Upgrading Audio Item On 5Th Gear

[Bluesman]

Tomorrow night Monday 29th on Discovery channel 520 5th Gear is on and Jason Plato is doing a section on affordable ways to upgrade you car audio system.

Might be useful for those that are considering it.

Mike

[abs66]

Thanks for the heads up Mike.

[Bluesman]

Well what a waste of time that was. Don't bother changing what you have already got as I don't think you could beat it until you start getting into the multiple thousands of £'s they want for some of the systems, thing is they need to take the car to bits to install them.

Mike

[LowriderUK]

As already advised, if you've got a Mk 3 or 4, you can't 'simply' upgrade your factory stereo, as the system is 'pre-amp', meaning the headunit has no internal amplifier, and instead runs a signal to the amp under the front seat. All aftermarket systems run amped head units, so won't be compatible with a pre-amp system. The only way is to completely bypass the stock system, run new wiring from the aftermarket head unit to the speakers, and you'll also lose the factory subwoofer.

[Bluesman]

As already advised, if you've got a Mk 3 or 4, you can't 'simply' upgrade your factory stereo, as the system is 'pre-amp', meaning the headunit has no internal amplifier, and instead runs a signal to the amp under the front seat. All aftermarket systems run amped head units, so won't be compatible with a pre-amp system. The only way is to completely bypass the stock system, run new wiring from the aftermarket head unit to the speakers, and you'll also lose the factory subwoofer.

Not worth the aggro. The system in my Mk4 LS 400 is the best I have ever had in a car and I have not been in any other car that beats it. Without doubt the best standard system there is. There is plenty of manual setup on the system to please even the most discerning ear.

Mike

[munday]

An iPod/iPhone connection is the best thing to do IMO. You can tap in between the CD changer and amp, therefore retaining ALL stock functionality. Flick a switch and you have your Iphone input to the amp with great quality. The wiring is hidden under my drivers seat, run up into the centre console and hidden from view.

Cost me circa £30 in bits.

[LowriderUK]

An iPod/iPhone connection is the best thing to do IMO. You can tap in between the CD changer and amp, therefore retaining ALL stock functionality. Flick a switch and you have your iPhone input to the amp with great quality. The wiring is hidden under my drivers seat, run up into the centre console and hidden from view.

Cost me circa £30 in bits.

I've seen that mod, you tap into the signal wires and use a relay and switch to change between the changer input and the mp3 player input.

I might get around to doing it at some point.

[munday]

An iPod/iPhone connection is the best thing to do IMO. You can tap in between the CD changer and amp, therefore retaining ALL stock functionality. Flick a switch and you have your iPhone input to the amp with great quality. The wiring is hidden under my drivers seat, run up into the centre console and hidden from view.

Cost me circa £30 in bits.

I've seen that mod, you tap into the signal wires and use a relay and switch to change between the changer input and the mp3 player input.

I might get around to doing it at some point.

That's the one, its on Clublexus. I would highly recommend it! Changing CDs all the time is a chore. And tape converters are terrible sound quality

[LowriderUK]

An iPod/iPhone connection is the best thing to do IMO. You can tap in between the CD changer and amp, therefore retaining ALL stock functionality. Flick a switch and you have your iPhone input to the amp with great quality. The wiring is hidden under my drivers seat, run up into the centre console and hidden from view.

Cost me circa £30 in bits.

I've seen that mod, you tap into the signal wires and use a relay and switch to change between the changer input and the mp3 player input.

I might get around to doing it at some point.

That's the one, its on Clublexus. I would highly recommend it! Changing CDs all the time is a chore. And tape converters are terrible sound quality

I wouldn't necessarily agree with that. If you have a decent quality tape adaptor, then the sound quality is only minutely reduced from the CD changer.

I prefer the wire tap method for purely aesthetic reasons.