Minimum budget ICE upgrade for Safari

nitrous · 29th July 2008, 00:10

JBL GT5 A604 4-ch amp costs 5k in gray.
About as VFM as quality amps can get.

tsk1979 · 23rd October 2008, 15:31

Finally in november, ICE for the safari will be upgraded.
the budget is 4.5K all inclusive.
So no new HU, no new speakers.
I am seeing clipping with my 9870 even at mid volume, and experts suggest an AMP will do that trick.
So I am wondering, which 4 ch amp with bill and warranty I can find for this money?
No brand preferred, Anything will do, just want some decent sound, need not be out of the world
4.5K limit to budget is very very strict, should include everything.

So please let me know which all amps are sold for this price?

greenhorn · 23rd October 2008, 15:35

I still doubt if the HU is the problem. I'd blame the speakers and the way they are installed. get some GT5 or sort of speakers, and make sure the gaps around the install location are sealed(they made aa good difference to my indica) . amping the OE speakers, I doubt if they will help a lot.

Technocrat · 23rd October 2008, 15:43

Since you are not bothered about brand & are strict about budget, I would say get any(Sony?) 2 channel amp, this should be in your budget with cables.

Sony 2 channel amp
MRP - 3590

If you want all four speakers to be amped you can use one channel for two speakers you will loose L-R balance control though.

EDIT- the 9870 has just one pre-out so you would need line converter too

tsk1979 · 23rd October 2008, 16:02

Is there some 4ch thingy available for 1K more?
As for speaker vs HU, I suspect sound will improve a lot if I have an amp. the speakers are not being driven to their max yet, its the HU which seems to be the culprit

Technocrat · 23rd October 2008, 16:06

Probably in Gray but not with B&W

Besides do remember with an amp you will need RCA & power cables as well as a fuse too & also the line converters which will add to the cost.

greenhorn · 23rd October 2008, 16:11

you mentioned clipping. My 9870 drives the Dieci 6x9's and comps quite well, the indica body panels start rattling first before i reach the part where the HU clips(actually I've never pumped up the volume that far - 18 is as far as i go usually, and beyond 22 is unbearable). that's why i felt the Speakers needed an upgrade.

I wonder what jkdas has to say about this

tsk1979 · 23rd October 2008, 16:25

So you have the same HU greenhorn!
In that case looks like there is a problem with stock speakers.
Can you try playing "Shadow of the Day" by linkin park and see if your HU can do it?

greenhorn · 23rd October 2008, 17:58

tell me your HU settings, especially the EQ
I run
Bass +4/100 hz
treble -2/10khz
loudness off
balance0
Fader F1

PAVAN KADAM · 23rd October 2008, 18:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Is there some 4ch thingy available for 1K more?
As for speaker vs HU, I suspect sound will improve a lot if I have an amp. the speakers are not being driven to their max yet, its the HU which seems to be the culprit

If you are talking about the stock speakers, you are wrong, the HU is basic and OK.

The speakers cant even handle a transistor under full volume

Dont waste money on the HU, go in for a nice set of Components and speakers with a 4 ch amp.

Technocrat · 23rd October 2008, 18:04

Bass +4 lol thats why your panels vibrate

greenhorn · 23rd October 2008, 18:08

In the indica, the speakers are mounted directly on the plastic door panels, as opposed to other cars where they are mounted on the door itself. Thats the reason for the infernal rattling. even at lower volumes, they add their signature to bassy male vocals

.

And i dont have a sub, something has to compensate

smsrini · 23rd October 2008, 19:38

Safari speakers are mounted on a rubber ring attached to the door panel. This acts as a damping material to isolate the speaker from the metal.

jkdas · 23rd October 2008, 20:46

I doubt if you have a bad wiring. I play it at 19-20 when i want to hear it loud. Bass at 1 or 2.

Buy a 4 channel amp which can power all the speakers with just one preamp in.

What you need is really a sub.

tsk1979 · 23rd October 2008, 20:57

I have midrange issues too, not just the bass.
Right now I can either do
1. HU upgrade - Completely useless from audio quality point of view, though a DVD unit will give me more songs. To get more songs I bought a 99rs sun VISOR 10 CD holder, so I can have 10mp3 cds in easy access
2. Component upgrade - I don't think stock speakers are that bad
3. Amp - This is what I feel will fix things. Moreover I don't afford speaker upgrade, so this is the only way to go.

So an amp for 4.5K 4ch with bill and warranty. Does it exist? If so which brand? Any brand will do as long as I can demo it and see the sound in safari.

29th July 2008, 00:10	#31
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	JBL GT5 A604 4-ch amp costs 5k in gray. About as VFM as quality amps can get.
	() Thanks

23rd October 2008, 15:31	#32
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Finally in november, ICE for the safari will be upgraded. the budget is 4.5K all inclusive. So no new HU, no new speakers. I am seeing clipping with my 9870 even at mid volume, and experts suggest an AMP will do that trick. So I am wondering, which 4 ch amp with bill and warranty I can find for this money? No brand preferred, Anything will do, just want some decent sound, need not be out of the world 4.5K limit to budget is very very strict, should include everything. So please let me know which all amps are sold for this price?
	() Thanks

23rd October 2008, 15:35	#33
greenhorn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,745 Thanked: 4,402 Times View My Garage	I still doubt if the HU is the problem. I'd blame the speakers and the way they are installed. get some GT5 or sort of speakers, and make sure the gaps around the install location are sealed(they made aa good difference to my indica) . amping the OE speakers, I doubt if they will help a lot.
	() Thanks

23rd October 2008, 15:43	#34
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	Since you are not bothered about brand & are strict about budget, I would say get any(Sony?) 2 channel amp, this should be in your budget with cables. Sony 2 channel amp MRP - 3590 If you want all four speakers to be amped you can use one channel for two speakers you will loose L-R balance control though. EDIT- the 9870 has just one pre-out so you would need line converter too Last edited by Technocrat : 23rd October 2008 at 15:46.
	() Thanks

23rd October 2008, 16:02	#35
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Is there some 4ch thingy available for 1K more? As for speaker vs HU, I suspect sound will improve a lot if I have an amp. the speakers are not being driven to their max yet, its the HU which seems to be the culprit
	() Thanks

23rd October 2008, 16:06	#36
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	Probably in Gray but not with B&W Besides do remember with an amp you will need RCA & power cables as well as a fuse too & also the line converters which will add to the cost. Last edited by Technocrat : 23rd October 2008 at 16:08.
	() Thanks

23rd October 2008, 16:11	#37
greenhorn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,745 Thanked: 4,402 Times View My Garage	you mentioned clipping. My 9870 drives the Dieci 6x9's and comps quite well, the indica body panels start rattling first before i reach the part where the HU clips(actually I've never pumped up the volume that far - 18 is as far as i go usually, and beyond 22 is unbearable). that's why i felt the Speakers needed an upgrade. I wonder what jkdas has to say about this
	() Thanks

23rd October 2008, 16:25	#38
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	So you have the same HU greenhorn! In that case looks like there is a problem with stock speakers. Can you try playing "Shadow of the Day" by linkin park and see if your HU can do it?
	() Thanks

23rd October 2008, 17:58	#39
greenhorn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,745 Thanked: 4,402 Times View My Garage	tell me your HU settings, especially the EQ I run Bass +4/100 hz treble -2/10khz loudness off balance0 Fader F1
	() Thanks

23rd October 2008, 18:04	#41
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	Bass +4 lol thats why your panels vibrate
	() Thanks

23rd October 2008, 18:08	#42
greenhorn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,745 Thanked: 4,402 Times View My Garage	In the indica, the speakers are mounted directly on the plastic door panels, as opposed to other cars where they are mounted on the door itself. Thats the reason for the infernal rattling. even at lower volumes, they add their signature to bassy male vocals . And i dont have a sub, something has to compensate Last edited by greenhorn : 23rd October 2008 at 18:10.
	() Thanks

23rd October 2008, 19:38	#43
smsrini Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,115 Thanked: 426 Times View My Garage	Safari speakers are mounted on a rubber ring attached to the door panel. This acts as a damping material to isolate the speaker from the metal.
	() Thanks

23rd October 2008, 20:46	#44
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	I doubt if you have a bad wiring. I play it at 19-20 when i want to hear it loud. Bass at 1 or 2. Buy a 4 channel amp which can power all the speakers with just one preamp in. What you need is really a sub.
	() Thanks

23rd October 2008, 20:57	#45
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	I have midrange issues too, not just the bass. Right now I can either do 1. HU upgrade - Completely useless from audio quality point of view, though a DVD unit will give me more songs. To get more songs I bought a 99rs sun VISOR 10 CD holder, so I can have 10mp3 cds in easy access 2. Component upgrade - I don't think stock speakers are that bad 3. Amp - This is what I feel will fix things. Moreover I don't afford speaker upgrade, so this is the only way to go. So an amp for 4.5K 4ch with bill and warranty. Does it exist? If so which brand? Any brand will do as long as I can demo it and see the sound in safari.
	() Thanks