MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Modifications & Technical Area => Sat Nav and Car Audio => Topic started by: rdfcpete on January 28, 2010, 11:13:16 pm

Title: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: rdfcpete on January 28, 2010, 11:13:16 pm
Chaps,

The system in the Golf is not bad at all and I've now got the RNS-510 which is an ideal media centre for me.

I've got my Kenwood amp and JBL sub from my previous two cars sat in my bedroom and am umming and arring whether to fit it. If I can avoid the space + weight loss of a sub & amp, not forgetting the hassle of wiring etc then I'd like to. Also, I don't want to vibrate the GTI to hell and gone.

What's a decent upgrade so I've still got some solid low end bass and mid range too? I;m happy to spend the other side of £300 if the speakers will do the job well.
Would I just need front + rear speaker components or are there other items to be had (internal amps etc?) that will give me a nice upgraded setup?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: rdfcpete on January 30, 2010, 06:12:11 pm
Anyone chaps?   :popcornsoda:

If I can't improve it too much without a sub for the low end/top end bass and an amp to control things properly then please let me know your opinions? :smiley:
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: ollie288 on January 30, 2010, 06:17:25 pm
I think focal components are good speakers for the mk5. I did have a look into them.

One thing to note is the stock speakers are poo with an amp and sub installed. The amp improves it alot but the stock speakers simply cannot handle it! I cant go over half way without the speakers being distorted! Admittedly just over half way shakes the car but with speakers added it would be miles better!
 :happy2:
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: rdfcpete on January 30, 2010, 06:30:42 pm
I remember you saying Ollie. I think I'm moving away from the sub + amp idea. It's a good system I've got and I spent loads on it but I don't demand massive bass anymore and I don't want all the panels in the GTI to be loose from the bass, as I live in a shat area for speed bumps and pot holes in Northants.

I bought some brand new Denon speakers for just £55 for my bedroom recently are they're spot on. The balance of bass, treble and sound is nice. Something like that for the car would be spot on really  :smiley: I just would rather go on a recommendation  :happy2:
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: cameluk on January 30, 2010, 07:28:12 pm
Have you eight or ten speakers at the moment, i.e do you have the mids in the front doors. If you do then the Focals are about the only thing that will fit, the only others that will fit are the Hertz ESK163L
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: rdfcpete on January 30, 2010, 08:02:58 pm
Have you eight or ten speakers at the moment, i.e do you have the mids in the front doors. If you do then the Focals are about the only thing that will fit, the only others that will fit are the Hertz ESK163L

I've honestly no idea.
I've got the standard OE speaker system that I'm aware of and fitted the RNS-510 myself.

I think there's 8?...
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: Gti Jal on January 30, 2010, 10:21:25 pm
You can get some 6.5" components off of the bay for a few sheckles. Fitting them is 2 hours.
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: Norbreck21a on January 30, 2010, 11:02:12 pm
Just fitted some Focal Polyglass 165 VR3's in the front doors of my Golf. Has made a massive difference to the sound (and all this is just off a standard MFD2 with no amp !)

Real good door thumping bass now.
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: Hurdy on January 30, 2010, 11:35:44 pm
I'm running Hertz speakers all round.

3 way comps up front, 2 way coax in the rear and a 10" sub in the wheel arch. The fronts and sub are powered by an Audison 4 way amp.

The sound is excellent and I can't think where I'd need any more bass. :happy2:

The stock system has 8 speakers and does without the tweeters up front. To make it a little easier on yourself (and a little cheaper) you could go for a 2 way component system up front instead.
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: cameluk on January 31, 2010, 06:18:13 pm
Just fitted some Focal Polyglass 165 VR3's in the front doors of my Golf. Has made a massive difference to the sound (and all this is just off a standard MFD2 with no amp !)

Real good door thumping bass now.

So you just replaced the speakers then? Anything else involved as I fancy upgrading mine but not sure I want to go to the hassle of installing an amp, I'm going to be taking my door panels off soon anyway, so can do two jobs at once  :happy2:
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: Beddie on January 31, 2010, 06:55:57 pm
This is something i've had on the 'to-do' list for quite a while as my A3 came with a Bose system and i've always felt a bit let down by the stock GTi system,
Mine has the Soundpack option with 10 speaker set-up so ideally i'd need 3 ways up front i guess but been thinking about getting some quality 2 ways instead to save a few £'s and they must be better than the stock ones, anyone done the same that can offer any feedback?  :happy2:
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: Garth on February 01, 2010, 11:10:37 am
The first trhing I ould do is load up the car with sound deadening (e.g. dynamat or brownbread). The mk5 interior is made out of really cheap hard plastics (nowhere near as good as the mk4!) and once you crank up the volume, it rattles like crazy. Also, the general road noise is really loud on these cars so reducing that will make the standard speakers sound better anyway.
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: rdfcpete on February 01, 2010, 03:10:38 pm
The first trhing I ould do is load up the car with sound deadening (e.g. dynamat or brownbread). The mk5 interior is made out of really cheap hard plastics (nowhere near as good as the mk4!) and once you crank up the volume, it rattles like crazy. Also, the general road noise is really loud on these cars so reducing that will make the standard speakers sound better anyway.

Yeah, this is true and good in practice but I won't be ripping out any of the plastics or adding any sound dead panels. Not something I'd really be comfortable doing and I don't want to take out anything like that or replace it, purely so I can leave everything as OEM and untouched as poss if I can.

When I sell, I'll replace the OEM speakers if indeed I change them, again just for continuity and originality.

So Hertz components are the way to go? I'll do some Google'ing.
I might even get just a small sub to give a little punch if the built in woofers on the speakers are a little under powered for that?
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: plush-automotive on February 01, 2010, 03:43:11 pm
I am a four master and supply hertz equipment if needed. I can't recomend them enough thats why i run audison/ hertz in my own cars.

You could add a skinz door pack behind the stock speaker when you change them over and 2 wave diffuser pads. This will enhance mid bass the more dead behind the speaker the more energy comes out the front of it.

I could quite happily put a package together for you matey  :happy2:
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: rdfcpete on February 01, 2010, 08:05:40 pm
Cheers Luke, will look at my options  :happy2:

Firstly, what size will I need?
How much can I expect to pay for a set of Hertz top end stuff?

What about these for example...
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/hertz-hi-energy-hcx-165-4.html
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: plush-automotive on February 01, 2010, 09:21:38 pm
Cheers Luke, will look at my options  :happy2:

Firstly, what size will I need?
How much can I expect to pay for a set of Hertz top end stuff?

What about these for example...
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/hertz-hi-energy-hcx-165-4.html


Them speakers in the link are coaxials i wouldnt recomend these for the front of the car as the tweeter is built into the centre of the speaker on this type of speaker. This will then drag the soundstage downwards especially with VW and all there wisdom mounting the midbass at the back of the door instead of the front of the door.

You want to go for a component set not a coaxial if possible.

Hertz top ed stuff is £1850 lol but they do many ranges in the product line to cator for everyone. The hertz high energy range is a superb range of speakers.

You want 16.5cm 6" components mate.
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: rdfcpete on February 01, 2010, 09:40:36 pm
You want to go for a component set not a coaxial if possible.

Hertz top ed stuff is £1850 lol

:confused: :chicken:

Ok dude, thats a neat pointer. Tbh I wasn't sure what size I'd need as I only ever bought components for my old Mk2 Clio.
They were just Kappa Infiniti's for £40 to cope with the treble + bass a bit better lol - cheers.

More along the right lines; - ?
http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/7967.html
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: Beddie on February 01, 2010, 09:47:55 pm
Hi Luke,
I'm pretty much settled on the Hertz setup for mine but wondered what you thought of sticking with 3 ways up front (i have the stock 10 speaker soundpack setup) or going for 2 ways?
reason i ask is that i've heard the 3 way setup can be tricky to soundstage and would require amplification whereas the 2 ways wouldnt, any thoughts please mate?
Steve
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: plush-automotive on February 01, 2010, 11:00:43 pm
You want to go for a component set not a coaxial if possible.

Hertz top ed stuff is £1850 lol

:confused: :chicken:

Ok dude, thats a neat pointer. Tbh I wasn't sure what size I'd need as I only ever bought components for my old Mk2 Clio.
They were just Kappa Infiniti's for £40 to cope with the treble + bass a bit better lol - cheers.

More along the right lines; - ?
http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/7967.html

Yes something along them lines would be great but hopefully you'll buy them through me instead ha ha.

Hi Luke,
I'm pretty much settled on the Hertz setup for mine but wondered what you thought of sticking with 3 ways up front (i have the stock 10 speaker soundpack setup) or going for 2 ways?
reason i ask is that i've heard the 3 way setup can be tricky to soundstage and would require amplification whereas the 2 ways wouldnt, any thoughts please mate?
Steve

the soundstage  in a mk 5 is rubbish anyway with speaker placement being proper bob. I would say stick with the 3 ways if you can afford it it will help drag the sound forward in the car having that extra midrange higher up.

Amping either will give great results and make the music more controlled and dynamic.

Any more questions or help shoot me a pm or bang them up on here and i'll tr hep when i can (when i have 2 mins spare lol)

Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: rdfcpete on February 01, 2010, 11:16:04 pm
You want to go for a component set not a coaxial if possible.

Hertz top ed stuff is £1850 lol

:confused: :chicken:

Ok dude, thats a neat pointer. Tbh I wasn't sure what size I'd need as I only ever bought components for my old Mk2 Clio.
They were just Kappa Infiniti's for £40 to cope with the treble + bass a bit better lol - cheers.

More along the right lines; - ?
http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/7967.html

Yes something along them lines would be great but hopefully you'll buy them through me instead ha ha.

 :signLOL: Understandable mate, I'll see what's about and let you know.

Do I need two sets of those or different sizes for the rear?
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: plush-automotive on February 01, 2010, 11:20:54 pm
if i'm honest mate, I'd just maybe upgrade the fronts the best you possible can afterall where do you sit in the car? In the front not the back. Rear speakers add a bit of ambience but the passengers should be greatful for the lift not want amazing music as well. The idea of great hi fi is to keep great sound up front as if you were to watch someone live at concert they would stand in front of you not behind you. :happy2:
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: rdfcpete on February 01, 2010, 11:24:52 pm
Logical thinking I guess. I'll look at rear speakers too for a reasonable price and see what I can spec and be in touch  :laugh:

Thanks again  :happy2:
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: Hurdy on February 01, 2010, 11:50:28 pm
I'm Running Hertz "Hi-energy" range all round and they are an excellent speaker set up. The clarity and separation of the music is wonderful. I love my sounds almost as much as adding power and for the price I doubt you'll find anything close to the quality of the Hertz speakers. :happy2:
Title: Re: Speaker Upgrade
Post by: rdfcpete on February 21, 2010, 08:38:54 pm
^ Have you amped them Hurdy, I.E. can I just straight replace the speakers with no extra components required?