Upgrading the Linn audio in a DB9
Discussion
A few years back I had Works "upgrade" the PoS Linn 260 I had in a DB9. From memory they charged 5k and took 3 weeks. The results were, in my view, poor. The front speakers were changed to some Alpine speakers, the sub was changed to something I'd never heard of and they plonked an amp after the Linn but before the speakers. No Rockford Fosgate / audison bit 10 or other signal balancer, so the amped signals from the Linn were used directly into the second amp. Not good. Massive "Hiss". I don't think just speakers will achieve a huge amount. At the time you couldn't dump the Linn boat anchor as it is part of, and receives signals from, the head unit as part of the MOST loop, but after market kit my have moved on.
vinnie83 said:
Guys - what impedance rating is the Linn sub in the DB9? I know it's a dual voice coil, but cannot seem to find what impedance it is.
Dual 4ohm is a safe bet. The lower the impedance, the more current (and heat) the amp will supply. Don't forget the subs enclosure is the significant limiting factor here, not the sub.
Unless you Want to crank drum and bass at the traffic lights with your windows down then the sub is the least significant component in your system. Concentrate on your soundstage first.
To evaluate your system or when doing listening tests, get a copy of an IASCA disc ( favour the 1995 one) or a Sheffield labs disc.
divetheworld said:
vinnie83 said:
Guys - what impedance rating is the Linn sub in the DB9? I know it's a dual voice coil, but cannot seem to find what impedance it is.
Dual 4ohm is a safe bet. The lower the impedance, the more current (and heat) the amp will supply. Don't forget the subs enclosure is the significant limiting factor here, not the sub.
Unless you Want to crank drum and bass at the traffic lights with your windows down then the sub is the least significant component in your system. Concentrate on your soundstage first.
To evaluate your system or when doing listening tests, get a copy of an IASCA disc ( favour the 1995 one) or a Sheffield labs disc.
In the FB post I linked, there's a replacement amp so the impedance of the existing amp is not relevant, but I was hoping to try to change all of the speakers first and decide whether to add an amp after if I decide it's still poor.
I know the sub isn't the be all of the system, but it's a very significant shortfall in this system - and I do listen to bass heavy music so require as full a sound as the existing set up allows.
Okay so I upgraded the Sub to this : Rockford Fosgate P2D2-8 - 8" Punch
Very good and actually have some bass now!
I purchased 100 AC speakers for the front, they were very poor. However on looking at the area it is actually really easy to upgrade to 5 inch speakers as the panel where the speaker bits just comes off with 4 bolts! So you can make new holes with some bolts and away you go with bigger front speakers!
So now I'm going to hunt down some decent 5" speakers.
Very good and actually have some bass now!
I purchased 100 AC speakers for the front, they were very poor. However on looking at the area it is actually really easy to upgrade to 5 inch speakers as the panel where the speaker bits just comes off with 4 bolts! So you can make new holes with some bolts and away you go with bigger front speakers!
So now I'm going to hunt down some decent 5" speakers.
Sump said:
Okay so I upgraded the Sub to this : Rockford Fosgate P2D2-8 - 8" Punch
Very good and actually have some bass now!
Which Linn system do you have in your car?Very good and actually have some bass now!
I fitted this a couple of weeks ago:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GTWAI2/ref=oh...
Rockford Fosgate P2D2-8 Punch P2 DVC 2 Ohm 8-Inch
To be honest - it is better than the old sub, which had blown, but it's still pretty crappy! It's not very loud - to a point that cruising speed on the motorway, the volume has to be at full and I still don't feel it's enough.
As for fitting, it was pretty simple - needed a friend to push some metal in the car aside momentarily to allow the sub to squeeze into where it's mounted, but apart from that it was a doddle to fit.
The sub you got seems a lot deeper - was there any trouble fitting it in - did you have to fabricate any spacers etc?
Be interested to see how you go with the 5" as a couple of car audio shops told me it's a right PITA.
I have 260w or 280w whatever it is called.
I gave up on the 5" idea. No chance doing it smoothly. I tried some 100AC focals which were bloody s
te.
My bass is pretty punchy, it went straight in and just bolted it in using the OEM bolts. Doesn't rattle or anything so I assume it's a good fit.
I need to find some decent Coaxials for the front but I'm hesitant at the moment as those Focals were so bad I've been slightly put off now.
I gave up on the 5" idea. No chance doing it smoothly. I tried some 100AC focals which were bloody s
te.My bass is pretty punchy, it went straight in and just bolted it in using the OEM bolts. Doesn't rattle or anything so I assume it's a good fit.
I need to find some decent Coaxials for the front but I'm hesitant at the moment as those Focals were so bad I've been slightly put off now.
One for 8tech. I am looking into changong my sub in DB9. Ihave Spoken to specialists who adviise 8inch 2 ohm dual. These speakers are few and far between I like the idea of the Soundstream Tatantula R3.8 dual voice coil.
However I cant find one.
Can you let me know where you got it?
thanks
However I cant find one.
Can you let me know where you got it?
thanks
Sump said:
Vinne / 8tech have you done anything to your sound system yet?
I installed the updated Rockford sub, but to be honest, I was disappointed. The old sub was blown, so it made an improvement but I can't imagine a great one.All other spending on the car has gone on hold having got married and a new house this summer
Yes, I installed some separates in the front doors. OMG, what a job! The originals are an oval shaped mid and tweeter in a single chassis and I ended up using the outer mount by cutting away the speaker sections to mount the new drivers into the original speaker chassis. I used some high end components but think they are beyond the capabilities of the original Linn head unit.
The benefit is minimal considering the efforts I went to so would not recommend it. I believe there are other more significant limitations to the sound quality, primarily the head unit but also the aluminium doors and the speaker positioning and cavity. I have no doubt that the system can be improved but not without major modification.
To be honest, I would just be happy with an FM radio with decent reception now that the bass has been vastly improved with the replacement Soundstream sub.
The benefit is minimal considering the efforts I went to so would not recommend it. I believe there are other more significant limitations to the sound quality, primarily the head unit but also the aluminium doors and the speaker positioning and cavity. I have no doubt that the system can be improved but not without major modification.
To be honest, I would just be happy with an FM radio with decent reception now that the bass has been vastly improved with the replacement Soundstream sub.
8Tech said:
now that the bass has been vastly improved with the replacement Soundstream sub.
8Tech, would it be possible to meet up and have a listen to your system? The RF sub I changed to was very far from a vast improvement so maybe I'll consider the same sub as you.I'm near Chigwell but happy to head somewhere closer to you of course.
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