2003 wrx premium sound system sucks
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2003 wrx premium sound system sucks
Ok is it just me or do you guys that have the premium sound system ugrade in your WRX think it's pretty damn crappy too. One of my friend has a 2003 tiburon without the upgrade for that and it sounds a 100x better than mine. Just wondering if it's just mine that is messed up.
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Your right - the premium sound system (pss) leaves the word "premium" loosely defined. However, the premium system does have it's positives and is easily upgradable... cheaply, cleanly and without any interior mods.
Here is what I did and the system sounds incredible - and I only spent about $250 total.
Basically, what the pss is missing is bass & mid-bass - even though it has a "sub". You can turn the volume up just not the bass or you get horible distortion.
The best part of the pss is the 6-disc in-dash changer - keep it!
#1 Add More Bass - Buy a good 250+ watt mono amp with low-pass filter and line level (speaker level) inputs. Mount the amp under the driver's seat. You will have to run a good 4-8 guage power cable from the battery (kit from car audio store). The amp will easily integrate into the existing system by splicing into the wires from the pss sub to run the speaker level inputs on the new sub amp. The wires can be cleanly crossed over from under one seat to the other under the center councel and with using some flex tubing for the exposed areas. Run a good section of monster cable to the sub in the hatch or trunk under the driver side inner door trim - you don't have to even loosen a screw. Cover any exposed wire going from the amp to under the driveside pillare molding with flex tubing.
#2 Mid-range Boost - I took the speaker out of the stock "sub" box and replaced it with a Diamond Audio 6.5 from an old set of components that I had left around. I put this in the stock box and tuned it (using the boxes existing gain and crossover controls) to play the full range that it can handle (3500 mhz) and the mid dial on the input gain.
After doing these two mods my system sounds incredible - tuning will need to be done to get the right fill and keep any distorting bass load out of the stock door speakers. Basically, my bass is set a "0" and I have tons of hard hitting bass from the sub and the mid are filled in by the 6.5 in the pss sub box. I did have to mod the little box a little mounting the speaker on the outside and adding a spacer.
The makes of equipment is up to you - just pick the sub to match the amp in power - and vise-versa.
I live by a Sony Outlet Store and get great deals on factory refurbs.
- Sony Explode 300 watt (rms) brigable mono amp $99 (refurb)
- Sony Explode 10" sub 300 watt (rms) $49 (new)
- Power Cable Set $20
- DIY Sub box - $50 total build
- I used my diamond audio 6.5 but you can buy a good 8-ohm Rockford Fosgate 6.5 mid woofer for $49
You won't be dissapointed. The factory door speakers can handle a high volume and sound great when the upgraded components are doing all the bass work.
If anyone wants to do this - I will try to dig up the wiring harnes diagram I made. I had to read the circuit board when i had the stock pss sub box apart to put the new speaker in.
Here is what I did and the system sounds incredible - and I only spent about $250 total.
Basically, what the pss is missing is bass & mid-bass - even though it has a "sub". You can turn the volume up just not the bass or you get horible distortion.
The best part of the pss is the 6-disc in-dash changer - keep it!
#1 Add More Bass - Buy a good 250+ watt mono amp with low-pass filter and line level (speaker level) inputs. Mount the amp under the driver's seat. You will have to run a good 4-8 guage power cable from the battery (kit from car audio store). The amp will easily integrate into the existing system by splicing into the wires from the pss sub to run the speaker level inputs on the new sub amp. The wires can be cleanly crossed over from under one seat to the other under the center councel and with using some flex tubing for the exposed areas. Run a good section of monster cable to the sub in the hatch or trunk under the driver side inner door trim - you don't have to even loosen a screw. Cover any exposed wire going from the amp to under the driveside pillare molding with flex tubing.
#2 Mid-range Boost - I took the speaker out of the stock "sub" box and replaced it with a Diamond Audio 6.5 from an old set of components that I had left around. I put this in the stock box and tuned it (using the boxes existing gain and crossover controls) to play the full range that it can handle (3500 mhz) and the mid dial on the input gain.
After doing these two mods my system sounds incredible - tuning will need to be done to get the right fill and keep any distorting bass load out of the stock door speakers. Basically, my bass is set a "0" and I have tons of hard hitting bass from the sub and the mid are filled in by the 6.5 in the pss sub box. I did have to mod the little box a little mounting the speaker on the outside and adding a spacer.
The makes of equipment is up to you - just pick the sub to match the amp in power - and vise-versa.
I live by a Sony Outlet Store and get great deals on factory refurbs.
- Sony Explode 300 watt (rms) brigable mono amp $99 (refurb)
- Sony Explode 10" sub 300 watt (rms) $49 (new)
- Power Cable Set $20
- DIY Sub box - $50 total build
- I used my diamond audio 6.5 but you can buy a good 8-ohm Rockford Fosgate 6.5 mid woofer for $49
You won't be dissapointed. The factory door speakers can handle a high volume and sound great when the upgraded components are doing all the bass work.
If anyone wants to do this - I will try to dig up the wiring harnes diagram I made. I had to read the circuit board when i had the stock pss sub box apart to put the new speaker in.
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I bought the premium sound package as well. I think the 'sub' was another addon as well, so it could be that the original poster does not have the sub.
Subaru really messed up with the sub being tied to the rear speakers. To get the sub to kick in, you have to fade to the rear. And the rear door speakers really suck (I think the rears are the same as standard speakers even with the premium package.)
I bought a Basslink to give me good low end, and I have the front speakers adjusted to give me good highs by cranking the treble. But the mid-bass is really missing. My long term solution will be to buy good front speakers + amp. Right now I can live with it.
I like the idea of putting in a different driver in the sub package. I have a great 6.5 driver to put in there, but couldn't figure out how to disassemble the sub package.
Subaru really messed up with the sub being tied to the rear speakers. To get the sub to kick in, you have to fade to the rear. And the rear door speakers really suck (I think the rears are the same as standard speakers even with the premium package.)
I bought a Basslink to give me good low end, and I have the front speakers adjusted to give me good highs by cranking the treble. But the mid-bass is really missing. My long term solution will be to buy good front speakers + amp. Right now I can live with it.
I like the idea of putting in a different driver in the sub package. I have a great 6.5 driver to put in there, but couldn't figure out how to disassemble the sub package.
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Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 1
From: CA
Car Info: 2003 WRX
I'm making an attempt to try this but I was hoping the poster of this message was still around. I still have my 2003 and FINALLY in 2019 decided to upgrade the stereo haha.
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Wagon Joe
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Jul 24, 2004 06:43 PM
