Car speakers update

[torroa]

Bluepower has been working on a headunit for some time now, but it is still in development process Volvo C30 S40 V50 C70 Headunit / Prototype

[Missing Lincs]

I've given up on the Bluepower unit, they used to reply with information about a release date, last time I asked (which was after the previously promised date) they didn't even bother to reply. I can only conclude that the unit doesn't work.

[BOBAD]

Well, the install is finished and I'm really pleased with the result - the system sounds amazing!

Standard head-unit going into an AudioControl LC8i processor to connect the iPod directly to a Phoenix Gold equalizer with a 200w Rockford Fosgate amp driving a set of RF Audiophile mids and tweeters.

A 100w Rockford Fosgate amp drives a Diamond Audio 12" sub which is the only item installed in the boot. All the electrics are fitted underneath the front seats and are protected by custom built MDF covers. Stealth is the key!

A power cap is used but only because I owned it anyway and at least it prevents the headlamps from dimming when the amps are being worked!

Huge thanks to K & M Acoustics of Wigan who did a superb job installing a system which majors on sound quality.

My preferred choice of music centres around jazz and classical and if you think that a sub is wasted on classical music you should hear it when the Chartres Cathedral organ kicks in during Saint-Saens symphony and Wagner's Ride Of The Valkyries has you ducking for cover.

While i love the sound that this system produces I really miss not having iPod control through the head unit which is sadly lacking due to the complications of the Volvo electronics.

I guess that the system (including installation costs) is somewhere in the order of around £4000 but this is the third car I've fitted it to and what price quality?

Traffic jams? - Bring 'em on !

[Winblows]

I intend to replace the factory speakers on my V50 2006 with
2x JBL Club 6520.
Would it make any difference just to replace the speakers ?

Amplification - Type passive
Crossover Channel Qty - 2-way
Speaker Driver Diameter - 6.5"
Driver Diameter - 6.5 m
Nominal Output Power - 50 Watt
Max (RMS) Output Power - 150 Watt
Frequency Response - 55 - 20000 Hz
Nominal Impedance - 3 Ohm
Sensitivity - 92 dB
Connectivity Technology - wired
Detachable Grilles - Yes

[lockstock]

Originally Posted by Winblows

I intend to replace the factory speakers on my V50 2006 with
2x JBL Club 6520.
Would it make any difference just to replace the speakers ?

Amplification - Type passive
Crossover Channel Qty - 2-way
Speaker Driver Diameter - 6.5"
Driver Diameter - 6.5 m
Nominal Output Power - 50 Watt
Max (RMS) Output Power - 150 Watt
Frequency Response - 55 - 20000 Hz
Nominal Impedance - 3 Ohm
Sensitivity - 92 dB
Connectivity Technology - wired
Detachable Grilles - Yes

these look like fairly basic low end coax speakers. the front speakers are component, so you will either end up with tweeter on these JBL being redundant (both because the existing LPF will already remove most HF signal, and foot level is a poor place for a tweeter). Or, you will disable the existing tweeter and just have the coax poor placement problem. Also, unless your existing woofers are damaged, I'd expext these speakers to actually sound worse than the basic volvo system. Lastly, the existing speakers are in some form matched to the car and stereo.

The general consensus on here and elsewhere is cheap sound upgrades are pointless and for any real improvement you need to go the whole hog which is complex and very expensive. What exactly are you hoping to achieve?