So I have a 2006 C6 in which I've done some work regarding the audio. I have the factory BOSE w/NAV but I have replaced the front/rear speakers with Focal components up front and some Focals in the back. I also have a JL Stealthbox. There's a JL 250x1 running the sub and a JL 300x4 running the fronts/rears. I've also put some sound deadening materials in the doors and reach hatch area...

99% of the time I listen to music through my iPod using a direct connection.

The sound is great, but it's not quite as clear as the system in my wife's Mazda3 hatch, also using Focal components and rears powered by a JL 300x4 along with an Elemental Designs sub with a 400w eD amp. She also has a CleanSweep running from the factory head unit.

So I've read how the CS doesn't really do anything in the C6, and the audio shop agreed. What they suggested was to have the current system "tuned" by them for $75. I'm not technical on it all, but they basically said they would calibrate the system for optimal levels and whatnot so it could sound a lot better.

They also said the Stealthbox is probably the weak point in the setup and that I could try swapping out the JL 250x1 amp for a 500w amp. I would think a 500w amp into a 250w rated sub would blow it but the way he explained it was they would set the right levels so it wouldn't. They made it sound like a more powerful amp would make the sub run "faster" and it would give it more headroom to perform before it got muddy or distorted.

The also suggested that if I didn't want to swap anything out that I could try a signal processor from Memphis, particularly the 16-Bass2.2:



They said this is designed to improve the bass level of compressed music used for iPod and so forth. So they said that this thing, along with a tune could dramatically improve the sound of my current setup without having to change out subs or amps.

Any of this make sense? I mean I like the sound quality I have in my car right now, but I do notice how much more clear my wife's system is, particularly the fact you can turn it up louder and it sounds crystal clear and more responsive and punchy in the bass area...

 

Well, if they are talking about gain settings and EQ tuning, that could make a pretty huge difference... for better or worse.

Dont try to improved compressed music. Use better compression (You have an ipod, try apple lossless)

More power wont make it faster (what?) but headroom is good, as the sub won't be limited by power when it really, really needs it.

I'm running 900 watts to my front component set. It's all about being smart with the gains, and hearing when you're pushing something past its limit.

 

I usually use 320 ACC encoding when ripping my CDs to ipod. the only time I have something else is when buying from itunes and whatnot. But even then I usually end up with higher than 192...

But thanks, it sounds like a tune and a more powerful amp would make the biggest differences. I was under the impression that a more powerful amp would blow the speaker. The JL sub speaker says its rated at 300w (continuous) so I assumed a 500w amp would destroy it since that's 200w more than the speaker is rated at...

Maybe I'll have them swap amps and do a calibration...

Any suggestions what amp would be good to power the JL Stealthbox instead of the JL 250x1 I have in there now?

Looking at the Elemental Designs NINe.2 400x1:
http://www.edesignaudio.com/product_...products_id=45

 

Do you feel like you lack bass currently? Adding more power to the sub will not necessarily make things more clear unless you are asking for more bass than your current setup will provide. If that is the case more power/headroom can certainly help.

As for how clear your setup sounds vs your wifes setup, I can't speak for the C6 factory Nav head unit and its signal quality, but I would honestly be surprised if it sent a clean 20hz to 20khz signal without stupid blose processing in it.

I think Kale's suggestion is worth exploring as well, as anything I want to listen to gets ripped lossless. I am not sure how your Ipod is connected to the Nav but I am guessing there is an external jack from the factory? You can check out a place called head-fi.org. Avoid the crazy snake oil BS they have there and look for a direct out from the Ipod from a guy named "Turbo" I think. His unit plugs into the bottom of the Ipod (where you charge/download from) and bypasses the crappy Ipod internal DAC and will just send whatever signal your file is loaded at. Might be worth checking out, but if you use it you MUST have your tracks loaded lossless or you WILL notice the difference. You may even notice how poorly recorded a lot of today's music is

G'luck
Fej

 

I don't necessarily feel it's lacking bass, but I do notice that my wife's car has a bit more punch to it and the bass seems tighter, whereas in my car the bass sounds good, but some stuff sounds a little more muddy. Probably due to the 150W difference in power from mine to hers.

We both share the same music on our iPods so the same songs in her car sound better.

I'm using the direct connection from the base of the ipod to connect directly to the head unit, not the factory connection. So the connection is solid.

So ipod compression aside, I can tell that the same songs in my wife's car have a bit more "ooomph" to them. You can feel the bass through your chest, even at lower volumes. In mine you still feel it, but it's not as noticeable at lower volumes and when you turn it up, you can tell it starts to get a bit muddy sooner. Her car you can crank about as loud as you can stand and everything sounds solid.

The tuning is something I think I'll do anyways, that could help not only the bass, but the clarity of the rest of the sound stage.

 

Sounds like the tune is worth looking in to. It is not a lot of money, but I would make sure that you run some tracks through the system that YOU know VERY well before you leave to make sure you are happy with the results. Probably worth a quick test drive with the tech that tunes the system as well as what a system sounds like sitting in a garage vs driving down the road is vastly different.

G'luck
Fej

 

Ya the guy at the shop told me to pick a bunch of songs that I think sounds great and some that I don't. Also to pick a variety of types of music, rock, rap...whatever.

A tune sounds like that might be my first step...