Car audio dilemma!

[SeanyK]

Hey folks!

First thing I need to get sorted with my new GTI is the sounds... Not that I drive round Essex with bass shattering the local neighbourhood, but from what I hear of the standard stereo system, well, it's not very good!

Anyway, it currently has an RCD300, and I have a 6 cd changer in the armrest.

What I ultimately want, is a half decent sound system, in my last car I had an Alpine HU with built in bluetooth, which had an iPod cable ran into the glovebox, and a mic wired from the back to the top of the car (for bluetooth mobile calls).

So my plan was to re-use that lot, as even though the RNS 510 is tempting, the cost of it, plus combine that with needing to sort out a bluetooth connection, it would be too expensive for me - plus I don't want sat nav, I only want a decent head unit, with bluetooth for my iPhone - although can't believe it costs £50 + an aerial adaptor + a £20 fascia adaptor to get that to all fit - the cost tends to start adding up.

I could probably sell my alpine, sell my iPod (it never moves from the car it's just purely used as a playback device) and come close to buying a better stock radio to retain the OE look (but is the sound really that good from say, a RCD310 or RCD510? Powering a set of 6x9's and the rest of the 10 speaker system?)


I have a set of 6x9's (I know, I know) what is the best wiring point to take these from? Are there any speakers in the sides of the standard rear shelving? (not back seat)

I don't want to mess with amps & subs, as I like to keep the bootspace and don't want to have to wire things through the car taking panels off and all that.

Many thanks in advance :)

[cameluk]

There are no facilities for speakers by the rear shelving

You won't notice much of a difference from a RCD 310 or RCD 510 over the RCD300

Neither of those has bluetooth and if its a older MK5 then you will need a can gateway upgrade

If you don't want sat nav and want bluetooth I'd fit you current Alpine unit with the adaptors available

You'd also be better off upgrading the front speakers then worrying about the rears

[SeanyK]

Hi mate,

Only once have I ever used an amp and sub, and admitedly it sounded good, I just ran an amp and sub in the boot (no rear speakers) and just some components up front.

But without wanting to do this to the Golf for boot space reasons, 6x9's seemed a good compromise, as previously i've ran standard front speakers, with 6x9's driven from the alpine Head unit, in a stealth shelf, not show winning sound but better than stock.

The only thing I can think of with the golf, which is a cost effective option, is perhaps buy a small sub that can go under the seat, and then run the stock speakers and that from the Alpine HU - suspect that may be Ok?

As just upgrading the front speakers to better comps, they still won't handle bass from club tracks...?

[Gti Jal]

From what you've said I'd do the following:

1. New front speakers on wooden baffle not the placky speaker rings from accessory shops.
2. If its a 3 door then I'd put the 6x9 on a custom baffle behind the rear side trims.
3. If a 5 door then new rears as per the fronts.
4. A cost effective 2 channel amp with speaker level inputs for rears, mounted between the baffle and rear wing for 3 door or passenger footwell for 5 door. Its easy to run a line down the side of the car to the battery.
5. Turn the volume up.


<--- Boing Boing - mesmerising.

[SeanyK]

Really good suggestions here folks, appreciated.

Had a word with a local installer they also suggested, if I wanted to keep the standard look and space, to buy an amplifier/sub 8" combined (he said Focal, but the price kinda put me off lol) and to use the stock speakers.

OR I was thinking maybe this?

Pioneer TS-WX210A Space-saving Amplified Sub (150W - 2010 Model)

It's small enough to go in the boot at the side, surely using that to take the bass away from the rest of the speakers would be better than using 6 x 9's?

That way I could decide whether to upgrade to an RCD510 and keep stock speakers and just use that space saving sub

OR


Use my Alpine head unit, with stock speakers and that sub...?