Improving the Sound Quality of an RCD-510?

[DDg]

Very true. I've read some absolute rubbish on the net about the industry I happen to work in, so I appreciate that it'll equally apply to any other field.

I actually went to 2 Installers. The first just didn't get what I was after. A big dealer, better on price but I know I'd have ended up with something capable of more than 140db... The second demonstrated their own install, recognised what I wanted and hasn't gone overboard in their recommendations (Me "Should I not get the next amp up?" Them "No, believe me, that's good enough" etc.)


Slightly off topic, but what's your view on playing music from a USB stick? I've a 16Gb stick full of music at 256kbps. Realistically would I recognise the difference re-recording my CD's in lossless format? The Installer 'tutted' that I didn't bring along CD's lol.

[Snoopy]

Us audiophiles hate compressed music as i can tell the difference but its so handy having your collection available on USB stick  so im guilty of that too.

[simonpolly]

On another note, I listended to another Golf fitted with the Dynaudio system and could really tell much difference between mine if I'm honest.

Not quite the improvement one expects, I must admit!

He said "he CAN really tell the difference" 

[MAW73]

On another note, I listended to another Golf fitted with the Dynaudio system and could really tell much difference between mine if I'm honest.

Not quite the improvement one expects, I must admit!

He said "he CAN really tell the difference" 

Sorry to confuse you with my quote........ but I did mean to say couldn't tell the difference.....

[DDg]

Just a quick update... Got the Audison Voce Component speakers fitted along with an Audison SR4 amp, Bit One Processor and Hertz Hi Energy 10" sub (in a box in the boot), along with the front doors covered in Dynamat. The amp's under a false floor in the boot, and the Bit One's currently under the passenger seat.

Results are very pleasing. So good that I'm listening to music I'm really familiar with, and all the time thinking to myself "I didn't realise that part had strings in it" or "the drummer was a bit flaky with his timing in the middle section, there" etc. etc. Acoustic guitar, vocals and drums (the "tappety tap" ones) are really crystal clear and incredibly sharp and precise. And the sub, whilst I don't like it taking up boot space, does do a worthwhile job. If there's a "Bump Bump Bump" accompaniment, it's like the B is provided from the fronts and the "ump" is catered for by the sub. Except it's just there, surrounding you. And when LCD Soundsytems' "Disco Infiltrator" is played loud it's like there's a wave of bass rolling from front to back, straight through you. Made me laugh.

Negatives? I'm getting more fussy with the quality of recording (I swear I hear a chair move during Vaughan Williams' The Lark Ascending) and the production of some recordings is simply flat and one dimensional (you can't make a silk purse etc even if you remaster Band on the Run...). There's also a little interference with radio reception (but that'll get sorted). Plus the BitOne is, as suggested, a hobbyists choice requiring a lot of tinkering and tuning. Maybe I should have gone for the MS-8 Snoopy... And then there's the cost. What started as a search to spend £300 or so to get a nice sound to match the Dynaudio I never ordered and possibly the B&W system in a colleagues new Jag turned into a comfortably north of £1500 "Maybe I'll do a little overtime this month" bill, and now I've been bitten I'm sure it won't be the end...

Would I do it again? Sure! I'm enjoying music like I haven't in twenty years, and even looking forward to long journeys up and down the M6.

Thanks again for the advice, audiophiles!

[Snoopy]

You don't want to know what ive spent if your worried about 1.5K. Glad your happy or more or less happy now. As you say the problem now is recording quality is rubbish.

[am1w]

You don't want to know what ive spent if your worried about 1.5K. Glad your happy or more or less happy now. As you say the problem now is recording quality is rubbish.

 

[GolfTi]

Before you go down the route of upgrades.

Make sure all of your stored music is at least 256k or Variable Bit Rate.

Original CDs even better of course.

Not much point upgrading if all of your compressed music is 128/192k.

[am1w]

To improve the sound quality of the RCD/RNS 510 system, these are the four options with increasing costs + improvement in sound quality, which are worthwhile IMO. The retro-fit systems are also very discreet.

Option 1 - Buy the Dynaudio system as a factory fit, as it is excellent value for money.

Option 2 - If you have Option 1, then retro-fit a Front Passenger Underseat Pioneer TS-WX11A Sub-woofer (£150) for added quality by providing cleaner upper and lower bass and more bass extension.

Option 3 - If you have the standard speakers, then retro-fit a Front Pasenger Underseat Pioneer TS-WX11A Sub-woofer (£150) and Driver Underseat Kenwood KAC-X4D amplifier (£250-£299). This is what I have and the sound quality is superb.

Option 4 - If you have Options 1, 2 or 3, retro-fit some Morel Silk Dome tweeters in the front door housings as a final extravagant gesture towards excellence. I am considering fitting these excellent expensive tweeters.

[The Doc]

Option 5, buy my Bentley GTC from me and get a free £12000 Naim Audio upgrade sounds very neutral