Yiannis' Albi Blue R27 - Toning down...

[Yiannis197]

There is an Alpine amp you can buy that will make a good diffence to the sound. It doesn't need a connection to the battery either as it just plugs in between the stereo and the power cable. It's about £100 new. The amp will sit in the back of the glove box as well so there's not cutting or any trim to fit it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004H0V0GC/?tag=clio197-21

Cheers mate this is something to consider, nice and easy The only problem is that I'm reading mixed reviews about it really. Have you tried it then? Satisfied?

The sound does improve I was initially disappointed with them but with a decent headunit they are pretty decent overall.

Indeed, I'm running an Alpine IDA - X305S which did improve things a bit. Is there a Pioneer kit for the rear ones as well?

Love the painted interior bits.

If you're stuck for something to do today (!) you might want to try swapping the Pioneer tweeters for the originals and seeing what that sounds like. When I installed my set of Pioneers the higher frequencies sounded terrible. I put the originals back in and it sounded much better. It was the lower/mid frequencies which always sounded terrible to me, so I was happy. I've got the Cabasse CD changer, so your mileage may vary as they say.

Joe

Cheers mate, this is def something to consider. I might give it a go just to see the difference. One thing is for sure, I had to turn down the tremble after installing the new tweeters, much more powerful than the OEM ones...

 

[deadmau5]

Cheers mate this is something to consider, nice and easy The only problem is that I'm reading mixed reviews about it really. Have you tried it then? Satisfied?

It is good. Don't be expecting miracles though. It just gives the extra bit of power that the speakers require IMO. I'm sure if you spent £100 on a normal amp it would be a bit better but then you have wiring costs, fitting hassle and having to route a power cable to the battery.

I guess the acid test is whether I'd buy it again, and the answer would be yes.

HTH

 

[Yiannis197]

So true regarding amps. Too much hassle for me tbh, I'm not a sound geek and i could really do without all the wiring. Thanks for the advice mate I will look into it

 

[GrumpyTwig]

I can't see just adding more power would make it sound any better, just louder.

There's just not enough woofer surface area in the Clio and a complete lack of anything like a speaker enclosure means you'll quickly enter the area of diminishing returns.

 

[deadmau5]

The amp allows you to listen to the music at louder volumes without distortion you would otherwise get. I listen to almost predominantly dance music so being able to crank it up to 25 is important. If you don't listen to loud music then it's not worth it.

 

[Ferg]

Really nice that.
Love the attention to detail and quality of finish.

 

[Yiannis197]

I can't see just adding more power would make it sound any better, just louder.

There's just not enough woofer surface area in the Clio and a complete lack of anything like a speaker enclosure means you'll quickly enter the area of diminishing returns.

The amp allows you to listen to the music at louder volumes without distortion you would otherwise get. I listen to almost predominantly dance music so being able to crank it up to 25 is important. If you don't listen to loud music then it's not worth it.

Good feedback here. I don't listen music at loud volumes in the car really, I'm after quality. Now as I said the speakers are good but I want something better hence I'm now looking to change then rear ones. My headunit is 4x50 so I believe it is capable of sourcing a set of good ones. Any advice? There is no space limitation at rear (depth) which gives me a bigger range of options. I was looking at these ones;

http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/reviews_m-alpine-spg-13c2_p-23889.htm

And these ones which are on a great discount;

http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-focal-130ca1_p-24002.htm

Any advice strongly appreciated. Thanks

Really nice that.
Love the attention to detail and quality of finish.

Thanks mate

 

[deadmau5]

It may say 4x50w but in reality it is only 17w. I think the amp claims to give you a true 45w.

I'm not sure it's worth spending as much on the rears as you spend on the fronts as you don't hear them as much. Now you have some decent speakers in the front, try fading all of the power to the front speakers then to the back. If mud could take an audio form, that would be it .

A set of £30 coaxials will make a huge difference. Whether you think you can get an extra £30+ value out of some Focals is up to you

 

[Yiannis197]

Hmmm...I'm getting the bug and I don't like it lol

I'm heading towards these focals I reckon and I'll keep an eye for this amp you suggested mate. I might find a used one on ebay or something..

EDIT. This amp (KTP 445) is getting great reviews apparently, I think I'm sold.

 

[GrumpyTwig]

Even if the HU states it's 17w rds and 50w peak you'd be surprised how loud 17w is.

I have a guitar amp I built that's only 2w and that can make your ears bleed! Guitar kit is slightly different to hifi kit but still....

But if you want more volume something like that amp is the easiest way to go I imagine. Just check all the speakers are rated for what the total output would be and you'll need to swap the rears anyway for something that can handle it otherwise the oem ones will warp/flex or just go pop

 

[Yiannis197]

Cheers Grumpy, good to know. Any advice for the rears? Would the focals mentioned above worth the extra buck in your opinion? Any other brands to consider?

 

[GrumpyTwig]

Cheers Grumpy, good to know. Any advice for the rears? Would the focals mentioned above worth the extra buck in your opinion? Any other brands to consider?

Out of those two I'd be swaying towards the Focals, I can't find any bad reviews of either but there are a few reasons.

The Focals just look like a better speaker from the specs while the Alpines look like something designed to be used with much more power (200w! peak) and also have some slightly wild claims about frequency response. 28hz from a speaker like that is a bit.... suspicious to me given that's well into the band you actually need a sub to produce at all!

 

[Yiannis197]

Thanks a lot GT

 

[Yiannis197]

Not working today so I decided to do some bits and pieces on the car. First of all I replaced the rear speakers with the Alpine SPG-13C2. I was going to go for the Focals but I found a pair of used Alpines on ebay stupid cheap so it was a no brainer really.



These are generic speakers (not specifically for Renault as the Pioneers I got at the front) so I had to buy a pair of those;



Fitted;



Well, I have to admit that I initially misjudged the Pioneers I fitted at the front. Must have been the song or the settings I don't know, but they are definitely a big improvement in comparison to the stock ones. I went for a drive the other day listening to a Nicolas Jaar podcast and yes, I was really happy with the outcome indeed. Again, I wasn't expecting miracles.

I can only give positive feedback for the Alpines I fitted at the rear as well, the speaker must be twice the weight of its replacement and the sound is definitely better. All I have to say now is that I got the ''sound bug'' so I had to go for a power pack for my Alpine well - as Deadmau5 wisely suggested - the KTP-445A. I got one second hand for £75 from ebay so not too bad I suppose. Review after fitting

Then it was time to tackle with the top mounts. I wanted to change the camber adjusting bolts with some stainless steel ones but when I took the covers off I came across with these vast quantities of dirt. Quite surprising really given that I had cleaned them about a month ago...




The left drain was blocked as well so I had to shove a stick and sort it out....

After cleaning and changing bolts;






A set of OZs and 2 new Contis5 on their way to me, alongside 8 different size rear camber/toe adjustment shims. MOT tomorrow as well. Pictures to come

Thanks for looking.

 

[Yiannis197]

Hi all, time to update this thread

OZ Ultraleggeras arrived and fitted, new contis at the front and the used fronts at the back. Edge+SS steering wheel, Alpine KTP-445 power pack and Streamline side badges (bullets) fitted as well.

Now;

1. If I had known how gorgeous the OZs are and how much they suit our car it would have been my first mod the next second I bought the car. Absolutely loving them. Right offset (no side effects on the handling which I was a bit wary of prior to ordering), right width, light and gorgeous. So much win!

2. Alpine KTP-445 is much bigger (and heavier) than I expected, I really struggled to find a place to fit it. I ended up taking the driver's console out and screw it at the back, underneath the steering wheel. The cables are another story. They are so long and so many that made me wonder, are they all needed? Come on Alpine, sort it out! It took me ages to do a proper cable management, in the end I had to take all the bits of the dash out! But this piece does work, it does add power and it did lift the sound quality quite noticeably. I got it relatively cheap from ebay and I believe it was money well spent. Thanks to deadmau5 for suggesting it.

3. Streamline bullets. I consider myself ''lucky'' because Chris told me that they stopped making them as they used to (with the Renault Sport logo) because it'd take them ages to do and basically they were losing money at that price. Instead they now do plain bullets for the customer to add their favourite decal on top. Of course he can do the ''Renault Sport'' ones but he'll charge crazy money (around £200!!). I got the last pair (reserved about a month ago) for £80 fitted so not too bad I suppose.

But enough of that, pictures;





DSC03520_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03521_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03522_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03523_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03525_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03526_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03527_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03533_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03538_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03541_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03542_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03543_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03547_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03549_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03550_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03553_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03559_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03560_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03562_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03564_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03565_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03566_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr

DSC03567_resize by YiannisR27, on Flickr


I'd have to buy some new black wheel bolts I suppose....


Thanks for looking

 

[Ashton]

As always bloody gorgeous. Told you that you would like the o.z

Yummy

 

[Yiannis197]

haha thanks Ashton. They really look the business! I'm following your steps really, brakes next lol

 

[GrumpyTwig]

Looking good Yiannis, but this page broke my tablet with all the pictures

 

[Warren]

That looks incredible. I definitely need the carbon mirrors/bullets and diamonds, are they the ones that bond over the top of existing?

 

[smoggy mark]

Looks great some black TPI bolts will top it of a treat