Get rid of the line converter and wire it properly- then you'll have an awesome system.
Here's some more light reading for you:
http://www.kizashiclub.com/forum/viewto ... +converter
The Rockford Fosgate 'Sound'
But doing that will void the current warranty. 
Besides, with all the snow and crazy drivers around here, I have to fully concentrate on just keeping us from being hit.
I'm reading that link though.
Besides, with all the snow and crazy drivers around here, I have to fully concentrate on just keeping us from being hit.
I'm reading that link though.
I already read that thread, and LOVE that head unit. I looks so much more factory than the Kenwood.
Seems like they ran out of R&D money to make their own unit for the US. According to the Japanese catalog, Clarion and Panasonic made units for Japan.
Seems like they ran out of R&D money to make their own unit for the US. According to the Japanese catalog, Clarion and Panasonic made units for Japan.
On one hand yes, a factory unit would've been better in that it would've fit the interior better (and speaker wiring). But on the other hand, the benefit of them installing the Kenwood units is that you now have a standard double-DIN opening for the unit, so if you want to upgrade the Kenwood to a newer/different model navi in the future, it should be much easier to do so, because any aftermarket unit should fit.SamirD wrote:I already read that thread, and LOVE that head unit. I looks so much more factory than the Kenwood.
Seems like they ran out of R&D money to make their own unit for the US. According to the Japanese catalog, Clarion and Panasonic made units for Japan.
I also have the Kenwood navi in my 2011, and just like you I was a bit disappointed initially with the sound coming from the RF system. I thought the sub wasn't working or something (it actually does, just not at the level it could, I'm guessing), but like the linked threads mention, there really isn't much that can be done about it short of rewiring/replacing components, due to the way the system was wired at the port of entry. It's really kind of a shame that the whole thing was such an afterthought.
That being said, do you have the little quickstart guide for the navi entertainment system that was supposed to come with the car? In there Suzuki lists their "recommended" settings for how to setup the Kenwood unit for optimal audio output (probably because they knew that the way the wired the unit and the speakers wasn't the best). I tried their recommendations and--at least in my opinion--there is a small improvement.
Anyway, at this point I've gotten used to the amount of bass coming from the system, and I'm actually not complaining anymore. If you crank it loud enough (not too loud though, haha) the bass actually comes in fairly nicely...you know, not too overbearing
I keep forgetting to read the kenwood manual instead of the mail while waiting for my wife every day when I pick her up from work.
I'll read the recommended settings today and try them. Hopefully it will sound better, or at least 'good enough' for me.
I'll read the recommended settings today and try them. Hopefully it will sound better, or at least 'good enough' for me.
The Suzuki recommended settings aren't listed in the Kenwood manual itself. They're listed in a separate foldout pamphlet printed by Suzuki. If you don't have it then I can take a picture of it when I get home and post it here.SamirD wrote:I keep forgetting to read the kenwood manual instead of the mail while waiting for my wife every day when I pick her up from work.
I'll read the recommended settings today and try them. Hopefully it will sound better, or at least 'good enough' for me.
On a sidenote, the Kenwood manual is a bit misleading. It's meant to cover a number of different headunits, so it describes a bunch of features our headunits don't have. For example, voice activated features and SMS controls. I was so excited to read about those, until I found out that the particular model they installed doesn't have them
Alright, here's the pamphlet I was talking about:
And here are the settings they list as being optimal for the Kenwood units. YMMV--don't expect a huge difference with these, but they might help. It may be a matter of psychoacoustic perception, but at least to me it sounds a bit better.
And here are the settings they list as being optimal for the Kenwood units. YMMV--don't expect a huge difference with these, but they might help. It may be a matter of psychoacoustic perception, but at least to me it sounds a bit better.
Not on the topic of Kizashi stereos, but related to Rockford Fosgate:
Today, a coworker of mine bought a 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. I was helping her look for cars and was checking them out for problems, etc. She bought one we looked at a few weeks ago when the dealer came down on the price.
She got a fully-loaded model; HIDs, LED tail lights, navigation, AWD, panoramic sunroof, etc. The car comes with a 710 watt Rockford Fosgate sound system.
I played around with it today when I synced her phone and surprisingly, it's actually not as good as the one in my Kizashi. Both systems have 10 speakers, yet the Kizashi's sounds crisper and the bass deeper.
I listened to music on both cars in the same manner: bluetooth audio from an iPhone5 so the audio input was identical.
It's odd given that the one in the Kizashi is 425 watts and the one in the Outlander Sport is 710 watts. It was proof to me that quality isn't from the wattage though wattage is what sells sound systems.
I wonder if her nav unit (whatever brand it is) sucks audio quality like it apparently does for the Kizashi.
Regardless, she was looking for a small SUV and did not even know the Outlander Sport existed until I mentioned it to her. The car is pretty sweet and fits her needs well. However, the CVT in combination with the 2.0 N/A engine makes for a slow car. Interestingly, it's the exact same CVT as in the Kizashi, according to JATCO's website.
Today, a coworker of mine bought a 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. I was helping her look for cars and was checking them out for problems, etc. She bought one we looked at a few weeks ago when the dealer came down on the price.
She got a fully-loaded model; HIDs, LED tail lights, navigation, AWD, panoramic sunroof, etc. The car comes with a 710 watt Rockford Fosgate sound system.
I played around with it today when I synced her phone and surprisingly, it's actually not as good as the one in my Kizashi. Both systems have 10 speakers, yet the Kizashi's sounds crisper and the bass deeper.
I listened to music on both cars in the same manner: bluetooth audio from an iPhone5 so the audio input was identical.
It's odd given that the one in the Kizashi is 425 watts and the one in the Outlander Sport is 710 watts. It was proof to me that quality isn't from the wattage though wattage is what sells sound systems.
I wonder if her nav unit (whatever brand it is) sucks audio quality like it apparently does for the Kizashi.
Regardless, she was looking for a small SUV and did not even know the Outlander Sport existed until I mentioned it to her. The car is pretty sweet and fits her needs well. However, the CVT in combination with the 2.0 N/A engine makes for a slow car. Interestingly, it's the exact same CVT as in the Kizashi, according to JATCO's website.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Hybrid
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
The deeper bass will be from the Kizashi using the boot ("trunk" in USA speak) as the subwoofer enclosure. The Outlander doesn't have a boot so would be using something substantially smaller as an enclosure- which tends to affect bass response. The Kizashi's sub is also mounted to the body, I assume the Outlander's is probably is part of the rear boot area trim?
Here's some info on the two:
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products ... -outlander
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products ... 13-kizashi
Also note the specs- Kizashi is rated at 425 Watts RMS and the Outlander 710 Watts MAX. Basically there's a huge difference in the way those two ratings are measured - RMS is effectively the average power the system can produce, MAX is exactly that- what the system can produce for only a split second.... RMS is the true way of rating an amplifier. MAX (or peak) is used by companies to make their poor performing amps look better on paper.
The RMS rating of the Outlander system is quite likely substantially less than the Kizashi's
Gotta love marketing ploys to make products look more impressive. Shame on RF for stooping to those levels.
Here's some info on the two:
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products ... -outlander
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products ... 13-kizashi
Also note the specs- Kizashi is rated at 425 Watts RMS and the Outlander 710 Watts MAX. Basically there's a huge difference in the way those two ratings are measured - RMS is effectively the average power the system can produce, MAX is exactly that- what the system can produce for only a split second.... RMS is the true way of rating an amplifier. MAX (or peak) is used by companies to make their poor performing amps look better on paper.
The RMS rating of the Outlander system is quite likely substantially less than the Kizashi's Gotta love marketing ploys to make products look more impressive. Shame on RF for stooping to those levels.
David
Makes sense.murcod wrote:The deeper bass will be from the Kizashi using the boot ("trunk" in USA speak) as the subwoofer enclosure. The Outlander doesn't have a boot so would be using something substantially smaller as an enclosure- which tends to affect bass response. The Kizashi's sub is also mounted to the body, I assume the Outlander's is probably is part of the rear boot area trim?
Here's some info on the two:
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products ... -outlander
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products ... 13-kizashi
Also note the specs- Kizashi is rated at 425 Watts RMS and the Outlander 710 Watts MAX. Basically there's a huge difference in the way those two ratings are measured - RMS is effectively the average power the system can produce, MAX is exactly that- what the system can produce for only a split second.... RMS is the true way of rating an amplifier. MAX (or peak) is used by companies to make their poor performing amps look better on paper.
Gotta love marketing ploys to make products look more impressive. Shame on RF for stooping to those levels.
By the way, the Outlander Sport is a different car than the Outlander. The Outlander Sport is called the RVR and ASX in other markets. It's about 15 inches shorter than the Outlander SUV.
The subwoofer is located on the side of the open trunk as it's a small SUV. The subwoofer is considerably larger in diameter compared to the Kizashi's shelf-mounted sub.
Here's a photo:
2025 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Hybrid
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)