03-09-2023, 08:42 PM
I am aware generally how the IHU and AUD work, obvously many details we do not know! It was just my opinion, the B&W processing didn't sound particularly good to me just trying the config change. To me the sound profile is optimized for the speakers, the big difference being the the upper door speakers, I see the capacitor is quite different on the back of the tweeter between HK/B&W when I swapped, the HK tweeter sound is very bright and too harsh with the B&W profile to my ears.
I don't agree the processing is all in the IHU, clearly all the channel split and crossover is done inside the amp. It must be a DSP chip handling that inside the amp, rather than discrete crossover circuits. The HK amp rolls off hard at the low frequencies, typical mid range OEM stereo. The B&W amp does not! Reflective of the step up in audio quality that it is, more full dynamic range of sound. There is probably some optimization in crossing over the other speakers as well, example the B&W uses an extended excursion speaker in the lower doors, you can see that physical difference when swapping those.
I was perfectly happy with the HK, I just stumbled on a B&W amp on EBay for $150USD and couldn't hit the "buy now" button fast enough when I found that!!
If you've messed with some stereo equipment, you know that sound of a nice clean powerful amp. We know it's $3400 option on top of the HK stereo. That's a lot of money when the car was new! Of course the profit margin is going to be fantastic for Volvo. So that leaves only some of the money left to go into the equipment.
To say the B&W is little more than fiddling with a sound profile...man have you heard it? It's a well done system, considering a factory "premium stereo" is not always guaranteed to be worth it, there are some pretty disappointing ones from other mfrs out there. Value for money...well it's OEM option, it will never be a good deal for money, that's why we like to hack in used parts ;-) At the prices I paid I am thrilled with the sound. I got no patience to put some stereo together from aftermarket parts for the car, that's 100s of hours project to get into that. This swap was a nice little treat, it's why we like to mess with our cars config, these things ;-)
That's all just my opinion on it!
I don't agree the processing is all in the IHU, clearly all the channel split and crossover is done inside the amp. It must be a DSP chip handling that inside the amp, rather than discrete crossover circuits. The HK amp rolls off hard at the low frequencies, typical mid range OEM stereo. The B&W amp does not! Reflective of the step up in audio quality that it is, more full dynamic range of sound. There is probably some optimization in crossing over the other speakers as well, example the B&W uses an extended excursion speaker in the lower doors, you can see that physical difference when swapping those.
I was perfectly happy with the HK, I just stumbled on a B&W amp on EBay for $150USD and couldn't hit the "buy now" button fast enough when I found that!!
If you've messed with some stereo equipment, you know that sound of a nice clean powerful amp. We know it's $3400 option on top of the HK stereo. That's a lot of money when the car was new! Of course the profit margin is going to be fantastic for Volvo. So that leaves only some of the money left to go into the equipment. To say the B&W is little more than fiddling with a sound profile...man have you heard it? It's a well done system, considering a factory "premium stereo" is not always guaranteed to be worth it, there are some pretty disappointing ones from other mfrs out there. Value for money...well it's OEM option, it will never be a good deal for money, that's why we like to hack in used parts ;-) At the prices I paid I am thrilled with the sound. I got no patience to put some stereo together from aftermarket parts for the car, that's 100s of hours project to get into that. This swap was a nice little treat, it's why we like to mess with our cars config, these things ;-)
That's all just my opinion on it!