I am currently installing my JL Audio system, and I tested the Bose head unit on my oscilloscope today with different frequency sine waves. The HU goes up to volume 31, and the sine waves didn't start clipping (distorting) until vol. 30. That is excellent news for all those who doubt using the stock HU. After installing a David Navone LOC turned up all the way (max voltage= 9v), it started clipping at vol. 29. Next test is after the amp is installed. But that makes me confident that the HU is of decent quality. I tested my friend's Kenwood HU, and his vol. goes up to 33, but starts clipping at 28, so not bad.

These tests obviously point to either the speakers or the stock amp as being the culprit for the clipping issues that we experience at high volumes. Unfortunately, I did not test the system with the stock amp in place.

'03.5 Silver AT Sedan, Premium, Aero Kit/Package, Sport, Winter, Stillen Air Box, Z pipe, Polk Tweeters, Clifford RSX 3.5, 19" Gram Light 57F Pro's, Hotchkis sways, Borla

 

I will all keep you posted on my findings after installing the JL 450/4 amp. Eventually, I will do some testing from door to door in the system. I also have some pics that are on the way, some of which are in regards to running new speaker wire in the doors. I found a way that is clean and works well.

'03.5 Silver AT Sedan, Premium, Aero Kit/Package, Sport, Winter, Stillen Air Box, Z pipe, Polk Tweeters, Clifford RSX 3.5, 19" Gram Light 57F Pro's, Hotchkis sways, Borla

 

Great news. I look forward to your continued posting as I want to keep the head unit

 

Not to pee on the parade....but does it really matter if the Clarion (not Bose) stock deck clips at vol. 30 if the sound quality still sounds like feces at vol. 16???

Just a realistic philisophical question....

The stock speakers are definately contributing pollutants to the system. The Bose amp is an unknown.....

doc

 

There will always be the debate between the quality of sound reproduction between a stock hu and an aftermarket one.

It all depends on what criteria you are looking at. My criteria is accurate sound reproduction. How did the artist/group/orchestra/what have you, want the music to sound like? The next question is how does the unit reproduce the music on the CD, sat, or radio? In this regard, the stock unit is very good.

Many of the aftermarket HU's have different modes that allow the user to change the soundstage such as 'concert', 'jazz club' etc. They also have the ability to alter the timing or phase between the speakers. If this is your cup of tea, then yes, the stock HU falls short. However, if accurate reproduction of the source is scrutinized, it's hard to fault the stock HU. In other words, if you turn off all of the sound processing in both, they should sound about the same.

I want to hear the music the way the artist intended v. how I think it should sound. For me, the stock HU is more than good enough to do this.

Now the speakers... they're crap.

 

I think if you listen to radio, then doesn't matter which headunit you use. If cd, i can tell u that most after market cd player will be better in sense that they have better DAC and better cd transport mechanism.

have anyone replace their speaker and amp and still have the stock ? Then later on replace the headunit with aftermarket? I did this before with my old car and i notice that the after market does sound cleaner.

 

I did this too....

I had stock "premium" system....then

I added 2 MTX amps and Infinity Kappas and Perfects + stock HU.....then

I swaped out doubleDIN conversion with aftermarket HU + previously upgraded components....

You're right, radio quality no difference with stock vs. aftermarket HU...

mp3 files and original CD sound quality...I think there is a big sound quality difference even BEFORE tweaking the soundstage settings IMO between the stock and aftermarket HU......

I mean to each his own but I think there is a difference hearing the differences in sound qualities at different stages of my audio upgrade adventures...

The stock Clarion HU is good for a stock HU and probably adequate for most. Do I think the HU and the "premium" package could be better in a luxury coupe like a G35.....definitely!

doc

 

I would probably upgrade everything else and leave the BOSE headunit.. I.E. Amps / speakers / Add a carputer and no sub.

Thanks - Joey Avino

 

i have the stock HU along with the stock Bose speakers, my music " emo-rock-rap-pop" starts to distort badly at about 23. i dont know if thats normal or what but even wiht some rock songs, bringin it past 21 will make it sound like crap. has anyone upgraded there speakers but left the stock bose amp n HU in place? has it made a big differece? just curious, and sorry if im hijacking the thread

 

Thanks for confirming that, khsonic03.

I have to re-iterate as I have in the past, that I am using the stock head unit with aftermarket gear (Added a Peripheral Ven4 LOC in the trunk near the amps, EQ, replaced the amps and speakers) and am highly impressed with the resulting sound quality. The sound is beautifully clean and strong, with no detectable engine whine . Way, way, WAY better than I expected. The volume "range" is louder than stock but very natural, comfortable at 15 and about as loud as my ears will tolerate at 25. In other words, the volume dial is neither too touchy nor do I need to crank the head unit excessively high to get loud sound. I would say the EQ was a definite necessity in my system, though.

 

http://www.davidnavone.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=N-774V

That is a link to the David Navone LOC for anyone who wants it.

I was mainly posting this info, because I realized that my stock system started to distort above 16 with the music I listen to. When using the oscilloscope on the HU, I determined that it was not the HU that was causing the distortion, rather other components in the system. I agree that sound quality is not the greatest on the stock HU, but most people not looking for a competition system will do fine with it.
On a side note, I installed my amp and the front channels today. Originally I did a 3:1 gain overlap, but I might drop down to a 2:1 because I am not happy with the SQ. Other than that, it sounds 10x better, but I have a LOT of tweaking left, and I can still see a definite need for an equalizer.

'03.5 Silver AT Sedan, Premium, Aero Kit/Package, Sport, Winter, Stillen Air Box, Z pipe, Polk Tweeters, Clifford RSX 3.5, 19" Gram Light 57F Pro's, Hotchkis sways, Borla

 

the weakest part of the system are the speakers. Pull them out and you'll see why. They probably cost $5-10 a pair to manufacture.

 

Even 3 or 4 years ago, there was an arguable difference in quality of components between stock oem hu's and aftermarket hu's. Nowadays, the difference is pretty much nil, again, the difference being the ability to process the sound quality and timing. There really is no difference in the hardware/technology that converts the CD to music. How many different and/or better ways do you think there is to decode a CD?

The 'difference' you could possibly be noticing is probably what the aftermarket hu manufacturer thinks most of their customers would like. The good thing is that you can change it to whatever you like. That's the benefit, plain and simple.

 

I just took these pix this past weekend....they were sitting in a box.....



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pix2...cool titanium vent design with real brushed aluminum trim....lol



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