Upgrading your OEM Car Audio using DSPs (budget version)

navin · 26th November 2018, 13:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by hserus

Fair enough. I'm a bit of a guinea pig, willing to take some things on trust.

I got a pretty decent bluetooth speaker from Anker on Aliexpress for my laptop a few months back.

I think it is just how younger people shop. I am not so internet friendly.

Anker, I hear is a good brand. I don't know about their speakers but their USB batteries (the kind we use to charge our mobiles) are quite good.

hserus · 26th November 2018, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by navin

I think it is just how younger people shop. I am not so internet friendly.

Anker, I hear is a good brand. I don't know about their speakers but their USB batteries (the kind we use to charge our mobiles) are quite good.

I'm 42 so not terribly young (still foolish, might be).

I can certainly recommend the Anker speaker that I bought. I'm listening to an old Carnatic concert with it as I'm typing this.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Anke...27424c4dT5HUNx

navin · 26th November 2018, 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by hserus

I can certainly recommend the Anker speaker that I bought

Anker is a good brand. I assume they wont want to sully it by making a terrible speaker. My son has a JBL Flip 4 which I think was Rs. 8k or maybe a little less.

I don't use wireless (BT or Wifi) for music. I know it sounds demented but I prefer wires.

Hells Bells · 28th November 2018, 15:25

Absolutely wonderful post! There was a very long conversation on our vRS WhatsApp group around how can adding just a DSP improve the bass extension etc as it would not materially change the base frequencies generated. The insight that the DSPs tend to have their own amp too built in clarifies a lot! It is threads like these which start giving me ideas to blow more money on stuff which I wasn't considering important till yesterday :(

vvvinod · 8th December 2018, 11:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by hserus

Neither have I. The spec looks good and it had decent reviews (at least the previous generation of this product that I'd ordered had decent reviews).

Hello hserus, would you mind sharing the feedback ?

hserus · 8th December 2018, 12:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by vvvinod

Hello hserus,

would you mind sharing the feedback ?

It isn't delivered yet and is currently held up in customs. I expect to get it sometime next week.

Neeresh · 12th December 2018, 18:21

Hi guys,
It's been a long time since I last visited this page.
I didn't go through all 4 pages so forgive me if this was already previously covered.

Regarding "Auto EQ (De-equalize the OEM HU and Re-equalize to new speakers and amplifiers)" --- That's not how it works.
It does not de-eq the OEM head unit and then re-eq it.
Pioneer's Auto EQ does what it's name suggest.
It sets the EQ automatically.

A DSP can not change the signal it receives from the head unit. In other words, if the OEM head unit cuts out information, the DSP can't put it back because how will it know what to put where?

Does it make the system sound better ... yes, it certainly can, but its limit is the person tuning the system

jaunthead · 18th December 2018, 06:58

This thread is golden. Thank you Navin.

I have a noob question- so even if we set the bass, treble and eq settings on the stock HU to flat, the signal is still being colored?

Also why do manufacturers want to cut out information in OEM HU signals. How does it help other than making some poor oem speakers sound good playing low bitrate mp3s. And if external dsp cannot resolve that, it makes more sense to replace the HU itself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neeresh

A DSP can not change the signal it receives from the head unit. In other words, if the OEM head unit cuts out information, the DSP can't put it back because how will it know what to put where?

navin · 18th December 2018, 12:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaunthead

I have a noob question- so even if we set the bass, treble and eq settings on the stock HU to flat, the signal is still being colored?

Also why do manufacturers want to cut out information in OEM HU signals. How does it help other than making some poor oem speakers sound good playing low bitrate mp3s. And if external dsp cannot resolve that, it makes more sense to replace the HU itself.

You hit the nail on the head. Manufacturers add a "pre-EQ" to the HU for 2 purposes.
a. To compensate for the car's limitations
b. To compensate for the limitations of the speakers (usually in the low end).

Changing the HU is often the technically better solution but many modern cars have more than just audio on the screen provided. Replacing the HU may mean loss of some other information about the car's vitals.

jaunthead · 18th December 2018, 18:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by navin

You hit the nail on the head. Manufacturers add a "pre-EQ" to the HU for 2 purposes.
a. To compensate for the car's limitations
b. To compensate for the limitations of the speakers (usually in the low end).

Thanks Navin. A follow up Q- i was reading some head units have service menu options to disable this “pre-eq”. Is this true? Does any of our current gen Indian cars have such an option. It would be really interesting to know. Will help save a lot of money just to get that flat signal.

hserus · 18th December 2018, 21:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by hserus

It isn't delivered yet and is currently held up in customs. I expect to get it sometime next week.

Photos - got it today but not installed as yet

navin · 19th December 2018, 11:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaunthead

Thanks Navin. A follow up Q- i was reading some head units have service menu options to disable this “pre-eq”. Is this true? Does any of our current gen Indian cars have such an option. It would be really interesting to know. Will help save a lot of money just to get that flat signal.

I have not seen any Indian car having this option in an OEM HU. I wish there was.

hserus · 19th December 2018, 14:21

This has bare wires for input, power and output.

Is there a connector available for a 2015 top end Scorpio that will fit these so that I don't have to cut and splice wires? That would void my warranty, which I don't particularly want.

Looks like Scorpio system out - DSP in and DSP out to the speakers.

a4anurag · 19th December 2018, 15:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by hserus

This has bare wires for input, power and output.

Is there a connector available for a 2015 top end Scorpio that will fit these so that I don't have to cut and splice wires?.

You can try this. May help you.

It is sold out currently, you can contact Carplus and see if they can help you out.

http://www.carplus.in/mahindra/scorp...-scorpio-13089

MADMAX111 · 27th December 2018, 11:20

Question for Gurus.

Upgrading speakers (I have 2 tweeters & 2 Speakers in front and same in rear, all factory fitted, Don’t know whether they are components or co axials).

Should I change to all components or all co axials( The main speakers not tweeters) .

Focal advertises these 2 kits for VW vehicles plug n play. IS 165 VW(components) & IC 165VW (co axials).

Any personal experience/ feedback/ advice would be appreciated. Thanks

28th November 2018, 15:25	#49
Hells Bells BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 339 Thanked: 576 Times	Re: Upgrading your OEM Car Audio using DSPs (budget version) Absolutely wonderful post! There was a very long conversation on our vRS WhatsApp group around how can adding just a DSP improve the bass extension etc as it would not materially change the base frequencies generated. The insight that the DSPs tend to have their own amp too built in clarifies a lot! It is threads like these which start giving me ideas to blow more money on stuff which I wasn't considering important till yesterday :(
	(2) Thanks

12th December 2018, 18:21	#52
Neeresh Newbie Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Africa-Lenasia Posts: 21 Thanked: 3 Times	Re: Upgrading your OEM Car Audio using DSPs (budget version) Hi guys, It's been a long time since I last visited this page. I didn't go through all 4 pages so forgive me if this was already previously covered. Regarding "Auto EQ (De-equalize the OEM HU and Re-equalize to new speakers and amplifiers)" --- That's not how it works. It does not de-eq the OEM head unit and then re-eq it. Pioneer's Auto EQ does what it's name suggest. It sets the EQ automatically. A DSP can not change the signal it receives from the head unit. In other words, if the OEM head unit cuts out information, the DSP can't put it back because how will it know what to put where? Does it make the system sound better ... yes, it certainly can, but its limit is the person tuning the system
	(3) Thanks

19th December 2018, 14:21	#58
hserus Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Chennai Posts: 5,072 Thanked: 9,318 Times	Re: Upgrading your OEM Car Audio using DSPs (budget version) This has bare wires for input, power and output. Is there a connector available for a 2015 top end Scorpio that will fit these so that I don't have to cut and splice wires? That would void my warranty, which I don't particularly want. Looks like Scorpio system out - DSP in and DSP out to the speakers. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by hserus : 19th December 2018 at 14:30.
	(1) Thanks

27th December 2018, 11:20	#60
MADMAX111 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 197 Thanked: 125 Times	Re: Upgrading your OEM Car Audio using DSPs (budget version) Question for Gurus. Upgrading speakers (I have 2 tweeters & 2 Speakers in front and same in rear, all factory fitted, Don’t know whether they are components or co axials). Should I change to all components or all co axials( The main speakers not tweeters) . Focal advertises these 2 kits for VW vehicles plug n play. IS 165 VW(components) & IC 165VW (co axials). Any personal experience/ feedback/ advice would be appreciated. Thanks
	() Thanks