Limit of Factory Head Unit

[jdunk90 10+ year member]

What are the limits of a factory head unit in a 2008 Silverado w/o the Bose system? I don't mind buying aftermarket speakers, subs, and an amp, but I'm not replacing the head unit.

What is the stopping point for still getting quality sound? My plan is just to put a small Basslink powered sub in there, but I could go for a custom box with two 10's, but I might just be wasting my money because that seems too much for the head unit to handle. Or would adding aftermarker speakers help me make two 10"s sound pretty good.

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[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

you can base an entire sound system off a factory head:fyi:

 

[jdunk90 10+ year member]

It will still sound good though? Why do so many people buy aftermarket decks then? The ones that are coming on new cars now are a lot nicer looking IMO and bigger and easier to use. Who hard is that setup if I get to replacing everything but the deck. I'm kind of a novice

 

[2002XLT 5,000+ posts]

why would it be too much for the headunit to handle? You just splice use a Line out convertor from the deck to get you some RCA inputs (unless your deck already has them) and wire an amp to it.

Its not going to sound as good as a nice aftermarket deck designed for SQ, or have the features, but since your thinking of using a basslink system what difference does it really make?

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

aftermarket hu's offer features......

rca outputs and aux inputs(now available on factory hu's)

some have higher quality than factory

eq options(tuning)

mp3 playback

and IMO an extreme is video playback

The difference between an install with an aftermarket hu and a factory one is very minimal. You will need a LOC(line out coverter) to run any amps you add. However, with decent equipment and a good install, it will sound good.

 

[jdunk90 10+ year member]

yeah, the headunit on the silverado has a decent equalizer with an input jack and it will play mp3 CD so it is pretty nice. So, would you recommend a Basslink or the two 10"s setup. Also, how hard is it to install aftermarket speakers.

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

yeah, the headunit on the silverado has a decent equalizer with an input jack and it will play mp3 CD so it is pretty nice. So, would you recommend a Basslink or the two 10"s setup. Also, how hard is it to install aftermarket speakers.

aftermarket speakers are easy to install, I have not taken that specific door panel apart, but they are only held together by screws and pops. Once the panel is off, the speaker comes out with a few screws.

the basslinks sound decent for their price, and what they are! if you are just trying to add some bottom end, then do the link

 

[jdunk90 10+ year member]

thanks for the advice. i will probably just do the basslink for now. It isn't like I can't upgrade eventually if I turn into a bass nut. I've read good things about it and then I wouldn't have to worry about messing with speakers because the stock system sounds really good as it is. it even has a good deal of bass for a stock system i just want something more!

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

thanks for the advice. i will probably just do the basslink for now. It isn't like I can't upgrade eventually if I turn into a bass nut. I've read good things about it and then I wouldn't have to worry about messing with speakers because the stock system sounds really good as it is. it even has a good deal of bass for a stock system i just want something more!

the bass link will give you more bottom end....enjoy

 

[jdunk90 10+ year member]

have you heard much about the basslink II. It looks better and has 50 more watts, but crutchfield discontinued it and i've read a few issues with durability

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

have you heard much about the basslink II. It looks better and has 50 more watts, but crutchfield discontinued it and i've read a few issues with durability

nope

 

[blazeplacid 10+ year member]

if you want to keep your factory radio and have a bit of money

id get a rockford 3sixty or and audiocontrol external eq

both will "clean" up your factory signal,then you use the eq on the unit and both have outputs for amps

the 3sixty is about $300 audiocontrol depends on what you want

but usually about $200-$300