Can anyone who has installed an aftermarket head unit with factory speakers please let me know if there was a huge difference in sound quality, and which unit you have. I am currently using the stock head unit with my ipod running off of a wireless fm transmitter...

 

Yes. The difference is pretty big. Dump the factory head and get something decent (like the Alpine with the high-speed iPod interface). I did this about 6 months ago, and am kicking myself that it took me so long to do it.

 

On my VIII it took me a long time to do it and I kicked myself for waiting so long. On my IX it was the first thing I did. The Evo speakers are actually pretty good if you get a good head unit to clean things up.

 

I put the Alpine 9857 in 2 days after buying the car, ipod cable is in the glovebox. Big difference in sound quality and clarity. Make sure you get the settings on the headunit right for maximum effect.

 

the factory head unit is weak sauce. replacing it was the first thing i did. i don't even need more than the head unit, it goes loud enough to lose my hearing.

 

Installed a Pioneer Avic-z1 into my MR and the sound quality was noticeably better. I was quite surprised. Not as good as a complete system but was certainly an improvement.

 

This past weekend I installed a pioneer 6800, which I got last fall, with the ipod adapter....Very noticeable difference with the stock SSL package. Ipod functionality is great, it charges it, and you can select all playlists, artists, etc from the HU. I just popped my Ipod adapter and plug in my glove box.

 

It makes a big difference:
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=276656

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