FL2 TD4 - how can I improve audio?

[Buel10]

Hi there.
I drive over an hour to work and want to improve the audio in my FL but am not sure where to start. Replacing the HU looks a ball ache re all the things you lose (steering wheel volume controls, etc), so any ideas, please?

I have attached pics of my HU and, I think, sub?

 

[Stv123]

That looks like the one I have and that sounds awesome. Is there perhaps something wrong with it
Mine has Alpine door speakers, could that make a difference?

 

[Buel10]

Well it sounds ok....I just want better?

 

[Stv123]

I am quite an audiophile but must admit I was pleasantly surprised how good it was. Any chance you could listen to someone else’s?

 

[Buel10]

I am quite an audiophile but must admit I was pleasantly surprised how good it was. Any chance you could listen to someone else’s?

Hmmmmm......I don't know anyone else with one.
By the way, is that a sub in my photo?

 

[Stv123]

Yes in your photo.
Go for a test drive in one.

 

[Nodge68]

Well it sounds ok....I just want better?

Really? That's the same as mine, it's the Alpine High Line unit and is rather good as car audio systems go. Improvement won't be easy or cheap, so what is it you're needing?

 

[Nodge68]

Replacing the HU looks a ball ache re all the things you lose (steering wheel volume controls, etc), so any ideas, please?

The steering wheel controls aren't the problem, it's the system is integrated to the rest of the vehicle, so you loose the amplifier and aerial and nav audio and the PDC system stops making noise too. You can't just remove items on a data bus, as other stuff stops working too, sound familiar?

 

[Buel10]

The steering wheel controls aren't the problem, it's the system is integrated to the rest of the vehicle, so you loose the amplifier and aerial and nav audio and the PDC system stops making noise too. You can't just remove items on a data bus, as other stuff stops working too, sound familiar?

Ha ha, yes, it sure does. Got it!
All I am after is, perhaps, more volume. What options do I have, I wonder.....amp to the Sub....or is there already one in place?

 

[kermit_rr]

All I am after is, perhaps, more volume.

New batteries in the hearing aid?

 

[Buel10]

New batteries in the hearing aid?

Hmmmmm.......I might speak to an audio specialist as well as an aural specialist

 

[Nodge68]

All I am after is, perhaps, more volume.

Factory car audio systems have to comply with various laws, which says they can't cause hearing damage if used at maximum volume. So although the audio unit in question has an output of several hundred Watts, this is effectively limited by the efficiency of the speakers themselves, or by artificially sound processing the audio output at higher volume settings.

The only way to make is louder, would be changed all the speakers to higher efficiency driver's, and possibly add more amplifiers to drive those speakers. The sub is a sealed unit, but that could be substituted with another, if needed. None of this is particularly easy, so will be expensive to do.
And is a sure fire way to permanently damaging your hearing, which I can say from experience, loosing 40% hearing capacity in one ear, and 20% in the other, isn't something you want to do to yourself deliberately.

 

[Rank Amatuer]

Have you tinkered with the settings? Makes a helluva difference when you get the bass, treble, sub-woofer & fade the way you like it.
Did you know you can record around 150 mp3 tracks on a cd and play it back in the car? Stick 6 of them in the slot and you have many hours of musical pleasure, except for cd 6 which has all the kids and grandkids favourites on it.

 

[Nodge68]

Makes a helluva difference when you get the bass, treble, sub-woofer & fade the way you like it.

It does indeed.

Did you know you can record around 150 mp3 tracks on a cd and play it back in the car? Stick 6 of them in the slot and you have many hours of musical pleasure, except for cd 6 which has all the kids and grandkids favourites on it.

That's what I do too. Absolutely no need for more than the 6 MP3 disc's in the HU IMO.

 

[kermit_rr]

Turn your levels to minimum and volume to almost maximum. Set levels for max output before you get distortion, starting with the highest frequency

 

[Buel10]

Have you tinkered with the settings? Makes a helluva difference when you get the bass, treble, sub-woofer & fade the way you like it.
Did you know you can record around 150 mp3 tracks on a cd and play it back in the car? Stick 6 of them in the slot and you have many hours of musical pleasure, except for cd 6 which has all the kids and grandkids favourites on it.

Thanks for this but I'm pretty sure it's a 1-CD at a time thing.

 

[Buel10]

Turn your levels to minimum and volume to almost maximum. Set levels for max output before you get distortion, starting with the highest frequency

Brilliant!!!

 

[Buel10]

Another thing......can anyone recommend any people who could help me with my audio needs / tinkering?

 

[Rank Amatuer]

Thanks for this but I'm pretty sure it's a 1-CD at a time thing.

Your first post shows a pic identical to my setup. Pretty sure you can load 6 CDs into it.
Select CD (top right button)
Press 1. If a CD is in slot 1 it will play. If not push one (gently) into the slot until it's grabbed, pulled in and disappears.
When it starts to play, press 2. Repeat the exercise until you have 6 CDs installed.

To swap CDs press numbers 1 ~ 6. Wait, as it takes up to 30 ~ 40 seconds to change CD.
With 6 MP3 CDs loaded you can only play random on a single CD, not across all of them.

So, at the risk of repeating myself, CD1 is old rock music, CD2 blues, CD3 classical, CD4 pop music from '50s & '60s, CD5 modern pop music, CD6 Disney shite for the kids. In total there must be @ 900 tracks catering for most passengers, journeys, moods and tastes; except for country & western and rap (can't stand either)

 

[Buel10]

Your first post shows a pic identical to my setup. Pretty sure you can load 6 CDs into it.
Select CD (top right button)
Press 1. If a CD is in slot 1 it will play. If not push one (gently) into the slot until it's grabbed, pulled in and disappears.
When it starts to play, press 2. Repeat the exercise until you have 6 CDs installed.

To swap CDs press numbers 1 ~ 6. Wait, as it takes up to 30 ~ 40 seconds to change CD.
With 6 MP3 CDs loaded you can only play random on a single CD, not across all of them.

So, at the risk of repeating myself, CD1 is old rock music, CD2 blues, CD3 classical, CD4 pop music from '50s & '60s, CD5 modern pop music, CD6 Disney shite for the kids. In total there must be @ 900 tracks catering for most passengers, journeys, moods and tastes; except for country & western and rap (can't stand either)

Thank you for the time you have spent to help me. I have my fingers crossed!!!!
I will try this later but I am currently not a believer......