Best car audio installer?
 

Hey guys,
Could you let me know where I can get some car audio gear installed in my 8? I'd like someone that knows about RX8s and can tell me whether something's possible before he installs it. I'm in Sydney BTW.
Cheers,
Sid

Platinum Audios... (i think... cant rememebr their full name)
they are in rydalmere...
im sure they will have a few cars at the auso salon this coming weekend.

Re-wiring the rx8 isnt too differerent from a normal car, all you need is the service booklet and you're only limited by your imagination =)

If you're installing HU or adding subs/amps, you might even be able to do it yourself. If not, I'd recommend 'Car Audio Excellence' - they have a couple of stores in Sydney; the best one being in Blacktown.

Thanks guys. Actually, I'm getting a Harmon Kardon Drive+Play installed (http://www.harmankardon.com/drive-1/default.aspx).

Since parts are mounted on the dash I want to use a professional to get a clean installation. I'm also thinking of adding a Bluetooth car kit to it and need to know if both will be able to connect at the same time. Otherwise I might buy something like the Blueant Supertooth 2 (http://www.blueant.com.au/supertooth2.htm)

For the BT kit, get the Nokia, which seems best IMHO, but you need to find an installer who has already plumbed into the 8's head unit and can at least mute the stereo when there's an incoming call, or better, use the 8's speakers for sound. This has proven hard to do (has anyone??!!). The Blueant is ok but can sometimes sound like you're on the end of a tin can :(

For the HK Drive+Play you may also need to get a PIE adapter, available from mazdaparts.com. Am not sure if anyone has installed this in Australia yet...so...good luck....and let us know how you get on

Oh, I assume you have a new or relatively recent 8 (ie, mid 05 or younger) with head unit firmware >v9.55 --- otherwise your options will be sadly limited.

There's a lot of good info in the audio sub forum

Thanks. I'm a little confused with regards to the right part to buy. How does the AuxMod or Mazda OEM RCA connector (https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-mazda-oem-rca-input-install-35676/) compare to the PIE?

As for the HK Drive+Play, I'm a journalist so get access to lots of these products for testing. Needless to say, but I'll be experimenting with a lot of cool AV gear in my 8 soon.

:)

Neither the AuxMod (basic) nor the Mazda OEM RCA connector currently carry the information needed by the HK Play+Drive, so far as I am aware.

We'll look forward to hearing about all the gear you test

I agree with EZZY there.. Platinum Car Audio and Interior.. I have use their service to do everything relate to my car audio and stuff and they are the best hehe

I went there the other day to get the Drive+Play installed and saw your car! It'll be pretty hot once it's completed!

ok kasa, 'fess up...how's the Drive+Play working? ;) Pics would be nice

It's fucking excellent...except at the moment it's hooked up as a wired (not wireless) FM transmitter, which means sound quality isnt as good as it should be. It's better than radio but worse than CD. I'm going to get some sort of PIE and set it up using that in a couple of weeks.
Once that's done the Drive+Play should sound awesome.

As a control unit, it works really well. Platinum installed the controller knob so it's angled towards me and located it just below the gear stick. I'll put pictures up in the next few days.

Is there a eqvi of Platinum audio in Melbourne.

I am facing a possiblity of driving to work next year (gasp :eek:). I need good music.

Does that mean the controls are not integrated with the HU? I'm not sure the Mazda OEM RCA unit will give you the level of integration that is possible with, eg, the IceLink and PIE :confused:

Hehe thanks man.. I cannot wait till it finished been sitting in the workshop since December 1 day straight after final battle 05 miss my car so much :tear:

No, the controls aren't integrated to the steering wheel. But it's not a big deal because they're very easy to use. If you've used an ipod before, that's EXACTLY what the controls are like. You can change the playlists and settings from the controller too. The beauty of this system is that the iPod doesn't need to be permanently installed. My friends can plug their iPod in it and the system will work with it straight away.
I might take a video of it in action so you guys can see how it works. Just waiting to get my digicam from my friend.

What exactly are you getting done to it?

I saw your bro's car too. Funny having JDMRX8 and JDMWRX :D:

Hmm, so what's the advantage over, say, a $Aud79 Griffin AirClick RF iPod remote control? :confused:

The AirClick Mini is a simple remote control. You still need to buy a FM transmitter if you want to get audio in your car.

The Drive+Play is a remote control and LCD system that allows you to view the contents of the ipod on a display mounted on the dash. It connects to any iPod except the Shuffle and has multiple ways to connect it to a car stereo including wired FM, wireless FM, or RCA. It's much much sleeker than the above solution, which leaves you with wires all over the place. Have you visited the Website for it that I linked earlier?

I'm modifying my sound system and getting a full interior done there, to be exact, doing the leather floor, two-coloured suede roof, fibreglass and leather dashboard, getting the all 4 seats retrimmed to different pattern, fibreglass back panel with laser-cut perspect, leather-fibreglass door, and a DVD player.... a lil' bit complicated to explain :crazy:, i'll post some photos when it's done !! :FIREdevil :rock:

Fark...how much are you paying for that? They quoted me $3K to get all the seats redone in nice leather. I'm considering it...

I'm paying about $15K all up :p: for both my car n my brother car that it is

I'll show you my set up sometime, which has the AuxMod, to directly couple the iPod to the HU ($Aud80 landed in Australia from OverLoad), a Belkin charger with gain control (c$30, from memory) and the iClick remote ($79). It's all neatly stowed in the centre console, and the remote is attached to the inside of the sun visor. The sound is CD quality, and I have control over all aspects of the iPod via the remote. But I don't get the display (although I guess I could mount the iPod somewhere visible) and have no control via the steering wheel audio switches, apart from volume.

What would be best of all would be to display track and playlist information on the 8's own LCD display. This works, to varying degrees, with the iceLink/PIE set up but there have been problems. Playa78 has this set-up. If you follow this link you'll see another solution is being worked on, as is OverLoad. a more advanced version of his AuxMod.

I have been an early adopter on all this stuff and now, almost three years later, am disappointed that Mazda has not updated the 8 with simple improvements like integrated BlueTooth and an aux-in port for the iPod (or other MP3 players) :(

Yeah, I've seen the new solutions being offered, but I don't think they're as comprehensive as this. I know that they'll allow track changing through the steering wheel but this isn't a huge deal for me.

I would do it if I were you cause they are really good at it and it will make your car stand out I guess since the leather pack from Mazda is actually only a vinyl according to a guy who done interior (please do correct me if I am wrong but I get this info from someone else who expert at this area) so yeah it will look nice hehe :)

Nah, there is leather in the leather pack...but much of the seat (such as the sides) is still vinyl. It's basically cost cutting to the extreme.

I want to get it done and am checking a few other places out before I commit.