My VXR8 Stereo upgrade
Discussion
Gary H 2008 said:
Yup- Good question. did think about that too.
My first concern was to check all the doors thoroughly before adding anything, for any form of water ingress. All 4 doors were bone dry, but despite this I only used sound proofing and deadening that was made from water-repellant material (Silentcoat product). Finally the original moisture Barrier was also put back - causing a bit of hassle re-installing the door cards, but at least it was solid.
In the larger areas where I used underlay, under the carpet, back seat and boot, there was layer of sound deadening under the underlay too - and my thinking is if the underlay (which is made from recylced rubber rather than foam) gets wet, that'll be the least of my problems
Noise wise I do have a couple of issues which should be easily sortable tomorrow. The Ipod Hub is picking up system noise so have been asked to check the Earth, ensure the control box is nowhere near an electrical source (I suspect it is at the moment, being right behind the HVAC controls) and for good measure I've bought an in-line power filter.
The system itself also has some Alternator whine, but as it's only coming through the front speakers and is audible when the system is off, I'm pretty sure I know what it is: teh front passive cross-overs are huge and contain huge copper coils - effectively aeriels that'll pick up any electrical noise and feed them straight to the speakers. The x-over on the passenger side is mounted right above the fusebox and main power cable...D'oh!
So a strip-down tomorrow to cure these two before the arduous job of setting up can begin:
There is a gain control on the line driver, which feeds the time alignment unit - which has it's own gain settings, then on to two amplifiers with their own gains and then finally the head units own Volume control... then I've only got the cut-offs, Parametric EQ, Time-alignment, Phase....
Has anyone ever told you how awesome you are? And I do mean that genuinely.My first concern was to check all the doors thoroughly before adding anything, for any form of water ingress. All 4 doors were bone dry, but despite this I only used sound proofing and deadening that was made from water-repellant material (Silentcoat product). Finally the original moisture Barrier was also put back - causing a bit of hassle re-installing the door cards, but at least it was solid.
In the larger areas where I used underlay, under the carpet, back seat and boot, there was layer of sound deadening under the underlay too - and my thinking is if the underlay (which is made from recylced rubber rather than foam) gets wet, that'll be the least of my problems
Noise wise I do have a couple of issues which should be easily sortable tomorrow. The Ipod Hub is picking up system noise so have been asked to check the Earth, ensure the control box is nowhere near an electrical source (I suspect it is at the moment, being right behind the HVAC controls) and for good measure I've bought an in-line power filter.
The system itself also has some Alternator whine, but as it's only coming through the front speakers and is audible when the system is off, I'm pretty sure I know what it is: teh front passive cross-overs are huge and contain huge copper coils - effectively aeriels that'll pick up any electrical noise and feed them straight to the speakers. The x-over on the passenger side is mounted right above the fusebox and main power cable...D'oh!
So a strip-down tomorrow to cure these two before the arduous job of setting up can begin:
There is a gain control on the line driver, which feeds the time alignment unit - which has it's own gain settings, then on to two amplifiers with their own gains and then finally the head units own Volume control... then I've only got the cut-offs, Parametric EQ, Time-alignment, Phase....
If I manage to do 10% of what you've done I'll be pleased with myself.
That's very kind of you to say but hardly warranted in the scale of things 
I've had bits of Car Stereo equipment in my Garage for 10 years now, waiting to do an install (I used to be really into Car stereo Hi-Fi in the 90's) but haven't, probably out of sheer laziness. Or the install's have dragged on for months with a car with bits of trim missing, or whine or noise always in the background.
With the imminent arrival of Handa Junior No.1 (3 weeks to go) It suddenly dawned on me that if I don't do it now, I never will
It's needed 3 weeks or so of very solid focus, but I know I'll be chuffed at the end of it.
Cheers
I've had bits of Car Stereo equipment in my Garage for 10 years now, waiting to do an install (I used to be really into Car stereo Hi-Fi in the 90's) but haven't, probably out of sheer laziness. Or the install's have dragged on for months with a car with bits of trim missing, or whine or noise always in the background.
With the imminent arrival of Handa Junior No.1 (3 weeks to go) It suddenly dawned on me that if I don't do it now, I never will
It's needed 3 weeks or so of very solid focus, but I know I'll be chuffed at the end of it.
Cheers
Finally made some progress. The vast majority of my alternator noise was made by two things: Firstly my Old Alpine Amp was goosed - leaking rear channel into the fronts. This was replaced with a Class D Digital JVC 4 x 125RMS Amp. Not the last word in Hi-Fi but good enough. And small, runs cool and cheap. I like cheap
Secondly I moved the front passive x-overs to rear rack too. From the reading I'd done I discovered that these cars are prone to Engine noise on account of the rear battery and main power loom running down the side sill. I read that it was reccomended to put a stiffening (.1 Farad) Cap either over the alternator or on the charging point to 'smooth' the supply.
I did this and hopefully made it look as stock as possible too.
Result: No noise! Absolute silence on Zero bits, and no alternator noise.
Then I cut and trimmed a false wall to hide and protect the components
I also replaced the boot light with a 1m strip of flat LEDs - surprisingly useful!
I wasn't happy with the colour match of the carpet...so I'm re-trimming the whole boot.
So back together again: (As you may have already seen )4 panels have been electrostatically 'flocked', I've re-trimmed the centre trim in graphite Carbon and replaced the footwell lights with red LED strips and the flat LED under the doors
I still have alternator noise on the Ipod input though - so eliminating that is next...If Junior lets me
Secondly I moved the front passive x-overs to rear rack too. From the reading I'd done I discovered that these cars are prone to Engine noise on account of the rear battery and main power loom running down the side sill. I read that it was reccomended to put a stiffening (.1 Farad) Cap either over the alternator or on the charging point to 'smooth' the supply.
I did this and hopefully made it look as stock as possible too.
Result: No noise! Absolute silence on Zero bits, and no alternator noise.
Then I cut and trimmed a false wall to hide and protect the components
I also replaced the boot light with a 1m strip of flat LEDs - surprisingly useful!
I wasn't happy with the colour match of the carpet...so I'm re-trimming the whole boot.
So back together again: (As you may have already seen )4 panels have been electrostatically 'flocked', I've re-trimmed the centre trim in graphite Carbon and replaced the footwell lights with red LED strips and the flat LED under the doors
I still have alternator noise on the Ipod input though - so eliminating that is next...If Junior lets me
Gary H 2008 said:
Then I cut and trimmed a false wall to hide and protect the components
Looks great. Where did you get this material Gary? Could use a bit to protect the amp fitted in mine (single Alpine unit, but it is a bit exposed if you have something weighty (like crates of beer ) in the boot.
Very easy to do Paul. You can either replace the small bulbs like for like with an LED equivalent (501 wedge) although you won't get the spread of light, so simply glue a pair of these under the dash (use clear silicone and hold in place over night with masking tape) and then connect up to the pos and neg. of the under dash lights.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-X-24-RED-LED-24CM-Linear-Flexible-Strip-Car-Light-12V-/280600457132?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4155172fac#ht_2655wt_1139
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-X-24-RED-LED-24CM-Linear-Flexible-Strip-Car-Light-12V-/280600457132?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4155172fac#ht_2655wt_1139
Gary H 2008 said:
Secondly I moved the front passive x-overs to rear rack too. From the reading I'd done I discovered that these cars are prone to Engine noise on account of the rear battery and main power loom running down the side sill. I read that it was reccomended to put a stiffening (.1 Farad) Cap either over the alternator or on the charging point to 'smooth' the supply.
I did this and hopefully made it look as stock as possible too.
Result: No noise! Absolute silence on Zero bits, and no alternator noise.
I still have alternator noise on the Ipod input though - so eliminating that is next...If Junior lets me
Hi Gary - as others have said - a great write up.
Did you manage to sort out the alternator noise you were getting via the iPod? What noise did the capacitor solve?
I have my iPhone connected to the cigarette charger point in the armrest with audio connected via the dock connector to the Aux input and am getting terrible whine - ignition or alternator I guess.
Where did you get the capacitor, and is it easy to fit? Does it just go across the alternator terminals or something?
gsxr1000steve said:
Hi Gary - as others have said - a great write up.
Did you manage to sort out the alternator noise you were getting via the iPod? What noise did the capacitor solve?
I have my iPhone connected to the cigarette charger point in the armrest with audio connected via the dock connector to the Aux input and am getting terrible whine - ignition or alternator I guess.
Where did you get the capacitor, and is it easy to fit? Does it just go across the alternator terminals or something?
Had this also from the charger point - introduced a "halfords" noise suppressor {cringe}, which removed a large part of it, then a replacement earth direct to the chassis under the cigarette charger point - 99% is gone, can only hear something if volume is over 50%, and nothing is playing. Otherwise all gone....Did you manage to sort out the alternator noise you were getting via the iPod? What noise did the capacitor solve?
I have my iPhone connected to the cigarette charger point in the armrest with audio connected via the dock connector to the Aux input and am getting terrible whine - ignition or alternator I guess.
Where did you get the capacitor, and is it easy to fit? Does it just go across the alternator terminals or something?
Thanks all
These cars are notoriously noisy electrically as well as obviously
as I've now found out. The majority of the issues that are caused by Alternator whine can be attributed to Ground Loops - where you have multiple Earthing points across the car. As the 12V socket was never designed to be connected to an Audio device chances are it's grounded somewhere under the console, the Stereo being Earthed somewhere else...Problem number 1. And it's probably 99% of your problem.
Do you get the Whine if the Ipod isn't charging?
The Capacitor came form RS Components, it's a .1 Farad. You should in theory put it across the Alternator but becuisae I wasn't inclined to take my Engine apart, the charging points were used. It will make a difference if you've got your Earths sorted out.
My final review of the JHP Quasi Media Hub is that as a solution for Ipod/iphone Audio and Video in your VXR8 with full steering wheel controls it's brilliant.
HOWEVER if you upgrade the Audio Amplification, have dozens of playlists and appreciate absolute HiFi (which is why you'd amplify the system) unless you prepared to spend hours tracing lines to single out components, then this sn't for you.
JHP in Australia have very kindly agreed to take the kit back for a full refund which is really decent of them. I can't fault their service.
What I'm replacing it with will blow you away
... Edited by Gary H 2008 on Monday 30th April 17:55
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