Lack of bass in my R32

burble · 08-05-2008, 01:18 PM

There is a distinct lack of bass coming from the RNS510 and OEM speakers in my MkV .:R32 and I'd like to get that sorted. I'm not after anything excessive but being the awkward sod I am I don't want a sub taking up boot space as I'm often lugging stuff around in the boot.

I've read about subs that go under the front seats but have absolutely no idea if they are any good, which ones to go for, which ones to avoid and so on so does anyone have any suggestions?

Sean_H · 08-05-2008, 01:32 PM

Burble - this is a totally off topic question, but what is the difference between the RNS510 that you have and the standard MFD2 unit they used to fit to Mk5's?

My .:R is an early 2007, and has the MFD2 but am considering upgrading (if possible)

More information would be really useful! Cheers

burble · 08-05-2008, 01:42 PM

- RNS510 has a 30Gb hard drive in it so the maps can be stored on there. With the maps on you have about 17Gb free which you can store MP3's on
- Touch screen! Makes entering destinations and generally using the thing a lot easier
- TMC works although I believe new maps for the MFD2 have sorted that
- Version 3 maps for the 510 are needed to get UK postcodes working
- Rerouting and route calculation seem a fair bit quicker than the MFD2

I'm sure there are more differences, but that's the major ones.

Upgrading from an MFD2 would be a breeze - probably a 10 minute job. You'd just need to remove the MFD2 and install the 510. Depending on how many antennas the MFD2 was using (most likely 2) you may need an adapter from VW as the antenna connectors on the 510 are closer together than on the MFD2. Apart from that, it's a plug and play installation.

Sean_H · 08-05-2008, 03:43 PM

Cool thanks for that info Burble... It defo sounds like it will be worth me looking into - I just wonder how much it is possible to source one for (will be spending next 10mins looking at fleabay

)

burble · 08-05-2008, 05:42 PM

If you do get one, the part numbers for the antenna adapter I mentioned are:

4E0 035 608 K - Twin connector housing
000 098 707 - Antenna adapter, you'll need 2 of them

I bought mine on eBay in October when they were still very new and paid about $2000 from a guy in Holland.

Nelson_R32 · 13-06-2008, 07:06 PM

Hi burble, did you get anywhere with this? I am really missing the BOSE from my A3 now.

VW do a Sound Pack that gives you a Sub under the seat, but it's probably horrendously expensive and not pre-wired. I expected it to be standard after shelling out £1850 for the Navigation.

Cuprabob · 13-06-2008, 07:15 PM

Soundpack is just an amp under the passenger seat, there's no sub

Tarmac_Terrorist · 14-06-2008, 06:36 AM

I've gone for a smallish amp under the passenger seat and an 8" sub in the boot in my GTI. Still running oem speakers (Kenwood DNX7200 head unit).
The sub is velcro'd down and has a simple banana clip for swift removal of the cables. It really makes the system sound so much better.
Like yourself, I need the boot space regularly (2kids). I can still fit the buggy in the boot even with it in there. Removal takes 15 seconds!

There are some subs that fit to one side of the boot in a special compartment shaped to the boot (creates a false wall in the side of the boot.
IIRC you would loose about 6" of boot width doing this but it's more expensive due to the custom fit.

burble · 15-06-2008, 11:06 AM

A week tomorrow I'm having the front speakers replaced with a set of Hertz which I'm told are very very good. On top of that I'm having some dynamat installed to help things a bit.

I'm told that the problem with the OEM speakers it that the paper cones are not good for bass reproduction.

I didn't want a boot install because I regularly use all of the boot space and from talking to some people the under seat subs tend to be quite flat and need to be driven quite hard to get anything useful from them.

Tarmac_Terrorist · 15-06-2008, 07:22 PM

I'm sure new speakers will help matters a bit although before I added the bass setup in mine, I ran the new Kenwood head unit through the oem speakers. Bass response was much much better and you'd be very surprised how good they are. They can handle quite high volume. The problem lies with the VW head units. From what I understand, to avoid blowing speakers etc the unit takes off bass response as the volume increases. There is a technical term for this and many oem head units do this.

08-05-2008, 01:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
burble ? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 857	Lack of bass in my R32 There is a distinct lack of bass coming from the RNS510 and OEM speakers in my MkV .:R32 and I'd like to get that sorted. I'm not after anything excessive but being the awkward sod I am I don't want a sub taking up boot space as I'm often lugging stuff around in the boot. I've read about subs that go under the front seats but have absolutely no idea if they are any good, which ones to go for, which ones to avoid and so on so does anyone have any suggestions? __________________ MY08 .:R32, DSG, Metallic Steel Grey, Leather, RNS 510 Sat Nav, OEM Bluetooth, Milltek Cat Back, EVOMS CAI, Haldex Gen II controller + switch, H&R ARB's (24mm F, 26mm R), Schrick 268/264 camshafts & APS Custom Remap

08-05-2008, 01:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sean_H Citroen C1 GT Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London Posts: 169	Burble - this is a totally off topic question, but what is the difference between the RNS510 that you have and the standard MFD2 unit they used to fit to Mk5's? My .:R is an early 2007, and has the MFD2 but am considering upgrading (if possible) More information would be really useful! Cheers __________________ .:R32 07 Diamond Black, DSG, 3dr, Leather Recaros, SatNav, Rear tints, Lux pack, Project Stealth.

08-05-2008, 01:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
burble ? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 857	- RNS510 has a 30Gb hard drive in it so the maps can be stored on there. With the maps on you have about 17Gb free which you can store MP3's on - Touch screen! Makes entering destinations and generally using the thing a lot easier - TMC works although I believe new maps for the MFD2 have sorted that - Version 3 maps for the 510 are needed to get UK postcodes working - Rerouting and route calculation seem a fair bit quicker than the MFD2 I'm sure there are more differences, but that's the major ones. Upgrading from an MFD2 would be a breeze - probably a 10 minute job. You'd just need to remove the MFD2 and install the 510. Depending on how many antennas the MFD2 was using (most likely 2) you may need an adapter from VW as the antenna connectors on the 510 are closer together than on the MFD2. Apart from that, it's a plug and play installation. __________________ MY08 .:R32, DSG, Metallic Steel Grey, Leather, RNS 510 Sat Nav, OEM Bluetooth, Milltek Cat Back, EVOMS CAI, Haldex Gen II controller + switch, H&R ARB's (24mm F, 26mm R), Schrick 268/264 camshafts & APS Custom Remap

08-05-2008, 03:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sean_H Citroen C1 GT Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London Posts: 169	Cool thanks for that info Burble... It defo sounds like it will be worth me looking into - I just wonder how much it is possible to source one for (will be spending next 10mins looking at fleabay ) __________________ .:R32 07 Diamond Black, DSG, 3dr, Leather Recaros, SatNav, Rear tints, Lux pack, Project Stealth.

08-05-2008, 05:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
burble ? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 857	If you do get one, the part numbers for the antenna adapter I mentioned are: 4E0 035 608 K - Twin connector housing 000 098 707 - Antenna adapter, you'll need 2 of them I bought mine on eBay in October when they were still very new and paid about $2000 from a guy in Holland. __________________ MY08 .:R32, DSG, Metallic Steel Grey, Leather, RNS 510 Sat Nav, OEM Bluetooth, Milltek Cat Back, EVOMS CAI, Haldex Gen II controller + switch, H&R ARB's (24mm F, 26mm R), Schrick 268/264 camshafts & APS Custom Remap

13-06-2008, 07:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
Nelson_R32 Nissan GTR Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Essex Posts: 3,707	Hi burble, did you get anywhere with this? I am really missing the BOSE from my A3 now. VW do a Sound Pack that gives you a Sub under the seat, but it's probably horrendously expensive and not pre-wired. I expected it to be standard after shelling out £1850 for the Navigation. __________________ Click here for lists of current OEM Audi Accessories available

13-06-2008, 07:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cuprabob BMW 130d Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ayrshire Posts: 1,154	Soundpack is just an amp under the passenger seat, there's no sub __________________ Mk5 R32 DSG, DBP, 3 Dr, Leather Recaros, RCD500 with soundpack, Armrest, Winter Pack and Luxury Pack 2 Suzuki GSXR1000K7, Blue/White,

14-06-2008, 06:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
Tarmac_Terrorist Nissan GTR Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Hampshire Posts: 3,579	I've gone for a smallish amp under the passenger seat and an 8" sub in the boot in my GTI. Still running oem speakers (Kenwood DNX7200 head unit). The sub is velcro'd down and has a simple banana clip for swift removal of the cables. It really makes the system sound so much better. Like yourself, I need the boot space regularly (2kids). I can still fit the buggy in the boot even with it in there. Removal takes 15 seconds! There are some subs that fit to one side of the boot in a special compartment shaped to the boot (creates a false wall in the side of the boot. IIRC you would loose about 6" of boot width doing this but it's more expensive due to the custom fit. __________________ MY06 MKV Golf GTI MY07 BMW 318i SE

15-06-2008, 11:06 AM	#9 (permalink)
burble ? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 857	A week tomorrow I'm having the front speakers replaced with a set of Hertz which I'm told are very very good. On top of that I'm having some dynamat installed to help things a bit. I'm told that the problem with the OEM speakers it that the paper cones are not good for bass reproduction. I didn't want a boot install because I regularly use all of the boot space and from talking to some people the under seat subs tend to be quite flat and need to be driven quite hard to get anything useful from them. __________________ MY08 .:R32, DSG, Metallic Steel Grey, Leather, RNS 510 Sat Nav, OEM Bluetooth, Milltek Cat Back, EVOMS CAI, Haldex Gen II controller + switch, H&R ARB's (24mm F, 26mm R), Schrick 268/264 camshafts & APS Custom Remap

15-06-2008, 07:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
Tarmac_Terrorist Nissan GTR Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Hampshire Posts: 3,579	I'm sure new speakers will help matters a bit although before I added the bass setup in mine, I ran the new Kenwood head unit through the oem speakers. Bass response was much much better and you'd be very surprised how good they are. They can handle quite high volume. The problem lies with the VW head units. From what I understand, to avoid blowing speakers etc the unit takes off bass response as the volume increases. There is a technical term for this and many oem head units do this. __________________ MY06 MKV Golf GTI MY07 BMW 318i SE