500 works ok with my android phone. Rooted and with AppLiberator, you have full control of the android device from the HU. Nav works great with that setup. It's not for everyone, as it's a little more finicky than some people like, but if you're comfortable with android and don't mind figuring things out, it's a good way to go.

Plus, if you get sick of the appradio functions, the Nav unit is $300 or so too add later.

FYI. My radio rattled in dash. The fix was to add some closed cell foam behind the mechanical moving screen to prevent it from shaking relative to the double DIN radio. You may see this with any Pioneer radio. (Not guaranteed, but I saw it and fixed it). (The plate that holds the screen on and moves with it was rattling with the base, this plate moves with the removable screen.)

EDIT: FYI. The filtering functions in the X8500BHS suck. The sub control is ok for volume only, but it only has a 3rd order filter, with no options for 2nd or 4th order for tuning flexibility. I wouldn't use this radio without outboard EQ. I'm using my old 3Sixty.2 right now.The high pass filter is also only on-off for the high channels (all four, not selectable per channel) and it's 2nd order.

Currently, I do not filter my high channels at all, and blend the sub in at 50Hz. Not sure if the Imagine woofers will support that, but the Legatia L6 woofers I have measure flat down to 32Hz in car response.

[thill]

Originally Posted by ean611

Amazon.com : Pioneer AVHX8500BHS Double-DIN Multimedia DVD Receiver With Bluetooth And HD Radio : Car Video Dvd Players : Electronics

You can get the X8500BHS for around that too if you like Amazon. X8500BHS is what I have, and is the highest end unit without built in NAV that Pioneer makes. If you want Nav built in you need the AVIC-Z150, but expect to spend 800 or so on Amazon.

The X8500 works ok with my android phone. Rooted and with AppLiberator, you have full control of the android device from the HU. Nav works great with that setup. It's not for everyone, as it's a little more finicky than some people like, but if you're comfortable with android and don't mind figuring things out, it's a good way to go.

Plus, if you get sick of the appradio functions, the Nav unit is $300 or so too add later.

FYI. My radio rattled in dash. The fix was to add some closed cell foam behind the mechanical moving screen to prevent it from shaking relative to the double DIN radio. You may see this with any Pioneer radio. (Not guaranteed, but I saw it and fixed it). (The plate that holds the screen on and moves with it was rattling with the base, this plate moves with the removable screen.)

EDIT: FYI. The filtering functions in the X8500BHS suck. The sub control is ok for volume only, but it only has a 3rd order filter, with no options for 2nd or 4th order for tuning flexibility. I wouldn't use this radio without outboard EQ. I'm using my old 3Sixty.2 right now.The high pass filter is also only on-off for the high channels (all four, not selectable per channel) and it's 2nd order.

Currently, I do not filter my high channels at all, and blend the sub in at 50Hz. Not sure if the Imagine woofers will support that, but the Legatia L6 woofers I have measure flat down to 32Hz in car response.

Ironically enough, this is the model I have been looking at. There have been a lot of FT86 owners that mention this model and have had good luck with it. It definitely seems like a big upgrade over the stock unit. NAV is not that important to me, and it appears that I would have multiple NAV options with this deck through my iPhone.

Gonna put this on the wish list I will most likely update the midrange speakers to the Hybrid line first.

I spent considerable more time playing around with the new speakers and setup last night and came to the realization that music from my iPod mini via USB sounds much better with the Hybrid Audio speakers than streamed over my iPhone via Bluetooth. These speakers capture the imperfections much more than the stock ones did.

[Zippy]

Ironically enough I own the 8500. You had mentioned wanting more buttons on the head unit and control over the volume without having to divert your attention. That's why I had mentioned the 3500. There is one gotcha I have seen with mounting kits. The 8500 sticks out a bit too far in my opinion. The bottom lip will clear the molding piece around the headunit. The installer for my system had fabricated a custom bracket and it sits back father in the location than normal. I have not noticed any rattle coming from my head unit. Maybe because of the custom brackets. Normal mount kits use plastic pieces and that may be carrying over the vibration to the plate for ean611. Good to know about the potential for rattle from there though. Thanks ean611.

[ean611]

Originally Posted by Zippy

Ironically enough I own the 8500. You had mentioned wanting more buttons on the head unit and control over the volume without having to divert your attention. That's why I had mentioned the 3500. There is one gotcha I have seen with mounting kits. The 8500 sticks out a bit too far in my opinion. The bottom lip will clear the molding piece around the headunit. The installer for my system had fabricated a custom bracket and it sits back father in the location than normal. I have not noticed any rattle coming from my head unit. Maybe because of the custom brackets. Normal mount kits use plastic pieces and that may be carrying over the vibration to the plate for ean611. Good to know about the potential for rattle from there though. Thanks ean611.

No Prob on the rattle. There is no mounting bracket that would effect what I saw on the 8500. This was simply the movable face plate rattling against the unit. If you bolted the thing down to two long steel poles on the left and right, and then shook it, it'd rattle. It wasn't FR-S/BRZ specific.

It could also have been a marginal unit. Either way, I hate rattles.

[thill]

So I played around with my audio settings and speakers today and discovered everything sounded better without the stock midrange speakers added to the mix... It actually sounds noticeable better without them. Time to look for some deals on Hybrid Audio mid ranges.

[DNAPoPo]

Are the Hybrid Audios drop in replacements size wise?

[thill]

Originally Posted by DNAPoPo

Are the Hybrid Audios drop in replacements size wise?

Yes. I am not sure if the woofers in the doors needed spacers, but otherwise yes. I am rally liking how the Imagines sound.

[TRD_86]

Originally Posted by thill

Well, I bought this amp at Best Buy for $199 with a coupon I had (it was already on a crazy sale):



http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/mrx-v70/

I called up a good friend of mine who is much more into car audio than I am and he recommended to me in order (based on my price range):
Focal
Hertz
JL Audio

I have heard Focal and really liked them, but the price for the series I was looking at were definitely pushing my budget. I was able to find the JL Audio C5-650 component speakers on a good deal so I jumped on them (nothing like buying things at 2am)...

Here is the JL Audio CS-5 650 set I bought:


For a subwoofer, I explained to my buddy that I was not looking for earthshattering bass, but wanted something to fill in the response curve and was not sure the 6.5 woofers would be enough without distorting. To keep the box small he recommended a shallow 10" sub which would allow me to have a very small footprint box in my trunk that I can build myself out of some MDF I have laying around. He told me to look into Pioneer on a budget, and Amazon had this one cheap (under $70 new) so I bought it (TS-SW251):



So far I have spent just under $600 for everything. I am going to have someone professionally install the amp and speakers, but I should still be under $1K for everything once it is done.

Modest, but should be a nice bump in what I have now without breaking the bank which was what I as looking for.

I like your audio setup. One of the option for best sound set up:
1) alpine HU & amp.
2) A focal speaker system or at least kappa perfect w/ a 10" sub.

Btw, where did you get the coupon for alpine amp v70 on sale at BB ? That is a good price.

[ean611]

Originally Posted by thill

So I played around with my audio settings and speakers today and discovered everything sounded better without the stock midrange speakers added to the mix... It actually sounds noticeable better without them. Time to look for some deals on Hybrid Audio mid ranges.

Contact Hybrid Audio. Sometimes they have b-stock or damage box units.

Also, with my L3v2 in dash, I filter them with a 4th order (24dB/octave) high pass filter at 500Hz. You may want to do something similar (use your ears, see what you like, etc), but I just give you the heads up, as there is no baffling or sealing below the midranges. I can pump out 160-18,000Hz out of those midranges, a far wider bandwidth than the original drivers. If you hear your upper mid bass / lower midrange (200-400 Hz range) get a little muddy, and sound like it's reverberating in your dash, you will want to filter that, and let your door woofers cover that range.

My first plan was to cross over the L3v2 and my L6 woofers at 250Hz, and I also tried 200Hz, as the frequency response of the L3v2 is excellent. However, unless I want to deconstruct the dashboard area there and "fix" it, it's easier to just not use that frequency range.

What you may hear: Lower vocal register (mostly men) becomes a little muddy. Lower end of symphonic music will sound muddy. Good example: Nightwish's album Imaginaerum. The sound is a mix of guitars and classical symphonic sounds. To play this nicely, you want to have a separation and clarity so all the contrasting instruments are distinct. I found that with my crossover point set too low, the music got muddy. Also, you want the sound from the midrange and tweeter coming off the windshield (not ideal, but with stock locations, this is what you get). With these mids, (and on music like I've been talking about), the sound stage is pulled down a bit and it sounds like your dash board is a bit of a speaker. The issue is that your dashboard is a rather poor speaker. (I use this example, because you will not always see the same effect with every piece of music)

As always, trust your ears. Make sure you like how it sounds.

[thill]

Originally Posted by TRD_86

I like your audio setup. One of the option for best sound set up:
1) alpine HU & amp.
2) A focal speaker system or at least kappa perfect w/ a 10" sub.

Btw, how to get the coupon for alpine amp v70 on sale at BB ? That is a good price.

Best Buy had the Alpine v70 on sale for $228 and I had a coupon for 10% off. Not sure if they were supposed to accept the coupon too, but I waited like 30 minutes for someone to help me (this always seems to happen at Best Buy and a reason why I avoid the place) and they took it.

I am pretty happy with the Hybrid Audio Imagine series speakers I ended up with. I am sure the Focal's are quite nice, but the decision has been made The 6.5' woofer on the Imagine series is very good, and the tweeters play loud and clear and are very efficient. Not much more I could ask for considering the speakers were $299 to my door.

[thill]

Originally Posted by ean611

Contact Hybrid Audio. Sometimes they have b-stock or damage box units.

Also, with my L3v2 in dash, I filter them with a 4th order (24dB/octave) high pass filter at 500Hz. You may want to do something similar (use your ears, see what you like, etc), but I just give you the heads up, as there is no baffling or sealing below the midranges. I can pump out 160-18,000Hz out of those midranges, a far wider bandwidth than the original drivers. If you hear your upper mid bass / lower midrange (200-400 Hz range) get a little muddy, and sound like it's reverberating in your dash, you will want to filter that, and let your door woofers cover that range.

My first plan was to cross over the L3v2 and my L6 woofers at 250Hz, and I also tried 200Hz, as the frequency response of the L3v2 is excellent. However, unless I want to deconstruct the dashboard area there and "fix" it, it's easier to just not use that frequency range.

What you may hear: Lower vocal register (mostly men) becomes a little muddy. Lower end of symphonic music will sound muddy. Good example: Nightwish's album Imaginaerum. The sound is a mix of guitars and classical symphonic sounds. To play this nicely, you want to have a separation and clarity so all the contrasting instruments are distinct. I found that with my crossover point set too low, the music got muddy. Also, you want the sound from the midrange and tweeter coming off the windshield (not ideal, but with stock locations, this is what you get). With these mids, (and on music like I've been talking about), the sound stage is pulled down a bit and it sounds like your dash board is a bit of a speaker. The issue is that your dashboard is a rather poor speaker. (I use this example, because you will not always see the same effect with every piece of music)

As always, trust your ears. Make sure you like how it sounds.

Thanks for the advice. I did try to keep the stock midrange speakers in the mix and tried lots of adjustments, but everything sounded worse to me with those speakers in the mix. I have no doubt that the Hybrid's will be a nice step up. The only thing that sucks is the midrange speakers are pricey compared to the Imagine series, so as you mentioned, I will be looking B stock or used. I am so happy right now vs what I had before (stock) that I don't mind keeping it this way for awhile. The speakers seem to sound better everday

Thanks again for all your help.

[???]

finally found this thread again. ive been looking for it.