AVIC-F310BT hands-free microphone mod - big improvement!

[Hogster]

Hi all

When taking the AVIC-F310BT out of my new '10 plate Passion CDI, I noticed there was 4 metres of coiled-up cable between the hands-free microphone and the plug that goes into the head unit! As I was disappointed with the audio clarity of the microphone in its current position (based on comments from the few people I had called so far, in that I had to raise my voice significantly to be understood), I've now moved the microphone such that it pokes out of the trim above my head. The difference is very marked and I can almost talk in a normal voice and be perfectly understood at the other end.

To re-route the wiring neatly, I had to remove the central trim section (with the sun visors), the trim running down the front right pillar, and loosen the trim above the door, but it was definitely worth it!

Cheers


David

PS. A 451 owner for 2 days and already making mods!

[J500ANT]

Re: AVIC-F310BT hands-free microphone mod - big improvement!

Never mind that, where's the pics of the new car?

[RacingSnake]

Re: AVIC-F310BT hands-free microphone mod - big improvement!

I've with Tony, Come on David, lets see the new motah - quick and dirty photo's are fine, doesn't need to be a studio photo lol

[Hogster]

Re: AVIC-F310BT hands-free microphone mod - big improvement!

Very well!



... that's when I had the front off on Sunday morning fitting the second horn

I'm ashamed to say I haven't taken any photos of it myself yet! However, here's one of the shots the dealer sent me before I collected it:



I absolutely LOVE it! The ride comfort (noticeably better than my 450), the see-through roof, the boot lid storage compartment (which is crammed full of all the stuff that just used to float around behind/under seats in my old smart, meaning the interior of the car is very tidy now), the improved headlights, the touch-screen satnav/radio, the seating position / improved legroom, the lockable glove compartment, and hopefully a much-improved fuel economy being a diesel ... I really look forward to driving it each day!

However, my mod list is already quite extensive

- Horn upgrade (done)
- Move the hands-free mic (done)
- Fit a sub under the driver's seat (started)
- Fit Infinity Reference speakers in the doors with the tweeters on the dash (ordered)
- Fit MDC cruise control (ordered)
- Fit MDC trip computer (ordered)
- Replace all interior amber LED lights with white ones
- Fit a light above the boot (can't believe smart didn't do the same - how are you meant to see where you're putting your shopping!)

Hopefully that will last me for a while as it's darn expensive this modding business!


David

[NeilP]

Re: AVIC-F310BT hands-free microphone mod - big improvement!

good thinking! tbh, mounting the mic in the fascia was more cost effective...less practical.

Make sure when you fit the infinities you get some sound deadening around them. It'll sound much better!

love the colour! so shiny!

[J500ANT]

Re: AVIC-F310BT hands-free microphone mod - big improvement!

Nice car!

[Hogster]

Re: AVIC-F310BT hands-free microphone mod - big improvement!

Make sure when you fit the infinities you get some sound deadening around them. It'll sound much better!

Interesting comment, what sort of sound deadening would you use and where would you put it? I will be following this guide when I install them on Friday:

http://www.evilution.co.uk/index.php?id=183

Cheers!


David

[ckCDi]

Re: AVIC-F310BT hands-free microphone mod - big improvement!

Classy! Same color as the old one as well. Your remarks about the improvements on the 451 made me start thinking even more about replacing my 450 Cdi.

[NeilP]

Re: AVIC-F310BT hands-free microphone mod - big improvement!

Interesting comment, what sort of sound deadening would you use and where would you put it? I will be following this guide when I install them on Friday:

http://www.evilution.co.uk/index.php?id=183

Cheers!



David

any good sound deadening material will do, depending on the quality will dictate how much to use.

the good brands such as dynamat do cost a lost, but it does work.

alternatively you could go to b&q and get yourself some flashing tape (flashband) which has similar properties to the more expensive deadeners, but due to it's size and weight, you just need to layer it up.

my car is covered in both dynamat and flashband and the difference it has made in incredible!

[Hogster]

Re: AVIC-F310BT hands-free microphone mod - big improvement!

any good sound deadening material will do, depending on the quality will dictate how much to use.

the good brands such as dynamat do cost a lost, but it does work.

alternatively you could go to b&q and get yourself some flashing tape (flashband) which has similar properties to the more expensive deadeners, but due to it's size and weight, you just need to layer it up.

my car is covered in both dynamat and flashband and the difference it has made in incredible!

Thanks for your reply

Can you elaborate on where you would apply this material and what effect it has? Is it similar to filling speaker cabinets with soft material to stop reverb / echos inside the cabinet?

To be honest I'm not *that* concerned with how the upgraded speakers sound, so long as they're considerably better than the stock sock-drawer speakers!

Cheers


David

[NeilP]

Re: AVIC-F310BT hands-free microphone mod - big improvement!

Thanks for your reply

Can you elaborate on where you would apply this material and what effect it has? Is it similar to filling speaker cabinets with soft material to stop reverb / echos inside the cabinet?

To be honest I'm not *that* concerned with how the upgraded speakers sound, so long as they're considerably better than the stock sock-drawer speakers!

Cheers


David

that's different. filling the speaker cabs is to reduce back waves etc as you've said. Sound deadening material is heavy and is designed to decrease the resonant frequency of said pannel it is applied to, and this isn't just for those who listen to very bass intensive music, but for all genres.

I have also read that it can improve efficiency and the response of the midrange speakers if installed correctly, and from my findings, i'd agree wholeheartedly.

here's what I did


Driver's side mid by NeilllP, on Flickr


Passenger side mid by NeilllP, on Flickr


Tweeter by NeilllP, on Flickr

I had applied dynamat to the exterior door skin, however the internal pannel would also vibrate, and quite considerably at that. two sheets of dynamat and a few more coverings of flashband have reduced this problem and since sealing up the midrange speakers I have found my midbass response to have increased to the point i'm having them play right down to 60hz!

[Hogster]

Re: AVIC-F310BT hands-free microphone mod - big improvement!

Hi Neil,

Thanks for the reply I will look into the Flashband stuff, but will see whether I'm happy with the sound quality first without adding the dynamat ..

Out of interest, what does the Flashband do, apart from adding a tiny bit of mass to the panel around the edges of the speakers?

Cheers!


David

[NeilP]

Re: AVIC-F310BT hands-free microphone mod - big improvement!

Hi David,

it has the same effect as dynamat, just that dynamat is more dense

essentially, if you seal the front of the woofer it will use the door as an enclosure (to an extent) which will improve the quality, then say using it in an free air application.

[Hogster]

Re: AVIC-F310BT hands-free microphone mod - big improvement!

Seal the front of the woofer, I've never heard of that technique before! Won't that make the sound extremely muffled? Granted it's only a mid-range and I'll have separate tweeters up on the dash ...

Is the problem that the speaker has such a large amount of air behind it which will resonate? On the 450, the speakers screwed into air-tight bins under the dashboard, so I imagine the majority of the sound was only coming from the speaker cone. Still, I would have thought you would get better clarity from the face of the speaker than an enclosed door full of air? I will also have a sub under the driver's seat by the way ...

Cheers


David

[Bubski]

Re: AVIC-F310BT hands-free microphone mod - big improvement!

On the 450, the speakers screwed into air-tight bins under the dashboard

No they're not :-



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