AM Vantage Stereo Upgrades

[997c2scab]

Guys & Girls,

A little help if I can in terms of understanding the sound system options within the Vanatge.

How many levels are there and what are peoples experience / are they worth while and affect resale value?

From what I can see you had standard, the 700w upgrade & a B&O Upgrade?

[MrOrange]

I have the 700w version and it's pretty good, need to set it up properly (there is a thread on the subject somewhere). Judging by the volume and clarity I get from the 700w premium I can't see how the 1000w version would be worth having. The basic 160w version might be a little sub-standard but in all fairness the best sound comes from a de-corked sports exhaust (y)

[997c2scab]

Thanks Mr Orange.

[drcarrera]

Can you tell the differeence visually?

IIRC the display comes up with "Premium Audio" when you turn it on (if it's premium audio, of course!) but can they be told apart otherwise?

[bogie]

I have the "standard" stereo and havnt found the need to upgrade anything

sure its not like £5K of custom ICE install, but its more than adequate for most people for general use

seems to be a lot of one upmanship in car manufacturing of recent years, with who can fit the most speakers and amps from the best names...to justify that £2K option cost

B&O system is really nice and worth it though, if you are feeling flush ...although I wouldnt turn down the perfect used car I found because it didnt have "premium" audio, its just not that big a differentiator to me

[Mr Aston Martin]

As Mr Orange suggests the 700w upgrade when set up correctly is superb.

Which is slightly ironic as the exhaust note is much sweeter........


I appreciate it's a subjective point but while I love my music I tend to listen to the exhaust note and draw immense satisfaction from the whole event. To put this into perpsective my 10 year old daughter has the same view and it's arguable who is more excited when were doing a tunnel run with the windows down.


Thank you to a kind gentleman on the AMOC forum for posting the following settings for the 700W system.

Audio Settings
Surround; Dolby Pro Logic ON
Auto Vol; Low

Equaliser
60: 0
200: -2
1k: +1
3k: +1
12k +2

Set Up
Bass: +2
Treble: +1
Fader: +1 to rear
Balance: 0
Sub +2 or +3 ( choose to your taste)
Center:-3
Surround: +6

[Adam2S]

Those settings above are mine - I posted them on AMOC for all to use after an lengthy audio setup session

I personally would not buy an AM without the 700W (made by Alpine) system. I tested the 160W system before I ordered my car as many many people were saying that they cannot tell the two systems apart - even my dealer told me the 160W was quite good! This is true if you listen to radio4 at quiet levels I suspect, however if you love hifi and like your music loud in the car then the two systems are chalk and cheese. The 160W system will dissapoint you big time if you are that kind of person (it was very poor to my ears), whereas the 700W system is one of the best fitted by a manufacturer to any car, and is only really bettered by a dedicated aftermarket ICE install.

I've not heard the B&O system but as an owner of a B&O system in the home I can say that B&O is always masively overpriced for what it delivers sonically but it sure looks nice. The 700W alpine system has to be the sweetspot for the music enthusiast, with the B&O only better where its not actually cosing you any more in the deal price or if money is no object when specing on new.

Having said all that I wouldnt disagree that the best sound the car makes come from the engine!

(Here are the two threads I posted on AMOC about my exploration of the 700W system and the above settings)

http://www.amoc.org/forum/index.php?topic=14976.0

http://www.amoc.org/forum/index.php?topic=15532.0

[bogie]

I thought both systems were alpine and theres 1 extra amp, 2 extra speakers and an extra sub between them ?

maybe Ive got a 700w and dont know about it

[Captain Beaky]

Adam2S said:

Those settings above are mine - I posted them on AMOC for all to use after an lengthy audio setup session

I finally got round to using your settings recently Adam: definitely makes a worthwhile difference

[alanweston]

Jut read this and felt compelled to fiddle. I think it maybe a man thing the settings were pretty much what I had anyway but just had to have a go.......

[MichaelV8V]

I have the B&O system, can't give a comparison, but a few thoughts:

- Its the most amazing sound system I think I've ever heard anywhere, it brings details out of even very familiar music that i didn't know was there, but, I hardly ever use it because that V8 sounds better than anything anyone has ever recorded in a music studio
- Don't know where the 1,000W goes, it doesn't sound much louder than the 100W i had in my TVR, but with 13 speakers, I guess thats only 76w per channel. What it does do is provide volume whenever the music needs it, a bit like using power for 0-60 rather than top speed if that makes sense? So a drum sounds like a real drum, not a muffled loud noise
- cosmetic differences are the sound turrets that rise out of the dashboard, alu covers on the speakers, and the extra speakers in the footwells, and it says 'Bang & Olufsen' when you turn it on, but thats a bit lost because i'm always watching the sound turrets
- It has a great feature where it centres the sound for the driver, but when a passenger fastens their seatbelt, it moves the centre over to the middle of the car

[pchmax]

Adam2s many thanks for the settings, saved me a lot of time! Actually set the audio up have just picked up the car for the first time. I would say the 700w system is very worth while if you enjoy music. However I do have to agree the car sound is 10x better!!!!

[christer]

I was confused as well when I was looking at 2005 DB9's last year. 128W? 260W? 5000W? All the ones I tried (4 of them) had unacceptable sound systems - iworse than a Ford Ka. I ended up buying a GTR in the end - not just for the stereo though I guess the Vantage is newer and will have better options good luck!

[mikey k]

The thing with ICE is more power is not the ultimate goal it is clarity & definition.
High end stuff has high power and low signal to noise ratios.
I had an Alpine/Ipod head unit with a Genesis amp (made in UK!) and Quart speakers in my last car (no bass bins, non neons and no playstation )
I've not heard a factory system that comes close.
Most modern systems are linked together on fibre optic CANbus so are a PITA to modify and aren't easy to replace as the display is used for other info on the CANbus (climate control etc)
If they were I'd have done mine
Not heard a B&O system but for the premium I'm sure I could get a better custom install done

[Paralight]

If it's of interest, I am upgrading a standard (160W) system in a new 11MY V8V on Tuesday. I will retain the original amp (required to do the Fibre optic to analogue signal processing) then run the siganl directly into the new 5 channel amplifier. front speakers will be changed to a 4" component and the same will be added to the spaces in the rear 1/4 panel. The original sub will be retained but driven harder by the replacement amplifier.

I will post pictures if anyone is interested.

Kind Regards,

James@Paralight

[matg]

Paralight said:

If it's of interest, I am upgrading a standard (160W) system in a new 11MY V8V on Tuesday. I will retain the original amp (required to do the Fibre optic to analogue signal processing) then run the siganl directly into the new 5 channel amplifier. front speakers will be changed to a 4" component and the same will be added to the spaces in the rear 1/4 panel. The original sub will be retained but driven harder by the replacement amplifier.

I will post pictures if anyone is interested.

Kind Regards,

James@Paralight

Please do.

[mikey k]

+1 that seems like a good compromise!

[Adam2S]

mikey k said:

The thing with ICE is more power is not the ultimate goal it is clarity & definition.
High end stuff has high power and low signal to noise ratios.
I had an Alpine/Ipod head unit with a Genesis amp (made in UK!) and Quart speakers in my last car (no bass bins, non neons and no playstation )
I've not heard a factory system that comes close.
Most modern systems are linked together on fibre optic CANbus so are a PITA to modify and aren't easy to replace as the display is used for other info on the CANbus (climate control etc)
If they were I'd have done mine
Not heard a B&O system but for the premium I'm sure I could get a better custom install done

The 700W factory system is made by Alpine.

[mikey k]

I know but the amp & speakers are nothing Genesis & quart
Quite like Paralights idea!

[bogie]

all Vantage systems are Alpine until the recent B&O offering that was first in the DBS ..which is pretty novel with its pop up tweeters

before Alpine it was Linn in the DB9s, which was supposed to be pretty good too....