Talk to me about Radios

[jamojdm]

I've been driving round in a golf match with the RNS510 for the last few weeks and the sound has been awful. No matter what the source or what settings I change couldn't get anything to sound right. However I took delivery of my new GT TSi with stock RCD310 and it sounds incredible compared to the match!

Shame as I wanted to add the RNS510 to my new car 

[dubber36]

I wonder if that's because the RNS has too much to do as well as processing the sound? The RCD may be better.

It's a bit like phones. The one I had 15 years ago was brilliant. It just made calls and sent texts, that was it. The battery would last all week, and it held onto the signal really well. These new smart phones, well they're not really phones any more are they?

[am1w]

At last I have been vindicated.

To put it mildly, the RNS 510 that I have in my car sounds crap but that doesn't mean they all do, just mine in particular. The RCD 310 looks a bit unattractive but sounds brilliant.
The RNS 510 in my car is unusable for listening purposes unless fitted with a sub-woofer and separate amp. The RCD 510 is no better IMHO

It is for this reason I have fitted an underseat sub-woofer and will be attaching a power amp tomorrow to the RNS 510. 

[MAW73]

At last I have been vindicated.

To put it mildly, the RNS 510 sounds crap. The RCD 310 looks a bit unattractive but sounds brilliant.
The RNS 510 is unusable for listening purposes unless fitted with a sub-woofer and separate amp. The RCD 510 is no better.

It is for this reason I have fitted an underseat sub-woofer and will be attaching a power amp tomorrow to the RNS 510. 

I'd disagree that the RNS510 sounds crap in fact I find it the opposite in all honesty..... I enjoy listening to music and have it pumped up fairly loud. That's not to say the adition of the sub-woofer and amp mods your doing wouldn't make a good improvement overall.

[gizzywizzy]

Asker

could it be your ears are too highly tuned, my RNS510 sounds just fine to me and I have it banged up quite high.  I have a very eclectic taste in music and all tracks sound good to me.

[am1w]

Asker
could it be your ears are too highly tuned, my RNS510 sounds just fine to me and I have it banged up quite high.  I have a very eclectic taste in music and all tracks sound good to me.

Amanda Dearest,

Yes, I do have Golden Ears.

You have been away in the cold for sometime now. If you read my posts very carefully, I have clearly said that if one has an RCD510 or especially an RNS 510, then one definitely needs a separate amplifier (which you have & which I will have tomorrow) + a sub-woofer (which I have) to add icing on the cake.

God give me strength.

 

[The Doc]

Asker

could it be your ears are too highly tuned, my RNS510 sounds just fine to me and I have it banged up quite high.  I have a very eclectic taste in music and all tracks sound good to me.

+1 I like the sound of my RNS now that I've put the fader to front as the rear speakersvsound terrible IMHO, I noticed no difference in sound quality when I changed to my RNS, maybe there are different manufacturers?

[Snoopy]

I wonder if that's because the RNS has too much to do as well as processing the sound?

Not imo. Not to the human ears their not sensitive enough. If its designed properly that is. Unless you listen to marketing men
The different brands and models prob had different design briefs over time on what frequency responce they wanted out of the unit which is why they sound so different to peoples ears. VW use to ask for a cut below 500Hz and a boost at 5Khz as the volume was wound up to save on warrenty claims on speakers for example.

[Jimmymature]

Asker
could it be your ears are too highly tuned, my RNS510 sounds just fine to me and I have it banged up quite high.  I have a very eclectic taste in music and all tracks sound good to me.

Amanda Dearest,

Yes, I do have Golden Ears.

You have been away in the cold for sometime now. If you read my posts very carefully, I have clearly said that if one has an RCD510 or especially an RNS 510, then one definitely needs a separate amplifier (which you have & which I will have tomorrow) + a sub-woofer (which I have) to add icing on the cake.

God give me strength.

 

I have the RCD510 and the sound quality is poor to say the least, there is no depth to the sound, it lacks 'life'.

No matter what settings i change it to, it isn't improved.  I will be doing something to it soon!

Jim

[am1w]

....... VW use to ask for a cut below 500Hz and a boost at 5Khz as the volume was wound up to save on warrenty claims on speakers for example.

This is so obvious with the RNS 510.  
It sounds hopeless on its own to my ears.
Sounds totally strangulated.