audio set-up for beginners [continued]

[jhnkvn]

When it comes to head unit problems, madami yan. Volume attenuation, filters, etc.

Would an external volume control solve your problems?
That will depend on how the signal is runs through your chain. The only way you can bypass it is via digital. Because a digital out will automatically make your head unit just "decode" the musical binary data of 1s and 0s (ex. if you feed it a CD) but it then send the signal data to your processor for processing and in doing so it bypasses the filters (which is usually at the amplifier-section of your head unit). Since your processor does your decoding, the master volume control is at your processor.

If you're running through it via analog. The signal is first processed in the head unit but is then compensated by the processor. However, because it is "compensation", you're already sacrificing something and this is usually in the form of dynamic headroom (because most processors use digital gain or attenuation as compensation). You usually feel this when you ramp up the volume and distortion happens. For the volume, you can both control the volume of the processor and the head unit. The best route here is to find which volume the head unit starts going whacky and use the volume just below it while you control your "master volume" via your processor. Then again, if you want to use the head unit's volume, feel free to do so naman since the performance degradation isn't as grave as it sounds.

What do you suggest I do?
Okay, Mickey's Autosound is one of the biggest car audio installers in the country. In fact, they're usually #1 when it comes to the sheer volume of car audio stuff they sell. Truthfully, I'm a bit curious on which car we're talking about - since your have rear door tweeters, a highly integrated head unit system, and vents under your seats (all which are uncommon in 90% of the typical cars you see in the Philippines)

Your BitTen is going to cost Php16,000. Mickey's going to source that from Musico Mobile Audio who's the distributor of Audison stuff in the country. The Focal Flax is probably the 165FX which is at Php22,000. When it comes to the subwoofer and box, this will depend on your subwoofer driver. Most dislike paying "affordable" so they usually go for more popular models like the Polk MM1040 (around Php9,000) and a sealed box of their choice (which is usually mga 3,000php+ sa mga big name shops). For the amplifier, a 5-channel amplifier will go Php20,000 upwards. To sum it up, equipment cost mo palang nasa 70,000php without wires. This will then jump with the inclusion of labor and wires.

Truthfully, I am tempted to suggest the Focal RT500 which is kinda a DSP-subwoofer-amp rolled into one. Problem is, you lack the necessary channels as you'll be needing a 5-channel amplifier minimum (4 for your speakers and one for your subwoofer). Doing anything less is doing a disservice to your DSP which you won't be able to harness properly which throws this option out.

If it were me, I'll do it this way.

Stage 1
BitTen - 16,000php
JBL GTO5355 - 13,000php
Focal Access AS165 - 10,000php

Stage 2
A small subwoofer of your choice in a small sealed box. I would recommend an 8" Infinity 860W (<3,000php) and a small sealed box with an internal volume of around 0.5 cu.ft (trust me, maliit yan.. it will fit in the bottom of a Honda City's rear seats with plenty of space to spare)

For your amplifier, just put it at the rear alongside your processor. You do not need trunkwork. Just get a plank of wood -> mount your amplifier, processor, and wirings (like fuse holders) there -> and just securely fasten it to your rear so it won't move around.

(?) An idea I'm toying around is attaching it (amplifier and processor) to your front passenger foot well by raising the floor a couple of inches using an open (for ventilation) false wood flooring. This way, you can reduce your wiring costs a LOT because you're wiring just a couple of meters. Not 5 meters-worth of wirings per connection.

(!) I do not recommend mounting your amplifier and processor on your subwoofer box.

For the wires, keep it budgeted. Truth be told, I'm not a believer of expensive wires. I'm on that camp. Since car audio is typically limited to the likes of Tsunami, Firland, Stinger, and for the more.. "rich" ones, TchernovAudio wires, you might want to take a look at home audio wires in Shangri-La Plaza or Makati Cinema Square where your selections would be more hence you have more leverage on the pricing. Good brands to look for are QED, Audioquest, and Chord. Don't think you can't mix them up. In fact, Tchernov is a home audio speaker brand. For the speaker-wires, buy them un-terminated.