JBL DS4086 8-channel Car Amp & DSP Review

[amirm]

In this connected world of ours, few USB/SPDIF inputs and WiFi/BT, would suffice.

The next amp indeed has digital input. Some also have BT so you can stream directly to them.

 

[Gilvan]

For that price , and that level of performance ...
I think is rather poor ...
The audio industry should be better , specially in renown brands.
I pass it .

 

[jayapple]

If the car is very old and has no electronic devices, I suggest replacing the entire audio system, including the speakers, DSP, AMP and decoder. This way, it will be at least several times better than the original system.

If there are electronic devices such as various radar warnings and other functions, it is best to keep the original audio system. Otherwise, those functions will be lost. But in this case, the modification basically has no effect.
All the sounds still go through the original system. Even if you add something like a DSP for appearance, it won't make much difference.

 

[just1n]

FYI this is an airstream interstate RV. So the back is full insulated and finished. There is fair amount of noise in front but it is not remotely like a work van.

Airstream had swapped out the head unit for a Kenwood running Android circa 2016. With a slow processor and clunky UI where you had to log in every time to use the system (!) it has been a pain although its Garmin navigation is a nice back up to Google maps. The sound is mediocre at best, mostly composed of midrange and highs. When driving on freeways, you have to crank it up, resulting in sound that is borderline annoying, although fairly better with new JBL speakers I put in.

My original hope was just to spend a bit of money on DSP and actively drive the fronts and improve things without too much expense. My brother has relocated here who has done car audio install/repairs for decades. So the work of redoing it is not a major factor anymore.

The JBL would have fit the bill if it didn't run so darn hot. Whatever I do needs to be reliable as getting stuck on vacation with no sound would be disaster!

Alas, I have this disease where anything I want to do, eventually becomes a quest for the best thing that can be done. So just ordered another set of speakers (the current ones in the door are just 4 inchers), to go with this expensive Audioson amp&dsp, assuming they perform.

Getting bass is another challenge. That part to come next.

What about JL Audio?

JL Audio ACS110LG-TW1​

Unfortunately, it’s 18.5” x 11” which may rule it out.

 

[Cirrus5funk]

Funny enough I just looked this amp up
And I lurk every now and again here on this site
And just wanted to make an account to use and say thank you for doing this as this was posted literally 2 days ago !

 

[Cirrus5funk]

See I have a 2009 vibe GT
And just bought

SB17NAC35-4 woofers​

And Dayton audio ND25FN-4 Dayton audio tweeters

I’m currently running a Ppi.900.4 phantom amp
But need more channels for my older iconnect DSP

So I need more channels but also for my sub but the thing is I don’t wanna over power my tweeters

 

[ROOSKIE]

If there are electronic devices such as various radar warnings and other functions, it is best to keep the original audio system. Otherwise, those functions will be lost.

www.idatalinkmaestro.com

There are other brands and it all depends on the vehicle and head unit but you can often retain everything in aftermarket.

Some cars now though have pretty good factory systems so upgrading them becomes either a side grade or a massive custom extreme install.
Kevin Garnet was getting a system at a shop I worked at years ago and the shop had to dial the sale way back because the stock system in his car was so good it was nearly impossible to improve.
He ended up just getting some subwoofers installed in a really custom add on, mainly for some extra hip-hop slam. Otherwise there was no room to improve with even top of the line equipment. This was a very luxurious car though. Most any Toyota/Honda/Jeep can be drastically upgraded. It will come at a cost though for real good upgrades.

 

[lewdish]

Glad we're doing more car audio stuff again, nice to see every now and then as a refreshing change. Why not get a MiniDSP Harmony instead?

 

[jayapple]

www.idatalinkmaestro.com

There are other brands and it all depends on the vehicle and head unit but you can often retain everything in aftermarket.

Some cars now though have pretty good factory systems so upgrading them becomes either a side grade or a massive custom extreme install.
Kevin Garnet was getting a system at a shop I worked at years ago and the shop had to dial the sale way back because the stock system in his car was so good it was nearly impossible to improve.
He ended up just getting some subwoofers installed in a really custom add on, mainly for some extra hip-hop slam. Otherwise there was no room to improve with even top of the line equipment. This was a very luxurious car though. Most any Toyota/Honda/Jeep can be drastically upgraded. It will come at a cost though for real good upgrades.

I'm currently facing this issue. So I ultimately gave up on modifying the car audio system. But recently, I've been thinking about changing the speakers.

The original paper cone speakers are great for listening to vocals and classical music, but they have poor dynamic response and no bass at all.
My audio system is the original Meridian Sound. It's a pity that the decoder and amplifier are in an iron box, and you can't change anything inside.

Adding any external devices will increase noise and weaken the source signal.
I'll still keep the original speakers. If the effect is bad after changing the speakers!

 

[Dumdum]

I don’t know how much size you need, but the Audiotec Fisher line is pretty good and has great software.

https://www.audiotec-fischer.de/media/pdf/38/fb/ca/2022-03-Car-Hif-International-HELIX-P-SIX-ULTIMATE.pdf

Their premium model is in the 90 dB SINAD range and they probably aren’t using an APx555
View attachment 452394

The budget models:

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-u0cpDhtd4y1/p_975UP8DSP/MATCH-UP-8DSP.html?XVINQ=GZ0&XVVer=1F5K&awcr=628686187366&awdv=m&awnw=g&awug=9061256&awkw=pla-1775780115324&awmt=&awat=pla&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18589735809

The other question is stuff like this

Jehnert Plug & Play Speaker System Upgrade Kit for 2019+ Mercedes Sprinter Vans (68601)

Upgrade the speaker system in your 2019+ Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with the Jehnert Sound Design Mercedes Sprinter Plug and Play Speaker System Upgrade Kit (68601) from Nomadic Supply Company®. The Jehnert Plug & Play Speaker System Upgrade Kit for 2019+ Mercedes Sprinter Vans (68601) is installed...

nomadicsupply.com

Last, if you have separates, Focal makes ultra small car audio amps

DSP & Amplifiers | Car Audio a la carte solutions | Focal

Discover our à la carte DSP processors and Car Audio amplifiers. To combine the pleasure of driving with the love of sound and music, make sure you have quality hi-fi equipment in your car.

www.focal.com

They have apx515 and also apx555’s to use… the 555 is required for the Brax Dsp, rx2 pro (purifi circuitry) and also the mx4 pro which is the old flagship four channel

 

[DanielT]

Thanks for the test Amir.

Here's a tip regarding car audio, RAW- CAt has a Youtube video channel with 390 videos. Has tests, evaluates, measures amps and drivers and gives practical advice regarding installation and so on.

RAW-CAt

All about car audio - raw.

www.youtube.com

Here's a video as an example:

Here's a thread about one of his videos where he tests midrange drivers:

Ultimate Midrange Shootout - in depth analysis

Tip, the video below for those thinking about midrange drivers. Measurements are performed on them. Please note, I do not know in detail how the measurements were carried out. RAW-CAt, as the channel is called, has made several videos about the midrange drivers in the video below. The...

audiosciencereview.com