RNS510 (Non Dynaudio) Aftermarket Amp & Sub Install

[chet_cc]

Hi All,

I'm extremely new to this forum stuff...this is also my first ever post! and i'll apologies in advance if i get any of this wrong...

I have a 2010 Passat CC GT TDI 170 (remapped btw with a More-BHP map) with an RNS510 and the premium 8 speaker system (without any external amplification) i.e. non Dynaudio.

Wanted to get a bit more clarity out of the speakers and a bit more bass so have recently had the following installed (by a local audio shop):
JL Audio XD700/5v2
JL Audio CP108LG-W3V3
Stinger 4wg wiring kit
Cerwin Vega CVATLOC4 w/trigger (LOC/high-low converter)

The amp is an absolute corker! its running all door speakers front and rear and has made a big difference to the clarity of the sound from the factory speakers....

The sub is pretty awesome, believe the hype guys...even in a big saloon it hits some crazy low frequencies...you wont get the volume you would with a bigger setup but for clarity and accurate bass reproduction and a bit of thump its just incredible!

There are many posts about using VCDS to code the RNS510 to output line out but after a fair bit of trial and error decided to stick with the LOC. Something to do with a common ground(?)...dont fully understand it but apparently VW's can be 'noisy' cars as a result.

Some issues:
There is no audible interference noise coming from the speakers until you turn the head lights on...i think this is a grounding issue but the shop spent a long time trying different grounding options and couldn't eliminate it completely. Short of running a separate ground wire from the -ve terminal of the battery (is this even something that is done?) i'm not sure that this noise will go away...has anyone else faced similar issues?

The other thing is that there is definitely a Bass EQ adjustment taking place by the headunit at volumes above about 20. The headunit has been left to output a high level signal and the gains on the LOC are very low. Does anyone know if VCDS can be used to adjust the RNS510 to output a flat EQ whilst keeping the signal high level? having looked through the below post it seems like it might be possible?

Volkswagen RNS 510 coding when installing with a factory amplifier | my-gti.com

If it is possible and has been done id be grateful for some more info on it. I'm planning on going back to the shop to see if they would code it accordingly but wanted to know a bit more about what would be involved before i approach them.

Thanks in advance guys

[BobbyBrown]

Hi, did you ever get this sorted? I've got a very similar setup that I'm currently coding at the moment

[chet_cc]

Hiya mate...no I still have this problem...just learned to live with it. The shop I used to do the install did set the rns510 to output a linear signal but even then, at volume (past about 23) there is a noticeable eq'ing of the bass frequencies...managed to minimise it by increasing the gain slightly on the LOC which also resulted in the increase of the buzzing noise when the lights are on but as long as you have some music playing you can't hear it so I've just left it at that.

What's your setup?

[BobbyBrown]

I've put in an RNS510 DAB radio. JL audio C5 speakers in the doors run by an Audison 8.9 digital amp. An audison AP1D runs the JL audio microsub in the boot.

Ive just taken delivery of the VagCom software so I can have a play with things as its never sounded exactly 'right' and I too have had the bass problem. I've changed the output to VW sound system, active speakers and no speaker monitoring. Going to run the amp setup tomorrow and see if it makes any difference. I'll keep you posted.

[chet_cc]

Cool, nice setup mate! I've heard about that audison kit....it's pretty awesome stuff! (Search for SoundmanCA on YouTube, he does lots of installs using audison kit, won't be much use for your install but he makes me laugh and is interesting if you're into car audio).

Yeah definitely take a look at that link I posted in my original thread as that should help...the other thing I've been thinking about recently is the kenwood dnx-525dab which is compatible with the mfd2 and all the other stuff like temperature, pdc, air con etc that normally pops up on the rns510 screen normally. There's some on eBay. They have 3rca outputs which would probably solve everything...they aren't cheap tho and if you've just plonked for the rns I can see how you might want to stick with it!

Incidentally we've just bought a Touran which I'm thinking about fitting a dab rns 510 in it..but I'd definitely need a vcds which makes the whole process pretty expensive 😕 which is putting me off.

Let me know how you get on 😊

[BobbyBrown]

The audison stuff is awesome and you can customise absolutely everything (frequency response / sound delay in ms / crossovers etc). My VCDS kit cost £50 from eBay and its useful for everything else VW related.

[chet_cc]

£50? Is it a genuine Ross-tech one or one of the blue ones? The genuine ones seem to be going for over £200! Any chance you could send a link to one similar to what you bought?

I thought the cheaper ones only let you read the codes and not actually set them?

[BobbyBrown]

Ok coding done and here's what I've found:

Coding needs to be changed to VW sound system - this drops the internal amping of the signal (my amp has therefore compensated by decreasing Vrms on each input to 4.0V)

No speaker monitoring

Active speakers

This sounds a lot better and there are a lot less problems with bass when you turn the unit up. Distortion is also non existent and you can use the full volume range so I'm happy with this and would definitely recommend it.

If you're getting someone else to code your unit you can also remove the restriction that prohibits you from inputting an address above a certain speed.

[chet_cc]

Sweet, I've ordered a vcds too so will definitely take look once it arrives...how are you gettin signal to your amp? Are you going through a loc or high level straight to the amp?

[BobbyBrown]

Have you ordered from the same place?

Kept the high level inputs exactly the same as before and it all works fine. The VCDS fault codes will let you see if there's any shorts anywhere which could be contributing to your buzzing noise.