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Old 04-27-2013, 11:09 AM   #1
SubaruImprezaFan13
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Default Just got my Impreza 2.0i , Why the sound system complaints?

I don't know if people are talking about the 2012 Subaru Impreza when they talk badly about the sound system, but I got a belkin auxiliary cable to hook up specifically for my iphone, and the sound system is actually quite good. It's not comparable to a very expensive system, but the bass actually handles really well with songs like A Milli by Lil Wayne which is pretty heavy bass! I was extremely surprised, and very happy to hear the sound system. Tell me what complaints you have about the sound and why!

Thanks guys!
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Old 04-27-2013, 12:15 PM   #2
Commander Keen
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Listen to real music and the stock system's shortcomings become obvious. The mid-bass is excessive and rings, and there's no top end.
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Old 04-27-2013, 12:19 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Commander Keen View Post
Listen to real music and the stock system's shortcomings become obvious. The mid-bass is excessive and rings, and there's no top end.
lol
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Old 04-27-2013, 12:46 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SubaruImprezaFan13 View Post
I don't know if people are talking about the 2012 Subaru Impreza when they talk badly about the sound system, but I got a belkin auxiliary cable to hook up specifically for my iphone, and the sound system is actually quite good. It's not comparable to a very expensive system, but the bass actually handles really well with songs like A Milli by Lil Wayne which is pretty heavy bass! I was extremely surprised, and very happy to hear the sound system. Tell me what complaints you have about the sound and why!

Thanks guys!
It has no range, the base isn't there, the mids are mixed, the crossover happens too soon, the highs are tinny. It's all gone wrong.
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Old 04-27-2013, 01:57 PM   #5
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I found the radio channel to be very very bad.
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Old 04-27-2013, 02:39 PM   #6
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I haven't noticed much of anything that you guys are mentioning. I do know that the 2013 model has an upgraded sound system, for the one who said to listen to real music. Just so you know, I don't listen to Lil wayne, but I do like Bass. A milli is one of the best test songs for bass.
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Old 04-27-2013, 04:36 PM   #7
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What upgraded system. that's news to me
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Old 04-27-2013, 05:47 PM   #8
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Haha, it is a new audio system though.. well upgraded that is.
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Old 04-27-2013, 05:51 PM   #9
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I got the "upgraded" speakers in my 2013. The bass is horrible. I had 2 12's in my old car, though, so my ears are probably super biased towards that. Try listening to "Fresh" by Childish Gambino. I'd use that as a test song over Lil Wayne any day. Or the very first track on Outkast's Speakerboxx, I don't remember what it's called.
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Old 04-27-2013, 06:04 PM   #10
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I would improve the speakers, but my drive is about 10 miles each way so it is not my first priority
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Old 04-27-2013, 06:18 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zeeper View Post
I would improve the speakers, but my drive is about 10 miles each way so it is not my first priority
You dont realize the potential of speakers fully until you put them in their power range.

Last edited by auskip07; 04-27-2013 at 06:33 PM.
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Old 04-27-2013, 07:14 PM   #12
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The stock speakers are very excellent compared to 99.9% of new cars in the price range. The head unit sucks donkey uterus.


Hey that reminds me, what are some high end ($100-180 for a pair) speakers you'd get? I don't really plan on amping them because the stock speakers can handle only 2/3 of the power of my head unit, and that's ALMOST enough for me. But I'd like higher sound quality too.
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Old 04-27-2013, 07:28 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by goregasm View Post
The stock speakers are very excellent compared to 99.9% of new cars in the price range. The head unit sucks donkey uterus.


Hey that reminds me, what are some high end ($100-180 for a pair) speakers you'd get? I don't really plan on amping them because the stock speakers can handle only 2/3 of the power of my head unit, and that's ALMOST enough for me. But I'd like higher sound quality too.
what is your hu rated at? That should be the basis for what you select. Certain brand actually design their speakers to match their Head units so that would be a good place to look

and the stockers are garbage, my nissan xterra had better stockers or had a better Head Unit. hard to tell
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Old 04-27-2013, 07:36 PM   #14
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If you truly want an "upgraded" audio setup, you need external amplifiers, independent cross-overs, and quality speakers. Changing speakers here and HU there will help, to an extent. But the drastic improvements will come with a much higher threshold of components, equipment, time, and money. If you like it, rock it out... If not, research what would help improve the areas that you find lacking.

Last edited by Bobert0989; 04-27-2013 at 07:48 PM.
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Old 04-27-2013, 08:12 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by auskip07 View Post
what is your hu rated at? That should be the basis for what you select. Certain brand actually design their speakers to match their Head units so that would be a good place to look

and the stockers are garbage, my nissan xterra had better stockers or had a better Head Unit. hard to tell
22w RMS. Kenwood. Very loud. 4v preamp output. Probably the best sound quality I could get without spending another $500.
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Old 04-27-2013, 09:08 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by goregasm View Post
22w RMS. Kenwood. Very loud. 4v preamp output. Probably the best sound quality I could get without spending another $500.
Polk db6501 for the front and leave the rears alone.
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Old 04-27-2013, 09:24 PM   #17
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I replaced the stock speakers in my car. One new speaker weighs more than all four combined. Having said that, the stockers sound better than they should for how cheap they really are. The magnet is maybe the diameter of a nickel and 3/4" long. As for the HU, if you get into the hidden menu, (do a search, lots of discussion in the AV section), and turn off the EQ and Loudness, that will improve the sound some. It's free and takes a couple of minutes. After that, it starts to cost you. How much depends on what you want. I don't know if those settings are in the NAV unit or not, but we don't know what you're starting with.

John
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Old 04-27-2013, 09:27 PM   #18
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Quote:
Polk db6501 for the front and leave the rears alone.
+1

OP, if you thought the stockers are "quite good", these will blow your mind.
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Old 04-27-2013, 09:32 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flyboy1100 View Post
Polk db6501 for the front and leave the rears alone.
Anything complicated I need to do or do I just install the spacers and speakers after removing the door panel, then put it back together and I'm good to go?
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Old 04-27-2013, 11:04 PM   #20
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For the price range you're in, JL's entry level stuff would perform well, too.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0036D1DQI
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Old 04-28-2013, 12:36 AM   #21
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http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KC16...4S.html?tp=105

I believe these are close to what i picked because i wasnt going to Amp them. I got 2 sets for both the front and back. I have a similar kenwood HU

I usually adjust the fade to that i can hear both front and back at the same time (not sure why i just always thought it sounded better)


When people were talking about upgrading their tweeters to the Kicker ones subaru sells for around 100 i upgraded all the regular speakers for that amount. You bunch of stupids LOL
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Old 04-28-2013, 10:18 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by goregasm View Post
Anything complicated I need to do or do I just install the spacers and speakers after removing the door panel, then put it back together and I'm good to go?
the most difficult part is snaking the wires through the door grommet for the tweeters, but there are a lot of videos on how to do that. the rest is pretty much as you described
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Old 04-28-2013, 10:15 PM   #23
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Big audio install noob, I was looking at the polks with tweeter and crossover and was wondering where all that stuff goes? Are the tweeters supposed to go in the plastic area near the window? Also do I have to amp them? I have the non nav hd radio unit with screen and I'm not sure what speakers I have, I just know they're not great for music but fine for podcasts.
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Old 04-28-2013, 10:44 PM   #24
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On my car, I removed a foam block in each door and installed the crossovers there. You can cut holes in the plastic covers and flush mount the tweeters in them. The position is good for sound quality and they look like they were made for the car. The woofers need four screw holes drilled in the door.

At moderate sound levels, the stock head unit sounds fine after loudness and EQ are defeated. At higher levels, the speakers will sound better driven by an amplifier.
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Old 04-28-2013, 11:03 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Commander Keen View Post
At moderate sound levels, the stock head unit sounds fine after loudness and EQ are defeated. At higher levels, the speakers will sound better driven by an amplifier.
This... An external amp really helps out on the high-volume end, so if you listen to your music very loudly, EVERYTHING will benefit from being amplified. Most aftermarket components will sound much better than stockers regardless, but they will all begin to wobble and flatten-out at higher volume without more power to push them.
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