Audio upgrade, an alternative to Dynaudio.

[vwfanatic]

I was really torn when i ordered my Rocco, i wanted the Dynaudio sound system very bad
Especially as Dynaudio is a Danish company, and i'm being a Dane.

But after listening to it, I found that it was a little weak on power, although it sounded very good.
Most dissapointing was the lack of a good deep bass punch.
After checking it out, i found that the amp was "only" 300W and not 600W as in the Passat.
From there it was an easy choice, as all cars for normal use in Denmark, is added with a 180% tax.
Which means that the Dynaudio soundsystem ends up at a staggering 1900 £

So i decided to boil something together by my self.

I'm not quite there yet. But the project is under way, and decided to share some of my ideas with you guys.


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Hardware:
Headunit- RNS510 satnav/mediacenter.
Blaupunkt THA475 pnp 4x75W RMS, main amplifier for front an rear speakers.
Blaupunkt THA275 pnp (bridged) 1x190W RMS, for subwoofer.
Plug 'n play cable.
Phone cable.

Speakers - Hertz Hi-Energy:
Front:
HSK163 3 way system:
Woofers: HV165 165mm
Midrange: HL70 70mm
Tweeter: HT25 25mm
Crossover: 3W.10
Rear:
HSK165 2 way system:
Woofers: HV165 165mm
Tweeter: HT25 25mm
Crossover: 2W.20

Subwoofer: Hertz Energy ES250 10"

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I decided for the Blaupunkt amps because of the Pnp feature and because of the size.
It's very important for me that all the stuff is hidden away, so that nothing shows.
Also important is that it can be done without altering the original wiring loom, an without drilling or cutting holes in the bodywork or interior trim.

The size of the Blaupunkt amps is perfect, they will fit under the front seats.
Using the mounting brackets for the original soundsystem amp, and the TV-tuner.
With the bezels mounted you will never know that theres amps under the seats

The subwoofer should also be hidden away, so i decided to stuff it in the sparewheel well.

And that's where i started:
To get max utilization of the space i decided to mold a subcase in fiberglass, well the bottom of it anyway.
Although i didn't have my Rocco yet, i found out that the sparewheel well was exactly the same on my Golf mk5, so i used that for the mold.

Sub1.jpg

Sub2.jpg

Sub3.jpg

Sub4.jpg

Sub5.jpg

[mo1315]

Nice work, I am a fan of car audio but have yet to do anything to the 'roc. I'm intrigued to see how this progresses.

I have a question for you - I see you opted for 3 way comps up front. Where are you planning to install the mids as the current setup is two way?

Also, the mounting brackets for the original amp that you refer to - I assume the 'roc is fitted with a bracket under the passenger seat as standard for the Dynaudio amp and you will be mounting your amp to this.

[vwfanatic]

I was going to save that for later, as the front door installation isn't completed yet.
But i can reveal that it includes som drilling

Front1.jpg

Front2.jpg

And yes, i will be using both the brackets for the amplifier and for the TV tuner.

[skindemon]

good work - keep us updated with lots of pics!

[Chillout]

cool project! I like this, especially for the fact that you're sticking with that OEM-look by using the available speaker grills

[vwfanatic]

Next thing to do, is to cut off the edges and "close" it with polyester.
After that, i made a top of MDF board. I will not bore you with a lot of pictures with sawing and drilling.

sub6.jpg

sub7.jpg

sub8.jpg

sub9.jpg

sub10.jpg

[vwfanatic]

To finish up the subcase i had to find out how many litres the tub could contain.
Beacuse of the odd shape theres no formula to calculate the volume, so i had to do some measuring with water.
I found out by filling the tub with water, while counting how many 15 litres buckets i used, until i was near the top edge, and at the end 1 litre at the time.
I ended up at approx 50 litres.
The speaker i am going to use needs 22,7 litres, so i simply sliced the tub down until i reached the right size.

Then i made a bulkhead of MDF and closed the case.
The inside is damped with acustic mats (Fonoform) on sides and bottom.
A hole is cut for the speaker terminals.
And finaly the MDF is glued to the fiberglass. All joints are sealed so the case is air tight.

sub11.jpg

sub12.jpg

sub13.jpg

sub14.jpg

sub15.jpg

The speaker on the pictures is not the Hertz ES250 Sub i will end up with.

I have not yet given the subcase the final touch, with some carpet and paint, but i will get back to it.
Soon - hopefully

[mo1315]

That looks great. Plenty of space to mount your sub amp in the wheel well too by the looks of it. Can't wait to see the finished results.

[vwfanatic]

Mounting the amps.

After some resarch i found out that the Blaupunkt THA475 PNP amp would fit right under the drivers seat.
In a car with the stearingwheel in the left side that is, i guess it must be the other way around for you UK guys

So that was what i was going for.
Nearly by coincidence i found out that was also the were the original amp for soundsystem was placed in the Mk 5 Golf, which almost is the same platform as Scirocco.
A double check showed that is was indeed the same sparepart# for Golf 5, 6, Jetta, Eos, Passat, Tiguan, Touran and Scirocco.
So i went along and ordered the brackets.

Here is a part list for both brackets - sorry but as i shop most parts in Germany, the partnames are in german.

3C0 919 935 A
Halter (Bracket)

1K0 919 747
Halter (Bracket)

N 906 674 02 (4 pcs. needed, 2 for each bracket)
Sechskantschraube (Screw)
M6X10

N 023 002 13 (4 pcs. needed, 2 for each bracket)
Sechskantmutter, selbstsichernd (Nut)
M6

1K0 971 813 C 9B9
Abdeckung (Cover)
satinschwarz

N 908 170 03 (4 pcs. needed, 2 for each bracket)
Innensechsrund-Blechschraube (Screw)
6X17

1K0 035 883 C
Halter fuer Verstaerker (Bracket for Amplifier)

1K0 035 933
Halter (Support Bracket)

1K0 971 813 B 9B9
Abdeckung (Cover)
satinschwarz

N 909 460 01 (4 pcs. needed, 2 for each bracket)
Spreizmutter (Spread Nut)
6X10,2

[vwfanatic]

Continued...

[vwfanatic]

At this time i was still waiting for my Scirroco.
Well it wasn't really ordered - because i was strugling to sell my Golf 5 for a fair price

So i did a test setup in my Golf 5 (with only the main amp).
Which will show on some of the pictures, but there is really no difference
Between the Golf and the Scirocco.

Mounting the brackets are really easy.
The holes for mounting the brackets are "prepunched" in the carpet and insulation.
So there's no need for cutting, just simply extract the "plugs"
And the neccesary holes and mounting screws are hidding underneath.

[vwfanatic]

To mount the amps it is neccesary to remove a lot of the interior.

I removed both front seats, but its quit easy. Theres a coupling station beside the outer seat rails.
=== At this point you should disconnect the battery ===
So simply unplug the connectors, unscrew the 4 screws and lift out the seat.

Also you must remove the rear seat bench, and sidepanels, unfortunately to do that you have to start by removing the final assembly at the roof liner, the c-pillar covers, the rear seat side covers.
Not a hard thing to do, but i takes a couple of hours.

But its worth the effort, as you now have all the place you need to do a great work, placing cables and wires.

[vwfanatic]

Continued.....

The subwoofer amplifier:

Amp13.jpg

Amp14.jpg

Amp installation completed

Amp18.jpg

Amp19.jpg

Amp20.jpg

[vwfanatic]

Cables.

To fit the amplifiers you of course need som cables.

Blaupunkt PnP cables part#:

Connection Cable 2,5m
7 607 622 010-001

Adapter Cable (vehicle specific for VW - and other german cars with FAKRA connectors)
7 607 622 016-001

You also need af a 5 m (16 ft) phono cable to interconnect the two amplifiers.
5 m of wire to remote switch on the subwoofer amplifier.
And of course som good power cables.

The main amplifier is turned on when it senses input on the PnP connection.
The sub.amp must then be turned om by the main amp.
Blaupunkt has made that easy by making an keyed output which can be interconnected to one or more amps.
Which input signal is interconnected by the phono cables.
Yoc can even daisy chain multiple amplifiers

[vwfanatic]

The last thing to do is to connect the power cables to the battery.

You should ground the amps to the nearest ground connecter which is in the footwell in both sides,
behind the kickpanels.

I made an extra "power group" in the fuse box in the engine compartment.
There's an vacant fuse holder, so simply get a fuse, bolt and nut for the fuse box at the local VW dealer.

Amp17.jpg

[mantzas]

Nice mod! Are you upgrading from Dynaudio or the default vw system? How much do you estimate the cost of all this upgrade would be?

[vwfanatic]

I'm upgrading from the standard audio system, the car was original equiped with the RCD310 radio and standard VW (philips) speakers.

Total cost - bopbop - that was i difficult question

I have bought all the stuff at different times, as the project developed.
I guess including the RNS510 which i bought as a refurbished unit, it ends up at 2000 £

[mantzas]

So it makes the project trickier since you have to run new cables..
2000? A Rns 510 with dynaudio factory fitted is more expensive! (at least here in Greece). Keep up the good work and let us know the results. Thanks for the answers! Nice job again!

[vwfanatic]

The wiring is no problem, the PnP cable is actually PnP.
Ofcourse you have to place the cables under the carpet and so on, but if you plan it right, it is done in one day.

And yes it has been much cheaper for me this way, and hopefully much better.
In Denmark we have very high taxes on new cars, the state of Denmarks demands 25% VAT and then roughly 180% tax, so you by one car, and pays for 3

So the price of RNS510/Dynaudio Soundsystem is approx 5000£

Would you believe me, if i told you that i paid 55000£ for my Rocco?

Thats why Danes are so fond of ebay

[mantzas]

And I thought that Greece had expensive cars! How much would you pay for the R?