First thing is first...I've been sick for over a week, which has allowed me ample time to Internet browse for things I don't need. In the process of getting my speakers and amp installed, I am both happy and not happy...I'd really benefit from a eq, but if I buy that I might as well just get a new head unit...don't wanna get crazy and spend too much money, but if I'm going to do it I might as well do it right. The pioneer appradio 2 seems like a good option, but it seems to be lacking in a few areas. I'm really concerned with vandalism so I'm not sold yet as to what, if any, moves I'll make.

F.Y.I. My current setup is in a 2010 vw golf 2dr hatchback...
Stock head unit with line converter.
Front and rear DLS component speakers
4 channel Phoenix Gold Amp.

Not quite a system, but I'm an old man who's not into much bass, and living in Miami theft is a concern hence the stock head unit...with that being said, once again, I really could benefit from installing a nice double din and a single 10 inch sub.

Edzy the guru, where are you?

 

Keep the stock unit and get a processor.

The LOC and amp are the bottlenecks in this setup

Typical car audio branded LOCs generally have a limited bandwidth, and even within that bandwidth, the signal isn't very flat.

All an LOC is is a group of small transformers that step down the voltage to a line level, and provide ground isolation. Since consumer car audio LOCs utilize such small, and inexpensive transformers, you'll get the limited bandwidth I was talking about.

Also, the more eq you use, the more power you need since you'll be boosting frequencies.

 

Alpine pxah800...or an audison bit one? That's what I've been looking into...the source has to be high end to get true quality sound through to the speakers correct? That means no more mp3 files, but flac/wav...etc. (no compressed files)

So my stock head unit will get a better/quality signal out to the speakers through using the processor? Will I need to change anything else and will I be able to control everything from my factory head unit or is there a way to control things wirelessly through say... My iPhone?
Just trying to get a better understanding of how the system will work...do these processing units offer eqs...will I be able to tune through it?

 

Mp3's are fine as long as they're v0's, v2's, or 320 cbrs.

Bit.1 is nice, but you'll have that fancy control pod on the dash. The key is to keep things stealth, right?

Go with the 3sixty.3

That's what a processor does

Gives u eq, crossovers, time alignment, left/right seperation/built in line drivers

the 3sixty.3 does wireless audio streaming with an add on dongle.

 

single 10 would require a box of some time in the hatch area.. if you want complete stealth, the spare tire holds enough airspace for an 8. built this one for a fahrenheit edition gti a while back. if you're willing to ditch the spare, you could easily do a 10.. but not many people are willing to ditch a spare tire for tunes

 

and processors are good, but there are other options out there if you want to add features (and standard rca preouts) yet retain an OEM look. this one is from Rosen Entertainment



just another option

 

That unit is nice, but would the system benefit more from that or a Processor of the same cost?

 

from a sound standpoint, processor.. like i said, this would be more of a feature adding thing. you'll get a bit more control over sound, but nowhere near what a good processor would give you

for processors i'd look at the jbl ms-8, rockford fosgate 360.3, or the audio control dql-8. setting up the fosgate it a bit easier due to the laptop interface, but considering you really only need to set it up once i think it may be a bit overkill. audio control is local to me, so i tend to be a bit biased towards them.

 

FOrgot ssa made these

One of these would be damn good
http://www.soundsolutionsaudio.com/i...tion/gcon.html