Car Audio - Where Do You Go? How Was Your Exp?

[ozymandious]

Hello,

My Misses wants to get me a Xmass present but needs my help picking it out.

For some time now I've wanted to get a sub-woffer for my truck (Toyota Vigo 4 door) and a different head unit, one with a line input for my iPod. Currently I use a tape adapter that's better than an FM transmitter but not as good as line in.

I've wandered through the various car shows and displays (lotus, big C, central) and seen what they had to offer and it always seems over priced for what it is (maybe i'm not taking into account installation costs)

I'm setting out a budget of 15K for my system. It doesn't need to be Bling-bling it just has to sound nice.

Can I get a decent Sub and head unit with line in for this price?

Where should I go? Who do you recommend?

What has been your experience with car audio shops on the island, both good and bad?

-Ozy

[thaigerd]

I was looking for the same kind of system.

Chai Autosound on bypass road had an offer for around 19k Baht.

Gerd

[LivinLOS]

On the main road (bypass rd airport direction) out of Phuket town as you go along on the left is a good one, think its chai autosound.. Its about 200m or so before the yantikrit dealership / hospital junction..

15k should do it.. You get a pretty OK sony with line in and even a USB port (better than line in IMO just buy a 8GB thumbdrive and use that) for 4 - 5k.. Personally I wouldnt put a sub in a pickup, higher quality mains would be my choice but thats personal preffs I guess.

[pete600]

For some time now I've wanted to get a sub-woffer for my truck (Toyota Vigo 4 door)

If you feel the need for bass and are stuck for space and don't want the expense of a full install.

You can get a small Sub That fits under the front seat.

But beware the misses might not want to get out of the Truck

Try to get a quality head unit (Kenwood, Alpine, Sony,) with pre out's so you can connect amps later if you wish.

You wll need a small mono amp anyway if you want to run a sub.

And if you can get a set of 6"x9" Speakers you should have a good base system.

[ozymandious]

ThaiGerd: I'll stop by Chai and see what they have to offer.

LivingLOS: I believe the shop you're thinking of is MAN-auto sound

(Fun quick story experience with them, for my wife's birthday, one year I took her car in to get a CD/mp3CD head unit.

Install went fine and also had 2 small tweeters put in up front. I was paying my bill inside when the technician backed the car out and didn't see a support poll for their covering and crumpled the back rear body panel!!!

I told my wife good news, bad news. The good news is I got you a CD player for your car the bad news is you can have it in 2-5 days.

The technician was very apologetic and the manger of the shop said he would fix the car. got the car back in 3 or 4 days and looked good as new.)

RE: USB Port and an 8Gig stick, I have a nice iPod i don't want to go backward it's like trying to go back to dial-up

Pete600: you sound like you know what you're talking about. can you suggest a place to go?

At Carryboy in phuket town they told me they had a small, under front passanger seat Sub that they could put in for 8K and it could be hooked up to the factory head unit. Worth it or not? should I go to a real audio shop?

Again I want subtle and not perspex, chrome and neon lights.

just some decent sound.

Novice question: In pick up, where would the sub go? I can only think of under the passenger seat or under the back bench in one of the 2 small compartments under it.

[LivinLOS]

RE: USB Port and an 8Gig stick, I have a nice iPod i don't want to go backward it's like trying to go back to dial-up

The problem is you then have an IPOD and a cable, you need to mount the ipod so it clutters the dash / center console and you have 2 volume controls (presuming you use a headphone cable to the line in) anbd you have to manage both the players instead of one control system.. Then add in battery charging and conditioning issues (leaving the IPOD on charge all the time screws the batts) and you have to keep putting the ipod in the glove box and locking it cos its a theft magnet.

I got the line in player and wish I got the line and and USB player as it was only another grand or two. The ability to have it scan and handle all the player manipulation through the one unit / interface would be much easier and a single 8GB thumbdrive would be what ?? about 40 albums at high bitrate, with total ease for loading an unloading favorite tunes to it.

Basically I use the line in method, and overall wish I could use the single player option of a USB method !!

[pete600]

Pete600: you sound like you know what you're talking about. can you suggest a place to go?

At Carryboy in phuket town they told me they had a small, under front passanger seat Sub that they could put in for 8K and it could be hooked up to the factory head unit. Worth it or not? should I go to a real audio shop?

Again I want subtle and not perspex, chrome and neon lights.

just some decent sound.

Novice question: In pick up, where would the sub go? I can only think of under the passenger seat or under the back bench in one of the 2 small compartments under it.

I have not really looked at any of the shops here .but i did see 1 near Big C and it looked like he had some good stock in.

I would not install a sub just running of the head unit not enough power. Most head units are 4 channel (2 spekers front and 2 at the rear) And run at about 25 to 35 watts RMS. To get a good sound out of you sub lets say 8" to 10" you would need a amp min 50 watts rms to 100 watts rms

Regarding where to fit it. The cheapest place is under the seat. The next thing would to get a custom install rip your plastic panels out of the back of the cab and replace the with custom MDF panels (looks and sounds better but a bit over the top)

If you go to a shop and the guy says this head unit is 200+ watts and the amp is 500+ watts he will be talking about the peak music power (pmp) ask him watt the RMS this is a more true meassure of the power.(head unit 25 watts x 4= 100 watts rms this would be a good head unit)

have a look here http://www.caraudioproductreviews.com/car-audio/car-stereo/ loads of info

[ozymandious]

RE: USB Port and an 8Gig stick, I have a nice iPod i don't want to go backward it's like trying to go back to dial-up

The problem is you then have an IPOD and a cable, you need to mount the ipod so it clutters the dash / center console and you have 2 volume controls (presuming you use a headphone cable to the line in) anbd you have to manage both the players instead of one control system.. Then add in battery charging and conditioning issues (leaving the IPOD on charge all the time screws the batts) and you have to keep putting the ipod in the glove box and locking it cos its a theft magnet.

I got the line in player and wish I got the line and and USB player as it was only another grand or two. The ability to have it scan and handle all the player manipulation through the one unit / interface would be much easier and a single 8GB thumbdrive would be what ?? about 40 albums at high bitrate, with total ease for loading an unloading favorite tunes to it.

Basically I use the line in method, and overall wish I could use the single player option of a USB method !!

I have some of the above problms that you mentioned halfway solved.

I have this Dock from Ten Technology

So it already cradles, displays nicely and charges the ipod (power is cut to the ipod and it pauses the track in play when i turn off the vehical. The little hole at the bottom is a line out mini jack. So in my current setup that's where I plug in the tape adapter I control the sound the whole unit with just the ipod and just use the head in unit for volume control only (since it's line out of the dock and not the headphone jack I don't blast out my eardrums by accidentally messing with the volume)

I do pull the ipod off when I park and take it with me, mainly because the thing will bake in the sun/cab.

[LivinLOS]

RE: USB Port and an 8Gig stick, I have a nice iPod i don't want to go backward it's like trying to go back to dial-up

The problem is you then have an IPOD and a cable, you need to mount the ipod so it clutters the dash / center console and you have 2 volume controls (presuming you use a headphone cable to the line in) anbd you have to manage both the players instead of one control system.. Then add in battery charging and conditioning issues (leaving the IPOD on charge all the time screws the batts) and you have to keep putting the ipod in the glove box and locking it cos its a theft magnet.

I got the line in player and wish I got the line and and USB player as it was only another grand or two. The ability to have it scan and handle all the player manipulation through the one unit / interface would be much easier and a single 8GB thumbdrive would be what ?? about 40 albums at high bitrate, with total ease for loading an unloading favorite tunes to it.

Basically I use the line in method, and overall wish I could use the single player option of a USB method !!

I have some of the above problms that you mentioned halfway solved.

I have this Dock from Ten Technology

So it already cradles, displays nicely and charges the ipod (power is cut to the ipod and it pauses the track in play when i turn off the vehical. The little hole at the bottom is a line out mini jack. So in my current setup that's where I plug in the tape adapter I control the sound the whole unit with just the ipod and just use the head in unit for volume control only (since it's line out of the dock and not the headphone jack I don't blast out my eardrums by accidentally messing with the volume)

I do pull the ipod off when I park and take it with me, mainly because the thing will bake in the sun/cab.

OK yeah thats a nice dock setup.. Your a step ahead of the issues, sorry. Did you get that on the island or mail order ??

I have seen some really nice integrations with alpine etc where you have the a full control interface of the IPOD catelogue on the head units screen, dont even need to leave the IPOD in sight and its more like a multi changer.. Tho these were systems at far higher price points.

[ozymandious]

OK yeah thats a nice dock setup.. Your a step ahead of the issues, sorry. Did you get that on the island or mail order ??

I have seen some really nice integrations with alpine etc where you have the a full control interface of the IPOD catelogue on the head units screen, dont even need to leave the IPOD in sight and its more like a multi changer.. Tho these were systems at far higher price points.

Yea I like it, i wanted a goose neck type so that I could see the display well. Not on the Island, got it over the internet shipped to a US address during one of my trips back there about 3 years ago. was one of the only ones at the time) like it that would support the heft of a ipod (5G) video =)

yea the head units that can actually control the ipod = big money

[pete600]

Hello,

My Misses wants to get me a Xmass present but needs my help picking it out.

For some time now I've wanted to get a sub-woffer for my truck (Toyota Vigo 4 door) and a different head unit, one with a line input for my iPod. Currently I use a tape adapter that's better than an FM transmitter but not as good as line in.

Did you get your Christmas Present ?

Where did you end up going

[junkofdavid2]

Bought my head unit in Autobacs Narathiwat Road yesterday... can be used with CD/MP3/Ipod and even has a USB slot to play mp3s saved on your USB stick. Sony Brand, 5,300 plus installation 200 baht.

They installed while I waited, around 1 hour. Since I didn't want a "perimeter hole" around the stereo (my old one was the original built-in one by Toyota), I also bought this nice console which not only blocks the hole, but also has a pull-out drink holder, etc. for 590 baht.

Everyone, from the guy in the store to the technician who installed it seemed very well trained in customer relations and was very courteous and pleasant; although they don't speak English.

This is the unit I bought:

http://www.autobacs.co.th/product_detail.p...d&type=desc

[junkofdavid2]

OOps! Wrong local forum, sorry... Mod can delete if he wants...

[Ping]

Re the RMS/PMPO distinction, it is highly unlikely the store assistant will understand what you mean. If you can look at the specifications (in the manual, or by checking the manufacturer's site on the 'net), this should give you the answer even if, for some reason, the manual is only in Thai (will have the expression RMS in English). PMPO outputs (or anything that claims ridiculously high output figures) are useless indicators. The other trap is that (in, for example, the case of a unit with four outputs) the output will be 'silently' given as total for the four - eg 100 watts RMS instead of something like 25 watts/channel RMS or 25 watts x 4 RMS. This is more likely the case if you just look on the box rather than in the manual. Where more than one RMS figure is provided and it is higher than the other/s, this will be a subwoofer output rating.

If you get separate components, also try to ensure that the impedances match. The vast majority of car units are 4 ohm (therefore using 4 ohm speakers) but there are exceptions. A minor difference in the output matching (4 into 8 or vice versa on a single or two channels) will often have no noticeable effect other than the actual output level, so that 4 into 8 will have a lower audible output than the specs of the main unit state. This becomes more important as the number of channels being fed rises and/or where the difference in impedances grows. Significant impedance mismatching (or multiple channels being fed) obviously causes the amplifier stage to work too hard and at high volume levels can lead to failure. (Where the specs provide for compatibility with a range of output impedances, they should also state the output into a given impedance, eg 50w RMS @ 4 ohms).

Having said all that, it is highly unlikely that you would be able to buy a unit with a dedicated subwoofer output that would not provide sufficient volume output to keep you quite happy (unless you are one of those types who likes to also entertain everyone in the surrounding blocks). As a fairly accurate rule of thumb with all audio products, the bigger the bucks, the bigger the bang.

[commie]

When I had my system built in BKK couple years ago, I visited around 10 top installation shops. Will not go into much details, but Thai shops are great for making it look great (nice designs, neon etc, etc) but are terrible when it comes to sound quality. After the place was chosen and all components picked up I ended up spending quite a few days there myself, working on the car, ie doing their job. Tweeter positioning was wrong despite my drawings, sub enclosure was too small, wiring was out of phase... and all this crap came from a big name installers for the price os more that 180k! Amazing. Being a professional installer and many IASCA competitons winner myself in not so remote past I was kinda shocked with all mistakes they made. However, the look of the finished system was great.

Novice question: In pick up, where would the sub go? I can only think of under the passenger seat or under the back bench in one of the 2 small compartments under it.

In SUV's I used to mount 2x8" or 10" subs into custom enclosure that replaces original 5th door cover. Saves a lot of space.

[borovik]

RE: USB Port and an 8Gig stick, I have a nice iPod i don't want to go backward it's like trying to go back to dial-up

The problem is you then have an IPOD and a cable, you need to mount the ipod so it clutters the dash / center console and you have 2 volume controls (presuming you use a headphone cable to the line in) anbd you have to manage both the players instead of one control system.. Then add in battery charging and conditioning issues (leaving the IPOD on charge all the time screws the batts) and you have to keep putting the ipod in the glove box and locking it cos its a theft magnet.

I got the line in player and wish I got the line and and USB player as it was only another grand or two. The ability to have it scan and handle all the player manipulation through the one unit / interface would be much easier and a single 8GB thumbdrive would be what ?? about 40 albums at high bitrate, with total ease for loading an unloading favorite tunes to it.

Basically I use the line in method, and overall wish I could use the single player option of a USB method !!

Boys and their toys!?

I will suggest you simple and cheap solution - 300.-baht only.

You can find it in small electronic/computer shops in BigC etc.

It is new gadget,which appeared on the market recently,from China.

Name: "MP3 FM Modulator",as I said 300.-Baht only.You can find the same on Amazon for.....40-50US$!

It has:"line-in",like any FM-modulator,but also:USB socket,and memory card SD socket(4G max)

you have to plug-in into lighter socket of your car and adjust/tune FM channel.

The effect is superb sound through yours car stereo,no need for CD anymore.

It is not a lot of a toy,but rather small,usefull gadget which works.All digital!

Salutos!

[LivinLOS]

Nothing new about FM transmitters.. Just the usual drawbacks still with them there has been for years. Often the transmission is only in mono, FM being lower quality sound than high bitrate MP3, charging the IPOD, control of the IPOD, sound level control is now both IPOD and stereo, etc etc etc.

Not sure how you mean by 'all digital' as the digital bitstream is decoded / re encoded to FM / broadcast / received and played.. Not quite the same as a pure digital decode. Tho cars are hardly good listening environments anyway.

[borovik]

Nothing new about FM transmitters.. Just the usual drawbacks still with them there has been for years. Often the transmission is only in mono, FM being lower quality sound than high bitrate MP3, charging the IPOD, control of the IPOD, sound level control is now both IPOD and stereo, etc etc etc.

Not sure how you mean by 'all digital' as the digital bitstream is decoded / re encoded to FM / broadcast / received and played.. Not quite the same as a pure digital decode. Tho cars are hardly good listening environments anyway.

Yes,of course - you are right.I mean - digital source(USB or SD card,or internal memory),with analog option.Old style carFMmodulators had only "line-in" input,which is -full analog.

Somebody in China has put dedicated chip on the market only recently.

Car is not ideal environment,but we have to sit there for hours - sometime;and very often - it is the only time ,we are not busy and we can listen...

[borovik]

PostScriptum

Somebody might be interested - there are some MP3 players with FMmodulator output.One is made by Toshiba- called:"Gigabeat U-Series",simple,not very expensive(MadeinJapan!)

very good sound,has line-in.

There are few chinese brands available as well.

Saluto!