[quote author=El Ropo link=topic=67633.msg1168203#msg1168203 date=1169734683]
[quote author=geewhizbang link=topic=67633.msg1166125#msg1166125 date=1169617763]
There is nothing particularly wrong with the head unit. [/quote]
I've done direct A/B comparisons between the factory HU, and two different aftermarket HUs. There is no question in my mind that the factory HU sounds horrible compared to an aftermarket HU.
Zero flexibility is a term that comes to mind. No internal xovers, no time alignment, lousy bass/treble control frequencies, inability to play mp3s (in certain models), low quality D/A converters, poor tuner section.... Need I go on?
[/quote]
Not everyone *needs* those features, though. If you're a hard-core audiophile, yes, the factory HU sucks. But so would a $200 HU; if you're worried about the lack of time alignment, internal build quality, etc., then you're looking at an expensive HU. For most people, simply replacing the speakers and adding a sub is enough. Besides, how often do you sit in your car and listen to music while parked? Cars are primarily for transportation, not for critical music listening, and while driving you'd have to have a hell of a lot of sound deadening to be able to hear the little nuances in the music you're listening to.
I'm not an audiophile, but I can hear the differences between bad, good, great and amazing audio systems. In my car, somewhere between "good" and "great" is enough for me, and, I suspect, most people.