New convertible! Woo! (Now about that stereo...)

[TripleBlack]

Yup, it's me again. My first post was in the general aftermarket section (regarding possible strength reinforcements) but since this reagrds the stereo, a new thread in a new section just seems right.

I'd like to replace the stereo, but I want to do it in a very specific kind of way. I'd also like to make a modification to the existing stereo which may very well be one of a kind.

First of all, I love the way the stereo adjusts the volume automatically based on your speed. However, it only does that when the top is down. I suppose that makes sense 'n all - IF you assume that wind noise is only a factor when you're open to the air. This is, however, not true. I would like the volume to adjust automatically if the top is up OR down, as the wind noise in the car is pretty considerable. So, how does the stereo "know" if the roof is up or down, and can I trick into thinking it's always down?

OR.. does anyone know of ANY stereo that automatically adjusts its volume based on speed? There's actually a couple of stereos on the market that can measure the car's speed, but none of them seem to do anything useful with that information - such as adjust volume.

Assuming I can't find an aftermarket stereo to accomplish this task, and further assuming it's possible to trick my stereo into using this feature all the time, I won't want to replace my head unit. Plus, with a rag top, the risk of theft is always a little higher, so.. yeah..

That said, what's the best way to impliment an amp (or two) so that I can power some aftermarket speakers and probably a sub (or two) in the trunk? Although I suppose I -might- go with one 4-channel sub for my speakers and one 2-channel amp for a pair of subs, I probably won't. Far more likely would be a single 5-channel amp driving all the speakers and then just one amp. But, I've never done such a thing based off a factor head unit, so any advice would be welcome.

(Now, as for the latter part of this post, I know some answers are already scattered throughout the forum. Nevertheless, I won't mind if you repeat them here. =) And, as for the earlier part, regarding automatic volume, I'm pretty sure I'm the first to ask.)

[MCOjerry]

You get an 07? My 06 doesn't adjust the volume based on speed with the top up or down.

[TripleBlack]

"Is it an '07?"

No, actually, it's an '02. I'm surprised the '06 doesn't do that with the volume. Maybe they changed it for the 2nd gen? That really doesn't make sense, though. It's such a great feature...

Are you sure your car doesn't do it? Really?

Well, yeah, it's really great to stop at red lights after being on the highway and the stereo isn't wailing. That was always the case in my last convertible. I'd turn it up on the highway so I could HEAR it, and then later I'd be all, "Holy crap! Has it really this loud all afternoon?" ...and, uh, yeah, it had been.

[MCOjerry]

No, I'm sure it doesn't do it...

However, I have steering wheel controls, so it doesn't really matter.

[TripleBlack]

OoOoOooo... Steering wheel controls...

Yeah, that certainly makes up for it alright. Steering wheel controls rock. Ya know, I've never owned a car with those. Ever. I love it when rental cars have 'em too. I get so spoiled.

It does seem an excellent alternative, though, now that you mention it. I suppose I could get a stereo which had one of those steering wheel mount-able remotes. I know Pioneer does. I like Blaupunkt's remotes, but I hate their head units. Hmmmm...

So, okay, having to manually adjust my volume is certainly not the worst thing in the world. But, since the feature's there, I'd kinda like to keep it. Back to the original questions then, does anyone know how to trick the stereo into thinking the top is always down? And, even if not, what do you think my best option is for attaching a 5-channel amp to a 4-channel factory stereo?

[Monkeyman]

What you want to do will take some work. You need to find the wire (or wires) in the car that signal the head unit to "auto adjust" the volume, and provide it with the same signal it usualy recieves when the top is down (could be positive, negitive, pulse, etc. or even digital). I don't think there is a computer connection to the top, so there may be a pin switch, micro switch, but either way there should be 1 (or more) wires which only send a signal with the top down.

Using a Digital Multi Meter (DMM) in DC voltage setting, check the wires of any harness connected to the top, and top's motor when the top is up. Write down what they read. Then put the top down, and check them again. If only one has changed and the same wire colors are present at the rear of your stereo then this is likely the signal wire to tell the head to "auto volume." Check the reading of the wire on the back of the stereo, if it is the same as the wire in the trunk (check it with the top up AND down, just like the wires in the trunk) then you most likely (not definite) have the right wire. Now you need to supply that wire with the same signal it gets when the top is down. It would be a good idea to use a relay which will turn off your new signal path when the top is down, to prevent both the new signal you established, and the tops signal from being present at the same time (if it is a positive DC signal then the amperage from both wires will pass to the head unit and may burn it out).

There are more steps (many more in fact) that you would need to take for this to work safely, so long story short: Unless you have a large amount of electrical experience and/or education, DON'T DO IT!

Hope this helps,
David

[TripleBlack]

Wow. Well, thanks for the help. I was really hoping there was just a wire I could cut and/or two other wires I could twist together. Like, "When the top is down, this circuit is complete". That way, I could just find the sensor which detected if the top was up or down, remove the wires from that sensor and attach them to one another. Then, presto! The top is always "down" as far as the stereo is concerned, and volume is always adjusted for speed.

Moreover, I thought this would not only be simple, but that someone here would have already done it. Unfortunately, I guess that isn't the case. And, based on what your post, I gotta say, I think you're absolutely right and I shouldn't bother trying.

I still wish someone would make a stereo which adjusts its volume based on speed. It just seems to make sense.

Speaking of stereos which "just seem to make sense", there are a lot of head units out there with full color LCD's, and a lot with iPod connectors. However, to the best of my knowledge, there are zero head units which will display album art.

I should be making car stereos, shouldn't I? =)

[Biggi_e]

I still wish someone would make a stereo which adjusts its volume based on speed. It just seems to make sense.

So say its late at night 4am and your speeding to go home and your tired...would you want your music blasting? just curious

[Monkeyman]

There is an Eclipse "AVN" model which displays album art and information. It has a 60 gig (I think it is 60 gig...) hard drive built in which holds all the album information and maps for the entire united states. There are 10's of thousands of albums information built in.

David

[TripleBlack]

I still wish someone would make a stereo which adjusts its volume based on speed. It just seems to make sense.

So say its late at night 4am and your speeding to go home and your tired...would you want your music blasting? just curious

In that particular scenario, actually, I would absolutely want my music blasting. In fact, it would probaly have to be some kinda club/dance mix. It'd be cranked way up so I could stay awake at 4am. Plus, it should be noted that I live on a highway, so it isn't like I'd be disturbing "the neighborhood". And, when I pulled off the highway into my apartment complex, the act of slowing down would automatically lower the volume to something a little more acceptable anyway. However, it likely wouldn't be enough, so I may have to turn it down a little further, or just kill it altogether.

In any case, I understand the basic premise of the question. Namely, isn't there a time when you wouldn't want this feature active? Keep in mind the volume knob still works. In my car, if while at a stop, you adust the volume to remain barely audible and then accelerate, the volume continues to remain "barely audible". This is with the top down, using the auto volume feature. It only gets as much louder as the wind noise is - approximately. It's quite subtle, really.

However, it's also very handy. As I mentioned, in my last convertible, I would find myself turning up the stereo on the highway, only to stop at a light and realize just how blaringly loud it was. Then, I'd have to turn it back down. Now, at the time, this wasn't even an inconvenience. I mean, whatever, turning a knob? That's hard? No. It was practically force of habit. It's just that now, in the Solara, I don't have to do that anymore, and I gotta tell ya, it's pretty neat. The concept is so smart.

You may have noticed that Mitsubishi based an entire commercial for the new Eclipse Spyder around this feature. That seems a little excessive for something which is only "pretty neat", but nevertheless, if it were a feature I was able to use more often and/or one I didn't have to give up when/if I replace my head unit, well, that'd be nice. =)