Open Road

Hey all,

I have been playing around with the some of the Musway products as a potential replacement for the factory 4 and 6-channel amplifier.

The Musway D8 fits well in the original location, and I have made brackets to fit this model into the later cars. Two different brackets are needed for the 10 and 8-speaker cars respectively. The brackets change in 89 for the 10-speaker system, and I have tested it on an 89 and 93. The brackets for the 88 and earlier cars have been tested on an 88 and 87 (It should fit all the 4-channel BQA80/BQB80 amplifiers).

The D8 is interesting for several reasons besides that it fits well with a custom bracket:

• 8 channels of bridgeable and 2-ohm stable amplification (8x65w@4ohm) (4x360w@4ohm) - read you can power a factory 10-channel system plus a sub with 6x65w + 1x360w
  Native bluetooth input - keep your factory headunit and stream hi-res audio directly to the amp
  DSP - full featured DSP to do crossover, channel mixing, time alignment in the amp
  Remote display - an optional wired remote unit with OLED display and rotary encoder-based interface allows easy selection of volume, input, sub level

https://www.muswayusa.com/Product/D8

So, what does this mean for us 928 guys? You can keep your factory stock headunit for aesthetics and the AM/FM tuner, but stream music directly from your phone to the amp. You can even have a deadhead unit or no headunit and still have full control of the amp from the wired remote.

I have the brackets designed and a mount to install the remote in the ashtray insert. What I need is a wider testing audience to give some feedback on how the amp does in their environment, their experience is with the DSP software, integration into their headunit.... etc

I have applied and am now a Musway dealer, so can get hardware to those interested in helping test at a discount and provide the bracket and/or ashtray insert for the remote.

Shoot me a note if you are interested.

After getting several of these out there and validated, (pending good results) there will be amplifier upgrade kits with plug-in harnesses and brackets available with DSP configuration files for the factory speaker locations and levels.

Samples came in early. Going to make a small tweak before ordering a batch, but it worked great:

I am needing to do exactly what you are describing on a car in a month. I'd be willing to give it a try.

My GTS is sans working stereo currently. I have been told that the problem is my amp. Ill help.

I'm happy to help too Hans. I have an aftermarket head unit, but I think still the factory amp. It cuts out at high volume, which is how I like to listen to certain songs. Let me know.
Thnks

Hans, I'm not ready to tackle this right now (too many other simultaneous projects), but if you need another tester and could use an 86.5 Auto data point, I would also be interested. I just recently decided I would put a radio in my car after all (though if everything else works out with my exhaust, it will have serious competition.)

Carlos

I'm in to help, if you want me as part of your testers. My radio and amp are both currently out and so install and testing could happen pretty quickly.

Exciting stuff, as always.

Cheers

Hey Hans!

Well, I have the amazing Hans speakers in the doors, a pair of 6.5 Earthquakes in the middle section, and still need to put something in the back so I'd be happy to replace the Fosgate Amp and see how it works.

C

Hans, I have been looking forward to this announcement since our discussion about it several months ago, because after studying the specs of that amp it certainly looks like the perfect amp for the 928.
Unfortunately, I cannot be a beta-user, because I am geographically separated from cars right now... However, if you need some financial participation for the group buy or something like that I am in. I just can't test right now. Just let me know!

PS: Also check for my PM.

I have a couple guys running these in their cars right now, in addition to myself.

I do know that the 84-86 is different, so need to borrow a car to test that bracket (my euro 86 does not have the mounting points installed, as it was a 4-channel delivery).

I will post an update when we have some significant time on these units. They physically fit well, and do everything required for the 928. The main questions is if additional cooling is required for the small enclosed space. The amps themselves have a fan for forced air cooling internally, but it may be required to actively exhaust the small enclosure to keep the heat at bay.

I have some sensors to datalog in my car, but I have not had a chance to get that installed but will be part of my test. I also don't have AC in that car, so it will be a good "worst case" scenario for watching temp rise in the enclosure.

The +12v switched supply for the stock amp can be used to turn-on an exhaust blower if its required. Testing and logging thermal rise will let us know if the bracket needs to be modified to include mounting points for enclosure cooling. There is plenty of room for a small fan, the power requirements are very low, and the running noise level would be under the threshold of the car air circulation system, and well below ambient outdoor noises.

More to come with testing.

Did a new install in the 88 yesterday after work. I think I will tweak the bracket a bit more and include a chassis ground lug and perhaps the mount for holding the speaker and DIN adapter. I want to test a free-hanging version of the speaker harness to see if it just lays easier than a centralized block.

I have the Molex crimping and terminals all worked out now with existing tooling.

New remote display housings that are SLS printed are on the way for final testing. The SLA worked fine for proof of concept, but its just not as stable as I would like for warping with the materials I have tested so far in the UV/Heat. Will test that assembly as soon as they arrive with some lighting gels to try and get the cool white OLED display on the optional remote to match both the incandescent light of the early cars, and the orange of the digital dash on the 89+ cars.

Constant improvement, but I am very happy with the location of the amp and the installation into the cleat bracket.

No thermal issues on my installs (no AC in my car right now) or the other couple units in beta group, so things are looking good for not needing supplemental airflow, but I would like further testing before calling victory. I may do the next test bracket with a fan holder as well, just in case there are climates where it is needed.

Pictures of the 87-88 Beta v3 install:

I have someone who wants to update their stereo for an 85. They would probably be in to testing it the system out. What's the buy-in cost?

Hey Brad. I have enough people with that chassis already signed up for testing. So far, no thermal issues have been observed.

The first batch of "production grade" remote display mounts are coming in next week. After testing those, I will start ordering parts for an official retail release towards the end of September.

I am doing some alternate harness fit checks and testing the plug-in power supply versus the 10g primary power as well.

These things are rated at 40a, so the factory power wire is not sufficient. Its easy enough to run a supply, but I am going to try and make that even easier if I can.

As an audio nut, you really should check out the manual on this thing. It really does an amazing amount of things in such a small package. The bluetooth control option is also pretty advanced. You can change the crossover filters, eq, delays, and levels all from your phone.

It sounds great! No pun intended! This solution is going to be great and avoid the time involved in rewiring the whole car for a custom amp and head unit! Thanks Hans!!

Samples came in early. Going to make a small tweak before ordering a batch, but it worked great:

That is a work of art! Perfect, tasteful and stealth mod for the 928! I'm in for sure. Like I said, if you need participation for the group buy, let me know. I can't beta test though.

Hans - let someone else take my test spot (if you allocated one to me). This looks more involved than I want to get into right now. I need to do some basic fixes to my stereo system first, and I need to figure out how to do that. I am very weak technically in the sound system stuff.

With several of these now out in various climates installed under the stock cover with no reported heat issue, I think these are ready to move to a "pre-production" wider audience.

I am ordering more of the 87-88 and 89+ brackets this week. The 84-86 brackets are still not ready for release, but will be shortly.

If anyone with 87-95 cars is interested in one before it becomes a full retail product, this last small batch will be the final opportunity to get discounted hardware in exchange for feedback on the installation and use.

Hans - on TOS you mentioned in April that you were working on new drivers again. I am in need of replacing all of mine so quite interested in what you have coming. Any updates? Need testers for drivers?

JT

JBT3 wrote:Hans - on TOS you mentioned in April that you were working on new drivers again. I am in need of replacing all of mine so quite interested in what you have coming. Any updates? Need testers for drivers?

JT

JBT3 wrote:Hans - on TOS you mentioned in April that you were working on new drivers again. I am in need of replacing all of mine so quite interested in what you have coming. Any updates? Need testers for drivers?

JT

The door drivers just came in this week. They were in a container, and made it just before the port slow-down.

I havent auditioned them yet, but have done some preliminary modeling to make sure everything fits. So far, with a custom bezzle, they can use the stock threaded grills. I need to go find my push-fit grills to test that too.

New second gen brackets are available for the 89+ cars. Real pictures coming soon. This makes overall installation easier than the first generation, but the bracket is now three pieces riveted together with stainless rivets.

There will be an updated version of the 87/88 and 84-86 brackets soon that will have mounting positions for both the D8 (8-channel amp) and the smaller new M5 (5-channel amp) so you can pick the amplifier that works best for your original 4-channel configuration.

M5 sample amp is on the way in next week's shipment, so that dual purpose bracket will be available shortly.

Hi Hans,

I'm satisfied with my current setup using the DEH-80PRS you recommended in the past but I would love to buy the grey DIN adapter shown below.

Do you have any extras or could you tell me where you got it from?

Thanks
Tom

Shoot me an email and I will make one for you. Its a printed housing that I press terminals into. Also let me know if you need the 4-channel or 6-channel version.

Thanks so much for the generous offer.

I sent an email to the address I used when I bought your console switch replacement. Hope it's still current.

-Tom