Audio system upgrade

**hahnvin** · September 15th, 2024 08:46 AM

Good day!

Pa suggest sana ako ng magandang audio upgrade for my trailblazer. Currently running stock HU and straight infinity primus. Seps up front, coax at the rear with amplifier and underseat subs. Hindi na ako satisfied sa sound quality kasi nilipat lang from previous car kaya medyo matanda na ang buong system.

I prefer SQ setup. Open budget and any good brand will do.

Thanks

**oj88** · September 15th, 2024 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by hahnvin

Good day!

Pa suggest sana ako ng magandang audio upgrade for my trailblazer. Currently running stock HU and straight infinity primus. Seps up front, coax at the rear with amplifier and underseat subs. Hindi na ako satisfied sa sound quality kasi nilipat lang from previous car kaya medyo matanda na ang buong system.

I prefer SQ setup. Open budget and any good brand will do.

Thanks

If focus is on SQ, I'd look at HU offerings from Kenwood, Pioneer, etc... not the off-brand Android HUs or any Chinese units, IMO. Depending on your budget, you might lose certain modern features like being able to install apps and such.

2nd, get rid of the underseat sub and use a real sub. Depending on what you listen to, a sealed sub sounds controlled and accurate overall, whereas a ported sub will sound louder and deeper, but has the potential to be sonically inaccurate. Port "whoosh" noises can also be a turn-off if the sub was not designed or placed properly.

**hahnvin** · September 15th, 2024 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by oj88

If focus is on SQ, I'd look at HU offerings from Kenwood, Pioneer, etc... not the off-brand Android HUs or any Chinese units, IMO. Depending on your budget, you might lose certain modern features like being able to install apps and such.

2nd, get rid of the underseat sub and use a real sub. Depending on what you listen to, a sealed sub sounds controlled and accurate overall, whereas a ported sub will sound louder and deeper, but has the potential to be sonically inaccurate. Port "whoosh" noises can also be a turn-off if the sub was not designed or placed properly.

Sir replacing the HU is not an option. Some settings of the car is there so...

Sadly, a proper sub is also not an option due to space constraints.

Just looking to improve a bit on the parts that i mentioned

**dr. d** · September 15th, 2024 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by hahnvin

Sir replacing the HU is not an option. Some settings of the car is there so...

Sadly, a proper sub is also not an option due to space constraints.

Just looking to improve a bit on the parts that i mentioned

what is currently on board, so's the advisers will not recommend them to you, as are not happy with them...
i'm not an audio expert, but i think that great components may not sound great, if they do not match each other...

**Motortrend** · September 15th, 2024 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by hahnvin

Sir replacing the HU is not an option. Some settings of the car is there so...

Sadly, a proper sub is also not an option due to space constraints.

Just looking to improve a bit on the parts that i mentioned

What about adding a DSP instead?

**oj88** · September 15th, 2024 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by hahnvin

Sir replacing the HU is not an option. Some settings of the car is there so...

Sadly, a proper sub is also not an option due to space constraints.

Just looking to improve a bit on the parts that i mentioned

When seeking advice, be upfront with your constraints. You mentioned that the budget is not an issue but then you failed to mention that the HU and the sub needs to be left alone. But ok.

Although SQ is subjective, you can only ask so much from the factory HU and the underseat sub. Ask any audiophile what is the first step towards SQ? Most will say; "Start with a good audio source... a good HU". And the rest will fall into place. Because if you start with a mediocre HU, you're fighting an uphill battle. It's not impossible to improve the SQ, only harder.

Do note that there's only so much you can do by just replacing the drivers. As someone suggested, a DSP might be necessary to flatten out the factory EQ, among other things. For separates, I'm partial towards "reference" models that are a little on the warm/mellow side. For that, my previous front seps were a pair of DLS RS6A Reference Series, paired to a Kenwood HU (no outboard amplification). Sounded great when I had it.

Too bad DLS has become quite rare nowadays because I would've recommended them.

Try to drop by a couple of well-known car audio shops to get some advice. They may already have a package for your specific vehicle. I'm not trying to promote them but back in the day, I had all our car audio setup done by LA Cars.

**Murithi** · October 13th, 2024 12:49 AM

Upgrading the vehicle sound system is the first thing I did on my vehicle. I really like to drive while listening to some music.

**dr. d** · October 13th, 2024 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by Murithi

Upgrading the vehicle sound system is the first thing I did on my vehicle. I really like to drive while listening to some music.

akunaman,
i like stock.
so when we buy used car with "upgraded HU",
i look for that car's original OEM HU and replace it back.
heh heh.

ang gusto ko kasi nang OEM radio (toyota!), the buttons are physical and large, and the thing is easy to manipulate.
AM at FM lang naman kasi ang pinakikinggan ko.