AV/ICE recommendations
 

Ok chaps: given a bog standard early S2000 i.e. as per original model, what do you suggest to beef up the puny hifi?

a) adding decent bass/mid range
b) having bluetooth hands free phone support
c) ditto possibly for an Android or iPhone bluetooth music
d) USB/MP3 plug in player / power out e.g. my v old Sony 2GB walkman
e) retaining steering wheel controls if at all possible, I don't like losing existing functionality

Idea of costs would be appreciated too. I am thinking of a budget of £500 but I might be persuaded up - or down!

(I sold a great sub woofer that sat in the curved bottom of the boot but I think that perished in one of Paul's drama queen episodes ;))

I think the sub box lives on in someone's car, somewhere.

Pretty much all the modern head units will do what you want in terms of bluetooth/mp3. Alpine do them from around £100 to £200, so take your pick with our without CD. The main difference is things like parametric EQ and built in crossovers which are useful if you want to use an amplifier (something I'd recommend).
Cheapest Alpine: http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpi...media-receiver
Most expensive Alpine (includes DAB if you want it but that will require additional stuff for the aerial) http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/head...-bluetooth-dab

The autoleads kit will sort the dash controls, though the Modifry is fancier but much more money:
HONDA S2000 CAR RADIO STEREO STEERING WHEEL STALK ISO ADAPTOR PC99-X61 NEW | eBay
DCIs (Dash Control Interface)

Pick some speakers which are in budget, and add an amp if required, something like this will do: http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine-pmx-f640

Sound deadening for the doors - stop the stuff from rattling and remove that noise from the equation. Shame you can't have a listen to mine or Simons for that matter.

I am up for that be good to meet you in the flesh so to speak :) Is that Simon aka Lovegroova? I thought he lost his S2000 :freak1: edit: p.s. thanks Lovegroova ;)

We've friends and family over in Norwich - if we are over that way, i'll drop you a PM. Equally if you're over Hertfordshire way, do the same :) I'm with Simon on the above advice in terms of kit though and like him, i don't rate the headrest speakers that people seem to love.

Some decent 17cm component speakers and MDF speaker rings too.

Problem with most aftermarket speakers is the dreadfully thin plastic spacers that come with them and offer no sealing properties nor "mass" for the speaker to reverberate. You'll notice an improvement from that.

:321:

I was able to salvage most of the old stereo stuff from the old car (thanks, Ray). I only had to get some new speakers for the new one.

Kit list as follows:
Head unit - Alpine CDA-9887R (no longer available) £290
Amplifier - Alpine PDX-V9 http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine-pdx-v9 £480. This is mounted above the fuel tank so is nicely out of the way.
Door speakers - Herts Mille Pro 165.3 http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/hert...way-components £300
Subwoofer - Alpine SWR-T10 (no longer available) https://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/pro...0_p-27155.htm# £250
Sub is in a darkside V1 enclosure - DarksideSubs - Enclosures £200
Intstallation/cables/sound deadening etc about £200.

:eek3: I've just added all that up. Slightly over your budget!

It might be worth sending a PM to Lawrence aka soudragon. He got a very nice installation done by Impulse in Watford, Head unit, amp and speakers.

Thanks LG, UF, Tom - all sound advice! Shall also study eSeM's signature bound to be clues in there ...

Budget? What budget? ;) I was spoiled by my 2nd S though my ears aren't getting any younger. In truth I doubted £500 would stretch beyond a decent head unit, pair of speakers and the dash control lead. Mission creep is always possible though a lot of what we listen to on the road is retro and not really high fidelity in any case. Subwoofer and separate amp would at least double if not treble (sic) my budget but ... hmmm ...

Agree about high level tweeters though never had them in an S. They tried to cure the lack of volume from my motorhome satnav (inaudible over 30 mph due to high ambient noise levels) by fitting a pair. Made it worse if anything and I had to tweek the EQ treble down to remove the shrill top end they had added.

edit:
Shall take a look around Naarch there are some good auto AV specialists around. Watford's a bit of a schlep

That's soundstage and with a decent headunit is very much adjustable. The difference between an Eq'd Alpine setup and a none Eq'd one is more audible than you'd think. No doubt modern stuff does it better and with less fuss / tinkering.

That said, you'll never make badly installed gear sound good no matter how good the gear.

Seconded for Impulse if you can't fit it yourself.

See you at the next meet in Norfolk in your latest "S" with stereo upgrade. :cool: