Kev

I'm embarking on a serious upgrade of the 8's audio system, taking my time ... doing a 1000 times more research than I've ever done on anything

There's a lot of chat in the Audio forum, but it seems a lot of the contributors are younger and like MORE BASS ... or just like to piggy back extra tweeters.

As it seems the ozzie chapter has a "more mature" membership and also because they'll know local audio installers/local scene, I'd like to throw open the floor for local audio upgrade discussions.

I'll start by confessing that I'm a trifle extreme in this area

timbo

Kev, what's your plan - sound or function? And what sort of music etc do you listen to?

To my (poor 70's and 80's rock concert affected) ears, even the standard system sounds great but I would like to enhance function through interconnection to an MP3 player like the iPod, without butchery. I simply want to have more choice than 6 CDs or even 1 MP3 CD.

After that, I may look at sound enhancement through selective speaker replacement, but can't see a great deal more I'd want to do.

Kev

I'm looking about at audio sources - we've got a couple of iPods so, connecting them is one option, but not my favourite. All of the adaptors that offer reasonable functionality connect two specific devices, so you either have to go it alone or wait. (I'm not much for waiting). I like the interior format of the 8 and the positioning of controls, so a serious upgrade is going to be complicated.

The Bose system is reasonable so to really make a difference you need to get pretty serious on spending. I'm currently toying with top end AVI drivers all round and Xtant amps.

As a source unit, I'd probably keep the current head units for casual radio, etc and add a high capacity mp3 unit with all of the music sampled up around 384kbit for quality. (here I'm toying with build my own or find something - trouble is, all the "somethings" are short on features).

The real fun's in this is the journey, so I'm not in a rush If I have to invent something new - all the better.

My musical tastes are varied. I like anything as long as there's an intelligence behind it, ie; most rap doesn't qualify. I could go from Mozart to Chilli Peppers, Crowded House to Cilla Black. I love my Beatles and Stones. Pink Floyd LOUD!!! Most new stuff I'm very selective over ... 2 good tracks and 10 crap per CD

My only constraint is that the car appears standard when parked.

Dez

I'm guessing that Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's "Musttt Mustt" at "32" on the old Bose hasn't graced your ears yet though huh?

He's worth a blast - on the open road - with the windows down..

Pity the bugger died.

++dez;

Kev

Not something I can listen to a lot, but yes I have heard it. I have to really be in the mood for it.

Listening to this on the Bose is a good example of how I feel the bass on the Bose system isn't well defined and intrudes, colouring the rest of the instruments and vocals.

The Bose can sound good with something like a single acoustic guitar (say a solo of Classical Gas), but IMO it falls down with more complex reproductions.

dbb

If you want to test the bottom end of the Bose out, grab Plastikman's (Detroit techno producer) new LP "Closer". It even has a disclaimer on the CD saying something like :

Although this recording has been engineered to be enjoyed on a wide range of sound systems, a more enjoyable listening experience will be had if the bass is enhanced.

Even apart from that, you should listen to it anyway because the man is a musical genius.

timbo

Hmm -- that's the thing with sound systems. In prioritising where to spend you have to decide whether you want to improve the sound or the source.

IMHO, cars are always going to be a compromised listening environment and one of the faults of Mazdas (among most Jap cars) is the amount of low level road noise interference that arises on our coarse road surfaces. In terms of sound quality, one probably needs to address that issue first, then check sound again, then sources.

Just my 5¢ worth. :o

Kev

I've got mixed feelings here...

When I work the engine, induction and exhaust both singing are a good thing - otherwise I don't want them to intrude when the windows are up and I'm just cruising.

Other noises? Road noise can be very much tyre choice aside from it's transmission into the cabin. Everything else is aerodynamics and/or the car itself (general nvh).

I don't think the 8 is too bad, but it's not an S class for sure.

timbo

I agree completely. :p It will be interesting to get some input from other owners on replacement tyre choices. I will probably try Yokahamas as, IME, they are a better compromise for grip and lower noise.

But the road noise generally experienced when cruising is going to drive decisions about sound system upgrades, and to my ears, I'll probably look first at possibilities for additional sound deadening in the rear

Kev

How well I'm controlling myself ... Timbo, this is like a red flag to me

timbo

Kev, you are to be congratulated for exercising restraint ... as soon as I pressed 'submit reply' I suddenly thought of the consequences :D

msydd

I added extra tweeters in the front, see

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...5&pagenumber=1

Cheap way to really inprove the clarity.

Dez

well.. if you're serious about testing the bottom end of your Bose, there's only one selection that will do it justice:

Timo Maas's "To Get Down" remixed by Fat Boy Slim

Happy to zap MP3's if anyone doubts that this is indeed the ultimate acid test of the standard AU Leather Pack Bose sound system's capabilities.

I for one would like a better sound, but the fact is it's a pretty cheap car at $74 with every single thing you can poke into it - Even a $249k boxter doesn't sound as good!

++dez;

ps: if anyone has any Filpeyu, particularly the IgorMedio album - I'd love to swap!

pps: I'd like to see us burn "swap" 'n keep disks for drives to see what y'all listen to.

We could do the RX8 version of what iPod users are up to these days when they 'jack with strangers * grin *

timbo

Getting back on topic (feeling suitably chastised by comments in other threads ), I want to look at the issue of adding additional sources more closely.

I have read in various threads in the Audio form about hardwiring an input to accommodate an MP3 player (such as the iPOD) but this seems to involve purchasing another head unit (tape or MD) and piggy-backing on that, so that the "Tape/MD" switch on the central stack allows source switching.

So my question is: surely this must be possible without buying the additional head unit? Any ideas?

IMHO, MP3s sampled at 160kbps or even 128kbps are perfectly adequate for in-car listening. :p

Kev

No doubt along with many others ... I've been hassling the makers of the ICE-Link doodad. They've built a component input adaptor for the iPod that enables you to navigate your tracks via the steering wheels buttons in Fords, BMW, etc.

Each device type and protocol is a new development for them (I suppose the units would be too expensice with learning protocols) ... then there's the various plugs, etc.

If something doesn't come out soon, I'm temped to buy a tape or MD and highjack the signals. I'd imagine there's a licenced protocol involved.

I'm steering away from fitting the fm modulator I've got, simply because you set the frequency with dip switches and away it goes (JVC) - what if you need to adjust it???

When I finally get round to upgrading all of the speakers and amps, I'll be able to introduce a source unit switch, match the line levels from the head unit and swap sources on the fly - the down side is the dash and steering wheel would only control the head unit still The up side is that the signal quality won't always be dictated by the crappy head unit.

timbo

Kev -- thanks for that -- I hadn't seen the ICE-Link device before. No doubt a Mazda adapter will appear sometime soon (the 8 stereo is the same as the 6, from memory).

Now when you mentioned the FM modulator before and I looked into it, I wondered how it would work when you shifted locations and had new, interfering frequencies.

…must do some work …

Kev

We've got a mazda 6 too, so we're after 2 of anything that'll work.

Plus the new Mazda 3 will have the same audio (I hope), which will be a volume car too and push the options for us.

Dez

Song for the day [ relevant to drive mood as of approx 02:10 AM Saturday the 29th Nov 2003:

Cody Chestnut - anything recorded "live" !!

++Dez;