I know the stock system in my 2k1 gxe is pretty lame, but, where exactly is the issue?. If I just replace the speakers is that going to help out with the distortion I get at relativley low volume, or do I need to replace the whole shebang?.

I am not really an a/v kinda person, so, I don't need anything extreme (my trunk filled up with speakers, amps, and all those other kinda crazy gadgets ).

However, I am toying with the idea of putting the Technics micro system pictured below into the rear seat armrest hole:

 

The stock sound system sounds fine to me.
I love the steering wheel controls!!

 

I got the stock Bose stereo in my 2000 SE. It sounds awsome (it might be the last thing i do to the car) compared to my cousins 2003 SE.

 

Most stock systems are *lacking* in my eyes. But I've worked in Car Fi before so I guess I am "tuned" to good speakers. If you are happy with the way it sounds then leave it alone. If you have a faulty component that needs replacing and you want more, then upgrade everything. Changing the deck and 4 speakers will make quite an improvement. Then add a sub if you want more bass.

Most of the time, aftermarket door/deack speakers will produce less bass then the stock ones. If you are wanting more bass then just add a sub. Just replacing the mids and highs on the stock head unit will most likely decrease your volume level, as aftermarket speakers will run on higher wattages (slightly less effecient than stock.) You say you are getting distortion at low volumes---is it from worn out/blown speakers or are you just trying to get too much bass out of em?

I dumped the Bose system my car came with because it was "muddy" and as typical with Bose, no highs. Plus, I had my system out of my previous car sitting around (can you say motivation?)

 

I replaced the speakers in my non-Bose 2K SE. I installed a Rockford Fosgate RFP2408 8" sub in a custom 0.3 cu. ft. enclosure under the rear deck. Then I installed Polk EX365 6.5" coax speakers in each door and powered everything with an Alpine MRP-F320 amp. Although I'm still using the stock head unit (primarily for the purpose of stealth), the difference in sound quality over the stock system is fantastic. Highly recommended.

 

I did this also. I have the non-Bose system(thankfully)and just replaced all four speakers with Pioneer REV series speakers. Sounds great.

 

for those addicted to perfect sound quality, the bose and non-bose systems suck. as mentioned before, the lack of highs and the quick distortion really bring down the sound quality of the systems.

changing to aftermarket speakers will improve highs, but you´re gonna lose a lot of your bass. it´s funky how you think spending money to get better speakers will just give you empty bass, but if you think about that, systems were designed that way. surrounds handle highs and mids while your lows are handled by subs.

i´m not a personal fan of fosgate, but for a basic consumer who wants to improve sound quality, i´d say go for fosgate. they are designed more in tune for the simple customer who wants to raise his volume a bit more than normal. you can get a lot of bass out of a simple fosgate speaker. this is so that you dont´take up space in gettin a box to fill up your trunk. me on the other hand, i´m a straight up addict. the system should be done in about 2-3 more weeks. i´m so anxious to display it, but it´s just a long job. when it´s done, you´ll see =)

 

My hat's off to guys like you that push the envelope of car audio, PoLo. My tastes, on the other hand, are simpler than yours. I don't play my stereo very loudly. For me, accuracy is vastly more important than SPL. I also do not want to give up my trunk space to house audio components.

The system I have now is more than adequate for my needs. As a matter of fact, I like it well enough that I'm practically duplicating it in the new 2003 Honda CR-V that I just bought for my wife.

PS: Some of you may remember that my wife had a 2K Maxima GXE A/T. We didn't get rid of it when we bought the CR-V. Instead, we gave it to my daughter to celebrate her 21st Birthday. Lucky kid!

 

Buy a decent amp and some component speakers for the fron. Add a Basslink for the sub.

I say bad idea to the home stereo in the car. That is gonna be much work to power (inverter) Gonna be tough to mount and take up way more space than a bassling. Also, how are you going to hange the channel? What are you gonna do for the antenna input etc.

 

Details, details, details, I have no idea, like I said, I was just toying with the idea.

btw, I don't think I have the bose, just the regular stereo and six speakers.

 

You don't have the Bose.

My g/fs 2000 GXE has the regular single CD player and it sounds OK.

My 2003 SE has the Bose 6-CD changer and it sounds much nicer.

-R

 

My 2K SE BOSE sounds fine bass wise, i would like to fix the high problem however... Can anyone recommend replacement speakers??? i like the sub and I think the rear deck speakers are fine... Its the tweeters in the A-pillar an maybe the front doors that would need replacing??? Infinity makes a set that would cover those 4 but they want $269 Cdn...