RNS510 + audio upgrade suggestions?

[hannson]

In the case of the VW RNS510 (without Dynaudio upgrade) it is fairly straight forward.

1. The system has 4 ch high power output that is not altered as the
2. x-overs are on the actual tweeters in the front and rear,
3. no centre channel and
4. no subwoofer.

The most important upgrades are
a. amplification and then
b. speakers (you would be amazed what adding power to original speakers and a subwoofer can do for your system). Then of course, upgrading the front speakers first and then (if at all), the rear speakers.

The Rockford 3Sixty-BLD is perfect and for $249 will make your factory unit complete.

thanks RF 4MOTION!!

I've kind of broken down your advice into the above to ensure I understand correctly

In essence.... for the RNS510 that we have... we just need to add amplification e.g. something like the Rockford 3Sixty-BLD and it'd be pretty good... and when we've got a bit more cash.. change the front speakers

Is that correct?

Do you have any recommendation for the front speakers? what about the tweeters should we change that too?

Thanks again for the advice

[spiff]

That's awesome information RF 4 MOTION.
My understanding is a little different from hannson's in that, you recommend a product such as the rockford 3sixty or PXE-H 650E (i read about 3sixty.2 when i was reading into the PXE-H 650E but haven't researched that. also read about cleansweep being a similar product) first to "reset" the factory eq, then add the other stuff to bring it back up to good quality.

What you've suggested regarding as little work as possible but making a difference is exactly what I'm after.

Will do more reading into the various setups and equipment others and you have suggested. I noticed a lot of Alpine gear in the shop I went to (Alberts), so I might drop by and see what they have.

[RF 4MOTION]

In the case of the RNS 510 you dont need to reset any eq. It has a flat, full range response to all 4 speakers. If you have the Dynaudio upgrade, that is a different kettle of fish, it has external amplification and more speakers. Upgrading from this will need a summing, auto eq'ing device such as the
3Sixty.1 or .2. This device would have to go after the OEM amplifier, not the headunit. Different needs for different set ups.

Alberts are great, I know all the Alberts guys, they only sell and recommend the highest level of brands. Alpine, Rockford and German Maestro would be their choice. I highly recommend the German Maestro speakers, they are designed and manufactured in a small town near Heidelberg, Germany. They are perfect fits for your German VW, NOT TO MENTION SOUND AMAZING.

When changing the factory speakers you will be selecting from a range of component sets (or splits as they are commonly known). They vary greatly in quality and therefore price, pick a budget and stick to it, anything above $400 will handle 50-70watts RMS, then get an amp with the matching power, if in doubt get more power than less. There are far more speakers blown from underpowering (volume turned up into clipping or distortion to meet the listeners needs) rather than too much power. But dont overdo it. Stick to recommended brands, aim for 100-150% of the speakers RMS power handling.

I am glad to be of help to any questions anyone has, PM me if you want. I have been in the car audio industry for over 20 years and I love VW's... say no more

[hannson]

1. In the case of the RNS 510 you dont need to reset any eq. It has a flat, full range response to all 4 speakers.

2. If you have the Dynaudio upgrade, that is a different kettle of fish, it has external amplification and more speakers. Upgrading from this will need a summing, auto eq'ing device such as the 3Sixty.1 or .2.
Note: This device (3Sixty.1 or .2.) would have to go after the OEM amplifier, not the headunit. Different needs for different set ups.

Hi.. sorry to bother you again and my attempt to paraphrase your notes... does this mean a RNS510 without Dynaudio wouldn't need any Rockford stuff.. and just need new speakers?

[Swallowtail]

Hi.. sorry to bother you again and my attempt to paraphrase your notes... does this mean a RNS510 without Dynaudio wouldn't need any Rockford stuff.. and just need new speakers?

Hannson - just my humble opinion, but I reckon a decent outboard amp would be needed to really "drive" a new set of quality speakers... There is a small amp under the passenger seat in the stock system, but it's decidedly weedy!

[hannson]

Hannson - just my humble opinion, but I reckon a decent outboard amp would be needed to really "drive" a new set of quality speakers... There is a small amp under the passenger seat in the stock system, but it's decidedly weedy!

thanks.. that's what i was hoping too... i.e. a decent outboard amp.... btw... i don't have any amp under the passenger seat in the stock system.

Mine came with RCD310 and I bought and DIY'd fitted the RNS510

[Swallowtail]

thanks.. that's what i was hoping too... i.e. a decent outboard amp.... btw... i don't have any amp under the passenger seat in the stock system.

Mine came with RCD310 and I bought and DIY'd fitted the RNS510

Aha! Forgot you'd fitted your afterwards... Wanna buy the superb quality original Blaupunkt amp from an Aussie spec R36? LOL...

[G-rig]

Hi all,

Since getting my Jetta 1.4 tsi, I've since found out that there are some aftermarket head units which do a better job for audio, and have the same features (nav, bluetooth, dvd, radio, mp3, etc) or better.

Which units are they? I had the Alpine NAV and Bluetooth and they were crap compared to the RNS510 and Skoda Bluetooth.

Basically, the tech/installer said that I should probably ditch the RNS510 and upgrade the HU first. He may have a point, but the RNS510 is less than a week old.

Who said that? Probably wanted to sell you a new HU . That's what the uneducated would be lead to believe, but the stock HU is by no means the weak point. The signal is fine. You still need to replace the speakers/amp ideally and then go for a speaker level input device like the Bit One.1 or similar, otherwise some amps like the Arc Mini's can take line level inputs as well with no much noise or hiss.

Anyone in Brisbane is welcome to demo my setup with the stock HU..

[spiff]

Which units are they? I had the Alpine NAV and Bluetooth and they were crap compared to the RNS510 and Skoda Bluetooth.

I'll take a drive to Alberts and see what model it is, but it was an Eclipse.

Who said that? Probably wanted to sell you a new HU . That's what the uneducated would be lead to believe, but the stock HU is by no means the weak point. The signal is fine. You still need to replace the speakers/amp ideally and then go for a speaker level input device like the Bit One.1 or similar, otherwise some amps like the Arc Mini's can take line level inputs as well with no much noise or hiss.

Anyone in Brisbane is welcome to demo my setup with the stock HU..

Wish I was in Brisbane. You don't happen to have a video of it? What do you have with your stock HU exactly? Does the Bit One do the same thing as the Rockford 3Sixty and PXE-H 650E, which RF_4Motion said one wouldn't really need on a stock RNS510 Head unit?

spiff

[benno]

Greg is referring mostly to integration into the vehicle, which is vastly inferior with Alpine or any other aftermarket head unit/BT.

[G-rig]

Sounds to me like you just wanted an excuse to slag Alpine, thousands and thousands of units sold suggest you're in the minority.

I've had both, so nothing against Alpine as that and Eclipse seem to be the best gear out there (before spening heaps) yes benno is right talking about overall integration and making the point that a lot of people ditch the stock HU thinking they can't get good sound out of it.

Some pros and cons for both setups (like the crappy kufactec camera adapters not working reliably whereas the alpine one was perfect!).

Sorry everyone i should have said 'Aftermarket HU', not 'Alpine'. Everyone knows they are great but not the point i was making here.

[G-rig]

.............................

[benno]

I have spoken to a dealer who has suggested I don't enter into any sort of debate with anyone owning a certain R32 who appears to have made it his mission on other forums to slag Alpine as much as possible so I will heed his advice and not enter into a fruitless and pointless debate.

I've seen no evidence of that. G-rigs experience and point is a valid one though, and that is that if you value integration into the vehicle and things 'just working' an aftermarket HU just isn't likely to cut the mustard. I don't consider that slagging at all.

And for the record, I have a cheapie made in China HU that actually does integrate relatively well, considering it's provenance. And my previous Alpine HU ran beautifully for the 8 years it was in my previous car, but I just couldn't stomach the price of Alpine gear this time around.

Not sure exactly why you have such an axe to grind about this?

[Swallowtail]

Benno, I think it is settling quite nicely on its own thanks... how about everyone moves back to the topic and forgets about axes, slagging off brands and fruitless debates? Ta!

[spiff]

The new Eclipse HU nav unit is pretty good (as is IGO8 ).



Using an Audison Bit One.1 (the .1 is fairly new out so people shouldn't buy the version). The idea of these devices and the ones you listed are designed to integrate so you can use your stock HU (or another HU of your choice).

I haven't used the other ones but the Bit One.1 is amazing. Just have to eliminate a turn on pop, but other than that works and sounds great.

Perhaps i misread the question but I'd do other audio upgrades first before 'just adding' a DSP if that's what you meant.

Ok. It had better be good anyhow, since he was telling me it costs about $2000! that's just the head unit alone. But with all that I've read here, I think i'll be saving that for now and keeping the RNS510.

Thanks for that last comment. I'll probably look at getting amp + speakers upgraded. Got to peek under the seat and see what amp they've got.