GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I am very disappointed with the moon and tunes package sound quality. I have been researching new speakers and a stereo, my question is with the moon and tunes package there is a 200-watt sound package. Is this a separate amplifier from the stock stereo? If it is, then if I installed an after market stereo would the amplifier make the after market radio noticeably louder? Would purchasing a new stereo provide better sound quality or would it be just for looks?Please let me know what ever one thinks, thanks.Steve

Quote, originally posted by bigwonder » Is this a separate amplifier from the stock stereo? Yes, the 200W (peak) M&T amp. is located under the passanger seat.Quote, originally posted by bigwonder »I If it is, then if I installed an after market stereo would the amplifier make the after market radio noticeably louder? If you put an aftermarket head unit, you will have to use the pre-amp output of the HU, otherwise you will ge distortion.Quote, originally posted by bigwonder » Would purchasing a new stereo provide better sound quality or would it be just for looks?All depends what HU you put in your car. Some stereo are as bad and even worst then the stock one, but most of them are better.Just tell us what are your choices and we can tell you if it is a good purchase or not.

The stereo I was looking at is JVC KDG 700

That is a decent stereo. I have a JVC...........darn, the name escapes me right now, but it gives much better quality. I like the setup I have check the sig.

Quote, originally posted by Sub-Vibe-R »If you put an aftermarket head unit, you will have to use the pre-amp output of the HU, otherwise you will ge distortion.If that's a nother term for RCA outputs, then you actually can't use those (as of yet).Every person I know who's tried to wire RCA-outs to the M&T amp has experienced a VICIOUS popping noise anytime you change CD track, radio station, volume level...it's horrid.

Quote, originally posted by Sub-Vibe-R »If you put an aftermarket head unit, you will have to use the pre-amp output of the HU, otherwise you will ge distortion.How would you hook your pre-amp outs of the AM HU to the factor amp.. just wirethem to the speaker inputs at the harness? Cause I have AM HU and M&T and get distortion at high volumes.. although my local Car audio Dealer told me that hooking it up to the HL Outs was fine... but this would explain alot.... I gotta go to radioshack now...

Could you just replace the amp with a better one?

Quote, originally posted by ebslopp »Could you just replace the amp with a better one?You could but the wiring would be hell.

Maybe not hell, but definitely not a simple plug 'n go. You'd need to mount the amp, run wires into the M&T amp harness under the seat, and run power cord through the firewall to the battery..

I am calling it hell because of the mounting and figuring out what wires go where. If you mount the amp in the same place, you will have to remove the seat.

Quote, originally posted by MoonDogg »How would you hook your pre-amp outs of the AM HU to the factor amp.. just wirethem to the speaker inputs at the harness? Cause I have AM HU and M&T and get distortion at high volumes.. although my local Car audio Dealer told me that hooking it up to the HL Outs was fine... but this would explain alot.... I gotta go to radioshack now... I'd bet any amount of money you're goign to experience a horrid and loud-as-hell POP anytime you try to change radio stations, CD tracks, etc...if you use the LLO

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish »I'd bet any amount of money you're goign to experience a horrid and loud-as-hell POP anytime you try to change radio stations, CD tracks, etc...if you use the LLOwhy would it pop... so are you saying use the HLO ?'s yall confusing me now...

No one on here has been successful using LLO and the M&T amp...it's some sorta defect or something, but changing the track on the CD, changing radio stations, adjusting audio settings, will all cause the system to pop LOUDLY...it hurst, and eventually might screw your speakers up...No one knows why though...

I have my aftermarket HU hooked into the stock amp (hoping to get the time to change this soon) but I never hear any popping. Weird.

Quote, originally posted by Mr. Poopypants »I have my aftermarket HU hooked into the stock amp (hoping to get the time to change this soon) but I never hear any popping. Weird.DO you have it hooked to LLO ??? OK so hook to LLO or not?

The way my system is set up goes like this. I have the aftermarket HU hooked in to my Punch amp through LLO, that amp runs only the subs. I then have the standard wiring for the Infinity's. They still run through the stock amp.

I think because the subs are being separately amped you're not hearing any noise...Tis my only explanation.

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish »I think because the subs are being separately amped you're not hearing any noise...Tis my only explanation.Yeah he is not using LLO for the factory amp...

Nope, I guess that makes sense then.

Guess I am bringing back my RCA connection I bought a radioshack yesterday....