Audison DA1 and Bit One fitted to Audi S5 with Google MMI3G+

[Cuppa]

Thought I would cross post this due to the interest in car audio.

Have had Sinfoni amps and Morel speakers hooked up to the original car head unit line out for a year now. Sound has been good, but I really wanted a digital feed from the head unit. Once the 'Google NAV' option became a viable retrofit for me I started to research in earnest. It appeared that there were a few units which supported the MOST integration up to MMI2G, but not many options for the 3G units and upwards. After some research and looking around I opted for the Audison DA1 (to integrate into the MOST ring) and the Bit One to handle my optical input and processing.

http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii506/CuppaChoc/Audi%20S5/IMG_20130402_113136_zpsd5d57e7f.jpg

I can happily report that (after some fun and games with updating software, firmware and config files) these integrate successfully with the 3G+ systems. 2G compatibility has always been claimed, but the info on the 3G compatability has been conflicting on occasions.

http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii506/CuppaChoc/Audi%20S5/IMG_20130406_090533_zpsee3325cd.jpg

So current setup is:

Audi Multimedia head unit (MMI3G+) >> Audison DA1 >> Audison Bit One >> 3 x Sinfoni Grave amps >> Morel Elate Limited Edition 2-way speakers (front and rear) + a Morel sub installed in passenger foootwell.

There are some more shots of the car and initial install photos in my build thread (click signature for it) (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/508877-Cuppa-s-08-S5-Coupe?p=8609667&viewfull=1#post8609667). I'll be posting how I get on with the DSP software as I get accustomed to it in the build thread and may post some more audio specific stuff in here.

http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii506/CuppaChoc/Audi%20S5/IMAG0292.jpg

Oh, and the important question - how does it sound.

Let's just say [:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

Oh and one thing I forgot. I have for ages been looking for the holy grail for me - being able to play FLAC files in car. Well, the Audison rep has told me the Bit Play HD unit should be available come September - I think this be hooked up as a multimedia device in the MOST chain (like a TV tuner) so that you get the on screen control of track selection and album art, etc., but the signal feed to the DA1/Bit One setup is sent via a separate optical cable. This unit will support FLAC playback - so come September I'll look to get one of those.

[migsieca]

Doctor, this patient REALLY needs your help!
I am about to buy a loaded 2010 A4 with NAv, voice recog, B&O, etc.
Will the DA1 work in my setup or will the B&O aspect prevent it?
Thanks in advance!

[cory_can]

I've wondered about the compatibility between the 3G+ MMI and MoBridge/BitOne(or ten). Thanks for the post. Can you detail the specific software upgrades (versions) that were required? Were you able to completely remove your stock amp (B&O?) from the MOST ring? Did you lose any functionality like voice commands etc?

[Cuppa]

Doctor, this patient REALLY needs your help!
I am about to buy a loaded 2010 A4 with NAv, voice recog, B&O, etc.
Will the DA1 work in my setup or will the B&O aspect prevent it?
Thanks in advance!

I don't believe the B&O amp prevents it at all - according to the setup instructions just make sure the DA1 is the first box in the MOST ring.


I've wondered about the compatibility between the 3G+ MMI and MoBridge/BitOne(or ten). Thanks for the post. Can you detail the specific software upgrades (versions) that were required? Were you able to completely remove your stock amp (B&O?) from the MOST ring? Did you lose any functionality like voice commands etc?

I just updated both to the latest firmware from the website. In terms of the DA1 it comes pre-configured as Mercedes, so you have to upgrade the firmware first, and then run the config procedure to update it to MMI 3G. Then you're good to go.

I had no B&O amp in the system anyway and whilst the OEM amp is still tucked away at the back of the recess it's doing nothing (and as it's not a MOST capable amp is not in the chain anyway). The system sees the DA1 as the OEM amp. No functionality lost in terms of voice commands, etc. The only slight niggle I have currently is that engaging reverse does not reduce the system volume, but I suspect that is linked to the fact I'm partway through upgrading to front sensors.

The DA1 preserves volume control, as well as balance and tone controls. What is does seem to lose is fader control.

[niner]

cuppa, do you have any update> any issue with DA1 setup? Please share your experience. Thanks

[Cuppa]

cuppa, do you have any update> any issue with DA1 setup? Please share your experience. Thanks

Still sounding great. I have an intermittent issue where the DCR (Digital Remote Control) doesn't seem to sync properly on startup with the Bit One and takes about 90 seconds to power up properly, but most of the time it all switches on within about 4 seconds.

My music library is fairly large (am using the jukebox, 2x32Gb SD cards and a 32Gb Stick plugged in the AMI) and as and when I identify pieces of music where I can detect a frequency imbalance I can whip out the laptop and fine tune it in the Bit One and save the settings to a new preset to test out. You can also adjust the frequency response curves depending upon the system volume set by the DRC, but I'm using it with the DRC set to a fixed volume and using the head unit to feed the volume - this isn't the ideal for SQ, but for me the convenience of steering wheel controls outweighs any potential marginal SQ loss.

The unit definitely errs on the clinical side of things, so people trying to recreate a warm sound are perhaps going to be left wanting, but to be fair I think the system is just recreating the lossy MP3 SQ (even at 320kbps). Am looking forward to the release of the Bit Play towards the end of the year so I can feed it FLAC. Done some testing feeding FLACs from an iRiver iHP-140 using the optical out and [:)]

[niner]

Thanks for the update.

I also have Audison DA1 and Bit 1 to be installed. I also plan to use OEM volume control as the main one. Us DRC volume only when I want to do critical listening. I'm installing the new system myself, so it will be a slow process.

I would love to get the Bit Play too. Hopefully it has a nice and easy to use interface.

[Cuppa]

I would love to get the Bit Play too. Hopefully it has a nice and easy to use interface.

I've seen some clips online - looks like it acts like a TV tuner - you get the Audison unit supplying a video feed to the screen when selected as an input and this allows you to control the media selection from the existing controls - but the subsequent audio output is then fed via optical direct to the Bit One. Not sure if the DA1 is involved at all, but information seems to be light at this point. Think I read only a 250Gb HDD though - nowhere enough for my FLAC library.

[niner]

That may be a problem for user with DA1, which uses the optical port of the Bit One already. Hopefully Audison figures out a way to share the connection. But I like the part that it uses the TV tuner interface, should be very cool.

[audilife23]

I have an Audi A4 b8.5 with NAV (MMI 3G+?) without B&O system. The factory subwoofer recently went out on me, been thinking about replacing it with an aftermarket one for better and deeper low bass. Should I use a Audison Bit processor? If so which one would you recommend?
I know with the NAV system there’s an optical cable used, where is that located?