On the subject of car audio

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
04/01/2016 at 15:06 • Filed to: None

Why is it that even the most expensive Bose system or “premium audio” or “shaker” or whatever the hell OEM speakers in a car still sound shittier than my mustang with a Pioneer head unit and a 12" MTX tossed in the trunk? I don’t have a team of engineers. I don’t have a huge budget. I have some craigslist junk and a few minutes to set up my EQ and crossovers on the head unit and the result sounds better than 99.99999% of stock sound systems, even many cars have “subwoofers” built into them now they still sound like ass by shoving bass through the door speakers where it doesn’t belong (and distorts the balls out of the mids). Why is this? Why can’t companies with millions of dollars to spend do better than a kid with $50 and some spare time?

DISCUSSION (41)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 15:11

“Car audio is bunk”
“You can have any sound of stereo you like so long as it’s bland.”
-Henry Ford, probably.

Tripper > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 15:12

It’s always the way. Aftermarket shits on every manufacturer “upgraded” stereo option. Some of the Mark Levinson systems in Toyota’s/Lexus are pretty impressive, but you’re right all but a few are just trash.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Tripper
04/01/2016 at 15:16

It’s just stupid how easy it is to make them good. A decent subwoofer, crossovers, and equalization. That’s it.

Slant6 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 15:19

Well, your Mustang is like 10 years old. Also have you ever heard a real premium sound system? Like in a real luxury car?

Not everyone likes obnoxious bass.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Slant6
04/01/2016 at 15:20

When did I mention obnoxious bass? And I’ve been in Escalades, S-classes, CTS’, range-topping Suburbans (not really luxury but whatever), and others. They all sounded like shit.

Conan > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 15:20

They’re really only good in very high end luxury cars. I don’t get it either. It isn’t tough. I also wow my high school students with $50 speakers/woofer in my classroom. They’re not even that good.

Slant6 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 15:21

The new Volvo Bowers and Wilkens is pretty good.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Conan
04/01/2016 at 15:22

I was supremely underwhelmed by the 12-speaker system in my buddy’s Mercedes-Benz S600.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Slant6
04/01/2016 at 15:23

Oh? Don’t have much experience with recent Volvos. Might give them a listen sometime just to restore my faith in OEM audio

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 15:28

I am very disappointed in the Bose system in my S600. It should be much better on a $170,000 car.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 15:29

My buddies LTZ suburban isn't much better than my S class.

Conan > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 15:29

My only good car audio experience was in a Bentley. I expect some of those aren’t even very good though.

Slant6 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 15:29

I think people generally don’t care. I mean the speakers in my Ranger are fine. Not great but it’s just ok.

Same way that people use the regular apple headphones when there are much better ones out there.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
04/01/2016 at 15:31

The brave new bullshit.

Tripper > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 15:36

Yeap. I think part of the problem is that a lot of people think those poop “upgraded” systems sound good. Throw some heavy bass in there and people with bad ears are easily impressed. If you actually listen to music especially at any kind of volume, you have to go aftermarket.

Leon711 > Slant6
04/01/2016 at 15:40

I second the quality of B&W. British quality speakers.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Tripper
04/01/2016 at 15:45

What’s worse is people who “upgrade” their system with a sub and then set it up entirely for bass thinking their cheapo Kicker is gonna win them a SPL competition or some shit. The only reason my car has a subwoofer is so bass isn’t coming through my components and distorting the rest of the sound range.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 15:46

I’m impressed at how much better my sound is with my stock speakers in my Milan with the upgraded head unit.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
04/01/2016 at 15:46

I feel like a head unit upgrade would do those wonders, but who the fuck would put an aftermarket head unit in an S-class?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/01/2016 at 15:47

Yep. Head units do a massive amount of wonders for a stock system. I’m giving my mom my Pioneer for her Saturn Sky, which has the world’s shittiest sound system. We’ll see what magic it can work in there.

Tripper > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 15:47

Those are the same people that use the “gain” setting as if it was a volume knob.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Tripper
04/01/2016 at 15:48

* eye twitch*

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 15:49

My 18 year old BMW Harman/Kardon (Nokia, actually) system sounds glorious and no one is going to change my opinion.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 15:49

Just a bit more power can make such a difference.

I was honestly surprised when it had 8 speakers.

And surprised again when it sounded so good with the new head unit.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 15:50

The only good factory systems I’ve ever heard are B&O and Burmester. HK, Bose etc are all junk normal speakers with new logos and more complicated wiring.

-this space for rent- > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 15:57

Near as i can tell, premium audio is 90% marketing.

Sweet Trav > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 16:03

0 complaints about the Sony HD unit in my SHO. Except My Ford touch blows.

Bullitt Ride > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 16:05

I’ve had a GMC yukon with a nice JBL woofer set-up in the back, I’ve had other cars with aftermarket decks and upgraded speakers in the doors and I’ve been in a few cars with high end aftermarket set-ups, I’ll also add that at home I’ve experienced some high end headphones over the years. With all that in mind, I’ll say that the OEM premium audio package in my E90 330i is pretty good. The only place where I found it can’t keep up with the higher end systems is when the volume starts getting above the hearing damage range... which you should never be in anyways. Also, I’m talking about audio quality when the car is stationary. Don’t even try to tell me about audio quality when you’re driving along because unless you’re in a high end luxury barge that’s designed to be very quiet at speed, the road noise and wind buffeting cause too much acoustic interference for upgraded speakers to matter all that much.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 16:09

Right ! I really like command 2 as well .

WiscoProud > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 16:32

My guess is your metric is largely on bass reproduction, seeing as the only equipment you listed was a HU and a 12" sub. In that regard, your desire for bass is not typical of the normal buying public, and a more balanced approach is taken by OEM manufacturers.

Bass is easy to add to a car, getting decent mids and highs is tougher. Room modes in an automotive environment are nightmarish. I’m actually excited that Auto EQs are starting to be introduced in the auto world. They are amazing in the HT world.

Long story short, OEM manufacturers have more criteria than just "slammin' bass". They typically aim for a relatively flat frequency response while picking components that will last 10 years in an automotive environment.

mazda616 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 16:32

I've always heard bad things about Bose but I enjoy the system in my 6.

TheOnelectronic > Slant6
04/01/2016 at 16:55

My mom’s S6 had the multiple-thousands-of-dollars Bang and Olufson system, fancy pop-up tweeters and all. It was still a bit disappointing.

TheOnelectronic > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 16:57

What amazes me is the stereo in the BRZ, a very common criticism of the car, is actually shockingly good if you just put enough power into it. Just by swapping the head unit it’s become an incredibly good system.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > TheOnelectronic
04/01/2016 at 18:05

Head units are one of the best upgrades you can do, often because of the equalization options you get.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > WiscoProud
04/01/2016 at 18:08

Getting good mids and highs out of a stock system is easy if you have a high pass filter set up and send all your lows to an appropriate speaker— a sub. I couldn’t care less about stupid loud bass but a typical car 6x9 or 5" door speaker is having the full gamut of frequencies getting sent through it, which results in a muddy mess. Getting a dedicated bass speaker in the trunk and a head unit that lets you set up crossovers can wake up the stock speakers for treble and mids while freeing them of distorting bass frequencies. Hell, even on stock speakers a new head unit is massively worth it for the upgraded EQ options.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Sweet Trav
04/01/2016 at 18:09

Agreed on MyTouch. I spent 20 minutes fighting it in an Explorer earlier today.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
04/01/2016 at 18:09

The previous generation Impala had surprisingly good speakers, actually. Some of the best I’ve heard in a stock car.

Sweet Trav > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 18:11

And now my nav system is giving me shit.

TheOnelectronic > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 19:00

The stock unit HAD a 7 band equalizer. It wasn’t enough.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/01/2016 at 22:26

Hmm, it’s weird how things like that (and great headlights) can pop up in the most surprising places. Haven’t been in an impala myself since the early 00's body style, which as we know were unrivalled in every way.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/02/2016 at 03:01

The first thing I did on my Mazda was to replace the front speakers with some decent Polk components and that really woke up the system. A sub would be nice, but it really isn’t worth the trouble and expense right now. The rear speakers are mounted low near the third row of seats, and it can be hard to hear them with the middle row of seats up; my last car, a Windstar, had them in the middle of the vehicle and they sounded much better than the Mazda just because of the location.

I’m thinking of adding some tweeters up high so that I can actually get some treble out of the back of the car. It’s not that I want the pax in the back to have good sound, I just want something to fill in the space and give a little more depth to the sound. Because of the position of the rear speakers, another set like the Polks up front would just be wasted since I wouldn’t be able to hear them either.