New stereo for the old girl..
Hi guys.
Just joined the forums to try and pick your brains on this.
I am considering installing a new head unit in the ol Caprice ( stacker is dead) and have the JVC KDR-816 in my sights but this is not concrete.Just like the look and sound andI know its fussy but having the variable colour display is appealing.
So I am going for this unit unless someone can talk me out of it.
Although from what I can gather it is not compatible with the CAT steering remote interface?
Anyone know this for sure?
There is a mention on their website but no contact details.Would like to confirm.
Also would like to put a Sub in the boot and must ask do I just need a mono/single channel amp to run it?
Would also like to know if it is possible to put component speakers in the front and replace original speakers in dash with the new ones? I guess ripping out the dash is neccessary? Scary Stuff!!
Also is there a mobile stereo fitter around you can reccomend if not I will probably get Car Toys to do it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Shane.
The speakers in the dash are the tweeters which form the component set along with the 6 inch speakers in the front doors. Basically the tweeters play the highs , and the speakers in the doors play the mids and lows. Yes they can be replaced, just about any 6-6.5'' speaker will fit with little or no modification to the mounting ring.
If you are replacing your front speakers, but don't wish you to use the factory tweeter mounting point to house the new one, then you don't need to touch the upper section of the dash.
A lot of people like to use the dash location to keep a factory look, but if you would prefer to get your new speakers sounding their best, then your better to experiment with different positions and angles for the tweeters , and then decide on the best way to mount them.
Mono block amps are the preffered choice when it comes to powering subwoofers. They are generally able to make more power at a lower impedance, making them more suited to a subwoofer that requires more power than your average full range speaker.
If the sub is only a lower power application, then multi channel amplifiers can be used. All though this saves money, it also comes at the cost of performance and tuning capabilities.
I wouldn't have a clue about the JVC unit i'm sorry, but any store who sells them should be able to tell you if they will work with your steering wheel controls.
Last edited by HCVP; 10-12-2010 at 11:04 PM.
Many thanks for that.
Yeah I didnt make it clear but I know the ones in the dash are the tweeters and yeah was wondering if new tweeters can be located
in their place retaining the factory look.
Possibly may not touch these and just put some sexier speakers in the doors and possibly the parcel shelf.Here I would definately like to leave the factory look and just replace speakers underneath if poss.
Thinking about going total jvc for all speakers except maybe any ok sub.Any suggestions on a cheap but good sub and mono amp?
There are so bloody many brands.
Cheers,
Shane.
BRANDS - Don't worry about brands. Worry about what components sound the best to you, for the money you have to spend.
SPEAKERS - You have 2 types. You've got coaxials, and split components. A split component does exactly what it's name says, it split's the components up. This gives you a midbass/midrange driver, and a seperate tweeter. A coaxial speaker is an all in one speaker, which has it's tweeter mounted in the centre of the mid driver.
A coaxial in theory is the better speaker as the sound is projected from the one area. But most cars don't offer good mounting points to take advantage of this, so you can often have a lot of trouble getting the height of your soundstage correct.
With a split system, you can use the lower factory mounting point for the mid bass driver, but then choose your own mounting point for the tweeter. You can see even from the factory this approach has been taken by using the dash to house the tweeters.
SUBS - Theres no such thing really as a good but cheap sub. You get what you pay for like most things, so usually a cheap sub, will sound and perform like a cheap sub.That being said some subs like other components will represent better value for money, so that's where you will have to do some sorting. There are a lot of things to factor in when choosing a sub. Music preferences, size of vehicle, how you like you music played....You need to choose a sub that's right for the application, not just one that fits into your budget, otherwise you sometimes may be better off leaving it out...
How much do you want to spend?
Do you want to buy everything at once, or do it in stages?
Will you be installing some, or all of it yourself?
Must everything be new? I know your on a tight budget, sometimes the used market can be your best friend in this case.
I'm Listening
Many thanks for the info.
All of it taken onboard.
Kind regards,
Shane.
Custom Car Stereo Systems
I can chime in on a few things HCVP hasnt covered. I personally dont like the JVC units because they are hard to control, station presets which are normally buttons along the bottom of the unit are replaced by a menu system. I believe to change preset radio stations you need to push the volume knob in, the select presets and then select which station. In my opinion the JVC units sacrifice ease of use for looks, whereas there are plenty of other brands out there that are much easier to use and for similar $$$.
I dont know where you gathered that particular unit cant be connected to your steering wheel controls. On the Ryda website (also first search result in google when you type the model number in) it says it is steering wheel remote ready:
Ryda Car Audio - JVC KD-R816 Car Bluetooth USB Tuner($329.85)
Anyway, even if it isnt a wired connection you can still get a universal adapter that uses the IR remote control signals. If its a wired input:
PAC SWI-JACK STEERING WHEEL CONTROL MODULE ALPINE JVC (eBay item 190452627162 end time 03-Jan-11 09:53:03 AEDST) : Cars, Bikes, Boats
If it hasnt got a wired input:
PAC SWI-X SWIX STEERING WHEEL CONTROL INFRARED ADAPTER (eBay item 270491291890 end time 21-Dec-10 21:00:46 AEDST) : Electronics
Cheers for that mate.you have done a lot of hard work for me.
I was looking at the CAT remote website and it said their controller was not compatible with a jvc in a VS thats what had me worried.
I was wondering also when it says steering wheel remote ready if it means those ones that strap to the steering wheel?
I was wondering also what brand head unit u would recommend for around $300?
Another question if I may? With the original component front speakers in my car,tweeters in dash,mid/bottom in doors,is there a crossover involved there?
I was thinking if i put new 6" two or 3 ways in doors if they will have the full spectrum at the mo?
Cheers,
Shane.
Check out the alpine range, use google to find the alpine website, theyve got some quality stuff there
From VR onwards the "crossover" consists of a capacitor in series with the tweeter. But if your replacing the head unit, then your best of running new speaker wire from the head unit to your chosen speakers if your not planning on connecting an external amplifier.
What do you mean by full fq spectrum? If your reffering to running in full pass, then yes, unless you activate your high pass filter.
2 or 3 way, sounds like your looking at coaxials, not really favourable considering the stock door location. But i already explained that one earlier.
Last edited by HCVP; 14-12-2010 at 12:11 AM.
You mentioned the topic of brands again - Like i said, don't worry about brands, unless it's some POS from some online Ebay store that the world has never heard of.
Jump online, and start looking around at what head units are available in your price range. Obviously, first things are going to be looks, so which units you like the look of. Begin to narrow your search down a little bit, and when you have a few models that fit your budget, and you like the look of them, start going out to the stores that have them in stock.
Play around with them, go through everything, playing CD, Ipod, radio, whatever it has, tuning options ect ect. Something that might seem like a small issue on the display board, might irritate the shit out of you at a later date while driving along.
PLay with the JVC unit you like. Pay close attention to the above feature that HoldenBoy pointed out. You might find you agree it irritates you and is unnesacary and distracting, you might not mind, all the little things like that.
Cheers guys.
Yeah i was wondering if the wires from head unit to door speakers run directly to the speakers fully and the high end is split at the speaker or crossed over from the head unit? In other words if i put new 2 ways in the doors will the sound be like it was coming directly from head unit and say the tweeters in dash will still be high end sound and the speakers in doors will have both high and low?
Sorry if this sounds a bit noobish but i guess it is.
Cheers.
Ahh I think I see what you mean by Soundstage. Great speakers in the doors doesnt neccessarily mean u will hear them at their best because of lower location? Is that sorta right?
Ohh,and I guess I would have to run coax to any 2 way speaker not just hook them up to old wires?
Mate, all our info has gone straight over your head. Every one of your replies is very confusing, and i don't think i will be able to help you much more.
I've said it to others before in this situation, sometimes it's best that you just visit and audio specialty store, and discuss what options are available for the money you are willing to spend.
I gave you a basic run done of what each component is and what they do, how they work ect, but your still basically asking the same questions. I would only be repeating myself if i continued to answer any more of your questions.
Please don't take offence to this, maybe someone else can better explain things to you , and answer your questions in a way that is easier for you to understand.
Cheers for all your help.
You definately have helped more than any stereonoob could ask for.
After reading back through your posts a little more closely you have explained
and answered my dumb questions more than adequatley.
Sorry to tick you off mate.Took a while to get my thick head around it.
Regards,
Shane.
Take note of where I'm from.Should explain it.
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