Is there any need to upgrade car sound systems anymore?

[Acuity30]

Swapping out speakers and wiring in amplifiers and subwoofers etc seems to be a dying trend of the past. With modern cars having decent sound proofing these days and in car audio tech coming a long way since the early 2000's, I was wondering has anyone been in a car built in the last 10-13 years with a trash sound system in dire need of an upgrade? On all but the highest volume I can't say I've felt the need even in a poverty spec Ford or Vauxhall

[Speed addicted]

Suppose it’s likely to be more about adding features like apple CarPlay or better phone integration now, it’s ages since I’ve had anything that needed upgrading for sounds.

[MattsCar]

I disagree...car audio, even premium audio, is still poor. Paper cones (including subwoofers) and low powered amplifiers that provide over blown bass seems to be the norm amongst Bose etc.

I guess Naim/ B&w have upped the game, somewhat, but...

A simple set of component speakers, and a suitably installed subwoofer, running from a good quality amplifier with a decent processor will blow this factory stuff out of the water. More so if you actually deaden the doors (factory deadening is not sufficient for an audiophile system) and run the front speakers active.

This whole 18 speaker stuff really makes me laugh, totally un needed.

[Chrishum]

The only in car system I’ve ever felt was more than enough was in a 2008 Volvo S60.

Although with a lot of people using low quality streaming the source of the music would always be compromising the ultimate quality

[Flumpo]

Acuity30 said:

Swapping out speakers and wiring in amplifiers and subwoofers etc seems to be a dying trend of the past. With modern cars having decent sound proofing these days and in car audio tech coming a long way since the early 2000's, I was wondering has anyone been in a car built in the last 10-13 years with a trash sound system in dire need of an upgrade? On all but the highest volume I can't say I've felt the need even in a poverty spec Ford or Vauxhall

I had a new focus zetec S as a courtesy car for about 2 months in 2015. I could not believe how bad the sound was. Pretty sure it only had 4 speakers, which I found odd for what seemed a mid level at least car.

[stevemcs]

The worst seem to be the Bose and Harmon Kardon systems fitted to so called premium cars, they are quite poor. The best factory system I’ve listened too was in a Freelander 2 that had the upgraded Meridian system although it still lacked quality bass.

[Baldchap]

Lexus.

[457892345]

It's probably wise to not buy the factory upgraded audio and spend the money on aftermarket instead.

You don't really "need" upgraded audio but it's a lot nicer.

[Paul_M3]

I used to love upgrading the audio in my younger days.

Up until recently, I hadn't found it to be worth the effort required on most modern cars.

That changed last year when I bought my Exige which only had two 4" speakers as standard. I actually enjoyed fitting a flip out head unit, replacement front speakers, adding rear speakers and fitting a small active subwoofer in the footwell. Made me feel 18 again!

[ChevronB19]

stevemcs said:

The worst seem to be the Bose and Harmon Kardon systems fitted to so called premium cars, they are quite poor. The best factory system I’ve listened too was in a Freelander 2 that had the upgraded Meridian system although it still lacked quality bass.

Yep, my Freelander 2 had the same system, best I’ve ever heard in a car (including my ex’s dad’s top end 7 series with a stereo upgrade).

[donkmeister]

I've had Harmon Kardon and Mark Levinson factory systems. They're good, but they aren't as good as you would hope.

I think the equivalent is when you go to someone's house and they show off a Sonos, B&O or Bose system... Yes it looks nice, it doesn't sound bad, but you know a hifi set up at the same price would sound so much better.

Part of the problem for me is the tonal balance; perhaps they are achieving a very flat EQ, but that isn't pleasing to my ears.

[Baldchap]

The biggest issue these days from a lot of manufacturer 'upgrades' is excessive bass and no midrange. My Alpina has harman/kardon which is acceptable, and doesn't seem to be set up for a 17 year old chav listening to Stormzy, but I've certainly fitted better myself back in the day.

[buggalugs]

I'm pretty happy with the HK in my beemer now. You need to turn the bass down about 3 clicks, it seems to really bring out the details and attack in the mid more and there's still just about enough bass, unless you like to drive along hearing wub wub wub 24/7.

Big bass sounds good initially but gets tiring, tightness and detail in the mid and high brings most enjoyment personally

USB connection is noticeably better than bluetooth also

[J4CKO]

Its amazing the sub par systems some of the big names put their name on, Bose are the worst offender, heard a few and they were largely crap.

My 1 series had the normal system, my mates had the HK, played the same track back to back and the difference was minimal, I was expecting great things but just didnt seem to be the step up I had expected. I had a bog spec Merc CLS with the biggest engine, weird combo given no memory seats, no Xenons and no hifi upgrade, but that was actually quite acceptable.

The Mark Levinson one in a Lexus I went in was the best OEM car one I had heard, was almost considering buying the Spuddy looking thing as it was so good.

I will be getting a Jag of some description next year, will aim for one with the higher end system, the one in my Fiesta is pretty lame but its so noisy in comparison its a waste of time. Whats the best one in the Jags, they swapped over from B and O to Meridian about what, 2012 ?

[Pica-Pica]

buggalugs said:

I'm pretty happy with the HK in my beemer now. You need to turn the bass down about 3 clicks, it seems to really bring out the details and attack in the mid more and there's still just about enough bass, unless you like to drive along hearing wub wub wub 24/7.

Big bass sounds good initially but gets tiring, tightness and detail in the mid and high brings most enjoyment personally

USB connection is noticeably better than bluetooth also

Agree about the bass being too pronounced.

[ScoobyChris]

Acuity30 said:

Swapping out speakers and wiring in amplifiers and subwoofers etc seems to be a dying trend of the past. With modern cars having decent sound proofing these days and in car audio tech coming a long way since the early 2000's, I was wondering has anyone been in a car built in the last 10-13 years with a trash sound system in dire need of an upgrade? On all but the highest volume I can't say I've felt the need even in a poverty spec Ford or Vauxhall

For me, having the radio or music on is background when driving so as long as the quality is acceptable, I'm not really bothered and i like hearing the engine, etc as well. Different story at home, but it's a more controllable and better setup environment to get decent sound.

Chris

[Om]

I would say so. Certainly on slightly older cars.

My Fabia is a late 2013 and the stereo had been specced with the Amundsen+ satnav etc head unit. The whole thing sounded rubbish at anything above background levels. It couldn't drive two paper speakers properly let alone the four fitted. I ended up replacing the front speakers with larger (still cheap) component speakers, fitted a small underseat sub I had then eventually replaced the head unit with a single din unit I had from an old car. The structure of the car is solid/soundproofed enough to now sound reasonable with the upgrade.

At the end of the day, mass manufactured budget cars especially will still have the cheapest, pared back spec. speakers and amp the bean counters can get away with. Most of the money is spent on the bit you see/interact with. How it actually sounds less so.

[RazerSauber]

All I'll say is my local auto electrician spend 50% of his time installing security systems and the other 50% of his time installing sound systems. Anything from basic head units and speakers to full rewiring and competition destined systems. There's still a pretty sizeable market for it all. Most of his clients are in vans and self-employed so have the freedom to do as they please with the vehicles and if you're sat in your van for half your working day, you might as well get yourself a good sound system, and lock it up like Fort Knox while you're there.

Cars less so but even the Bose system in my Mazda 6 is "alright". Why don't car manufacturers seem to go to car audio suppliers like Alpine, Pioneer etc? Even a £50 Pioneer head unit transformed my Calibra speakers from shocking to reasonable.

[Acuity30]

Om said:

I would say so. Certainly on slightly older cars.

My Fabia is a late 2013 and the stereo had been specced with the Amundsen+ satnav etc head unit. The whole thing sounded rubbish at anything above background levels. It couldn't drive two paper speakers properly let alone the four fitted. I ended up replacing the front speakers with larger (still cheap) component speakers, fitted a small underseat sub I had then eventually replaced the head unit with a single din unit I had from an old car. The structure of the car is solid/soundproofed enough to now sound reasonable with the upgrade.

At the end of the day, mass manufactured budget cars especially will still have the cheapest, pared back spec. speakers and amp the bean counters can get away with. Most of the money is spent on the bit you see/interact with. How it actually sounds less so.

I've found that simply upgrading the headunit can massively improve the sound from factory speakers, even poverty paper cones. I upgraded an old OEM Hyundai Coupe CD headunit (cd didnt even work) to a £120 Pioneer and it vastly improved the sound quality, and had built in bluetooth music/phone calls, and a decent equaliser, and that was in 2016. I'm sure single and double din units these days are even better.
I did end up fitting a subwoofer in the boot to take the load off the speakers and it sounded pretty damn good at high volumes. Ballache to route power and remote/coax cables from the front of the car to the rear though. All that trim having to come off and sometimes even drilling the firewall

[S600BSB]

I had the speakers changed in my 997 recently. Transformed the sound while keeping the OEM head unit.