foxycce
Member
Looking to upgrade the speakers, I would also like a subwoofer, I have been advised these Pioneer TS-G1712i will do the job nicely front rear just need to figure out what sub to buy n how to wire to the standard system
General Sound system upgrade
- Thread starter foxycce
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General Sound system upgrade
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Why would you start chopping into a brand new cars wiring, if your after a better sound system take it back to fiat and get the interscope stereo upgrade.
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I doubt the interscope would be cost effective to fit aftermarket. Quite a bit of labour getting the amp and sub in for a start.
It should be possible to fit the Interscope sub yourself though - you'd need the sub and the brackets that screw to the floor pan and a plug made up from somewhere - but I bet it is a mad price (although it is at least active).
Otherwise an upgrade might consist of something like decent 165mm drivers for the doors, coating the door with dynamat first, and then line the door card with some felt and an accoustic blocker if you like (see the guides section). Don't bother changing the rear speakers which are mounted on a flimsy bit of ABS.
Underseat subs have the great advantage of keeping the sound stage up-front. Huge bass bins in the boot always provide uneven response.
The tweeters may or not benefit from being changed as with high frequency much of the harmonic distortion is out of the range of human hearing anyway, so it can depend to a large extent on whether they have required power handling and smoothness of response (and extension). Power handling could probably be improved quite a bit with a more sophisticated crossover (most likely they have a simple 6dB/octave inline cap).
There are a few pictures of the interscope amp and sub and the front door speakers and door cards in the 500 guides section (here).
HTH
It should be possible to fit the Interscope sub yourself though - you'd need the sub and the brackets that screw to the floor pan and a plug made up from somewhere - but I bet it is a mad price (although it is at least active).
Otherwise an upgrade might consist of something like decent 165mm drivers for the doors, coating the door with dynamat first, and then line the door card with some felt and an accoustic blocker if you like (see the guides section). Don't bother changing the rear speakers which are mounted on a flimsy bit of ABS.
Underseat subs have the great advantage of keeping the sound stage up-front. Huge bass bins in the boot always provide uneven response.
The tweeters may or not benefit from being changed as with high frequency much of the harmonic distortion is out of the range of human hearing anyway, so it can depend to a large extent on whether they have required power handling and smoothness of response (and extension). Power handling could probably be improved quite a bit with a more sophisticated crossover (most likely they have a simple 6dB/octave inline cap).
There are a few pictures of the interscope amp and sub and the front door speakers and door cards in the 500 guides section (here).
HTH
The interscope system is nice but its nothing compared to most aftermarket systems.
For a sub you will need to find an enclosure that will fit in the boot, or make one out of 15mm thick MDF. Ive done this before and its cheap and if you know hoe to use a jigsaw its easy. You'll need an amp if the sub is not an active unit the tricky part is getting a wire from the amp directly to the battery. You will then need a low level output and remote lead from the stereo which you may not have so you may need to fit an aftermarket stereo too.
In order of upgrading it should be:
1. Source (head unit)
2. amps
3. speakers.
Dont get too carried away with upgrading speakers before the head unit and sub. A good head unit and basic speakers will still sound very good. A basic head unit and the best speakers will still sound poor.
I use to have a kenwood stereo £250 ish
Alpine 600W amp £300
Phoenix gold 12" sub £120
Wires £40
Avoid unknown brands as they sound terrible.
Go for a 12" sub if possible.
For the amp, a mono or 2 channel is fine. Dont get a 4 channel for a sub.
If your interested in buying any second hand stuff i still have the above sub and amp.
For a sub you will need to find an enclosure that will fit in the boot, or make one out of 15mm thick MDF. Ive done this before and its cheap and if you know hoe to use a jigsaw its easy. You'll need an amp if the sub is not an active unit the tricky part is getting a wire from the amp directly to the battery. You will then need a low level output and remote lead from the stereo which you may not have so you may need to fit an aftermarket stereo too.
In order of upgrading it should be:
1. Source (head unit)
2. amps
3. speakers.
Dont get too carried away with upgrading speakers before the head unit and sub. A good head unit and basic speakers will still sound very good. A basic head unit and the best speakers will still sound poor.
I use to have a kenwood stereo £250 ish
Alpine 600W amp £300
Phoenix gold 12" sub £120
Wires £40
Avoid unknown brands as they sound terrible.
Go for a 12" sub if possible.
For the amp, a mono or 2 channel is fine. Dont get a 4 channel for a sub.
If your interested in buying any second hand stuff i still have the above sub and amp.
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Maybe Chris@Souls might be able to confirm if the Interscope and Bose options use the standard or upgraded head units?
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The wiring for the sub may even be run throw the car
Reason i say this is because normally if an option casn be retro fitted by a dealer after leaving the factory they will just run wiring at the factory because it easy and also more cost effective to have one loom.
All you would need to do if it is there is get sub, plug in and work out were the wiring goes into the back of the head unit
Reason i say this is because normally if an option casn be retro fitted by a dealer after leaving the factory they will just run wiring at the factory because it easy and also more cost effective to have one loom.
All you would need to do if it is there is get sub, plug in and work out were the wiring goes into the back of the head unit
It has been confirmed time and time again that the wiring for Interscope is not present unless interscope was specced when the car was purchased.
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Some guy on autotrader has upgraded his funk white esseesse with an aftermarket stereo and a big woofer or something in the boot. I would think that he's better off to keep his attention on the road ahead that to get distracted with too much music. Opportunity for someone to get a good price
. For true stereo sound woofer's take away from the way it's supposed to sound. Spend the money on a setup in your own home (if you have one) and enjoy the sound of the engine.
. For true stereo sound woofer's take away from the way it's supposed to sound. Spend the money on a setup in your own home (if you have one) and enjoy the sound of the engine.