Other than messing about with the layout of a blog that goes by unnoticed, one side-effect of being idle thanks to the very unpleasant heatwave and work schedule are the silly ideas and thoughts that tend to invade someone’s mind.
C’mon, really: one retailer currently has a good price on the little item shown below. It has everything I need, including the possible support of a CD changer that’s managed to elude me until recently. It handles CD/MP3/WMA, has RDS, a built-in 50W MOSFET amplifier, subwoofer outputs, matching illumination, and then some. It probably does the dishes, too.
Surely it’s no match for my old JVC radio/tape/CD head unit? Or is it? Do I really have to get rid of it? Am I approaching option 6 already?
Looks like I may have another system up for sale someday soon as well… aaaaargh!
Photo credits: hmvh DOT net and/or manufacturer/retailer
Spoke to a good friend in South Africa on the phone tonight.
He’s also got a Bora (Jetta 4) and he’s just as crazy about technology and sound systems. We compared notes, exchanged ideas, and of course this all got me thinking — which is not necessarily a good thing.
Luckily, I’m a stubborn bastard, and momentarily there’s no time to continue with this project at the moment.
…and that’s bad: damn box, and damn free-air subwoofers.
If ever there was a day when I felt like a right royal nimrod, then yesterday (Sunday) surely must rank among the top contenders for that title.
While trying to figure out where and how to install the old (new) CD shuttle in the car’s boot, this idiot discovers that… wait for it, here it comes: the damn thing’s already got one!
Those nice folks from Wolfsburg are clever, fiendish and devious bastards, hiding a 6-disc Panasonic changer in a little space underneath the mandatory first aid kit! Not quite the place that one would have expected to find a changer stashed away either…
So much for inspecting every nook and cranny!
Needless to say, the device works well and does that in total harmony with the Gamma head unit. Option 1 below has therefore become a very feasible solution and can be re-evaluated as such:
Pros: Cheapest option, no effort, matching illumination.
Cons: Little personal satisfaction, poor sound.
Cost: None.
Having cranked the system a little more than usually on today’s stint on the autobahn, I must admit that it sounds… well, OK. Just OK, not much more. Not bad either… most people would be quite happy with this but it’s missing that certain oomph and cannot really be felt, the way a car’s system should be. For the record, there are awfully little options to simply add the old subwoofers to the mix, the DSP simply doesn’t cater for that.
It is a cute toy, though, and may just be sorely missed: however easy and simple Option 1 is, there’s a certain sense of satisfaction and achievement that will be lacking by taking the easy way out. At least now I’ve an idea of where to tuck away the old 12-disc JVC CD changer — and these speakers, powered by the little Proton amp that could, will still find their way into the Bora.
When, I do not know. If nothing else, that feeling of urgency has been lifted like a weight off my shoulders. Watch this space for details!
Anybody want to buy a fine, used VW Blaupunkt/Nokia/Panasonic system?
Spent a fair amount of time and twice that amount of money in my favourite new electronics / accessories / boy toys shop yesterday, and I still don’t have a navigation system. What I did get, however, are a bunch of cables and plugs and adapters — and a set of JBL GTO6506CE speakers (woofer, tweeter, crossover) for the front doors.
Today (considering it’s already 02:30 in the morning) they’ll get hooked up to the basement setup so they can get used to their new surroundings and future partners in audio mischief.
Methinks I’ll also be cutting holes in the car soon.
On Saturday I spent a good few hours in virtual and in bricks ‘n mortar car-hi and accessory / electronics stores. Lotsa nice toys there… and a few ideas: Grundig (not exactly a shabby brand), for instance, offer a CD/MP3/Tuner unit for all of 79€ that looks drab enough to have surely been designed as a direct replacement of the standard Blaupunkt Gamma units, with its illumination even indicated as Volkswagen Blue!
And I must still think of something for the door speakers… dang!
I can already see myself crimping new connectors and plugs, so I also got me a few tools and other paraphernalia. Monday there’s more shopping to do; the list of things to get is almost complete.
The choice of navigation system is also getting narrowed down.
Just a pity that the wife doesn’t share my enthusiasm about the current project.
Took the Bora in for its first service (inspection) yesterday.
A few minor repairs were necessary but not without convincing myself that there are some things I should simply do myself — instead of paying them VW folks for labour and time.
Over the next few days I guess me and my Bora will get very close, and option 7 is working itself into becoming the most interesting and unusual decision.
Them proficient users of the Borum are also unwitting participants and designers.
Right! Knowing that the old system is still fully functional, the decision that needs to be made now is whether to modify and transplant it into the Bora, or scrap it and simply design a new system from scratch… or a combination of the two.
The following options present themselves:
1. Keep the currently-installed system as is, comprising the Blaupunkt Gamma 5 head unit (with matching illumination) and the Nokia DSP that powers the eight mediocre unknown brand speakers in the four doors. Like I said, for the average driver it ain’t too bad a set-up — but it’s sorely lacking a CD player.
Pros: Cheapest option, no effort, matching illumination.
Cons: No CD, no satisfaction, poor sound.
Cost: None.
2. That will simply not do! VDO (via VW and elsewhere) offer a matching CD/MP3 player that was obviously designed with the Gamma 5 in mind and blends in beautifully with the existing head unit and the car’s dash. The price tag seems unrealistic, though.
Furthermore, its natural position is already taken up by the control panel of the DSP that’s mounted in the boot. Fitting either elsewhere (like in the glove box, as others have done) would be just plain ridiculous and trashy.
Pros: Simple installation, matching illumination.
Cons: No DSP (controls), requiring different amplifiers!
Cost: > 200€.
3. Why does it have to be a CD player? German company Solisto offer a solid-state interface for standard USB drives which tricks the head unit into believing that it has an actual CD shuttle attached to it. The device is practically designed to be mounted in the glove box and controlled as one would any real CD shuttle, supporting a total of 594 songs (6 ‘CDs’ @ 99 tracks each). It sells for around 200€, excluding USB sticks and cables. 5th Generation Golfs already include a similar gadget as well as an iPod interface.
Again, this is a simple and relatively cost-effective alternative for a driver who won’t mind listening to MP3-quality music on a factory-installed system. This device does have merit.
Pros: Easy installation, matching illumination, tons of music.
Cons: Still no CD, MP3 quality sound.
Cost: > 200€.
4. The real deal: Volkswagen offer two kinds of 6-CD shuttle that can natively be controlled by the Gamma 5 unit and can be installed in either the dash or the boot. And they want at least 400€ for it! (They can be found on eBay for a lot less).
Pros: Matching illumination.
Cons: Expensive.
Cost: > 400€.
5. It gets better: c-quence basically combines the previous two options by facilitating a “foreign” CD shuttle to be installed and controlled by the factory-installed Gamma units via an interface unit. Two shuttle options are available in the packages that retail for around 250€, with one of them even supporting CD-RWs and MP3 CDs.
Pros: Tons of music, matching illumination.
Cons: None to think of!
Cost: > 250€.
6. Replacing Gamma: So far, the Gamma 5 unit stays put, and we’ve only discussed connecting other music carriers to it. Replacing it would mean finding a suitable head unit, and the price range is pretty open-ended. Realistically, though, many fine CD/MP3 players are available (some with matching red/blue illumination, too). What needs to be mentioned at this time is that Volkswagen make use of proprietary plugs and cables in their audio installations. Replacing the head unit requires adapters for the plugs and even the powered antenna, costing something like 30€ in total.
Pros: A fresh system, matching illumination possible.
Cons: Minor expense, adapters needed.
Cost: 150€ and above.
7. The old system: On the extreme other end of the scale lies the option of simply transplanting the previous set-up from the old Jetta into the new Bora, on a 1-to-1 basis. It’s a simple and cheap option that has a degree of nostalgia attached to it, and a certain cheekiness! The head unit, though, has no RDS or TIM or MP3/WMA/USB capabilities, does play tapes (of which I still have many), controls a CD/CD-R capable shuttle, and has a simple and pale green display that doesn’t match the rest of the car.
Pros: Tried-and-tested system.
Cons: No matching illumination, requires adapters.
Cost: 30€.
Of course, these options discuss and consider the head unit and primary music carrier only — be it cassette, CD or MP3. How the resulting sound waves are to emanate through the car’s interior hasn’t been covered and could also be discussed as nauseam but I’d be reluctant to replace — let alone be without — the subwoofers or the other components.
Another major requirement is a navigation system. VW offer finely-matched but very pricy all-in-one audio and navigation solutions but a simple, portable system seems more practical for our uses (many of which offer integrated MP3 players).
Some serious brainstorming is required now, and I’m not the kind of person who spends every other month adding or replacing some or other component: this is a once-off project, the results of which should last for a good while.
Images via www.michaelneuhaus.de and/or manufacturer/retailer
On Wednesday, the 14th of June something very special happened: I climbed up into the attic, hauled out a few boxes and bags, lumbered them into the basement, and began to unpack what was recovered from my trashed Jetta’s sound system. Everything had been neatly tucked away, mostly into the original cartons — including much of the cabling.
There was a whiff of nostalgia in the air as I slowly unpacked everything and crudely connected the individual components that had survived the crash. Much to my surprise, there was no distinct stench of fried electronics as I powered up the contraption — instead, I was greeted by the warm and eager “hum” of a car audio system that had re-awakened from a five-year slumber and was rearing to be let loose again.
Short of a few dents, scratches and dust, all components were ready to resume active duty — with the exception of the Proton 6×9-inch speakers that were ruined in the accident (and weren’t that great to begin with). Everything else survived and was fully functional!
The JVC head unit and CD changer, on account of being some eight years old by now, do look less impressive and flashy when compared to most modern systems with motorised panels and silly animated LCD screens but still sound good — despite their age. They play CD-Rs just fine but due to their vintage cannot decode MP3s.
The only irritating drawback lies in the unit’s illumination: pale green instead of the rest of the VW’s new red/blue scheme.
Considering how these must’ve gotten knocked around in the accident (how do you think the 6×9″ speakers got demolished?), I’m pleased to see that these survived — the Proton amplifier in particular. Though nowadays there are far meaner-looking goodies (with neon or LED illumination and VU-meters and such nonsense) to be found in car-fi shops, I’m quite sure these two boys can easily keep up with most of them.
Ah, the ugly monster that is the subwoofer box: Again, though there are far more exciting designs available nowadays, this beast with its two Pioneer 12-inchers — fed by the Starsound amplifier — still has the oomph to provide a nasty, deep, rumbling bass to rattle number plates and wing mirrors off lesser cars. The Bora’s boot, of course, is large enough to hide this contraption in and ensures that you will feel it without having to see it.
Faithless’s “Irreverence” has become the CD to tune the system to and still sounds great, despite the notable absense of another set of midrange speakers and tweeters — even if this pair of little RCFs can laugh off what the Proton amp is throwing at them.
Which of my old components will make it into the new car?
To fill in an audible blank, the following Tuesday I hooked up a set of Kenwood KFC-E6935 6×9″ speakers. These would typically be mounted against the backboard/shelf and more closely approximate what the final setup should sound like.
So: what goes, what stays, and what’s still missing?
Photo credits: hmvh DOT net and/or manufacturer/retailer
