Mazda Bose Subwoofer Improvement

Lately I really enjoying driving my car and doesn't think about changing anything on it, including the pre-installed OEM Bose audio system.

I know how much time consuming when install proper audio system in car and I start to avoid it as much as I can. I also know for the end result from proper aftermarket car audio system installation could be sound amazing, but listening from this OEM Bose audio system is already fulfilled my expectation.

At least for this moment:)

But something annoying me from this audio system is the bass sound. The bass impact is not deep enough, and small distortion occurs from the unwanted vibration. So, I think I need to make some improvement on this bass sector first.

What Mazda Bose Centerpoint Does to The Music?

It has been a month since I bought and use this brand-new Mazda CX-5 as my daily cars. No doubt for the car performance, this is one of the most reliable, yet very comfortable car to drive. This Mazda CX-5 is the Elite version with 2.5-liter engine and package with Bose audio system as a "bonus" features.

This is car is very interesting, I will try to explain it from my own perspectives as a casual user, especially for the Bose audio system.

Early disclaimer, I listening to this Bose audio system and in my opinion, the overall sound quality is not very special. Surprise, surprise!

The sound quality is average but for sure better than most cars with non-audio brand collaboration.

Let's deep down to it.

I Was Going Too Far with This PCM1704 DAC

I only keep few DAC's for my personal collection. They are all the best DAC I've ever built, but only one DAC that I have spending so much money on it is this PCM1704 DAC using vacuum tubes.

The building process was publish in series post here and the first upgrade was publish in here. The improvement from that upgrade was way better than the first built with many components are replaced with the boutique parts. The cost from this upgrade is expensive.

But how if I going further with changing the remaining standard industrial components with the highest-grade components as well? Will it improve the sound so much?

Let see.

The Nakamichi Dragon DAC Clone 2024 Updates

One of my reasons posting the same DAC again is because I not making new DAC anymore. I listen to the music from my digital source, with the SPDIF output, then it convert the PCM data to the analog sound by using this Nakamichi Dragon DAC clone. I like the sound so much and this might be the most expensive DAC I've ever built. It sounds so good, probably not the best, but I feel proud to having this DAC.

I guess more than three months has pass and I think I should revisit this DAC again.

Actually, I have some issue with the sound, not really major for me, but I think it is lack of the detail music presentation. Probably because of the LPF cut-off should be setting up again. I also want to have cleaner digital supply to each PCM1704 DAC IC by adding the inductors, as per original Nakamichi Dragon DAC schematic.

So here is the refinement of my Nakamichi Dragon DAC clone.

My Listening Room & Audio Setup

I haven't published any post in this new year yet because I think there are nothing worth enough to share. My last post about building a DAC that based on the Nakamichi Dragon DAC schematic is now become my currently best DAC. It is sound so good, yet the most expensive DAC I've ever built. I think this is my full stop to make any DAC again.

So in this post is just about myself, lying on my sofa while listening the music with my DIY stereo system in one fine evening, probably few days before the new year. With the borrowed camera on my hands, I try to take few pictures about all of my audio system.

I think the picture are worth to share.

The Nakamichi Dragon DAC Clone Updates

This is the post I made for closing this year.

Such a beautiful years with lot of new experienced especially when I made a DAC with the vintage multibit DAC IC.

The latest DAC I made is a clone from Nakamichi Dragon DAC and I named it "the Dragon DAC". The overall result is surprisingly good and I can now stop thinking about building another new DAC with new concept using the vintage multibit DAC since all of them are already done.

This post is just an update from my previously built, the Dragon DAC, with some components added and changes for the sake of an improvement.

Building Process Nakamichi Dragon DAC Clone

If someone asking me about what is my dream for the vintage multibit DAC to own is for sure the Nakamichi Dragon DAC.

Anyone who doesn't know the original Nakamichi brand is a company that specialized in the high fidelity audio product and they are all made in Japan. Unlike today Nakamichi which already bought by the Asian company and they missing it's original culture.

The Nakamichi Dragon is the highest level of audio product and the DAC in this Dragon line-up is the limited edition product with ultimate price tag to own.

Don't expect me to buy it, I guess I better make it by my own:)

DAC2000 Build With AD1865 DAC

The curiosity I got from studying the DAC2000 schematic that I previously post are on the analog stages.

Although this analog stage is quite common for the third pole LPF, but the specific resistors value become the key factor for the overall LPF slope result. The goal for a better LPF calculator is we want the slope of the LPF as linear as possible because it reflect to the sound quality.

That is why I want to make the same DAC2000 but with some changes, especially on the DAC section that will be using AD1865.

So let's continue.