Premium Audio - Settings & Upgrades

[magycks]

Hi All,

I have the "Aston Martin 700w Premium Audio" in my DB9. I was wondering:

1) Does anyone have optimum settings they recommend in terms of the bass/treble/subwoofer etc? Having forgotten about this feature for a while i'm going to have a play around
2) Has anyone upgraded the woofers and/or amp in their DB9 / other VH platform car with the Premium Audio as a starting point?

I always listen to music when driving, be the roof up or down. My view of the current audio quality is it's 'ok' at best, but then again I have quite a serious HiFi system at home. In the car I use my iPhone connected to a Bovee1000 (a bluetooth dongle which connects to 30-pin iPod cable in centre console). Bovee is A2DP so some losses here; I've never used the radio or tried a CD/

[AdamV12V]

Have a try of the audio settings in the faq above, whoch many people find good. Failung that there are some others who have posted alternatives over the years if you google them.

I honestly don’t think you’ll meed to tinker with the speakers or amps once you get it setup right. The stock settings are pretty poor and a huge improvement can be had just through the setup.

Im not a fan of bluetooth streaming, so id recommemd using a usb memory stick myself, with 320kbs mp3 files. Even more so if you have ears used to listening to a serious hifi at home…. Happy to advise on directory layouts etc if you need more info.

Edited by AdamV12V on Monday 10th April 01:57

[mogg]

The premium audio is very good with serious bass response. My Aston is the only car I've owned where I don't have the bass set on maximum lol !

In general, optimum sound settings are most likely different for everyone.

[BiggaJ]

Like the OP, I have a fairly serious home hifi however, I am a little surprised at the question.

There is no way a car hifi can emulate that of a good (let alone) serious hifi. The noises coming from just driving a car create too many issues for it to stand a chance.

Additionally, most serious home hifi is natural sounding, that is to say the amps don't have dials to tune bass or treble and thereby rely on the levels set on the recording of the source you are listening too, be it vinyl, CD, network streaming etc.

Lastly, as eluded to in the above comment, sound is very subjective, very personal ... What you may like in a given sound profile isn't what others may like.

Hence, just try experimenting with your settings on a chosen few of your favourite tracks.

[magycks]

AdamV12V said:

Have a try of the audio settings in the faq above, whoch many people find good.

Was there a link? perhaps you forgot to add it to your post

AdamV12V said:

Im not a fan of bluetooth streaming, so id recommend using a usb memory stick myself, with 320kbs mp3 files. Even more so if you have ears used to listening to a serious hifi at home…. Happy to advise on directory layouts etc if you need more info.

I'm not keen on bluetooth streaming either, but I need the practicality in the car. I think i'd find sifting through a memory stick a little annoying, though your offer to advise on how to best set this up is very kind - thank you. While driving I've been using a mix of Spotify (which at 256 ACC isn't the best) and Apple Lossless tracks stored on my iPhone.

BiggaJ said:

There is no way a car hifi can emulate that of a good (let alone) serious hifi. The noises coming from just driving a car create too many issues for it to stand a chance.

Absolutely true - and no debate here - especially given mine is a soft top. I suppose i've just been in other cars where the audio quite a bit better.

[AdamV12V]

magycks said:

Was there a link? perhaps you forgot to add it to your post

Top of the AM forum page - stick post, Frequently Asked Questions

Given you mention the 90pin apple cable Im guessing you have an earlier car, so that will be the AMi I section you should be looking at. The settings in the FAQ all originated from a long lost post I put on AMOC when I got my first V8V and really spent some time looking into the setup and understanding how the settings work. Surround and fader are the quirky ones - but have a go and come back and ask more if you are interested

magycks said:

I'm not keen on bluetooth streaming either, but I need the practicality in the car. I think i'd find sifting through a memory stick a little annoying, though your offer to advise on how to best set this up is very kind - thank you. While driving I've been using a mix of Spotify (which at 256 ACC isn't the best) and Apple Lossless tracks stored on my iPhone.

Honestly its super slick if you organise the files in Artist order then Album, really no difference to flicking through a music app on your phone, and not illegal to do so either!

Very happy to advise on more specifics if requested. AMi system wont play AAC files however, nor lossless FLAC or ALAC

[magycks]

AdamV12V said:

Top of the AM forum page - stick post, Frequently Asked Questions

Ah, thanks - i'll check it out

AdamV12V said:

Given you mention the 90pin apple cable Im guessing you have an earlier car, so that will be the AMi I section you should be looking at.

Mine is a MY14 DB9 (non-GT), so it's AMI I. It has an iPod connection inside the armrest centre console (same interface as Land Rovers from the time). This proprietary cable (at the car end) goes to a 30-pin male iPod connector which is plugged into my Bovee1000 so I can use Bluetooth.

AdamV12V said:

Honestly its super slick if you organise the files in Artist order then Album, really no difference to flicking through a music app on your phone, and not illegal to do so either!

Very happy to advise on more specifics if requested. AMi system wont play AAC files however, nor lossless FLAC or ALAC

Thanks - i'm sure it's slick but I listen to so many different things I can't see it not being a hassle for day to day use. Do you know what files AMI II can play? I might try it out

Edited by magycks on Wednesday 6th November 01:37

[AdamV12V]

magycks said:

Mine is a MY14 DB9, so it's AMI II. It has an iPod connection inside the armrest centre console (same interface as Land Rovers from the time). This proprietary cable (at the car end) goes to a 30-pin male iPod connector which is plugged into my Bovee1000 so I can use Bluetooth.

Ahh well if you have AMi II then you may want to consider the AMi III OEM dealer upgrade. AMi III gives carplay, android auto, bluetooth streaming and a top quality opensource Nav. Well worth the upgrade.

magycks said:

Do you know what files AMI II can play? I might try it out

Well I can't see why it would be any different to AMi III to be honest. Everything detailed in my AMi III Setup Tips Thread including how to get all the mp3 metatags working for track listings and artwork.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Edited by AdamV12V on Tuesday 11th April 08:41

[magycks]

So has anyone upgraded speaker drivers or amp in a DB9?

[AdamV12V]

magycks said:

So has anyone upgraded speaker drivers or amp in a DB9?

In all my years of posting here I have never heard on anyone sufficiently unhappy with Premium Audio setup to attempt it really. Sure the std audio is pretty grim, but Premium is an Alpine based system, which if you know your in car entertainment (ICE) you'll know is a pretty well respected brand.

Not sure what you're benchmark is but in the 30 cars or so that I have owned I think its hands down the best system Ive ever had in a car. Sure it doesn't compare to my home HiFi setup, but then the cost of that is likely more than many people are paying for a used AM these days anyway! What are you comparing to, and specifically what aspect of the Premium audio sound is it that you are trying to better?

Also, have you tried the settings in the FAQ?

[Calinours]

I’ve not heard of anyone upgrading the Premium system either. I really struggle to understand why anyone might want to, there is so much noise in the cabin from wind, tyres and engine (even when in quiet mode), and the cabin is so small that no hifi could ever sound truly decent. The signal to noise ratio and acoustic challenges with the type of car are so great that many owners, in all the myriad posts on this common subject over many years, often struggle to even make significant distinction between the Premium and the much more expensive B&O system.

Automotive audio systems work best in huge, super acoustically insulated luxury cars with large internal volumes and luxury SUV, a reason why some of the best systems are in those cars.

The Alpine system is more than good enough, and without totally redesigning the car, fitting skinny tyres and a ton of lead acoustic body panels, then junking the engine and fitting an electric motor, you are not going to be able to significantly reduce s/n and improve reproduction at normal volume levels.

You could go the halfords route and fit a massive amp and sub, and just crank up the volume, not sure what that would do for acoustics in such a tight space. You’d have to drive everywhere with max volume and windows open…. you’d sure wouldn’t win any popularity contest, and every person that saw you would be one less individual famously letting Aston Martins out of junctions

[magycks]

I'll try out the settings in the FAQ when I'm next in the car

I am no doubt unconsciously comparing the car audio to what i'm used to at home or from better insulated cars (e.g. Meridian system in RR). Of course these are not fair comparisons. I find the DB9 Premium Audio to be acceptable, though it's of course hindered by myriad factors, not least of which is that I drive a soft-top. We're all agreed here.

Ultimately, as somebody who really enjoys music while driving, I'm only wondering what may have been done by others to get something even better than the Premium Audio

[Calinours]

I too have a full fat Rangie Autobiography with the 1700W Meridian system, it is awesome and of course blows anything in any Aston Martin and indeed any sports car of any type completely out of the water.

There is no way you could get the same sound in your Aston as you do in your large internal volume double glazed Range Rover - and why would you want to, with such an engine to listen to?

Your only possible option, without chopping up your car, is to enquire whether any of the indies may be able to retrofit the (allegedly..) higher-end B&O system. It won’t be cheap, and you may still not be happy with the result, but if you knew you were such an audiophile, how come you didn’t hold out for a DB9 with it as standard? I think it was (a very expensive) option. Most didn’t go for it over the Alpine (premium) as that is actually a great system, well suited to the car and was also great value.

Edited by Calinours on Wednesday 12th April 17:12

[AdamV12V]

Calinours said:

in all the myriad posts on this common subject over many years, often struggle to even make significant distinction between the Premium and the much more expensive B&O system.

there's a very good reason people struggle to make a significant distinction! The fact is that B&O kit has always been about style first and foremost and sonic ability second. If you listen to a £10k B&O home system it will sound about as good as a £2-3k system from another decent make, but it will almost certainly look 10x nicer!

The same applies to the in-car stuff they make. We have B&O in the AMR Rapide and Alpine Premium in the V12VSM - honestly there is very little in it sonically, in fact more often than not I end up deciding Premium sounds a bit better.

Calinours said:

The Alpine system is more than good enough, and without totally redesigning the car, fitting skinny tyres and a ton of lead acoustic body panels, then junking the engine and fitting an electric motor, you are not going to be able to significantly reduce s/n and improve reproduction at normal volume levels.

You could go the halfords route and fit a massive amp and sub, and just crank up the volume, not sure what that would do for acoustics in such a tight space. You’d have to drive everywhere with max volume and windows open…. you’d sure wouldn’t win any popularity contest, and every person that saw you would be one less individual famously letting Aston Martins out of junctions

Totally agree with all that, other than I would be more generous to the Alpine system and say it is a lot better than "good enough", it is actually "very good indeed" - in the context of in car entertainment anyway. Everything you've said totally applies, in that it is mission impossible to get an in car audio experience as good as what can be achieved in the home.

And a final dynamic with any diy home fix on an Aston is that you are going to damage its value come resale. Sure there are some who would welcome "an upgraded xyz", but for every one of those there is at least another one person who you would put off as they would only buy the car in OEM unmolested spec. As time goes by unmolested original condition cars will get more an more desirable / important, until the cars reach classic status at which point it will be make or break on their value. This will likely happen a lot sooner than it used to happen thanks to the end of ICE (engines) and the advent of the EV era. I do realise that ICE (audio) can be easily removed from a car before sale and the OEM system reinstated, but I suspect many people wont be bothered to do that.

NOTE - interesting that ICE is the used acronym for both internal combustion engines and in car entertainment!

[AdamV12V]

magycks said:

I'll try out the settings in the FAQ when I'm next in the car

Honestly if you havn't tried those settings, or indeed tinker to find you own personal settings, then you are listening to the system in a really sub-optimal setup. SO many people over the years have thanked me for the improvement they heard by adopting those settings.

Interestingly - although AM kept the same amps and speakers in Premium with AMi I and the later AMi II and III systems, the later AMi II and III systems lost the ability to control the EQ settings, which I found really did dent the users ability to get the best out of the system. As you have AMi II, then follow the AMi III settings I have posted above in either the FAQ or the Setup Tips thread.

I do accept however that as you have a Volante that will impact on the settings a bit too, so you may have to tinker to adjust for that as all of my AM's have been Coupes.

magycks said:

I am no doubt unconsciously comparing the car audio to what i'm used to at home or from better insulated cars (e.g. Meridian system in RR). Of course these are not fair comparisons. I find the DB9 Premium Audio to be acceptable, though it's of course hindered by myriad factors, not least of which is that I drive a soft-top. We're all agreed here.

Ultimately, as somebody who really enjoys music while driving, I'm only wondering what may have been done by others to get something even better than the Premium Audio

I totally get that, and its a bit of a niggle of mine is that so many people post things like "just listen to the engine" or "I honestly cant tell the difference between 192k and 320k mp3 files, but I guess not everyone cares about audio quality the same way.

Like you I have a very decent home HiFi - around £30k in Cyrus Audio components, and Monitor Audio Platinum floor standing speakers with Chord Company interconnects and speaker cables, so I am used to enjoying great quality clear, powerful music. I have a raft of HD FLAC files that I listen to in the home and never listen to anything compressed indoors, it's CD or FLAC only, so I know exactly what you mean. There is simply no car audio system I've ever heard that will come close to this setup.

That said the Alpine system really is impressive if you take the time to set it up correctly. The stock settings are dire. The fader and surround settings are probably the single most important two settings to adjust to transform the sound. The way the rear speakers work are in fact like "surround sound speakers" on a 5.1 dolby home cinema setup, so they barely output much music at all. The surround setting adjusts the "tone" of the rear speakers only, from dull to bright. Get those two settings right (see FAQ) and it makes a BIG difference on the overall sound in the cabin.

Bass/treble/sub are of course largely down to personal preference, but start with the FAQ settings on all and tinker those to your own ears.

[M1AGM]

magycks said:

I'll try out the settings in the FAQ when I'm next in the car

I am no doubt unconsciously comparing the car audio to what i'm used to at home or from better insulated cars (e.g. Meridian system in RR). Of course these are not fair comparisons. I find the DB9 Premium Audio to be acceptable, though it's of course hindered by myriad factors, not least of which is that I drive a soft-top. We're all agreed here.

Ultimately, as somebody who really enjoys music while driving, I'm only wondering what may have been done by others to get something even better than the Premium Audio

I had a RR with that sound system and have the DB9 premium audio, apples and pears as has been said.

Do the settings in the FAQ as recommended, they are a very good place to start with and made my car audio much more enjoyable. I think you will have AMI 1.

[BiggaJ]

I'm with Calinours and AdamV12V on this. As stated earlier and like Adam, I have an interest in high quality Hifi and have spent more on this than on my Aston over the years.

In fact I have the same floor standers as Adam but different components however, sound is subjective and what I like won't be what others like.

I've said on other posts my base Aston Hifi is plenty good enough in a small cabin with other noises going on around.

If I were the OP I wouldn't be messing with retro fitting other components for the very reasons outlined in other posts.

Everyone has tracks they know well that they use to test hifi, just use those tracks and tinker with the sound on the premium system you have and get to a happy medium.

Edited by BiggaJ on Thursday 13th April 10:47

[TheRainMaker]

As everyone has said, the system should be good enough.

Just have a play, you won't break it.

Out of interest, where do you think the sound is lacking? No punch, No detail etc, what sort of music do you like?

The other thing to check, you should always start by resetting all levels, someone could have had a play before you and left it all messed up (not that there are many settings).

[Wayne95]

I saw this thread pop up and was interested to see the advice as I’m just getting to know my premium system in my vantage.

The FAQ settings were very helpful - hadn’t read the manual so didn’t know I had an equaliser ! It doesn’t appear on the sound button press, just the usual base/treble etc

Much better now - very happy

[ecs0set]

I tried the settings in the faq this weekend but I'm afraid they didn't work for my music tastes in my roadster. The lower centre and high surround killed the Dolby Surround to me and there was too much rear fill.

When I got the car a few months ago, I used the settings suggested by DiveTheWorld (https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=70&t=1260557), didn't read it fully, disagreed with fading forward and hence f'ed it up with overpowering sub bass. I've reapplied the settings in full and it now sounds much better.

I'm also privileged to have the 1700w Range Rover system and while the Aston doesn't have the same level of seemingly limitless authority and wow (damn, I've gone full What Hi-Fi), it's pretty good.