2002 Jetta Monsoon stereo replacement
Scott Evans
Great car but I couldn't stand the stereo. I replaced the head unit
with a Pioneer DEH-P4300. Some improvement, but I'm still unhappy
with the sound. It's hard for me to describe what exactly I dislike,
but as a recording engineer, it kinda resembles the sound of cheap,
steep filters somewhere in the mids. Mids are peaky and kind of
honky, and yet the system as a whole sounds very scoop-mid and boomy.
Why? I have a few theories:
1. Cheap speakers, cheap amp.
2. Too many speakers in the car. Personally I don't see why people
think 6- or 8-speaker systems are a good idea... it seems like
you're setting yourself up for awful phase problems.
3. Crossovers (probably cheap ones) in the amp. This could
definitely explain what I'm hearing; after all, crossovers
are just steep filters.
So I'm trying to figure out where to go from here. I don't want a
zillion-dollar audiophile/competition system, just a nice, flat system
with tight bass and the ability to be loud sometimes. I don't think I
need a sub, I don't think I need 7 huge amps, and I'm pretty sure
I can get where I want to be for a reasonable amount of cash.
My feeling is that I'd like to replace the Monsoon amp with a
decent 4-output amp, like a 4x50; replace the door speakers with
good full-range drivers; and disconnect the tweeters altogether.
This would be affordable and hopefully not too difficult.
If the new amp fits in the trunk compartment that holds the Monsoon
amp, that'd be perfect... hopefully the crossovers are in the amp and
not the doors. The speakers are big (6.5", I think?) so they should
support bass nicely.
With all of this done, I think I'd solve most of my problems: no
crossovers, no satellite tweeters, good drivers and a good amp.
The only remaining issue would be that I'd rather have the rear
speakers in the deck than the door, where they are currently.
Any thoughts on this plan? How much of a pain in the ass is it
to replace the speaker wire to the door speakers? How about to
run line-level cable from the stereo head unit back to the amp?
(I don't want to use speaker-level inputs on the amp.) How is
the Monsoon amp powered? I assume it's not straight from the
battery with a heavy-gauge wire, which is what most external
amps want you to do.
--
scott evans
www.antisleep.com
Kevin Tekel
> but I'm still unhappy with the sound.
If this Pioneer has a lot of gimmicky "super turbo extra boomer ultra
equalizer" settings, try turning them all OFF. Then go with simple bass
and treble settings to suit your taste. The need for any more
equalization or bass boost is a sign of poor speakers and/or amplifiers.
With good amplification and speakers, you should be able to enjoy great
sound even with ALL audio enhancement turned off (bass and treble in
their center position of no boost or cut). To the audio enthusiast, too
much bass or treble is just as bad as too little -- people don't realise
it, but you are actually reducing the "fidelity" of a stereo when you
turn up the bass or treble to more than it's supposed to be for accurate
reproduction of the music.
Why
"Scott Evans" <g...@antisleep.com> wrote in message
news:vgekbc...@templarcorp.com...
Scott Evans
>> I replaced the head unit with a Pioneer DEH-P4300. Some improvement,
>> but I'm still unhappy with the sound.
>
> If this Pioneer has a lot of gimmicky "super turbo extra boomer ultra
> equalizer" settings, try turning them all OFF.
They're off. Your points are right on, and I'm well aware of them.
I listen to stereos with the EQ almost flat... it's the way I'm used
to audio sounding (again, from recording studios).
So the problem isn't that; the problem is that the Monsoon amp and
speakers don't sound great. No surprise, it's a factory stereo,
"upgraded" or not. And that's why I'm asking about the effort
involved to replace stuff. (it's just too cold out right now to
investigate by doing!)
scott
Kevin Rhodes
First a question - do you have the double-DIN setup with CD + tape in one
unit, or the single-DIN with just tape? This was a mid-year running change to
all A4 VW's, early have the single, later have the double. Unfortunately, VW
in thier infinite wisdom made some serious wiring and control changes along
with the headunit change. The single DIN is easy to upgrade, several Blaupunkt
models are a direct plug in replacement with a cheap and easy to get harness
converter, and anything else is as simple as cut and splice the harness. The
double-DIN is a huge PITA - it has completely different and so far unique
plugs, and to make matters worse it is an integral part of the car's CAN
network control bus. Remove that headunit, and the VW dealer's diagnostic
equipment will no longer talk to your car! There is also no provision for
on/off or illumination in the harnesses, those functions are handled by the
CAN bus. All of this information can be found in great detail on the VWVortex
bulletin board (www.vwvortex.com) - it is a terrific resource!
Alledgedly several companies are in the process of creating adapter boxes that
will allow the use of aftermarket headunits, but nothing is in production yet.
I too would like to replace the double-DIN in my car, though in my case it is
to make room for extra gauges rather than for sound quality issues. I think
mine sounds adequate on CD, and poor but acceptable on radio - I only listen
to talk radio stations anyway. I will likely get a Blaupnkt Heidleberg - it
looks quite "factory".
Oh, another thing taken from the Vortex - most people swear that the Monsoon
amp and speakers are fine, and that it is the headunit that is the problem.
This is based on the fact that the only change in the system is the headunit,
the speakers and amp are the same as the earlier versions where headunit
upgrades where easy.
Kevin Rhodes
Westbrook, Maine
'02 Golf GLS TDI w/Monsoon
Scott Evans
> First a question - do you have the double-DIN setup with CD + tape in one
> unit, or the single-DIN with just tape?
single DIN with just cassette. I didn't know they were changing it.
> The double-DIN is a huge PITA - it has completely different and so
> far unique plugs, and to make matters worse it is an integral part
> of the car's CAN network control bus. Remove that headunit, and the
> VW dealer's diagnostic equipment will no longer talk to your car!
You're shitting me. Who could have *possibly* thought that was a good idea?
If there's one component that's bound to be replaced with a third-party one,
it's the stereo headunit.
> Oh, another thing taken from the Vortex - most people swear that the Monsoon
> amp and speakers are fine, and that it is the headunit that is the problem.
I'll have to disagree with 'em. I thought it sounded okay for about a day,
then realized that in fact it sounds awful. But I spend a lot of time
listening to music pretty carefully, so I might be looking for things that
most folks aren't.
> This is based on the fact that the only change in the system is the
> headunit, the speakers and amp are the same as the earlier versions
> where headunit upgrades where easy.
Maybe that's mostly to provide a CD player stock?
(and thanks for the pointed to vwvortex, I'll go read up there to see what
people have to say.)
scott