Posted this to car talk, but I think this is a better place for it.

The mods I'm looking at for the immediate term are Rick's console cover, and some sort of stereo upgrade.

I already have a 120watt amp lying around, and I was considering doing a simple stereo upgrade in the short term. My question is this: Does anyone know how the stock deck stacks up in terms of simple CD-playing quality? I know that the stock speakers suck, and that the power output of the deck is low, but if I ran it into the amp and replaced the speakers in the car with some good 2-ways, do ya think it would put out a good enough sound that I wouldn't have to replace the deck itself? (would save me the cost of a new deck, plus the custom wiring harness to activate the driver controls.)

Finally, do you think that I could easily wire the output of the stock deck to the amp, or would it be tricky?

Thanks in advance for your help =)

paulb

 

Although the FM section is marginal, the unit is ok. I added an amp (pics somewhere in this forum) and speakers. CD's sound great.. FM is adequate. Controls are intact.

 

Can't remember if I posted to this thread in Car Talk or not, but check it out, just in case...

 

I agree, did the same thing, and added a pair of Bass shakers on the floor under the seats. I used the factory front outputs for the door speakers, and the factory rear output for the shakers. Using 50W x 4 amp mounted above the gas tank (tricky, but it fits) and audax/vifa speakers from Madisound.

Anyone who listens is impressed with the sound/investment ratio, and I like keeping the stock head unit/controls even though the FM reception is not up to par. (loses stations in fringe areas where my Spyder GST had no problem)

 

I always cringe at the thought of adding an amp without RCA patches. If you go to the troble of adding an amp, don't cut corners do your best and enjoy it.

My Rant:

Its so frustrating getting noise in the speakers. I HATE HATE when I setup everything perfectly and then have to take it apart because of alternator noice in the speaks. ARGH!

 

Is the weak FM due to the stock head or the wimpy antenna or due to a defective antenna pre-amplifier?

Has anyone found poor FM and then installed a new head and found better FM? I don't remember anyone saying that. Several people have said just the opposite, and I have assumed that it was because they didn't connect the new head's wire which turns on the antenna pre-amplifier.