[JBCTR]

I did a DIY stereo install this weekend consisting of new components up front, coaxials in the rear and a DSP/amplifier under the drivers seat. Took the high level inputs from the feed going in to the amp under the drivers seat (passenger seat in LHD cars).

I filmed the install so will upload the video once it’s edited.

 

[JBCTR]

I took my head unit out. A pretty easy job by all accounts - just four bolts. Here's a pic of the rear. Nothing that exciting really. I think you'd be better tapping the signal from the box under the front seat rather than from behind the head unit.

I had heard on the grapevine that the GR had RCA Pre-outs on the head unit. Alas, it was lies! ?

 

[JBCTR]

Don't suppose there's a video of you doing that, is there? ?

Yeah I filmed everything. Just need to edit it! Maybe end of this week/beginning of next by the time it gets online

 

[JBCTR]

I've put the videos in their own thread: https://gr-yaris.co.uk/forum/threads/diy-stereo-upgrade-all-speakers-amplifier.3523/

 

[JBCTR]

That's for Aunison not Alpine.

Not sure folks fixations with FW upgrades, especially on a new product like the Alpine

Apologies, misread… long day!

I agree though. For devices that don't connect to the internet, firmware updates are less of an issue. If it works, leave it be

 

[JBCTR]

the alpine DSP was installed today under the rear seat,
fully removing the oem toyota amplifier, something less than 4kg in addition to the GR
i have also installed the android APP, very useful
for sure now the contraints are the oem speakers..... in autumn i will manage also them

i will study the graphs placed by @MagnusT , knowing they are based on different speakers.

i want to ask you all these:
1) do someone has found a firmware upgrade for the alpine DSP since the pc software has a button for "ugrade" ??
2) do you think that the rear boot could be a better position for the alpine DSP both for sound quality than for the weight balance ?? (altough we are talking about peanuts)

thx a lot and sorry for all these questions

I checked for updated firmware on mine and it appeared mine was shipped with the latest. Still V1.X though.

I can't see the value in changing the position of the amp to be honest. I like the fact the boot has remained unchanged and you'd not notice it under the seat. As you mentioned, the weight difference is minimal anyway. You'd get a bigger weight difference by changing drivers.

 

[JBCTR]

How does it sound?

Absolutely amazing. The small amount of sound deadening I put in also made a big difference to road noise. I'd probably recommend that even if you aren't doing an audio install. (It doesn't weigh much in the grand scheme of things)

 

[JBCTR]

dear @JBCTR
thx for your feedback.

where have you found the downloadable firmware for the alpine ?
i've searched on alpine.usa and .com, but not found.
maybe upgradable using the smartphone APP ??

thx a lot

Here you go: https://www.audison.eu/support/software-and-firmware/

It's under 'Prima' for the F8.9bit.

 

[JBCTR]

Is anyone offering professional upgrades so you don't have to do a johhny freestyle upgrade ?

There's quite a few professional installs knocking around now. They're all quite different though, so I'm not sure anyone is offering a 'kit' yet!

 

[JBCTR]

dears,
finally my garage is going to install the ALPINE DSP in my car
they are suggesting me not to substitute speakers now.....

this kind of expense may be done also in some months if the result is not what i want.

i have placed OFF to ANC & SE, they are not active now in my car.

please confirm me if i have correctly understood.
1. if i do not need ANC / ESE anymore i can remove the toyota amplifier under the right seat
2. if i want to be able to use ANC i must install the ALPINE in the middle between toyota head unit and toyota amplifier, before toyota amplifier.
Are these 2 points corret ??
what is your suggestion? better 1 or 2?
and if i use 2) the toyoya amplifier may modify the signals sent by ALpine dsp to the speakers?

thx a lot for supply
unfortunately i am not skilled with these things

Ciao and grazie

Im not sure how you could use the noise cancelling with upgraded speakers and/or the DSP. The DSP will only be able to treat the noise cancelling in the same way it treats music, which would mean the noise cancelling would also be impacted by your volume control.

The noise cancelling is also quite a complex piece of technology as the speakers need to play the exact opposite frequency at the correct volume to achieve the desired effect. Changing the speakers is likely to change the volume and/or frequency of the noise cancelling which would then make it sound odd.

 

[JBCTR]

I could try to find some, what would you like to know? Or is this already covered somewhere else?

Nothing too detailed, just the sort of stuff that would be covered in sales literature if they were for sale as systems.

In all honesty, I don't think the specs would be that useful in the real world. Magnus has done some quite detailed investigation in to the stock system and I can only echo his findings.

It appears that Toyota have been very clever with the stock system by using software to get the very most out of the (pretty poor) stock speakers. As a result, the stock speakers are likely to perform way better than their specs would indicate in a real world scenario.

The aftermarket world essentially needs to undo this trickery in order for 'good' speakers to work well with the OEM head unit. As a result, I would say that it's almost mandatory to have some kind of signal processor if you wish to upgrade the sound and keep the OEM head unit.

 

[JBCTR]

He is the new blue Peter presenter

Arts and crafts have come a long way since toilet tube rocket ships.

 

[JBCTR]

Where did you focus with the sound deadening? The rear and the doors?

Yeah pretty much. Specifically around the speakers. There isn't much material to actually deaden behind the cards in the rear. The fronts I did the outer skin, the inner skin and the door card. Again, there's not actually that much material to deaden there either!

 

[JBCTR]

About the GR Head Unit… has anyone got any pictures of the rear before I start tearing my dash apart? I did hear a rumour that it had RCA pre-outs on the rear but judging by this thread, that may be a myth?

If so, my plan would be to buy a number of different harnesses for Toyota and then splice the wiring of the harness to get the signal. That way, the harness can simply be unplugged to reverse the install.

Need to see the back of the head unit first though to see if either of my plans will work!