Is there anything that can be done about the crappy Rockford Stereo?
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, New York
Actually I believe the biggest problem is the stock head unit. My car came with only the 140 watt base system but the sound quality increased dramatically after only replacing the head unit. It sounds so much better now I may just leave the stock speakers alone. Now the fosgate system has an external amp so that may differentiate it from the 140 watt system but even the stock non-fosgate speakers aren't that bad as long as they are fed a from a quality source.
In regards to the people that say the Fosgate system is the worst on the market a big LOL to that. It's not even close to the worst. As others have said take a new Subaru WRX STI w/premium system out for a test drive. It's appauling how bad its sound system sounds. Some Acuras have nice systems but most Honda's have garbage systems. Surprisingly domestics come with some of the better factory sound systems.
In regards to the people that say the Fosgate system is the worst on the market a big LOL to that. It's not even close to the worst. As others have said take a new Subaru WRX STI w/premium system out for a test drive. It's appauling how bad its sound system sounds. Some Acuras have nice systems but most Honda's have garbage systems. Surprisingly domestics come with some of the better factory sound systems.
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...yeah I meant use google with evom in the search. Actually, you could just open the sub-forum and scroll down / change pages. Calling up Mitsu is kind of a stretch.
Sorry if I give you a hard time but I've seen your posts before and you're always complaining about your Evo. I mean I do my fair share, but dude appreciate the car you have. If you are even slightly particular about your audio, the Rockford upgrade will not be sufficient.
why would you demand loud audio from a car where you're supposed to be enjoying the engine roar is my first question. how obnoxiously loud do you want your stereo to be? loud enough for the bloke on the next lane to be able to hear your craptastic music even with the windows up? good thinking, man. good thinking.
Evolving Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 132
Likes: 2
From: US
why would you demand loud audio from a car where you're supposed to be enjoying the engine roar is my first question. how obnoxiously loud do you want your stereo to be? loud enough for the bloke on the next lane to be able to hear your craptastic music even with the windows up? good thinking, man. good thinking.
Evolving Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 132
Likes: 2
From: US
No it doesnt what? Sound like crap, or have good sound quality at lower volumes?
As I said, it doesn't get loud like something aftermarket, but as for covering all the frequency ranges, it handles that quite well. I'm really happy for you and your 32 cars with craptastic stock stereos, but I've been installing aftermarket car stereo systems since before I could drive (well over half my life). I know how to test for holes in a sound system, where some components aren't producing sounds in certain frequency ranges. Like, for example, a poorly tuned aftermarket stereo that contains holes between the 100-250Hz range due to mismatches of components, or lack of understanding in crossover tuning.
Now, what you're missing is that I HATE the Rockford stereo. However, listening at a low volume, all frequencies are produced, but the problem is that all of those frequencies are softened at higher volumes, to attempt to circumvent failure of any one speaker component in the system. That's simply how stock systems work, because it's how they keep the number of warranty claims down.
IMO, you can compare the Rockford stereo to a Bose product. They sound great and all, but turn them up, and you get nothing but crap.
As I said, it doesn't get loud like something aftermarket, but as for covering all the frequency ranges, it handles that quite well. I'm really happy for you and your 32 cars with craptastic stock stereos, but I've been installing aftermarket car stereo systems since before I could drive (well over half my life). I know how to test for holes in a sound system, where some components aren't producing sounds in certain frequency ranges. Like, for example, a poorly tuned aftermarket stereo that contains holes between the 100-250Hz range due to mismatches of components, or lack of understanding in crossover tuning.
Now, what you're missing is that I HATE the Rockford stereo. However, listening at a low volume, all frequencies are produced, but the problem is that all of those frequencies are softened at higher volumes, to attempt to circumvent failure of any one speaker component in the system. That's simply how stock systems work, because it's how they keep the number of warranty claims down.
IMO, you can compare the Rockford stereo to a Bose product. They sound great and all, but turn them up, and you get nothing but crap.
I guess once you hear a "good" sounding stereo you can't really go back to one that sounds crappier and say "Yeah, that's good enough for me."
I want to upgrade the amp, but since the stock wiring of the Evo is retarded and 8 things are running to one amp, i'll have to re-run all new wires to an aftermarket one... ugh. i hate dealing with car audio. also most likely i'll need a 4-channel for the speakers and a mono for the sub.
Evolving Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 132
Likes: 2
From: US
Just get a single 5 channel amp. Running wires isn't bad either - the stock wiring is TINY. If you actually upgrade the amp and have a higher output, you won't want it running through the stock 20 gauge (or whatever they are) wires anyway. I always run 12 to the speakers when I do a new install. It's pretty cheap, and it never hurts.
I've owned Acuras, BMWs, Toyotas, and tons of other cars that come with "premium" stereos in them, and they all sound like ****. I've owned 32 cars and not one of them has had a better sounding stereo in it than what you could put in yourself for $500 or so.
If I was going to pay an extra $2500 for a stereo, I would have listened to it first. The ONLY reason I got my car with it (and the aero package) is because it was the only X around that the particular dealer didn't let anyone test drive, and in the end they didn't make me pay for the SSS package or the aero package.
The best thing you can do with the Rockford system is take it out, and put something else in.
By the way - buying in to the wattage numbers is a huge mistake. There's no standard way for measuring wattage output on car audio equipment from any manufacturer. That's why you see these crap companies like Boss and Pyle with 4000 watt amps. Yeah, they make 4000 watts... at half an Ohm with 16V of audio input, while clipping, right before they explode. If I had to guess, I'd guess that the Rockford system in the X produces about 30W RMS to each of the factory speakers, and maybe 70-80W RMS for the sub, and thats it. The 650W "max" power output rating is total BS. The last system I put together was MUCH louder and clearer than this with 50Wx4 RMS and 150Wx1 amps. Quality of the amps, quality of the speakers, RMS output of the amps, sensitivity of the speakers, acoustics of the car, preout voltages of the head unit, sound processing in the head unit/amps will all dramatically change the way a system sounds (for better or worse).
If I was going to pay an extra $2500 for a stereo, I would have listened to it first. The ONLY reason I got my car with it (and the aero package) is because it was the only X around that the particular dealer didn't let anyone test drive, and in the end they didn't make me pay for the SSS package or the aero package.
The best thing you can do with the Rockford system is take it out, and put something else in.
By the way - buying in to the wattage numbers is a huge mistake. There's no standard way for measuring wattage output on car audio equipment from any manufacturer. That's why you see these crap companies like Boss and Pyle with 4000 watt amps. Yeah, they make 4000 watts... at half an Ohm with 16V of audio input, while clipping, right before they explode. If I had to guess, I'd guess that the Rockford system in the X produces about 30W RMS to each of the factory speakers, and maybe 70-80W RMS for the sub, and thats it. The 650W "max" power output rating is total BS. The last system I put together was MUCH louder and clearer than this with 50Wx4 RMS and 150Wx1 amps. Quality of the amps, quality of the speakers, RMS output of the amps, sensitivity of the speakers, acoustics of the car, preout voltages of the head unit, sound processing in the head unit/amps will all dramatically change the way a system sounds (for better or worse).
http://www.ce.org/Standards/browseByCommittee_2624.asp
Last edited by SupremeX; Jun 2, 2009 at 06:25 AM.
I'm not sure where all this hate for the stock system is coming from. It does quite a nice job in the sound quality department - if you want booming bass for your rap then clearly it won't cut it, but for everyday purposes it is quite a good system imo.
Webman is for the most part correct.
Webman is for the most part correct.
I'm not sure where all this hate for the stock system is coming from. It does quite a nice job in the sound quality department - if you want booming bass for your rap then clearly it won't cut it, but for everyday purposes it is quite a good system imo.
Webman is for the most part correct.
Webman is for the most part correct.
If anything I can always change the headunit. But for now and a while I will enjoy the free Sirius.