Bass tube in my Octy VRS ?

cushty · 03-10-2005, 16:44

I've got the factory fit - Symphony head unit.

I've upgraded my front speakers with some Alpines. The sound has improved quite a bit , but I'm still lacking bass!. I've been thinking about getting a powered bass tube along the lines of a Pioneer or, Bazooka.

Is it worth getting a bass tube? Are they difficult to wire up? Ideally I'd like something that could be easily removed if I need the full boot space on occasion. Any advice or pointers appreciated.

EddyH · 03-10-2005, 16:46

Amping the existing speakers maybe a better idea to start with, you can add pre-outs to the standard Octavia Symphony quite easily.

simon · 03-10-2005, 16:48

Bass tubes tend to be a bit pony.

I have a 12" sub in the boot. The amp lives under the false floor and the sub itself is velcro'd in place so its easily removeable

Wiring is not too difficult and I believe there have been numerous threads featuring "How too" guides but before I upgraded my head unit I simply wired the amp off the rear speakers

Best off upgrading the head unit to one with proper outputs for bass amps though

Good luck!

Johnnyc · 03-10-2005, 20:36

I thought bass tubes went out about 10 years ago!

Joel_vRS · 04-10-2005, 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddyH

Amping the existing speakers maybe a better idea to start with, you can add pre-outs to the standard Octavia Symphony quite easily.

you can but i wouldnt bother... you will never get the same results as swoping the unit for one with pre outs already in...you will need pre out for a bass tube..

im afraid you have started on the silppy downward slope....amping the alpine speakers will give you better results from this investment across the frequecy range...but still not totaly solve your bass problem... a tube can offer an apealing package as its sub enclosure and amp all rolled into one... and will give a good amount of bass..ok SQ and SPL is certainly not revolutionary but is ample for most ears...

Joel

EddyH · 04-10-2005, 16:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joel_vRS

you can but i wouldnt bother... you will never get the same results as swoping the unit for one with pre outs already in...you will need pre out for a bass tube..

im afraid you have started on the silppy downward slope....amping the alpine speakers will give you better results from this investment across the frequecy range...but still not totaly solve your bass problem... a tube can offer an apealing package as its sub enclosure and amp all rolled into one... and will give a good amount of bass..ok SQ and SPL is certainly not revolutionary but is ample for most ears...

Joel

The standard HU does have preouts. all you need is an adaptor that costs a few pounds to convert them from the existing connector to RCA's.

vRS_Si · 04-10-2005, 17:36

Alpine do some nice Active subs:

A 6.5"

Retails for £120.

And an 8"

Retails for £190.

cushty · 05-10-2005, 19:46

Thanks for the heads up on the 'bass' situation guys. That 8" Alipne looks like it might do the job. EddyH , you mention:

Quote:

...... all you need is an adaptor that costs a few pounds to convert them from the existing connector to RCA's.

....can you be any more specific ? i.e. part number ? URL? etc.

Again, many thanks for expert ICE advice

EddyH · 05-10-2005, 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by cushty

Thanks for the heads up on the 'bass' situation guys. That 8" Alipne looks like it might do the job. EddyH , you mention: ....can you be any more specific ? i.e. part number ? URL? etc.

Again, many thanks for expert ICE advice

You can make one yourself with parts from the dealer (there are instructions out there but I don't have them to hand) or you can get them pre-made like this one: http://www.bluespot.co.uk/stock/preamp.asp

I know these definetely work on the VW Gamma which uses the exact same connectors on the rear of the unit but haven't tried on the Symphony as I've upgraded to sat nav. I'm sure I've seen a data sheet for the Symphony though that shows these pin connections but it was a year or so ago so I can't remember the site.

RobClubley · 06-10-2005, 11:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by vRS_Si

Alpine do some nice Active subs:

A 6.5"

Retails for £120.

I have on of these - I'm well pleased with it

Bootleboy · 07-10-2005, 10:15

I have a Blaupunkt Velocity VBR 8 (2 x 8 inch subs) Active sub (cost nearly £200), that i used in my company Octy VRS. Coz i didnt want to change the HU, i used the high inputs (speaker inputs) on the sub, and just took a split from the rear speakers. I was told that this would sound sh#t, but i can assure you that i was astounded! It was amazing, and from speaker inputs too! Really deep and loud bass. I know that the amp within the sub is geared up for speaker inputs aswell as RCA's, but i was very surprised.

I used this for a couple of months before moving company and buying my own VRS. I dont use the sub any more as i have upgraded to a Sony HU, and Infinity speakers allround - loads of bass, no need for sub!!

If you're interested i can take some photos - i may even part with it if the price is right!!!

cushty · 08-10-2005, 14:19

Thanks for info and offer Bootleboy.....

I've just been down to my local ICE shop. I explained my requirements to the guy in the shop & he reckons my best upgrade route is to replace the head unit first, before looking at subs/tubes. He'd upgraded a few Octys and said that the factory HU was basically 'pants' and I would get a 'masssive' overall improvement from my existing speakers (new alpines already in the front).

So now I'm wondering.....which head unit to look at ! The shop offered me a discount on a Clarion (MP3/wma ID3 tags etc)....but I thought I would seek yet more expert advice here first!.....so my new question is:

Which head units are worth looking at? MP3 support required..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bootleboy

I have a Blaupunkt Velocity VBR 8 (2 x 8 inch subs) Active sub (cost nearly £200), that i used in my company Octy VRS. Coz i didnt want to change the HU, i used the high inputs (speaker inputs) on the sub, and just took a split from the rear speakers. I was told that this would sound sh#t, but i can assure you that i was astounded! It was amazing, and from speaker inputs too! Really deep and loud bass. I know that the amp within the sub is geared up for speaker inputs aswell as RCA's, but i was very surprised.

I used this for a couple of months before moving company and buying my own VRS. I dont use the sub any more as i have upgraded to a Sony HU, and Infinity speakers allround - loads of bass, no need for sub!!

If you're interested i can take some photos - i may even part with it if the price is right!!!

**robmawer** · 08-10-2005, 14:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddyH

I know these definetely work on the VW Gamma which uses the exact same connectors on the rear of the unit but haven't tried on the Symphony as I've upgraded to sat nav. I'm sure I've seen a data sheet for the Symphony though that shows these pin connections but it was a year or so ago so I can't remember the site.

The pin diagram can be found on this thread: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?t=28616

We did try doing this to the Symphony a few years back to use an amp to power the speakers, but it didn't go too well. It worked for about 15 minutes (and did actually sound pretty good) but then the amp blew. We checked the voltages on the pre-out, and they were pretty erratic, and also remarkably extreme.
But others have managed to get this working, so I suspect it was possibly just a dodgy head unit...

Rob.

simon · 08-10-2005, 16:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by cushty

so my new question is:

Which head units are worth looking at? MP3 support required..

I've got a Kenwood w9027

Should tick all you boxes - 3 pre outs including a dedicated sub out
Plays MP3's
Massive EQ including sub out level, full crossovers, phase selection etc.

Looks the nuts too!

cushty · 10-10-2005, 22:35

Thanks Simon.

Budget doesnt stretch far enough for one of those....but I did get myself a great deal on a brand new Clarion unit from ebay....Its exactly the same as one i was offered in a my local ICE shop.... but £60 cheaper!

I'm (blindly) assuming that I wont have any wiring 'issues' when I swap the exisiting unit out & put the new one in....? Will I need any wiring adaptors I wonder?

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon

I've got a Kenwood w9027

Should tick all you boxes - 3 pre outs including a dedicated sub out
Plays MP3's
Massive EQ including sub out level, full crossovers, phase selection etc.

Looks the nuts too!

simon · 10-10-2005, 22:56

Easy peasy install

I think there was an issue with having to swap 2 of the wires over (yellow and red I think) cos they're backwards on the skoda loom.......I think!

03-10-2005, 16:44	#1
cushty Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North West Posts: 24 Members Car: Octavia VRS 03 Plate Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Bass tube in my Octy VRS ? I've got the factory fit - Symphony head unit. I've upgraded my front speakers with some Alpines. The sound has improved quite a bit , but I'm still lacking bass!. I've been thinking about getting a powered bass tube along the lines of a Pioneer or, Bazooka. Is it worth getting a bass tube? Are they difficult to wire up? Ideally I'd like something that could be easily removed if I need the full boot space on occasion. Any advice or pointers appreciated.

03-10-2005, 16:46	#2
EddyH Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 4,908 Members Car: Audi S8 Thanks: 41 Thanked 27 Times in 27 Posts	Amping the existing speakers maybe a better idea to start with, you can add pre-outs to the standard Octavia Symphony quite easily. __________________ EddyH Audi A6 Avant 2.7 TDI Audi A3 2.0 TDI Sport

03-10-2005, 16:48	#3
simon Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sunny Aylesbury Posts: 1,041 Members Car: octavia VRS Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Bass tubes tend to be a bit pony. I have a 12" sub in the boot. The amp lives under the false floor and the sub itself is velcro'd in place so its easily removeable Wiring is not too difficult and I believe there have been numerous threads featuring "How too" guides but before I upgraded my head unit I simply wired the amp off the rear speakers Best off upgrading the head unit to one with proper outputs for bass amps though Good luck! __________________ If it feels good....Do it! [IMG] Last edited by simon; 03-10-2005 at 16:50.

03-10-2005, 20:36	#4
Johnnyc Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 3,193 Members Car: MkV Golf 1.9 TDI Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	I thought bass tubes went out about 10 years ago! __________________ Johnny "Americans have different ways of saying things. They say "elevator", we say "lift" ... they say "President", we say "stupid psychopathic git."

04-10-2005, 17:36	#7
vRS_Si Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Coventry Posts: 1,293 Members Car: Octavia vRS Thanks: 8 Thanked 20 Times in 20 Posts	Alpine do some nice Active subs: A 6.5" Retails for £120. And an 8" Retails for £190. __________________ vRS Mirror polished 9*18" Mercedes Alloys, APR FMIC, ABD TIP & CAI, Powder coated inlet manifold, Jabba Re-map, Blueflame/Pipewerx exhaust, Forge DV, KW v3 coilovers, Neuspeed ARB, S3 strut braces, bonnet lifters, Autostyl rear spoiler, Milotec rear diffuser & bumper grills, side rubbing strips removed, front and rear rubbing strips smoothed and colour coded, scuttle pannel colour coded, chrome grill colour coded, mk2 vRS badge, de-locked, tints, mk4 aero wipers.

07-10-2005, 10:15	#11
Bootleboy Briskodian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Leics Posts: 28 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have a Blaupunkt Velocity VBR 8 (2 x 8 inch subs) Active sub (cost nearly £200), that i used in my company Octy VRS. Coz i didnt want to change the HU, i used the high inputs (speaker inputs) on the sub, and just took a split from the rear speakers. I was told that this would sound sh#t, but i can assure you that i was astounded! It was amazing, and from speaker inputs too! Really deep and loud bass. I know that the amp within the sub is geared up for speaker inputs aswell as RCA's, but i was very surprised. I used this for a couple of months before moving company and buying my own VRS. I dont use the sub any more as i have upgraded to a Sony HU, and Infinity speakers allround - loads of bass, no need for sub!! If you're interested i can take some photos - i may even part with it if the price is right!!!

10-10-2005, 22:56	#16
simon Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sunny Aylesbury Posts: 1,041 Members Car: octavia VRS Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Easy peasy install I think there was an issue with having to swap 2 of the wires over (yellow and red I think) cos they're backwards on the skoda loom.......I think! __________________ If it feels good....Do it! [IMG]

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