Installing Sound System in Tiguan (Audio upgrade)

[ido09s]

Marty is great, nice guy and a straight shooter. Unfortunately there are a lot of crooks and dodgy people in the install business so it pays to choose someone reputable.

I have known him for about 10 years now and he is one of the last genuine nice guys left.

Something most may not know is that you will also get photo's of your install so you can see what you normally cant. This is something Marty has been doing for years and something other local installers have begun to copy. He even sent me 2 pics of a friends simple head unit install so he could see exactly what had been done wiring wise and my friend was very impressed with his service and workmanship

[Naresh]

Guys can anyone confirm how to get a power cable from the battery into the car? Is there a suitable entry point in the engine bay?

[Transporter]

Guys can anyone confirm how to get a power cable from the battery into the car? Is there a suitable entry point in the engine bay?

Didn't see my post on previous page? http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...tml#post790270

[Naresh]

You could use the hole in the firewall that has the blanking plug, almost every brand has them, if they make the car for left and right hand drive markets.

Oh ok thanks, any idea where abouts this blanking plug is located? I couldn't see one when I checked.

[Aztech]

Hey guys,

I know this is an old thread now but I'm just in the process of upgrading the audio on my tig. I have used the front speaker wires from my RCD510 into a line level converter into a 4 channel arc ks300.4, from there I am running 2 channel to a set of Alpine splits in the front and bridged the other 2 channels to run a 12" arc sub in the boot space.

It sounds decent enough, but I am thinking that the cheap Autobarn line level converter might be the Achilles heal of the whole system. I have looked at those Audison Bit Ten/Ones as the OP put in there system but fear the wife might not see it as a good investment.

Does anyone know of a cheaper alternative that would be better than the LOC even if not a good as a Bit Ten?

Would finding someone with a Vagcom and changing the level output on my RCD510 to the Dynaudio output help at all?

Thanks,
Aztech

[clip]

I would use the high level inputs. Forget using a converter, only the top end ones are any good and quite exy. I always use high level input if I have the choice. Gives greater flexibility and control over the sub. Only time I don't is in home theater where all I want to reproduce are those very low frequencies. I'm pretty sure the arc ks300.4 has ability to take high level inputs.

[Aztech]

I would use the high level inputs. Forget using a converter, only the top end ones are any good and quite exy. I always use high level input if I have the choice. Gives greater flexibility and control over the sub. Only time I don't is in home theater where all I want to reproduce are those very low frequencies. I'm pretty sure the arc ks300.4 has ability to take high level inputs.

Thanks Clip, I'm fairly novice with this as it's the first time I've upgraded audio in any of my cars. As far as I can tell it only accepts line level inputs, the only inputs it has are 4 RCA plugs. So I've used this high low converter https://www.autobarn.com.au/4-channel-hi-lo-audio-level to plug into the amp. So really something like a AudioControl lc2i is not going to be any better and I should probably just wait to purchase something like a Audison Bit Ten?

[Ramee]

Hey guys,

I know this is an old thread now but I'm just in the process of upgrading the audio on my tig. I have used the front speaker wires from my RCD510 into a line level converter into a 4 channel arc ks300.4, from there I am running 2 channel to a set of Alpine splits in the front and bridged the other 2 channels to run a 12" arc sub in the boot space.

It sounds decent enough, but I am thinking that the cheap Autobarn line level converter might be the Achilles heal of the whole system. I have looked at those Audison Bit Ten/Ones as the OP put in there system but fear the wife might not see it as a good investment.

Does anyone know of a cheaper alternative that would be better than the LOC even if not a good as a Bit Ten?

Would finding someone with a Vagcom and changing the level output on my RCD510 to the Dynaudio output help at all?

Thanks,
Aztech

Just contributing my experience with Tig sound upgrade. I have a Audison bit ten as the LOC & processor between AMP and RCD510 and I am happy to say it is well worth it. Key point here is the tune-ability of the Bit ten. It has all the filters and 32 band equalizers in every channel and someone can tune it to improve the sound quality to a remarkable level. For proper tuning you may use a professional audio spectrum analyzer or there are some good android apps that can be used with good success. Simply download a pink noise sound clip from net and play it through the RCD510 while visualizing the output graph through an analyzer. If your sound system is perfect you should see a flat graph through whole bandwidth (will never happen in real life) but you can try to get the graph flat as possible by tuning Bit ten equalizers and crossover filters.

[clip]

Yes, the cheaper converters are crap, they induce much noise and you have a nice amp so a shame to use one. I'm surprised the amp doesn't have the high level inputs. Nearly all amps have line level inputs these days as its much harder to replace head units in modern cars, so amp manufacturers have to offer high level inputs so you can use the oem head unit. Could you maybe swap the amp?

[Aztech]

thanks Ramee, I have downloaded a few spectrum analysers so will definitely be playing with that.

Clip, I bought the gear slightly used for a bargain price on Gumtree, so in order to swap the amp I would need to sell it back on there myself, which isn't a bad idea, I could keep using it for now, put an add up and either it will sell and I can get an amp for high level inputs or enough time will pass and I'll be able to afford a bit ten lol

[Aztech]

Just contributing my experience with Tig sound upgrade. I have a Audison bit ten as the LOC & processor between AMP and RCD510 and I am happy to say it is well worth it. Key point here is the tune-ability of the Bit ten. It has all the filters and 32 band equalizers in every channel and someone can tune it to improve the sound quality to a remarkable level. For proper tuning you may use a professional audio spectrum analyzer or there are some good android apps that can be used with good success. Simply download a pink noise sound clip from net and play it through the RCD510 while visualizing the output graph through an analyzer. If your sound system is perfect you should see a flat graph through whole bandwidth (will never happen in real life) but you can try to get the graph flat as possible by tuning Bit ten equalizers and crossover filters.

Hey Ramee, So I ended up getting a good deal on a Bit Ten that I intend to install this weekend. Did you do it yourself? Does anyone know if its okay just to daisy chain the power and ground from the amp?

Can't wait to have a tinker with it all set up, the tuning ability of this thing looks incredible!

[Naresh]

Hey guys,

I know this is an old thread now but I'm just in the process of upgrading the audio on my tig. I have used the front speaker wires from my RCD510 into a line level converter into a 4 channel arc ks300.4, from there I am running 2 channel to a set of Alpine splits in the front and bridged the other 2 channels to run a 12" arc sub in the boot space.

It sounds decent enough, but I am thinking that the cheap Autobarn line level converter might be the Achilles heal of the whole system. I have looked at those Audison Bit Ten/Ones as the OP put in there system but fear the wife might not see it as a good investment.

Does anyone know of a cheaper alternative that would be better than the LOC even if not a good as a Bit Ten?

Would finding someone with a Vagcom and changing the level output on my RCD510 to the Dynaudio output help at all?

Thanks,
Aztech

As mentioned many amps have high level inputs from which to covert into pre-outs but if you're looking for a cost effective Convertor compared with a bit ten have you seen the LCQ-1 from Audiocontrol?

http://http://www.audiocontrol.com/t34/17612/712451/OEM-Integration/LCQ--1----Six-Channel-Line-Output-Converter-with-Equalization-and-AccuBASS.html

There are a few on ebay too.

[Aztech]

As mentioned many amps have high level inputs from which to covert into pre-outs but if you're looking for a cost effective Convertor compared with a bit ten have you seen the LCQ-1 from Audiocontrol?

http://http://www.audiocontrol.com/t34/17612/712451/OEM-Integration/LCQ--1----Six-Channel-Line-Output-Converter-with-Equalization-and-AccuBASS.html

There are a few on ebay too.

Thanks Naresh, I did actually end up getting an LCQi and then found a Bit Ten D on Gumtree for $120 so I have both at home now lol.

I will be putting the LCQi back up for sales so if anyone's interested let me know.

[Ramee]

Hey Ramee, So I ended up getting a good deal on a Bit Ten that I intend to install this weekend. Did you do it yourself? Does anyone know if its okay just to daisy chain the power and ground from the amp?

Can't wait to have a tinker with it all set up, the tuning ability of this thing looks incredible!

Yes. I got power from the wires coming for the Amp as well. I think Bit Ten has internal regulators so bit of voltage fluctuations does not matter. Bit ten has signal sensing power up too and output a remote signal for the Amp. So no issue there. I have bit ten mounted on the Amp using velcro and use short RCA cables to connect five channels to the amp. Enjoy your Bit Ten!

[Aztech]

Yes. I got power from the wires coming for the Amp as well. I think Bit Ten has internal regulators so bit of voltage fluctuations does not matter. Bit ten has signal sensing power up too and output a remote signal for the Amp. So no issue there. I have bit ten mounted on the Amp using velcro and use short RCA cables to connect five channels to the amp. Enjoy your Bit Ten!

Thanks Ramee, got power from the amp, piece of cake and working fantastic. Took me some messing around to get the sub working well but now I have the sound difference is incredible. I can't rave about the bit ten enough, even my partner who never notices anything commented on how good it sounds now.

I didn't realise you needed the CD that came with it for the de-equalisation function so I've contacted Audison to see if they can provide me one, but even if I can't the PC interface is fantastic and I am more than happy with the results I'm getting with that.

Next project will be to get rid of the sub box in my boot thats taking up half the space. Thinking of maybe building something to go next to the spare under the boot floor.