[tcs]

Confirmed, the speaker emulator did immediately fix the parking sensor error.

Did you try turning on Radio Detect feature on Kicker before connecting Focal speaker simulator?
My understanding is that this feature does the same thing as Focal speaker sim as per manual:
"This will activate a load resistor at the amplifier’s inputs and tell the source unit there are speakers present."
Cheers

 

[waldo22]

Did you try turning on Radio Detect feature on Kicker before connecting Focal speaker simulator?
My understanding is that this feature does the same thing as Focal speaker sim as per manual:
"This will activate a load resistor at the amplifier’s inputs and tell the source unit there are speakers present."
Cheers

@p_x and @fijshion both said they tried that. I was thinking the same thing. I'll try it myself with and without the speaker simulator soon, but I think I'll probably have the same result as them.

 

[tcs]

I found it in the meantime, i was looking for speaker detect and missed that. Please share how your tests went.

 

[p__x]

Did you try turning on Radio Detect feature on Kicker before connecting Focal speaker simulator?
My understanding is that this feature does the same thing as Focal speaker sim as per manual:
"This will activate a load resistor at the amplifier’s inputs and tell the source unit there are speakers present."
Cheers

@p_x and @fijshion both said they tried that. I was thinking the same thing. I'll try it myself with and without the speaker simulator soon, but I think I'll probably have the same result as them.

Correct I tried it with speaker sim on/off/on/off. I was not willing to pay $75 for the speaker sim unless I really had to, LOL.

 

[tcs]

Hello again, can someone chime in how center speaker is connected and if it can be routed through external DSP. I'm still considering if I want MiniDSP 2x4HD (that will keep option of having Dirac open), but if I will have no control over center speaker (2x4HD has only two inputs), maybe better option is to forget Dirac and just get Match M5.4 DSP amp or Mosconi Pico 4|8 DSP amp. I would check it by myself, but I will have the car in two weeks ;-)

 

[Opekoney]

I'd be interested in this answer as well, to potentially simplify wiring - if it's not trivial to drop a wire from the center channel to the back of the infotainment, tapping into the existing wiring could save a few minutes during install.

Buuuuut - Regardless of how it's connected in the OEM configuration, your DSP will only see signal from the front two speakers, and you'll output a center channel signal. In any case you're running 9wire from the amp to the back of the infotainment, which is only a few CM away from the center channel.

 

[laurg]

Since one month ago, I have an issue with my sound upgrade system with focal speakers and focal inside amplifier. Sometimes I can hear the sound only on center speaker, all the sound from reverse motion, or the chimes, cannot be heard. If I reset the multimedia the sound it will be ok. What could be the problem? Maybe the speaker sim it is not working properly?

 

[p__x]

So I did a non-blinded test comparing wireless vs. wired carplay music after someone said they can't hear any difference. So I cranked up the volume right below distortion on wireless then switched wireless and wired back and forth a few times. On wired I kept on getting distortion on the same level. Of course I might be biased and all, this is ABx able. I'll do it when my wife will have time to help. Or even test it on her.

 

[waldo22]

Fun! Do you happen to know how to keep bluetooth off? I was able to find the setting and turn it off, finally (gear at the top-right of "mobile devices" section), but it wouldn't let me use the phone until I turned it back on.

I was finally able to get the phone to work with Bluetooth off by removing the phone from mobile devices, plugging the phone in, adding the phone back, turning on bluetooth because it wouldn't let me add the phone with it off, then turning bluetooth off after the phone was added. Only then would it let me use the phone for music plugged-in without turning bluetooth on.

It's like it has to add the phone in "wired-mode" initially, and if it doesn't, it requires bluetooth every time.

It still won't let me use the phone to make calls with bluetooth off, but I can play music that way. It's a pretty big hassle.

 

[p__x]

Fun! Do you happen to know how to keep bluetooth off? I was able to find the setting and turn it off, finally (gear at the top-right of "mobile devices" section), but it wouldn't let me use the phone until I turned it back on.

I was finally able to get the phone to work with Bluetooth off by removing the phone from mobile devices, plugging the phone in, adding the phone back, turning on bluetooth because it wouldn't let me add the phone with it off, then turning bluetooth off after the phone was added. Only then would it let me use the phone for music plugged-in without turning bluetooth on.

It's like it has to add the phone in "wired-mode" initially, and if it doesn't, it requires bluetooth every time.

It still won't let me use the phone to make calls with bluetooth off, but I can play music that way. It's a pretty big hassle.

that's weird. I can do everything with BT off using wired. But sometimes it takes a few attempts to turn on Carplay. I don't mind though

 

[waldo22]

that's weird. I can do everything with BT off using wired. But sometimes it takes a few attempts to turn on Carplay. I don't mind though

Well I have a Pixel. Maybe it's time to get an iPhone.

 

[p__x]

Well I have a Pixel. Maybe it's time to get an iPhone.

saw your D-Linker comment. do you think that could be used to lookup the center speaker's part number?

 

[waldo22]

Yes:
11A035415 or
11A035415A or
11K035415 or
11K035415A

You can also use the program directly on the web without installing the D-Linker software:
CarProg2 (ifinterface.com)

 

[GregAZ22]

So I did a non-blinded test comparing wireless vs. wired carplay music after someone said they can't hear any difference. So I cranked up the volume right below distortion on wireless then switched wireless and wired back and forth a few times. On wired I kept on getting distortion on the same level. Of course I might be biased and all, this is ABx able. I'll do it when my wife will have time to help. Or even test it on her.

Carplay (and Android Auto) play up to 16/48 regardless if it is wired or wireless. Also of note is that it uses wifi for transmitting audio information, not bluetooth.

 

[p__x]

Carplay (and Android Auto) play up to 16/48 regardless if it is wired or wireless. Also of note is that it uses wifi for transmitting audio information, not bluetooth.

We've had this discussion here a year ago, you can search back.
1. There's a difference between 16/48 lossless vs. 16/48 with compression.
2. BT is being turned off because as long as BT is on, you can't make sure the sound doesn't use wireless when you hook the phone in. So the A/B testing only works with a certainty with BT being toggled.

 

[p__x]

Yes:
11A035415 or
11A035415A or
11K035415 or
11K035415A

You can also use the program directly on the web without installing the D-Linker software:
CarProg2 (ifinterface.com)

funny that the sonos system's center speaker is cheaper than the stock vw:

 

[GregAZ22]

We've had this discussion here a year ago, you can search back.
1. There's a difference between 16/48 lossless vs. 16/48 with compression.
2. BT is being turned off because as long as BT is on, you can't make sure the sound doesn't use wireless when you hook the phone in. So the A/B testing only works with a certainty with BT being toggled.

Yes, there is a difference between lossless and compression. My understanding of android auto (not sure about carplay, but would assume it is the same) is that audio files only play over either wifi or the wired connection, never the bluetooth. There is no difference whether the data is being transferred via wifi or wired cable. I would posit that the only difference would be the stability of the connection where a wired connection would be superior assuming you are using a quality cable and non damaged usb ports, however, in all reality a wifi signal that only travels a few feet should be plenty stable as well. As far as lossless or compressed goes, that is going to depend on what the source of your files are. I play my music off my sd card in my phone with exclusively flac files to ensure I have lossless quality.

 

[p__x]

Yes, there is a difference between lossless and compression. My understanding of android auto (not sure about carplay, but would assume it is the same) is that audio files only play over either wifi or the wired connection, never the bluetooth.

I'm referring to this discussion. We concluded that CarPlay uses LPCM over wire and AAC compression over WiFi. Again, I'm not claiming that transmission occurs over BT. I'm claiming that the only way to know transmission does NOT use WiFi is to disable BT.

 

[GregAZ22]

I'm referring to this discussion. We concluded that CarPlay uses LPCM over wire and AAC compression over WiFi. Again, I'm not claiming that transmission occurs over BT. I'm claiming that the only way to know transmission does NOT use WiFi is to disable BT.

Wow, I am surprised that Apple does this. I know Android Auto uses 16/48 lossless over the wireless connection.

 

[p__x]

Wow, I am surprised that Apple does this. I know Android Auto uses 16/48 lossless over the wireless connection.

apple tends to prioritize reliability over anything. For example, the airpods also use AAC. I'm more surprised that AA doesn't compress. Time to dig up my old android phone to test?!