The AU audio thread - ideas, products and advice.

[b2tf]

Started this thread after a bit of discussion in another thread about what audio options exist (and work) for AU falcons.

Whilst I can only put forward suggestions and ideas from my own experience and thoughts, I invite everybody who has an AU and has put a stereo in one to contribute.

Mine will concentrate on utes as both AU's I've had (previous and current) are utes, but some of the products/ideas will no doubt flow over to be able to be used on sedans.

Headunit

Few simple thoughts - for me it has to be easy to use, good looking, functional and affordable. Probably asking for a bit too much but based on those goals I am looking at an Alpine unit.

Links to all major brands and what headunits they make:

Alpine:

http://alpine.com.au/showProduct.php?pid=5

Pioneer:

http://www.pioneer.com.au/en/Product...20Players.aspx

Clarion:

http://clarion.com/au/en/products/20...nit/index.html

More brands exist but those are probably the main ones most people will look at.

A few points to remember with headunits:

Your stock headunit is prone to breaking, jamming CD's and has no RCA outputs. Keep this in mind if you intend on retaining it, BUT dont write it off. It looks good, it's meant to be there, the dash is moulded around it, and an in dash 6 stack is pretty convenient.

If you change the headunit to an aftermarket one, your steering wheel controls won't work without the use of one of these:

http://www.thecat.net.au/cat10.htm

One of these is about $300 and it allows you to use the factory controls.

If you change to a single DIN unit, you will need one of these:

http://www.aerpro.com.au/p.php?pcode=FP9040

Available in black, grey, and Aerpro also do one that goes right around the headunit:

http://www.aerpro.com.au/p.php?pcode=FP9140

DNA Audio also do similar products and all of these are available at any Autobarn store (I work at one) or any good car audio store.


Speakers:

Stock AU size is 5x7, depending on the level of audio system your car/ute has you may have tweeters in the A pillars, sub in the parcel shelf etc. Stock sub in the rear of sedans is 8" - and it ain't very good.

Few options you have:

Alpine:

http://alpine.com.au/showProduct.php?pid=10

Pioneer:

http://www.pioneer.com.au/Products/C.../Speakers.aspx

Clarion:

http://clarion.com/au/en/products/20...ers/index.html

Kenwood's site won't let me link direct to the page but kenwood.com.au

Rockford Fosgate:

http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/produ...s.asp?cat_id=3

Infinity:

http://www.c-t.com.au/infinity/car-products


Other brands available but I haven't linked to include:

Hertz
Option Audio
Eclipse Audio

Probably more that I don't know about!

A few points to remember with speakers:

Your stock size is 5x7 but you can get adaptors to change that to anything from 6x9 through to 6 or 6.5". BUT remember that if you do end up using adaptors, you need to be sure that you have enough clearance to allow your windows to go up and down and fit past the mounting depth of the speaker (which could change depending on how thick your adaptor is).

Some adaptors available:

http://aerpro.com.au/list.php?cat_no...rs&cat_sno=242

http://dnaaudio.com.au/index.php?s=s...=0&search=FORD

The stock headunit can run most speakers providing you dont change the wattage etc, and for the most part this setup (stock headunit and aftermarket speakers) will probably give you a noticable improvement in sound quality and depth. If you really want to go far with it or increase volume, thats when you would look at an amplifier.

Tweeters are the small bits in the middle of the speaker that handle the higher frequencies and you can get speakers that have them built in all as one unit (1 way splits), or you can get them that have the tweeter as a seperate unit (known as 2 or 3 way splits). This is handy if you have tweeters in the A pillar because it means you can mount your speakers in the door, and have your tweeters in the factory position - and retain the factory wiring.

More to come.