sound quality

MrBitsy · 17th October 2011, 08:06

My new V6 has a Symphony radio fitted which sounds poor (very little bass) compared to the CD80 fitted to my CDT. If I swap the heads over, will the better sound quality of the CD80 transfer, or is the sound quality more to do with something other than the head?

STUBIE mentioned the symphony was somehow 'downgraded' by BMW which affected the sound quality, but could be replaced with a different Symphony unit which sounded much better - I can't remember the details of what he said, but am not enjoying the sound quality at all!

Canonite · 17th October 2011, 08:09

I'm sure there's a software upgrade. Mine was ****. So I took the whole unit out and fitted an amp, sub and some new door speakers.

pab · 17th October 2011, 08:21

There was a resistor or some other kind of gizmo which was soldered in line,it was called SLE or sound loudness enabler.This part would double the bass and lose a lot of the excess treble.

SD1too · 17th October 2011, 08:25

Hmmm, that's interesting Ray. Provided that both your cars still have the original Goodmans speakers (which are light on bass amongst other failings), and provided that you're using the same programme material for your comparison, it certainly seems to point to a lack of bass in the Symphony.

Some years ago I met up with a bunch of Rover 75 enthusiasts from Germany and one of them demonstrated his Harmony radio which had piles of bass. He had discovered that it had a dormant 'loudness' circuit which, once connected, yielded a huge improvement in sound quality. There's a similar upgrade available somewhere for the Symphony (excluding the version fitted to cars with sat. nav., unfortunately for me). Perhaps this is what Stubie meant.

Replacing the loudspeakers is worth doing anyway Ray.

Simon.

J1MBO · 17th October 2011, 08:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by pab

There was a resistor or some other kind of gizmo which was soldered in line,it was called SLE or sound loudness enabler.This part would double the bass and lose a lot of the excess treble.

Here's a link to the upgrade if its of any help

http://www.r75-parts.de/en/sle/index.php

I upgraded the symphony in my previous 75 and you could tell the difference.

gaz7560 · 17th October 2011, 08:29

I just replaced mine with a kenwood KDC-455uw. What a difference it makes plus now have ipod connectivity. Total cost including original single din adapter and steering wheel controller £90.

Reebs · 17th October 2011, 08:48

This is what is involved in doing the upgrade.

pab · 17th October 2011, 10:49

I upgraded to the H/K speaker setup,including the front and rear tweeters.An amount of improvement was made,especially at higher volume levels.

MrBitsy · 17th October 2011, 12:34

thanks for the links - who are the kit installer specialists on the forum who could do the mod?

oldcarguy · 17th October 2011, 13:28

I bought a car several years ago with an old Blaupunkt stereo in it, got home and changed it for a modern Sony, then changed it back again because the Blaupunkt had a much richer sound with good bass.

17th October 2011, 08:06	#1
MrBitsy Loves to post Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bedford, Beds Posts: 281 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	sound quality My new V6 has a Symphony radio fitted which sounds poor (very little bass) compared to the CD80 fitted to my CDT. If I swap the heads over, will the better sound quality of the CD80 transfer, or is the sound quality more to do with something other than the head? STUBIE mentioned the symphony was somehow 'downgraded' by BMW which affected the sound quality, but could be replaced with a different Symphony unit which sounded much better - I can't remember the details of what he said, but am not enjoying the sound quality at all! __________________ Ray. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

17th October 2011, 08:25	#4
SD1too Doesn't do things by halves Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Former Middlesex Posts: 20,382 Thanks: 1,587 Thanked 3,749 Times in 3,181 Posts	Hmmm, that's interesting Ray. Provided that both your cars still have the original Goodmans speakers (which are light on bass amongst other failings), and provided that you're using the same programme material for your comparison, it certainly seems to point to a lack of bass in the Symphony. Some years ago I met up with a bunch of Rover 75 enthusiasts from Germany and one of them demonstrated his Harmony radio which had piles of bass. He had discovered that it had a dormant 'loudness' circuit which, once connected, yielded a huge improvement in sound quality. There's a similar upgrade available somewhere for the Symphony (excluding the version fitted to cars with sat. nav., unfortunately for me). Perhaps this is what Stubie meant. Replacing the loudspeakers is worth doing anyway Ray. Simon. __________________ "Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble." Sir Henry Royce.

17th October 2011, 12:34	#9
MrBitsy Loves to post Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bedford, Beds Posts: 281 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	thanks for the links - who are the kit installer specialists on the forum who could do the mod? __________________ Ray. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

17th October 2011, 08:09	#2
Canonite This is my second home BMW 330d Tourer, MG ZT 180 SE XPG, VW Polo 6R 1.2 TDI Bluemotion Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: York Posts: 6,022 Thanks: 363 Thanked 574 Times in 319 Posts	I'm sure there's a software upgrade. Mine was ****. So I took the whole unit out and fitted an amp, sub and some new door speakers.

17th October 2011, 08:21	#3
pab Banned MG ZT V6 190+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Leeds Posts: 33,223 Thanks: 41 Thanked 1,614 Times in 1,416 Posts	There was a resistor or some other kind of gizmo which was soldered in line,it was called SLE or sound loudness enabler.This part would double the bass and lose a lot of the excess treble.

17th October 2011, 08:29	#6
gaz7560 Loves to post Ford Mondeo Ghia X 2.0 TDCi Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Langford, Beds Posts: 353 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I just replaced mine with a kenwood KDC-455uw. What a difference it makes plus now have ipod connectivity. Total cost including original single din adapter and steering wheel controller £90.

17th October 2011, 10:49	#8
pab Banned MG ZT V6 190+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Leeds Posts: 33,223 Thanks: 41 Thanked 1,614 Times in 1,416 Posts	I upgraded to the H/K speaker setup,including the front and rear tweeters.An amount of improvement was made,especially at higher volume levels.

17th October 2011, 13:28	#10
oldcarguy Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Conn SE Tourer Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Driffield Posts: 1,952 Thanks: 27 Thanked 151 Times in 125 Posts	I bought a car several years ago with an old Blaupunkt stereo in it, got home and changed it for a modern Sony, then changed it back again because the Blaupunkt had a much richer sound with good bass.