McIntosh in MY08 GTB Wagon

[Weerty]

Hey all..

I like my music LOUD, and it seems that the standard system head unit and the 14 speakers isnt really capable of this... And although there is a small sub in the bootlining the system really doenst give the bass i am sorely after... (not for doof-doof; just like loud rock/metal...etc)

Im constantly running the stereo on 38/39/40... (stereo only goes up to 40)... is there a way that anyone knows that the standard head unit can essentially be 'overclocked' to give an output of say up to '50' ? Or am i just going to kill the speakers?

[The Sean]

First thing I'd try is sound deadening with Dynamat, a lot of guys on here have done it and by increasing the speaker efficiency, you may gain what you are trying to achieve (overall volume increase as you aren't losing energy to metal mounting surfaces and trims vibrating as much)

Honestly, and dangers to your long term hearing and general traffic awareness aside, the kind of volume you are after really is out of the range of a stock system.

The good thing about trying the sound deadening first is that if you do go down the upgrade path, it will be a task that will put you in good stead for when you really want to get serious. (i.e. it won't be a waste of time as the deadening will always work with your system)


A word from the wise though about hearing degradation, it really isn't something that should be taken lightly.

Mine is minor overall and result of loud music at concerts, gigs, in car and not wearing ear plugs on job sites as much as I should have.

You tend to feel like a 'tard asking peolpe to repeat themselves and you end up having to listen to everything louder than need be, add Tinitus to that and it makes you wish you took things more seriously.

I guess sound quality is one thing but overall volume levels should be cautiously seeked.

[Sentinel]

A word from the wise though about hearing degradation, it really isn't something that should be taken lightly.

Mine is minor overall and result of loud music at concerts, gigs, in car and not wearing ear plugs on job sites as much as I should have.

You tend to feel like a 'tard asking peolpe to repeat themselves and you end up having to listen to everything louder than need be, add Tinitus to that and it makes you wish you took things more seriously.

I guess sound quality is one thing but overall volume levels should be cautiously seeked.

+1. Well said. I too LOVE loud music, but I've had to curtail the loudness for clarity and precision on my home Hi-Fi. It's well and truly than capable, but now I just control it. For my Lib, I've actually put a bigger woofer in the boot of my wagon and it seems to have done the trick. Maybe I'm just getting old, but I also hate the sensation of going to bed and having the constant 'buzz' in my ears.

[The Sean]

Man, I wish I realised at the time that running 2 amps with 2x 6 inch splits and 2x 6x9s + sub in a single cab Hilux ute was definitely too loud for my own good

I don't know if you'd call it life experience or not Sentinel but every time I read about blokes handing over big $$$ for car sound I wonder if they've ever heard a really good home theatre rig (mine has gone so far past a 'theatre' set up at this stage, it can only justifiably be called a rig!)

Don't get me wrong, if you spend 2+ hours a day in your car, I can fully see why you would spend $2K+ on a car system upgrade but I don't know, cars are not the most conjusive environment for high end audio indulgement.

That old axiom about 'picking your fights' rings truer than that sort of there annoying background sound in my ears anyways!

[andy85]

mate u dont have to be spending 2hrs+ a day to be having a 2K+ system.. Even my 2hr a week car gets a close to 10K system.

i would spend as much as i could afford in a car system cos theres nothing like the feeling of driving with the favo music at a decent volume with pure SQ!!!

if you're serious about audio... why not head down to FHRX in Caringbah and speak to Marty? One of the best installer in the industry.