Audio Overhaul!

[Mr Cousins]

So im looking to completely re-do the audio system in my stilo. Can you guys suggest some good products for me to take a look at and maybe slam into steve the stilo haha!

Im thinking of getting,

New fascia plate.
Aftermarket Head unit, maybe a flip up monitor? One with a hard drive on would be cool?
New door speakers?
New rear seat speakers possibly?
Is it worth getting a sub in the boot? Or will i get enough bass from all the new speakers and better head unit?

Just throw stuff at me guys, im open to everything. Budget for it all would be possibly around £400-£500 Maybe more depending on how money is spent.

Thanks alot guys!

 

[volxstu]

Hi welcome to the ICE section. . So do you have any proof knowledge of car audio?
The first thing that I would say is by adding updated speakers and amps you won't get more bass. The standard speakers are designed to play lower frequencies like bass, just now very well.
What you are trying to achieve is a full range. Sorry if I am being condascending here but I did say we were nutters in here and I fancy going on an explination mission.
So you are now trying to get a proficiant full range sound. The first think you have is your treble/high. This will come from your tweeters. You want the tweeters slightly higher than stock but we can go into that if you decide at a later date. The tweets will generally play from around 2500hz upwards.

Then you have the mid range. The mid range will be in your door and will normally play from around 50hz upwards but is generally it's most effeciant from 80hz and this will cut off at a similar frequency that the tweeters start at.

Now your uprated mid speaker will be much more effecient at playing mid range and mid bass, Allowing you improve the sound quality and volume. So now you are just missing the lows from 80hz downwards. The original speakers used to do this to a degree but that was nothing like bass.
When designing your system u need to consider the kind of bass that you want. You have 2 choices. The first being loud thumping bass, the second being subtle integral bass that perfectly ties in with your mid bass up front, complementing it. I can go into further detail if you so require.

Before you even consider what equiptment you put in you need to sound deaden on that budget. (see the group buy in the group buy section). If you want to do it proficiently 4 sheets will be just about enough if on a budget.

Then do you mind going second hand? You can certainly get a lot more for your money.

Ok so there are a few questions for you, answer them and we can show you a few products.

 

[Mr Cousins]

Wow, ive got a feeling this could be very very fun "Build me a system with my money" haha! Thanks for all your help by the way.

Barely any knowledge if i'm honest with you. Thus why im here for a good guide to the best stuff!

Ok so, i want the integral bass definatly im not particularly into heavy dance music and the thumping and so on, more the metal and rock scene. Although i dont mind some dance music but it definatly isnt what im going to be playing in the car alll the time. So yeh, integral!

Second, yes! Second hand would be so much better as i know i could get more for my money. Just point me in the right direction!

Deaden on the budget? You mean be certain yeh? I think £400-£500. No more than £500 for the lot. But second hand would mean saving a little money so that's good!


NEXT!

 

[Mr Cousins]

I just realised you mean sound deaden, i looked at the thread. Could you explain the purpose and how you would do this? and how much it would cost? Thanks alot dude.

 

[Sawyer]

Sound deaddening is a rubber type material with adhesive on the back. You can stick it on the panels of your car. Most commenly the doors and the boot. It stops the vibrations of the panels and stops the speaker vibrating so much in the door. It should mean you get a tighter sound and a bit more volume.

Just take the door card off, heat the sound deaddening up a bit and stick it on with a roller.

Theres various companies all selling a similar product but I use loudboys. Theres a group buy at the top of the forum. It's a really good product and fairly priced compared to other brands.

 

[volxstu]

Basically deadening adds mass to the body work. The more mass surrounding a speakers environment the more likely it is to efficiently produce its resonant frequencies.
Ok so a lot of people use massive subs in the car with an excess of 1000w RMS. Its loud but can you imagine the same speaker/power and how loud it will be inside a house. It would be unbearably loud because a house has lovely solid concrete walls. A car on the other hand has flimsy metal body work which just flexes and resonates making a much less efficient environment for any speaker that plays say 150hz downwards. This also stands for sound quality as well.

HTH

Sawyer the deadening you have is Bitumen bassed.

 

[Mr Cousins]

Ok, so how expensive is the sound deadening? Is it worth it? I might sell this car in 2 or 3 years, so is it worth the effort? And i dont plan on playing my music THAT loud. Obviously it will be pretty loud if i get the whole system going but im not going to be full on destroying pedestrians ears lol.

Thanks guys.

 

[Davren]

Just take the door card off, heat the sound deaddening up a bit and stick it on with a roller.

The OP has a Stilo, so assuming the sound deadening has to be stuck to the inside of the door skin, it's a bit more involved than just taking the door card off. You would also need to remove the internal steel mounting panel.

Dave.

 

[volxstu]

Its a PITA to get the inner skin off but its more time consuming than difficult IMO. I just made sure that i kept all of the right bolts with the right components and kept each side seperate from each other. Also i recomend that you dont remove the door lock pins as they are a real pain to get back on properly.

Oh and i used the window mech replacement guide which was very helpful.

I am hopefully geting a new stilo soon so i will be doing guides as i do things.

 

[Mr Cousins]

Sound like alot of work :/

 

[volxstu]

But totally worth it. :devil: Remember 20% equipment 80% instalation. If its not installed correctly then you are just wasting your hard earned. Just spending a large amount doesnt mean that you will get a good sound.

I always say that just adding sound deadening to the standard set up will yield better quality than replacing and installing the stock speakers.

 

[Mr Cousins]

Hmmmmm i really dont wanna go taking the inner metal sheeting off and everything though, with my luck i WILL mess it up and lose bolts or snap something or apply it wrong for definate. I can promise you this haha.

 

[Mr Cousins]

bump?