GR86 Focal 2 way component OEM retrofit
- Thread starter Dal3D
- Start date
Dal3D
Totally Hooked
- Thread starter
- #23
I haven't noticed any door bass rattle before to be honest.
The whole door vibrates now including the arm rest with the Focals when you can actually turn it up loud in if that's relevant? My door cards have been off and on countless times as well as having a bit of sound deadening material and I've not noticed an OEM rattle.
Maybe it’s just mine then. I assumed it was more common as a few journalists mentioned rattling doors with the stereo (ie JayEmm). A little bit of pressure on the door card makes it go away so probably just a cable.
Like the sounds of the upgrade. Thanks for sharing!
Like the sounds of the upgrade. Thanks for sharing!
--Rage--
Totally Hooked
I don’t have that rattle luckily, but can you not consider something like this?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394552672910
FRAJ
Obsessed member
Mine has a rattle in the drivers side , depending on what music is playing. I am considering the focals too, it seems the only choice for plug and play,
grzoostuff
Totally Hooked
This does look tempting, next up could be a new head unit too to improve on the low-fi graphics of the stock one.
Alistair31
Totally Hooked
Aren’t a lot of the car settings controlled through the screen? How does that work with going aftermarket?
TheRealMyodo
Devoted member
Door cards is a 5 minute job, maybe 10 mins first time being careful. Loads of videos on YouTube, might be worth watching one first so you know what to expect. Good luck!Postman has just delivered my set
@Dal3D - did it take you long to get the door cards off? I work from home and am having a rather slow work day anyway, so I'm considering having a go at it on my lunch break
Done. It's no harder than the old car.
A great improvement for £150! I did drivers side first, then ran a direct comparison by playing music and shifting the balance left and right. Much less distortion with the Focals and a much richer, fuller sound. Still a little bit of vibration - I did add some sound deadening being the speaker, perhaps it could do with a little more, but I didn't want to go too mad. Very pleased
TheRealMyodo
Devoted member
Sweet. Mine are going in this weekend.Done. It's no harder than the old car.
A great improvement for £150! I did drivers side first, then ran a direct comparison by playing music and shifting the balance left and right. Much less distortion with the Focals and a much richer, fuller sound. Still a little bit of vibration - I did add some sound deadening being the speaker, perhaps it could do with a little more, but I didn't want to go too mad. Very pleased
ninjin
Totally Hooked
- Aug 29, 2023
- 532
- 762
The PUZU DSP is a digital signal processor with 7 band EQ (Puzu C7) per channel and time delay function. In addition it bumps up the output to around 4x45w RMS. If you can spend the time on it or know what you are doing, then the sound can be tailored to you specific tastes. Of course it isn't going to thump bass if the speakers aren't up to it but the good thing with having EQ, you can cut the lower frequency to suit the speaker. As example, if the door speaker can only drop to 80hz and anything lower than that just distorts, you can set the EQ to only play frequencies above 80hz, thus not pushing the speaker and distorting the sound.
This is a very crude basic example but the DSP is capable of much more fine tuning that that. I've used them in my cars since 2020 and haven't looked back. £100 delivered for a Puzu C7 is money very well spent if you like your music.
ninjin
Totally Hooked
- Aug 29, 2023
- 532
- 762
Fitted mine today. As a bit of extra security I ran a bit of hot glue on the tweeter, heat shrinked the connectors and also foamed the plug to stop rattles.
First impressions: Volume is lower, which was expected due to the much heavier magnet on the speaker. Control and finesse is much better, not as crude as the OEM speakers. Looking forward for them to loosen up and install the PUZU.
First impressions: Volume is lower, which was expected due to the much heavier magnet on the speaker. Control and finesse is much better, not as crude as the OEM speakers. Looking forward for them to loosen up and install the PUZU.
KobayashiMaru86
Totally Hooked
Just did mine between showers. Took my time, tweeters were fine once I realised what side my fingers needed to go in to release the clip. Door cards were nerve wracking but now I know it's straightforward. Managed to prop door card up on a box at 90 degrees so only the 2 cables to unplug. Put a bit of sound proofing behind too. I've reset equaliser to stock and it's already an improvement. When it beds in I'll play with them again to get the best setting for these. I've tested it in so far I know it all works but neighbours to my left wouldn't have appreciated it. Going for a spin somewhere this weekend so I'll test it then. have loads of sound proofing left over so I'll do boot floor and under rear plastics.
FRAJ
Obsessed member
Good write up @Dal3D and feedback from others persuaded me to part with £150. I am glad I did it and my only regret is not doing it on the GT86 I put up with for 6 years. The sound is much improved.
Install was as described, easier than I expected. The most time was spent sticking bits of sound deadening to the door as you can reach in a fair way without tearing the plastic sheet. It had been raining and there was quite wet in there. I am thinking the "rattle" was the plastic sheet reverberating, it certainly was when I tested it with the door card off. As an Engineer, my solution was to stick some gaffer tape on and hope for the best.
The OE speakers are really lightweight and I'm surprised they sound any good at all.
Install was as described, easier than I expected. The most time was spent sticking bits of sound deadening to the door as you can reach in a fair way without tearing the plastic sheet. It had been raining and there was quite wet in there. I am thinking the "rattle" was the plastic sheet reverberating, it certainly was when I tested it with the door card off. As an Engineer, my solution was to stick some gaffer tape on and hope for the best.
The OE speakers are really lightweight and I'm surprised they sound any good at all.
leosayer
Totally Hooked
Thanks everyone for your write-ups this sounds like a nice cheap and effective upgrade.
I had several quotes for speaker, amp, subwoofer and door soundproofing work which came to well over £3k. Don't think I'll be doing that.
I had several quotes for speaker, amp, subwoofer and door soundproofing work which came to well over £3k. Don't think I'll be doing that.
grzoostuff
Totally Hooked
Does anyone know how much sound deadening material is needed for the door? Maybe a 10 inch X 10 inch each side to cover the speaker size? Or is more better?
TheRealMyodo
Devoted member
I installed my Focals today. Extremely pleased, definitely a significant upgrade 
I've reset the audio settings to default and need to play around with them. Has anyone found a setup with the Focals that they like and don't mind sharing?
I've reset the audio settings to default and need to play around with them. Has anyone found a setup with the Focals that they like and don't mind sharing?