Car audio - Head unit seems weak, how to resolve?

[shredder1 10+ year member]

After watching the video, I do not think an amp will help. If you listen carefully, you can tell the radio's amp is at full volume but the source volume is barely coming through. The noise I hear is like turning your volume to max while the music is paused. It sounds like when your amp's gain is set too high.
I think that radio is bad. Look at your settings to see if you can modify your source volume. Do not be afraid to move those eq settings. If it is external, I would say it is a wiring issue done at the shop.
Wait a minute, I take that back. If you use the RCA outs with an amp, you should be good. Bypassing the high speaker outputs would probably solve the issue. Before that I would test the RCA outputs. What if they have too little output; you would be back to square one.

Cheezedik Android decks are dime a dozen and mostly worthless. I don't even review specifications anymore. I just advise quality. That said OP needs a serious tune and/or amplification imo..I'd be surprised by a clean 1V from the deck honestly. Everything being equal I'd say he needs a tune and power.

 

[1aespinoza Premium Member]

Cheezedik Android decks are dime a dozen and mostly worthless. I don't even review specifications anymore

The kicker is that they are so visually appealing and have great features. Why not just invest the extra coin on better audio chips? Makes no sense.

 

[Mike S]

It seems to me that your front speakers are the main thing that changed over your previous setup

I'm not sure, before changing I had a quick test on the radio and it sounded similar on the original speakers, I had to put the volume up to around 40 as well.

I have set the equalizer to cancel out everything under 250hz and everything over 8khz. I did an Frequency Generator app test and noticed these frequencies felt a little louder and uncomfortable on the ears. For the rest, everything is zero now.

 

[Mike S]

Do not be afraid to move those eq settings

Wait a minute, I take that back. If you use the RCA outs with an amp, you should be good. Bypassing the high speaker outputs would probably solve the issue. Before that I would test the RCA outputs. What if they have too little output; you would be back to square one.

Do you think it would be advisable to put the software EQ above zero, or even to the max to compensate?

So you're saying an external amplifier would solve this issue to compensate?

 

[shredder1 10+ year member]

Maybe take it back to whoever did the install and ask to make it sound right?

 

[1aespinoza Premium Member]

Do you think it would be advisable to put the software EQ above zero, or even to the max to compensate?

So you're saying an external amplifier would solve this issue to compensate?

After watching the video I think the radio is faulty. EQ changes were just a last ditch effort to see if anything would improve but I see it did not help.
An external amp will definitely help if the RCAs have an output of at least 2v ac. The integrated amplifier uses that same circuit as it's sound source, so there is a possibility that is the cause of your issue. Hence testing before purchasing any other gear.

 

[Mike S]

Maybe take it back to whoever did the install and ask to make it sound right?

They told me an amplifier will definitely not help for my ears as it would only increase the volume, though I have the feeling actually it would at lower levels.

And they advised me to add rear speakers to balance out the sound and make the front in lower volume. They made a quick setup for me to see how it is, but I don't believe this would solve this issue. It might improve a bit, but that is not enough. The volume still needs to be way to high, if not even higher, to hear something and because of the low power, you hardly hear the sound of the rear speakers.

 

[1aespinoza Premium Member]

They told me an amplifier will definitely not help for my ears as it would only increase the volume, though I have the feeling actually it would at lower levels.

Do you know anyone who could bench test it for you? It seems that shop is not willing to pursue the matter so it would not change a thing if someone else worked on it.
Testing it in a bench will exonerate any of the car's wiring or hardware.

 

[Mike S]

Do you know anyone who could bench test it for you? It seems that shop is not willing to pursue the matter so it would not change a thing if someone else worked on it.
Testing it in a bench will exonerate any of the car's wiring or hardware.

Yes, I'm thinking of asking another shop for help on this matter. But I want to do some good research beforehand, so that this time I am better prepared before any installations, etc.

I really hope to be able to solve this issue as I love good music in the car. Though I am not experienced enough myself and it seems to be quite a challenge. But I still believe there must be a solution for this as I was able to listen to a very similar type of radio (almost exactly the same) in a very similar type of previous car (also 107) without hurting my ears.

 

[1aespinoza Premium Member]

But I still believe there must be a solution for this as I was able to listen to a very similar type of radio (almost exactly the same) in a very similar type of previous car (also 107) without hurting my ears.

Yes, Android radios are hit or miss. There are so many complaints about them that I myself have not bit the bullet to acquire one even though I ogle them.
If the radio turns out fine, I would rewire the speaker wires direct from the radio. If not fine, then the RCA test will tell you if you can amp it.

 

[Mike S]

The manufacturer wrote

An external amp will definitely help if the RCAs have an output of at least 2v ac.

The manufacturer wrote that normally it's 1~2 volts.

Today or tomorrow after work I will see another audio specialist here to confirm.

 

[Mike S]

So I went to another Audio specialist. He unplugged the radio and sent me first to an electronics specialist who can actually open up the radio and might be able to fix some things inside of it.

And I also went to see the doctor. He gave me a medical treatment for my ears which should help.

Now it's mostly waiting for the results.