Do I REALLY need a new HU?

[robiac]

Hi all,

I recently upgraded my speakers (Infinity Kappas), and bought a 4 channel Alpine amp. Went to an installation shop, and the guy tried to convince me to install a new HU as the stock unit will sound like crap with this setup. Does he have a point or is he just blowing smoke up my a**? Installation cost would be about the same. Thanks!

 

[ghetto waggon]

I just figured out for myself that I like the stock mp5 headunit better than aftermarket.

I initially wired the hu into a LOC-> 5 ch amp-> speakers -> 10" sub

after much debate I bought a kenwood satellite head unit and i couldn't stand the sound.

it was near impossible to just quickly adjust the eq. eq scoop, eq M, frequency adjustment, etc.

I know people say that the sound is an aquired preference, to have the speakers seperate each of the tones, but I MUCH prefer the sound of the amplified stock hu.

needless to say I have reverted

 

[dtarlo]

As a professional (not circuit city/Best buy) installer I would have to say that your best buy to ANY new factory system is first of all an Amp not even speakers necessarily, if it is installed and tuned correctly by someone who knows what they are doing you shouldn't have to replace the factory HU, the main thing an aftermarked HU will give you is a little more "bling" maybe some more control over your music but I haven't touched the stock head in out '04 3. (he's blowing smoke up your wahoo)

D

 

[tsunami]

you need a device called a line out converter (loc) or an amp that accepts high level inputs.

eitherway the installer was just trying to get another sale... go somewhere else to have it installed if your not doing it yourself. and you would be surprised how much sound deadening helps out getting rid of low end distortion i always recomend at least a layer in the doors to people.

good luck

 

[robiac]

Thanks for the tips; I'll stick with the stock HU. My Amp is an Alpine MRP-F450: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-eDPBqwXJJqG/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?search=Alpine+MRP-F450&i=500MRPF450; it has speaker- and preamp-level inputs so it looks like I can skip the LOC.

Anyone know of a good installer in the San Francisco East or North Bay Area?