RNS510, Amp & standard speakers.

[Logzy]

I am no expert here so after alot of reading in the VW Audio lounge i just wanted to confirm what i think i have decided based on what ive read.

I have the RNS-510 in a MK5 GT Sport, no factory amp.

After reading about the MK4 speakers i am presuming the MK5 speakers are pretty good quality and if i add an amp to the system it will give me a big improvement.

My thoughts are to add a 4ch amp that has a pass through (i think thats what its called) so that later i can go out from this amp into another one to run a subwoofer.
I am looking at this amp from Jaycar.


Does this sound like an ok setup.?

I have read alot about only running the front speakers through an amp and leaving the rears on the HU but in doing this it would mean that i would need a LOC for the fronts as the RNS-510 would still need to be set to speaker outputs. (Using VAG-COM the RNS-510 can be set to line out outputs)
This would also mean that later when i want to install an amp it would be a little more difficult as i should feed the SW amp from the rear outputs.
Am i correct.

What do you experts think of my very basic idea of the 4ch amp on all 4 speakers.

Thanks guys for your help.

[Mr ©harisma]

Hey dude,

What is going to be your end goal? Do you have a rough budget on how much you want to spend all up?

Personally:
*Jaycar = bang for $$, no great SQ.
*Standard speakers are good, but not that good
*That RNS-510 will have a piss poor output EQ, look at getting a RF 3sixty.1 / 3sixty.2 / JL cleansweep to at least fix the problems over a simple LOC. They will also take your 4ch speaker input and turn them into 6ch pre outs.

[Logzy]

Hey dude,

What is going to be your end goal? Do you have a rough budget on how much you want to spend all up?

Personally:
*Jaycar = bang for $$, no great SQ.
*Standard speakers are good, but not that good
*That RNS-510 will have a piss poor output EQ, look at getting a RF 3sixty.1 / 3sixty.2 / JL cleansweep to at least fix the problems over a simple LOC. They will also take your 4ch speaker input and turn them into 6ch pre outs.

Basically I'm looking for a bit more sound quality and a bit more volume without distortion.
If i can avoid changing the speakers then i'd like to just cause i CBF'd doing it and i was thinking of installing the amp myself.
If i start looking at speakers etc then i'd probably get a professional install.
Most of the music i play will be MP3's from the RNS510
All up i'd possibly limit my budget to $1000 however this could be flexible.
The RNS510 has to stay.

Whats your reccomendations.?
The JL Cleansweep sounds like a good product. Do i really need it.?

Thanks for your help.

[Mr ©harisma]

Is that $1k including a processor, 4ch amp, sub amp and sub or just the 4ch amp and processor ( and wiring of course ).

[MKIVF]

Alpine also make the imprint processor.

[Logzy]

Is that $1k including a processor, 4ch amp, sub amp and sub or just the 4ch amp and processor ( and wiring of course ).

I'd like to think its for all of it but if i need to allow $1200 or so to cover all of it then i will.
What could i get away with bearing in mind that I'm sticking with std speakers.?

I'm trying to limit myself as i've already spent a ****load on this car that i dont even have yet.

[Greg Roles]

Hey mate, you've got half your car in parts already!

I've had some good audio setups for normal people like us using Jaycar stuff in my past.

In my opinion, leave the rears stock, from the headunit. You only hear "fill" from the rear pretty much anyhow.

Spend the time and money on the fronts. Again, I can't advise highly enough replacing JUST the fronts with a decent set of splits, and putting a little dynamat bitumen sheet under each one. Use the stock wires, and just buy a jaycar 2 channel amp to suit the fronts. You don't need huge power to get half decent sound. The audiophiles will disagree, but spend the cash and research on speakers. THEY make the sound.

I have a decent Stinger LOC II and gold / shielded RCA input and output wiring to suit, all in great nick, which you can have. It was from the audio setup I had planned for the Ford, and of no use to me anymore. Will let you swap 2 channel line in to 4 channels out. Yeah yeah you audio types, it won't be SQ quality.... but a wack better than stock!

So you need an amp, some splits and I am happy to give you two woofer suitable squares of dynamat, as I have p-l-e-n-t-y. This will give you a heap of bang for buck, and in my opinion a fine sound. If you do buy that 4 channel amp, you can easily add a sub later on for more punch, and Jaycar have a fabulous 10" for the money ($150). I recently put one of these in a Lancer I fixed up for a quick sale, and it sounded awesome for the cash. Basically sold the car actually!

Easy come in a lot less than a grand.

[Mr ©harisma]

I'd like to think its for all of it but if i need to allow $1200 or so to cover all of it then i will.
What could i get away with bearing in mind that I'm sticking with std speakers.?

I'm trying to limit myself as i've already spent a ****load on this car that i dont even have yet.

lol time to spend some more. Well in that case,

Speaker amp: Jaycar 4x 50WRMS ( you wont need more for the stockies ) $200
Sub amp: Jaycar 2x 150WRMS, 1x 500WRMS $250
Wiring: $75-100 ( I managed to get a wiring kit for 2 amps for $50 shop around )
Sub: $300ish + $50 for a box ( look into the Hertz ES, Oz Vector, DD5xx, Boston G1, Treo SSi etc depends on any limitations or space etc )

So that is about $900. Unfortunately that does leave much for a processor ( which are about $450+ ) however you could get that at a later stage and just use basic LOC for the time being.

The above 4x 50WRMS amp has RCA through ( those pass through things you where talking about ) and it sends a stereo bypass signal through, perfect for the second amp. I actually used that amp for a Mazda 3 and did it the way you are thinking, pretty good result.

[Greg Roles]

[Mr ©harisma]

Use the stock wires, and just buy a jaycar 2 channel amp to suit the fronts. You don't need huge power to get half decent sound. The audiophiles will disagree, but spend the cash and research on speakers. THEY make the sound.

Yeah I disagree, speakers only reproduce sound which is true. You give a great pair of speakers a crap signal and they are gunna sounds crap... simple

Even in something as minor as a sub, I noticed a big big difference going from a Jaycar amp to an Audison. Of course you get the best for your budget

[Greg Roles]

But you need to remember your level of expectation.

You have high standards, having heard better gear. You are, afterall, an audiophile!

Logzy drives a Holden, and is thus a neanderthal.

It's the old law of diminishing returns. I understand Logzy's question, not being a full on audio freak myself. He wants an improvement over stock, and for the cash, Jaycar will give him exactly that. I've been there and done it twice myself several installs ago, and was happy!

Compared to what you guys dream about, yeah it's crap in comparison, but you're spending a w-h-o-l-e lot more remember.

[Logzy]

Thanks Greg for the offer of the LOC & advise. Thanks Mr Charisma for the advise.
I'm really undecided how i want to proceed on this project.

I'm now thinking.
1x Jaycar 4x100 Amp for all 4 speakers.
Two reasons for this amp.
1. it allows me to upgrade the speakers later and use the same amp.
2. By running all 4 speakers through the amp i wont need a LOC as i can VAG-COM the 510 to low level outputs and when/if i buy the processor I wont have to worry about all 4ch running through the processor but only 2ch going through an amp. Thats if this is a concern.?

1x Jaycar 2x150 Amp for a sub.

1x Sub & box, brand undecided.

Wiring to suit above.

Then later i can look at the special processor which i should be able to mount near the amps and basically just plug it in.

This is the hardest decision yet. Which way to go

Does my above theory make sense or am i missing something.

[Soundofav6]

Your theory is right but I would include the processor first rather than same amount for a sub tho
Personally, I wouldn't think of spending $300 on a sub. perhaps I am missing out ??
But I am way happy with my Rockford 10" P1 for $160.

So .... If I were you I would go for the
*4 channel amp $250
*Rockford processor, ~450
*wiring ~100
*2 sheets of dynamat. ~120
*worry about the sub later. Even a decent 2nd hand one.
Clarion 12" has ones for $50 on sale,

Why, because your goal is "comparatively" better Sound and with a grand budget it's is quite reasonable I reckon. With the processor your music will not only be already nicer but it will be FUNKY, you will be asking "who's you dad now yo! "

Also with this set up it gives you more control EQ wise and when you do run a Sub, simiply reroute the rear speaker off the head unit to the processor, leaving 2 channels bridged from the AMP.

For the dynamat, it works like magic. I would layer on the mounting of the 4 speakers first.

[Logzy]

Also with this set up it gives you more control EQ wise and when you do run a Sub, simiply reroute the rear speaker off the head unit to the processor, leaving 2 channels bridged from the AMP.

For the dynamat, it works like magic. I would layer on the mounting of the 4 speakers first.

O.K. So it looks like im going for the 4ch amp and the processor.
Youve lost me a bit though with the above quoted comment regarding the reroute the rear speaker off the headunit bit.

I was thinking of running all 4 ch into the processor then into the 4ch amp.
Then later when i want to add a sub i just use the passthrough outputs on the 4ch amp into the new 2ch amp which will drive the sub.

Also what is the dynamat for if I'm not touching the original speakers.? Should i remount the originals using dynamat, is that what you meant.?

[Logzy]

So now another question.

Which processor is better.??

The RF3SIXTY.1 or the JL CS441dsp??

I notice that the JL has an auto calibration cd that comes with it but the RF has a bluetooth interface to setup.
How hard are these things to set up? I'd be looking for the easiest to setup.
Are there a heap of settings i have to play with to get it sounding right or are they basically plug and play.?

The install is not a problem for me but with the setup i have never done this before so am a bit of a nuffy with it.

EDIT: After reading the instruction manuals on both processors it looks like the JL is easer to set up however it did mention that for better quality their supplied remote volume control should be used instead of my HU volume control.
Is this really an issue. Will i get much hissing at lower volumes.