Anyone else disappointed...
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Anyone else disappointed...
....with the WRX stock sound system? I got the stereo upgrade with the subwoofer (dealer threw it in free) and BOY HOWDY does it suck....esp. the subwoofer, it goes WOOP WOOP instead of BOOM BOOM....ah ha ha....anyone else have this issue?
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From: NYC
Car Info: 02 WRX WRB
At least you paid the right price for it 
Try adjusting the gain and crossover controls located on the side of the sub (nearest the center of the car), you may be able to improve the sound somewhat. Still there is only so much you can expect from a 5" speaker in a small non-ported cabinet. If you really want car-shaking bass you're going to have to spend some money.
I have the same sub with an aftermarket head unit (Alpine) and I find the overall sound to be satisfactory for my tastes, the sub provides a good amount of bass fill. It does have more power to work with from the Alpine than the stock HU, in fact I have the gain turned all the way down now. However if I wanted serious thumping I'd get something else.
Try adjusting the gain and crossover controls located on the side of the sub (nearest the center of the car), you may be able to improve the sound somewhat. Still there is only so much you can expect from a 5" speaker in a small non-ported cabinet. If you really want car-shaking bass you're going to have to spend some money.
I have the same sub with an aftermarket head unit (Alpine) and I find the overall sound to be satisfactory for my tastes, the sub provides a good amount of bass fill. It does have more power to work with from the Alpine than the stock HU, in fact I have the gain turned all the way down now. However if I wanted serious thumping I'd get something else.
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IMHO, I think the dealer option upgrade system isn't too bad for a stock system at all. Sadly enough, it actually sounds better than some of the aftermarket, several-thousand dollar systems I've heard. Of course, it's neither earth-shaking nor anywhere near sound showoff levels of performance, but I think it serves its purpose well: good sound inside the car, not too much sound outside of the car to attract unwanted attention.
The only thing I don't like is that we didn't get an option for the beautiful Kenwood MD/CD changer deck from the JDM Impreza. Oh well *sigh*
The only thing I don't like is that we didn't get an option for the beautiful Kenwood MD/CD changer deck from the JDM Impreza. Oh well *sigh*
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From: NYC
Car Info: 02 WRX WRB
The factory stereo is limited in power output and will just distort if you try to really crank it for more volume or to overcome road noise. The upgrade speakers help somewhat and so will aftermarket ones (if you don't already have the upgraded speakers you'll need spacers for the front doors to mount anything decent), but if you're going to keep the stock unit make sure any speakers you install are very efficient or they won't work well with the low power.
The thing I found most disappointing about the stock unit, and one of the main reasons I replaced it, is the FM radio performance. I normally just listen to the radio when driving and the demodulator in the factory radio is poor, the sound is very flat with no dynamic range. The Alpine I replaced it with is an incredible improvement. Of course it's better in many other ways as well.
The thing I found most disappointing about the stock unit, and one of the main reasons I replaced it, is the FM radio performance. I normally just listen to the radio when driving and the demodulator in the factory radio is poor, the sound is very flat with no dynamic range. The Alpine I replaced it with is an incredible improvement. Of course it's better in many other ways as well.
i think the factory head unit is good. i like the 6 in dash cd changer. but the "sub" is ok. its not the greatest, it just adds some bass. its not worth the buy. and mines busted on me too.
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Originally posted by ScoobyBoy
i think the factory head unit is good. i like the 6 in dash cd changer. but the "sub" is ok. its not the greatest, it just adds some bass. its not worth the buy. and mines busted on me too.
i think the factory head unit is good. i like the 6 in dash cd changer. but the "sub" is ok. its not the greatest, it just adds some bass. its not worth the buy. and mines busted on me too.
I still want my MD changer dammit! >=(
yeah, for SOME reason, mine went out too. ive decided im gonna put my solo baric back in but i need to get myself another amp first. but i actually enjoyed the stock sub. i care for interior bass and not "exterior" bass.
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I have the regular speakers, added the tweeters to the doors, and put a 10" JL with a 150W Sony amp in the trunk, and it sounds really good. Not comp level, or anything, but a good, fairly clear sound. But from everything I've heard, the factory sub is a pice of crap, and at 5", I believe it. Glad I didn't get it.
Oh, 2000 2.5RS, by the way.
Oh, 2000 2.5RS, by the way.
Originally posted by hokusai
yeah, for SOME reason, mine went out too. ive decided im gonna put my solo baric back in but i need to get myself another amp first. but i actually enjoyed the stock sub. i care for interior bass and not "exterior" bass.
yeah, for SOME reason, mine went out too. ive decided im gonna put my solo baric back in but i need to get myself another amp first. but i actually enjoyed the stock sub. i care for interior bass and not "exterior" bass.
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yah, the factory premium package sounds pretty good for a car stereo....not quite as good as my nak system on the G20, but heck, it sounds decent enough.
if you want more bass, try that new bass in a bottle NOS bottle looking like one that goes in the truck. looks cool and tons of bass. hehehehe.
if you want more bass, try that new bass in a bottle NOS bottle looking like one that goes in the truck.
looks cool and tons of bass. hehehehe.
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I got my upgraded factory system after I had the car for a couple weeks, so I actually got to hear the difference. The dealer couldn't get me a car that had the upgraded kit, so they had to add it after it came in. What a difference! The tweeter kit in the doors makes all the difference - very loud and decently clear. I mean, I agree with everything said previously, it's not fantastic, but not bad at all for what I paid for it (next to nothing, i negotiated my a$$ off). Plus, I didn't have to put it in and if it breaks, i don't have to fix it. I do have a question though. Are there preamp outputs by chance on the factory head unit? Or an auxiliary line level output back there? I am thinking about one of those tube thingys (Bazooka) because they are compact and they sound decent. I was just wondering how difficult it is to get the signal to it with the factory stuff intact. I am planning on using the factory "sub" as more of a midrange speaker (it does sound pretty good in that capacity if you turn the gain down a bit, even at really loud volume). I think that will give me the thump i'm after while keeping the in car depth of midrange that the factory sub gives.
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