Base OEM stereo (4 speakers)

[shane_c]

How is the sound from the base OEM stereo with four speakers? Has anyone with this setup upgraded? If so, did you put components up front? Is the weak link with the base setup the h/u or speakers? Or both?

[miked]

I would say that the base set up is not to bad.But definetly, the weakest link are the speakers.Mike

[GMJAP]

Agreed. It's pretty decent for basic stock.Also, all upgrade options use the same head unit, and the M&T (or S&S) do sound pretty good. So I'd agree with miked - start with the speakers.

[AppleBoy69]

I bough a new system a week after i got my vibe .... The stereo system was even worse the the stock in my neon when i bought it.Replaced the factory speakers with JLB's. They sounded like crap being powered by the factory unit. Then the mounting plate came in and they put my pioneer head in with ipod attachment it was like nite and day. Would like to get an amp at some point. Make it sound that much better especially when its being played really loud lol.

[Jahntassa]

The Stock NAV setup sounded fairly decent, but it certainly wasn't loud enough. Couldn't hear it with the windows open over 45 mph.Thankfully, all that's gone now.

[dmichaelson]

I have the bottom-of-the line CD system and it's not TOO bad although not great. It's loud enough, and it doesn't exactly distort. The sound feels somehow very processed. I find there is too much bass at low volumes but it helps a lot to lower the bass below the "normal" level of 0. At higher volumes the bass seems about right but the midranges get kinda painful, like it makes me wince a little. At most volumes it's hard to really get it so it sounds perfect and sparkly. That's what you pay for with the upgrade options I imagine. Still I'm pretty happy with it actually, I do really like to listen to music in the car and although the sound quality isn't as good as my previous car, it's decent enough.A question out of curiosity, can you actually replace just the speakers, and has anyone actually seen an improvement by doing so? I thought they were some sort of special 2 ohm speakers.

[Jahntassa]

If you have the bottom-of-the-line (not Moon&Tunes), they should be 4 Ohm standard speakers in the doors. The 2Ohm speakers go with the amplifier in the M&T system.

[jeffgtx]

i upgraded toa kenood system with blaupunk speakers and i have less bass.sound is better, but i clearly need a woofer... henc my next post...

[shane_c]

I picked up my Vibe the other day and found the base stereo sounded awful (radio and CD). Decided to upgrade just the speakers for now. I went with 6.5" Infinity Reference 6012i's all around. The sound is MUCH better now. Not a lot of bass but very clear. I had thought about changing the HU as well but they tell me that I would also have to purchase some sort of security bypass harness ($100) to go along with the HU and install charges. So I'll pass on it now.