Where to start

[phtogy]

I made the mistake of buying a Toyota Sienna with the lower end stock sound system. Frankly, it is the absoulute WORST that I have ever heard. It is actually unlistanable for several reasons.

1. Must be turned up to about 80% of voulume while car is on highway to even hear it.

2. Scratchy highs, boomy bottom end and no middle tones.

My suspicion is that this being a mini van, there is a fairly large area that needs to be filled up with sound and that the head unit is simply weak. Understanding that the speakers are no doubt lousy will only add to the problem.

Here is the issue. I have a great ear, but a low budget. WIth that being said, I am considering dealing with this issue in increments with the goal of producing at least listenable sound. Based on a low budget, I am no looking to create awesome sound in a min van.

I need advice as to where to start first based on the above information. Head unit or speakers??

Click to read more...

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

I'd start with the head unit, then move to speakers and an amplifier for them at the same time.

 

[dman4486 5,000+ posts]

I say start with the hu as more power may boost audibility. then you can save and get mids/highs and an amp as phase 2.

^^^TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO TYPE THIS FOR SOME REASON:crap:

 

[HillTownBoss 10+ year member]

I agree to dman4486 and start with a decent head unit millionbuy.com got some nice price kenwoods on sale

 

[phtogy]

You all have confirmed my guess. At the car audio stores salesman all said start with the speakers and this made no sense to me given the voulume problem coupled with the distorion issues. I suspect that profits must be higher on the speakers than the head units.

One salesman did mention that everyone that replaced the head unit first ended up blowing out the stock speakers. Has anyone seen that with an unampliefied head unit?