V8/V12 Vantage Premium sound upgrade
Discussion
Hello All,
I am investigating the option of offering a Premium sound upgrade to V8 and V12 Vantage owners. I would be sourcing factory parts and then installing at the customers site. Would this be of interest to any owners, before I spend too much time developing it?
The only downside, it would need to go to a dealers, to enable changes to the config file to tell the car it is now premium sound.
Kind Regards,
Paralight
I am investigating the option of offering a Premium sound upgrade to V8 and V12 Vantage owners. I would be sourcing factory parts and then installing at the customers site. Would this be of interest to any owners, before I spend too much time developing it?
The only downside, it would need to go to a dealers, to enable changes to the config file to tell the car it is now premium sound.
Kind Regards,
Paralight
As a prospective owner this would be very interesting. I've put it in my mind that this a 'must have' option (not having listened to either stereo, but then again you don't really get a feel in the test drives) and I've discarded quite a few cars that don't have it.
Clearly cost would be a consideration.
Clearly cost would be a consideration.
Well. Parts required, with prices are as follows;
PREMIER SUB AMPLIFIER - 355.38
M6 AMP SPACER - £0.63 (x4)
M6 AMP TIE BAR - £3.76 (x4)
PREMIUM CENTRE SPEAKER - £56.36
PREMIUM AUDIO AMPLIFIER - £342.01
SCREW & WASHER 4.2x16 DRILLED HD TAP PACK OF 10 - £0.86
SCREW M6x1.0x25 HEX FLG - £0.07 (x8)
ALPINE V8 SUB WOOFER ENCLOSURE - PREMIUM - £200.38
ALPINE LINK LEAD HIGH LINE - £73.71
2x PREMIUM SIDE SPEAKER - £55.11 (each)
All prices listed are subject to VAT at the current rate.
They may be a couple more screws etc, but that is the kit required for the upgrade. The config files ar normally around £50.00. Then whatever the dealer charges for doing the upgrade, approx 1/2 labour. Depending on where in the country the car is, I have contacts at most AM dealers and could drive the car to the dealer and get the config done as part of the job.
Installation would be approx. 4 hours at £75.00 per hour
Totals;
Parts - 1157.04+VAT
Labour - £300+VAT
AM bits and pieces - Circa £125.00+VAT
Kind Regards,
Paralight
PREMIER SUB AMPLIFIER - 355.38
M6 AMP SPACER - £0.63 (x4)
M6 AMP TIE BAR - £3.76 (x4)
PREMIUM CENTRE SPEAKER - £56.36
PREMIUM AUDIO AMPLIFIER - £342.01
SCREW & WASHER 4.2x16 DRILLED HD TAP PACK OF 10 - £0.86
SCREW M6x1.0x25 HEX FLG - £0.07 (x8)
ALPINE V8 SUB WOOFER ENCLOSURE - PREMIUM - £200.38
ALPINE LINK LEAD HIGH LINE - £73.71
2x PREMIUM SIDE SPEAKER - £55.11 (each)
All prices listed are subject to VAT at the current rate.
They may be a couple more screws etc, but that is the kit required for the upgrade. The config files ar normally around £50.00. Then whatever the dealer charges for doing the upgrade, approx 1/2 labour. Depending on where in the country the car is, I have contacts at most AM dealers and could drive the car to the dealer and get the config done as part of the job.
Installation would be approx. 4 hours at £75.00 per hour
Totals;
Parts - 1157.04+VAT
Labour - £300+VAT
AM bits and pieces - Circa £125.00+VAT
Kind Regards,
Paralight
so about £1800 to update to premium stereo ....mmmm....is it *that* much better?
How do you tell you have it anyway?
My stereo sounds pretty good to me, plenty loud enough etc, never been tempted to upgrade ...theres definately a subwoofer in there somewhere, but no rear speakers - is this "standard" then?
How do you tell you have it anyway?
My stereo sounds pretty good to me, plenty loud enough etc, never been tempted to upgrade ...theres definately a subwoofer in there somewhere, but no rear speakers - is this "standard" then?
The way to tell if you have Premium Sound is, when you initially turn the radio on, 'Premium Sound' is diplayed on the ICM (radio display). As you see from the component list there is quite a lot of changes to the system.
Is it worth £1800.00? It is a cracking system with Premium. Also, I have a client that was selling his V8. A question that came up a lot of the time was 'Has it got Premium Sound'. His did not.
Another way to do it, would be to use aftermarket bits, to give better quality speakers and a four channel amp, however, you would not get a fade facility or the surround sound and still not have a proper sub, rather than an extra speaker in the sub assembly area like on the base model car. I hope that makes sense!
Kind Regards,
Paralight
For Aston Martin Ipod, Bluetooth, Parking Sensors, Parking Cameras and Remote Fuse 22 Disconnect.
Is it worth £1800.00? It is a cracking system with Premium. Also, I have a client that was selling his V8. A question that came up a lot of the time was 'Has it got Premium Sound'. His did not.
Another way to do it, would be to use aftermarket bits, to give better quality speakers and a four channel amp, however, you would not get a fade facility or the surround sound and still not have a proper sub, rather than an extra speaker in the sub assembly area like on the base model car. I hope that makes sense!
Kind Regards,
Paralight
For Aston Martin Ipod, Bluetooth, Parking Sensors, Parking Cameras and Remote Fuse 22 Disconnect.
Yes it is a Parrot kit. And if owners wish to fit the kit themselves, then they are more than welcome.
However, bear in mind we have taken the trouble to run this kit, wiring harnesses for V8V and DB9 past the tech guys at the Factory. Offer a steering wheel interface if owners are upgrading from the factory system. Life of ownership of car warranty and installation anywhere in mainland UK. Taken the time to get designed and built, custom cable harnesses for the car to enable plug and play connectivity thereby retaining warranty.
Talking warranty, the life of ownership also covers software upgrades to the kit, operational difficulties as well as kit failure.
So yes there is not a lot to see on the surface, that's how Aston Martin owners like it. But there has been an awful lot of work behind the scenes. All this takes time and consequently money.
At the more budget end of the market, Halfords etc. cater for the run of the mill car, ie remove the radio, plug in a SOT lead and away you go. But somehow I doubt they have the detailed knowledge of the Aston Martin brand. When you also consider the infotainment system is based on the MOST fibre optic architecture and spares prices for instance on the DB9 (950W Linn amplifier = £4500) can be eye watering, would it not be better to entrust an integrated Bluetooth solution to someone that has done a few before?
No, we are not the cheapest at what we do. What we try to do is install the best possible device for the job in the best possible way, keeping the integrity and aesthetics of the car as a top priority.
Kind Regards,
Paralight
However, bear in mind we have taken the trouble to run this kit, wiring harnesses for V8V and DB9 past the tech guys at the Factory. Offer a steering wheel interface if owners are upgrading from the factory system. Life of ownership of car warranty and installation anywhere in mainland UK. Taken the time to get designed and built, custom cable harnesses for the car to enable plug and play connectivity thereby retaining warranty.
Talking warranty, the life of ownership also covers software upgrades to the kit, operational difficulties as well as kit failure.
So yes there is not a lot to see on the surface, that's how Aston Martin owners like it. But there has been an awful lot of work behind the scenes. All this takes time and consequently money.
At the more budget end of the market, Halfords etc. cater for the run of the mill car, ie remove the radio, plug in a SOT lead and away you go. But somehow I doubt they have the detailed knowledge of the Aston Martin brand. When you also consider the infotainment system is based on the MOST fibre optic architecture and spares prices for instance on the DB9 (950W Linn amplifier = £4500) can be eye watering, would it not be better to entrust an integrated Bluetooth solution to someone that has done a few before?
No, we are not the cheapest at what we do. What we try to do is install the best possible device for the job in the best possible way, keeping the integrity and aesthetics of the car as a top priority.
Kind Regards,
Paralight
Just a bit V8LM 
I have never professed to be an inventor. I'm not clever enough
People come to me a problem or an idea and I search for a reasonable solution. If the kit is out there already, why re-invent the wheel?
The reason for putting the Paralight sticker on is purely to identify us to the dealer if it goes in for work.
Bottom line is. If people want to do things themselves, great. I will help them as much as possible. If they want me to do it for them, I will try and give the best possible service.
You certainly can't please all of the people all of the time
Best Regards,
Paralight
I have never professed to be an inventor. I'm not clever enough
People come to me a problem or an idea and I search for a reasonable solution. If the kit is out there already, why re-invent the wheel?The reason for putting the Paralight sticker on is purely to identify us to the dealer if it goes in for work.
Bottom line is. If people want to do things themselves, great. I will help them as much as possible. If they want me to do it for them, I will try and give the best possible service.
You certainly can't please all of the people all of the time
Best Regards,
Paralight
Edited by Paralight on Wednesday 3rd March 22:06
Holy thread resurrection!!
Really exhuming an old thread here but I was researching before I committed to getting the bits and having a go... Paralight is now Aston Installations. A couple of technical queries
1. The standard system does not have a centre dash speaker on a V12V S, the part number for the front harness is the same between standard and premium, so can I presume the wiring and connector is there for the speaker?
2. Do the rear speakers change?
Cost wise, the AM prices have gone up a bit since the thread was first started!!
Really exhuming an old thread here but I was researching before I committed to getting the bits and having a go... Paralight is now Aston Installations. A couple of technical queries
1. The standard system does not have a centre dash speaker on a V12V S, the part number for the front harness is the same between standard and premium, so can I presume the wiring and connector is there for the speaker?
2. Do the rear speakers change?
Cost wise, the AM prices have gone up a bit since the thread was first started!!
yellow_tang said:
Holy thread resurrection!!
Really exhuming an old thread here but I was researching before I committed to getting the bits and having a go... Paralight is now Aston Installations. A couple of technical queries
1. The standard system does not have a centre dash speaker on a V12V S, the part number for the front harness is the same between standard and premium, so can I presume the wiring and connector is there for the speaker?
2. Do the rear speakers change?
Cost wise, the AM prices have gone up a bit since the thread was first started!!
1) correctReally exhuming an old thread here but I was researching before I committed to getting the bits and having a go... Paralight is now Aston Installations. A couple of technical queries
1. The standard system does not have a centre dash speaker on a V12V S, the part number for the front harness is the same between standard and premium, so can I presume the wiring and connector is there for the speaker?
2. Do the rear speakers change?
Cost wise, the AM prices have gone up a bit since the thread was first started!!
2) some components are added, others are changed, plus you need a config file
AM prices go up constantly. Often in small increments. Sometimes substantially and without warning
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff