The Rockford Fosgate 'Sound'

[~tc~]

Just factory - I like the way it sounds, very smooth and well balanced. I just wish the sub was set at "0" instead of maxed out.

[SamirD]

Just factory - I like the way it sounds, very smooth and well balanced. I just wish the sub was set at "0" instead of maxed out.

I think someone played with the factory crossover settings on mine. What are yours set to? Also what do you have set for loudness, speaker width (standard, narrow, medium, wide), and your eq? I'd love to have your sound!

[~tc~]

[SamirD]

Thank you so much! I'll try these and see what happens.

Also what's your crossover and speakers set to? These are under Audio-->Speakers I believe. The crossover is labeled 'xover' or something to that effect in the lower right corner.

[SamirD]

I tried these today and it's a lot more 'punchy' and less 'boomy'. Still not a nice flat sound at all volumes like what I'd like, but it's getting better.

I'd love to know what the factory crossover settings are. That might be the icing on the cake.

[SamirD]

I sent Rockford Fosgate a message about how the Kenwood needs to be set to make their system sound correct, and they sent me a pdf of the Suzuki Kenwood guide posted in this thread.

They also mentioned this about the wiring:
"the amplifier is designed to take the full-range balanced outputs of the Kenwood’s speaker outputs and NOT the single-ended RCA outputs. if you would like to talk it over just call us at 1800-669-9899"

This is quite interesting since it's different than what's been said about the Kenwood. I'm not stereo expert and don't know all the lingo, so I didn't call them, but it would be great if someone that knows all about the Navi would and find out what's the real deal.

[~tc~]

They also mentioned this about the wiring:
"the amplifier is designed to take the full-range balanced outputs of the Kenwood’s speaker outputs and NOT the single-ended RCA outputs. if you would like to talk it over just call us at 1800-669-9899"

This is what I thought, and that the big improvement in the system would have to come from a new amplifier using the RCA outputs including the dedicated sub outputs that are built in to the HU. Based on this comment, the crossover settings aren't going to matter as they are built in to the amp.

I am curious what kind of amplifier technology (class a/b or class d) they are using and how "big" I could go with the factory wiring. I haven't pulled back the carpet to look, but I would guess the wire is pretty small. A large capacitor near the amp might help if that is the case

[SamirD]

They also mentioned this about the wiring:
"the amplifier is designed to take the full-range balanced outputs of the Kenwood’s speaker outputs and NOT the single-ended RCA outputs. if you would like to talk it over just call us at 1800-669-9899"

This is what I thought, and that the big improvement in the system would have to come from a new amplifier using the RCA outputs including the dedicated sub outputs that are built in to the HU. Based on this comment, the crossover settings aren't going to matter as they are built in to the amp.

I am curious what kind of amplifier technology (class a/b or class d) they are using and how "big" I could go with the factory wiring. I haven't pulled back the carpet to look, but I would guess the wire is pretty small. A large capacitor near the amp might help if that is the case

So I've set my Kenwood crossovers for straight through for everything including the sub. Any issues with that? Is yours any different?

I'd give them a call and I'm sure they'll tell you the answers. Some of the terminology you posted is above me, hence why one of you audiophiles should make the call to them versus me.

[murcod]

They also mentioned this about the wiring:
"the amplifier is designed to take the full-range balanced outputs of the Kenwood’s speaker outputs and NOT the single-ended RCA outputs. if you would like to talk it over just call us at 1800-669-9899"

This is quite interesting since it's different than what's been said about the Kenwood. I'm not stereo expert and don't know all the lingo, so I didn't call them, but it would be great if someone that knows all about the Navi would and find out what's the real deal.

The big problem IMHO is there was not much thought put into the upgrade - probably little to no involvement with Suzuki Japan. The stock RF head unit feeds low level signals (ie. RCA type signals like the Kenwood has outputs for) to the RF amp. The problem is there are propriety plugs used to do this (i.e. the RF head unit doesn't use the generic RCA plugs like the Kenwood has for pre amplifier outputs - the RCAs.)

Basically, to be done properly there should have been a special wiring loom produced and supplied with the Kenwood Navi upgrade kit. That should have formed an interface between the Kenwood RCA outputs for the different channels and the factory wiring loom that feeds the RF amplifier.

They've instead "done it on the cheap" by using an off the shelf line level converter that simply reduces the amplified speaker outputs of the Kenwood to a level the RF amp can work with. "Minority" (user on here) has already proven you can remove the line level converter and wire directly to the RF amp using a head unit's pre amplifier outputs. http://www.kizashiclub.com/forum/viewto ... +gps#p9263 <- there are even pictures on how to do it in that thread.

Using a line level converter is undesirable as it will affect the sound quality (eg. introduce noise, distortion, affect frequency response.) This is due to the audio signal being amplified by the head unit's internal amplifier, only then to be reduced in power by the line level converter (to roughly the level it was before the head unit's internal amplifier) and then amplified again by the RF amp. That's why decent quality aftermarket head units have the line level RCA outputs to bypass the head unit's amplifier.

[~tc~]