OK. I've looked at alot of recent queries but I'm still not sure what to do. Domestically my Hi-Fi is pretty good,(Naim CD-S, 52 pre-amp and 4 active 135s driving active SBLs)but where do I go to in the car?
Using the garbage in garbage out idea then the head unit rather than the speakers would seem to have to go first but most suggestions here are to change the speakers first. Also what about sound proofing? I have a full Scoobysport exhaust so its quite loud inside(!) would it be worth doing that first? Oh its a MY99 UK car. I have no real preference for either CDs or minidisks and I am happy to have either a 1x or 6x player but other than that no real idea where to start. Oh and the budget, well to paraphrase SDB, nothing too fancy but something a bit better than what I have now would be nice, so whatever that takes.

 

Personally, don't expect the same standard from your ICE as your home HiFi. Unless you've got a Boxer engine & Scoobysport exhaust in your front room, you'll never come close

Seriously though, definitely get the car Dynomatted - makes a fair bit of difference.

'**** in, **** out'. Agreed.
The choice is wide and varied. Other people will give their opinions. Mindisc is good. So's CD. You just have to look at the media itself. MDs are relatively expensive compared to CDrs.

You'll have to upgrade the speakers too. I've got a Sony Minidisc H/U and 10Disc mutliplay. JBL 16cm in the front doors and Kenwoods in the back.
I've also got a JBL poweramp driving a 12" sub in the boot (revised housing )

You'll still have to upgrade the wiring - usual OFC stuff will do the trick.

Price is the BIG factor. The way I look at it is that, Audiophile wise, you've got no chance. I don't care what ANYBODY says. With the enigne/exhaust/cabin acoustics, you're on a loser. If you keep that in mind and install with that thought, you'll be very happy.

Apologies if (a) too heavy!! (b) too patronising - you never know what people's background is on here. Mine's in audio.

Best of luck anyways.

Dan

 

You'll not get close to your home set-up, but it's all fun

I've put together a faq that may be helpful -

 

Forgive my ignorance but what's 'Dynomatting'?

 

Rob, the reason most people change the speakers first is because the standard fit ones in a car are almost always total rubbish!

Do you have a budget in mind??

MD/CD players range from about 200quid up to around £1000. Though a £1k head unit won't sound as good as a £1k home CD player

Dynomat is a definite requirement in any car, especially the Impreza. Doors, front footwells and the boot it all helps reduce noise and the 'tinny' effect.

I bet you spent ages at home positioning the speakers, right?! Now look at the options in the car.....Not many!

Installation is _far_ more important that the speakers you choose. You will be sitting closer to the right hand speaker - the only real way to get the left/right speakers the same distance from you is by digital time alignment - more cost!

Again, due to the limited speaker locations equalisation is usually beneficial...

A subwoofer will also make a huge difference as the lower frequencies are had for in-door speakers to get right without shaking the panel to pieces.

Oh and some sort of amplifier will give a better result than the 4x60w or whatever the head unit is claiming.

As for listening in-store, it is worthwhile as you will get an idea of how the speakers sound but don't expect them to sound the same in the car (if that makes any sense!)

Don't worry with the rear speakers, spend the extra cash on the fronts, get a sub, head unit and amplifier - if you suggest some sort of budget, I can give you some suggestions on the kit I'd recommend (eg £500, £1k, £2k etc etc)

Personally I've spent far more on the car stereo that I have on the system at home as I only tend to watch movies at home and I listen to all my CDs in the car.

Thanks.

 

Dynamat is a brand of sound deadening material - soundproofing is probably a more generic expression.

 

Cheers for the advicepeople.

Dan, I'm not easily patronised. I only put down my home system (which cost new more than the car!) to indicate I know what CAN be possible from CDs. I wasn't trying to show off or get into a "mines bigger than yours" argument. Each to his own.

Its just that in home terms its always drummed into you FRONT END FIRST but that the replies that I've seen usually say change the speakers first. I suspect that I will do both however.

JBLs and Kenwoods seem a very popular choice so I guess I'll go down to Edworthys and see whats what.

Thanks for your help.

Nick, nice web sites. I've used the guage one previously but love the ICE one!!


Incidentally is there really any point in listening to some kit in a shop? Back to the home stuff, most dealers would let me borrow something for a weekend or whatever and I can't quite see an installer putting things into my car as a demo!

On a techie point, why do I need to upgrade the OEM wiring? Is the Subaru stuff really poor quality?

Thanks again everyone.

Rob.

 

Rob - glad you didn't take offence I've got a similar home system - that's why I gave up trying in the car

OEM - Most die-hards will gut the car. I haven't YET. When I get around to installing the 4ch amp properly, I'll gut it.

It's usually done because the it's cheap, thin and crap......

In fact, I'd be intrigued to hear the difference (if any). If you do decide to do it, have a look at my site (in the profile) and I've got a copy of the ISO layout to the speakers. I think Chiark may also have it.....

Time to get out the OFC......

Slightly related, has anybody tried using BALANCED cable instead of unbalanced - utlising the shield as extra protection??

Dan

[This message has been edited by ScoobyDoo555 (edited 10 April 2001).]

 

Being a pauper, I could only afford a rega planar 3, cdx + power supply,NAT 02,NAC 82, snaxo 2-4, 2 NAP250s and credos. I feel woefully inadequate now, but great choice mate.

I had been into car audio for many years, but the naim system has destroyed it for me.

Previously I was running 1000ukp Becker headunits with equally quality components further down the chain, but after much time, and multiple experiments, I truly realised that quality cannot be achieved in a car, this being relatively speaking.

It will sound good, but when used to what you are used to, I think you are better off changing your ethos.

I bought a 22B and decided I would rather not "rape" the car (removing refitting trim) by installing a lot of heavy stereo equipment, with the potential to rattle.

Instead I left the standard speakers which came with the car, in this case fairly okay JL components, and had my tv system neatly installed with no visible stereo in the car to attract unwanted attention, reduce boot space or add clutter.

I now have audible music which is tolerable enough to listen to, running off mediocre pioneer compentry and a decent (phoenix gold) four channel amplifier connected to all the speakers (yes nick, I have connected speakers in rear of the car).

Forget imaging, forget staging, depth, clarity and timing and even acceptable quality, the car just isnt designed for ears that can hear the difference bewteen two naim power supplies.

In my opinion as a fellow lover of naim audio, give up now and buy the prettiest unit with the features you like the most and leave the quality music in the cds (mk1 or mk2? ps have you heard a linn cd12?))

I bought this car to drive, and it does it very well, sound deadening I feel takes away from the raw feeling of driving a rally(ish) car and again adds weight. (I had two rolls in each door of my old car).

A neat system designed to play music is all anyone needs unless you catch the upgrade bug. These days the car gets all the attention and the stereo is just part of it, not an entity in its own right.

Once I released myself from this **** crap relating to incar sound quality, I freed my inner gadget demon, so now I have the benefits of motorised tv screens, imagine what the naim community would think of that .

[This message has been edited by Adam M (edited 10 April 2001).]

 

Well guys, what can I say but thanks again for all the helpful advice. I'm definitely off down to Edworthys this weekend to try to sort something out and I will bear in mind all your advice. I just love Scoobynet sometimes.

Kryten, no I don't have a total budget yet because I like the idea of a bit at a time as a) its easier to save for and b) I can see (hear?) feel the improvements each time I do something.

Adam M, inadequate with a 22B!!!! I don't think so!! The good thing about Hi-Fi is that it can evolve upwards, with a car you have to sell it and start again. My system took several years (no MANY years) to get to where it is. One of my only rules of life is never to experience something I can afford i.e. I haven't driven a 911 turbo yet in case I like it!! So, no I haven't heard a CD12 yet but I did get a VERY tempting invitation from Grahams in North London to do so. The problem would be getting it passed the wife "You want to spend how much???!!!!!" I do like you attitude to the sound in the car. I think a lot of people strive to recreate what they have at home and fail. I was trying to go down this route myself before I thought what's the point? I guess others put mega bucks into their car systems because they don't live in a place where stomach churning volume would be possible. Still as I said in an earlier post, each to their own.

Thanks again for your helpful replies everyone.

Rob.

 

Stomach churning volumes = DBLs in Piano Black plus three nap 500, running actively at £10,000 each plus power supplies.

Unfortunately, my lounge isn't the required three acres, but I am planning to move .

I agree re always living outside your means, only reason I have heard a cd 12 (awesome by the way but doesnt have the naimness I like) is that my good friend is the daughter of Mr. Linn Audio, which helps except if you want a discount.

 

Well the SBLs are quite loud!!!!

Isn't the Linn MD called Ivor Tiffenbrunn or something? I remember someone trying to tell me it was German for Christmas tree, which I suppose it might be, but I never checked.

Not that you should let any prejudice rule you life, I was always set against Linn in the olden days because a) the LP12 wouldn't play 45s without that stupid adapter and the Xerses (?sp) was better anyhow and b) they always seemed to surpass themselves with silly names for their products - Linn Klout anyone?

Rob.

 

Yes, thats her dad, and I would be surprised if it was christmas tree since the family are jewish.

Agree re linn though. Their av centre (blasphemy I know) is phenominal, and actually outperfomrs my old 102 even though it is digital, it just annoys me they are so arrogant they have to box things in their own size case. How irritating.

I know its wrong but to be honest, if it doesnt have a green light, i am biased against it normally.