DB9 RADIO UPGRADE

[hartley]

Can you ?

[michael gould]

Very expensive.......cheaper to buy a new car............almost

[hartley]

Just had a look around the dealers today at all the newer but very similar Aston's that are now priced between £140k- £180k which means to buy new I would have to lob in £100k plus for a v12 Volante on top of my 2006 Volante even though it has only done 25k. I could buy second hand but it is still huge money to get anything markedly superior to what I have. So I am thinking about splashing some cash on BR suspension upgrades and the radio is the other thing I would like to improve.So although a radio upgrade might seem a silly cost - if we start from the position that I am saving myself having a £100k upgrade I might be able to get my head around it.How much and who does it ?

[Jon39]

The Aston Martin Premium radio, is a 700 watt Alpine audio system.

The Premium is excellent, but even so, never compares with the clarity of listening at home, because of all the other noises associated with cars.

Can anyone really hear the difference, at 70 mph, between a Premium system and a B&O system?

[divetheworld]

There are other options when looking at good sound.
A real pro audio outfit will be able to give you more options but you could start with an Audison 'Bit one' with new amps and speakers.
Speakers are easy to change. High end Focal's, Rainbow or CDT Eurosports are a good.
Match them to McIntosh or similar amps and it will kick the arse out of anything the factory could dream of.
Make sure your audio outfit have an RTA (real time analyser) and know how to use it. Essential when setting up a 'Bit one'.

Edited by divetheworld on Tuesday 12th February 07:38

[897sma]

We discussed a place in Sheffield that had done an aftermarket DB9 audio upgrade in a previous thread, I meant to call them a few months ago when we discussing it but I forgot. I'll call them later and feed back.

Edit: this is them http://www.sourcesounds.com/gallery/aston-martin-d...

Group buy perhaps?

Edited by 897sma on Tuesday 12th February 08:00

[yeti]

Are we talking just the radio here? I believe James at Paralight does a DAB upgrade for the system now - I think Nick had it test-fitted?

I'll reply to your suspension email later Hartley, suffice to say its amazing with the handling kit, always needed with a Volante

[AMDBSNick]

yeti said:

I think Nick had it test-fitted?

But being a DeeBee owner I only listen to Radio 4 & 5

[theno23]

AMDBSNick said:

But being a DeeBee owner I only listen to Radio 4 & 5

3 & 4, surely!

How is it to live with, what are the compromises, and does it work on the continent?

Cheers,
Steve

[Grant3]

Hartley, if you are getting itchy feet wanting to spend serious money on audio upgrades and major modifications, then why not consider an 09MY car, it may look similar, but compared to an 06 model there are a vast amount of changes over those three years..... Including the Premium audio, new seats, new console and controls, hard drive sat-nav, IPod USB, better rigidity, more power, new suspension set-up, upgraded seat heating and Bluetooth, front parking sensors, 3x seat memory, more headroom, higher top speed, extra thinsulate on roof so more refined, new quieter faster roof motor, new Touchtronic auto control unit for faster changes, better economy... Etc etc, etc. You can also seek out a different colour combo for a change.

I appreciate the cost is a lot higher than just upgrading the audio, but if you are getting itchy feet you will get a lot of improvements for your dosh by leaping to an 09 and as a 5 year old car a good chunk of depreciation will have been paid by the first owner

[AMDBSNick]

theno23 said:

AMDBSNick said:

But being a DeeBee owner I only listen to Radio 4 & 5

3 & 4, surely!

How is it to live with, what are the compromises, and does it work on the continent?

Cheers,
Steve

Morning Steve,

Very easy to live with and works a treat. There are no compromises at all. Just flick back to non DAB if you enter a poor reception area.

As for the continent I have no idea. As you are aware I spend most of my life in the pub so have no real reason to go there. Especially as "the continent" does not sell bitter


Nick

[michael gould]

hartley said:

Just had a look around the dealers today at all the newer but very similar Aston's that are now priced between £140k- £180k which means to buy new I would have to lob in £100k plus for a v12 Volante on top of my 2006 Volante even though it has only done 25k. I could buy second hand but it is still huge money to get anything markedly superior to what I have. So I am thinking about splashing some cash on BR suspension upgrades and the radio is the other thing I would like to improve.So although a radio upgrade might seem a silly cost - if we start from the position that I am saving myself having a £100k upgrade I might be able to get my head around it.How much and who does it ?

I didn't mean buy a brand new car!.....I meant buy a new car to you......there has been various threads regarding this subject, and from memory, a decent upgrade would cost thousands.......so just making the point it almost as cheap to swap like for like but with the better ICE

[897sma]

Had a reply from the people I mentioned earlier, prices range from £1k for just sub woofer and amp to £1700 for full amp and all speakers replaced.

[hartley]

Grant3 said:

Hartley, if you are getting itchy feet wanting to spend serious money on audio upgrades and major modifications, then why not consider an 09MY car, it may look similar, but compared to an 06 model there are a vast amount of changes over those three years..... Including the Premium audio, new seats, new console and controls, hard drive sat-nav, IPod USB, better rigidity, more power, new suspension set-up, upgraded seat heating and Bluetooth, front parking sensors, 3x seat memory, more headroom, higher top speed, extra thinsulate on roof so more refined, new quieter faster roof motor, new Touchtronic auto control unit for faster changes, better economy... Etc etc, etc. You can also seek out a different colour combo for a change.

I appreciate the cost is a lot higher than just upgrading the audio, but if you are getting itchy feet you will get a lot of improvements for your dosh by leaping to an 09 and as a 5 year old car a good chunk of depreciation will have been paid by the first owner

Grant - thanks for the list of improvements . I really would not pay a lot of money for any of these except better rigidity and suspension and digital audio - and I have a manual so improved auto does not help. I also prefer the look of the interior in the older cars. I am hoping Yeti style BR revisions will solve these issues for a lot less than an upgrade to a 2009 car which would be plus £50k ish I think

[hartley]

michael gould said:

I didn't mean buy a brand new car!.....I meant buy a new car to you......there has been various threads regarding this subject, and from memory, a decent upgrade would cost thousands.......so just making the point it almost as cheap to swap like for like but with the better ICE

Understood but any sensible upgrade of the car would cost 10's of thousands

[Grant3]

hartley said:

Grant - thanks for the list of improvements . I really would not pay a lot of money for any of these except better rigidity and suspension and digital audio - and I have a manual so improved auto does not help. I also prefer the look of the interior in the older cars. I am hoping Yeti style BR revisions will solve these issues for a lot less than an upgrade to a 2009 car which would be plus £50k ish I think

I thought you had an 06 Volante with only 26k miles, no way you would pay 50 k plus yours for an 09 car, 20-30k at a very rough guess. Not cheap I conceed but you get a lot for your money and what would you pay for upgrading stereo, plus major mods to engine, suspension and rigidity? The sum of the improvements are also better than their summarised parts! Having said that if you prefer the 06 interior, don't want all the other improvements and only want to tweak the exhaust/ cats and audio then I can understand your thoughts as manuals are pretty rare....just trying to throw some other angles and ideas into the pot to help

[AWV12]

If you have the Premium (Alpine) system, please do NOT upgrade to the B&O. There is many other threads about this, but the B&O sounds crisp and clear, but lacks depth, dynamic width, etc, because of its strict DSPs. Listen to your favorite music on the alternative systems at your dealer and make the right choice.

(the Premium/Alpine in my previous V8V sounded superb, difficult to match for an aftermarket system, and certainly not by the B&O in my current DBS.

[hartley]

Grant3 said:

I thought you had an 06 Volante with only 26k miles, no way you would pay 50 k plus yours for an 09 car, 20-30k at a very rough guess. Not cheap I conceed but you get a lot for your money and what would you pay for upgrading stereo, plus major mods to engine, suspension and rigidity? The sum of the improvements are also better than their summarised parts! Having said that if you prefer the 06 interior, don't want all the other improvements and only want to tweak the exhaust/ cats and audio then I can understand your thoughts as manuals are pretty rare....just trying to throw some other angles and ideas into the pot to help

Appreciate the help Grant - I am thinking upgrade costs of circa £7k vs your 25k- 30k and I still have a 4 year old car having invested another 25k so I have a bigger depreciation issue. There is also an element of 'better the devil you know ' with my car - I know it has been largely trouble free - and I have grown rather fond of it.

[JimUdella]

I am trying to buy a 2006 DB9 Volante for my wife
She is worried about the radio screen that has crystallized

I understand there is someone out there replacing these screens without having to buy a whole new radio for $1,600 USD plus installation!!

Can anyone help me? She will not buy the car until i solve this problem.
TIA

[AdamV12V]

JimUdella said:

I am trying to buy a 2006 DB9 Volante for my wife
She is worried about the radio screen that has crystallized

I understand there is someone out there replacing these screens without having to buy a whole new radio for $1,600 USD plus installation!!

Can anyone help me? She will not buy the car until i solve this problem.
TIA

https://www.astonmartinbits.com/models/4-DB9-2-4-2...