Stock HU vs Aftermarket HU

[kai-wun]

Hey all,

I'm debating whether or not to replace the stock HU.

I suppose with an aftermarket HU I can MP3CDs which make long trips more comfortable (no CD changing so often) but long trips are usually taken with a friend, so that shouldn't be a problem.

I don't want to deal with a messy install, or attract attention/potential thieves to my car, so that's a minus with the aftermarket HU. Of course, I'd also save money.

However - if I *DO* invest in an aftermarket HU, I'd like to get one with bluetooh integrated, so I can speak on the phone handsfree.

So the bottom line is: Is the sound really terrible using the stock HU and an LOC? I really dislike the stock speakers. I could save at least $200 and install headaches if I stuck with the stock HU.

Stock HU to LOC to aftermarket component speakers?

[Noisy Crow]

Here's how I dealt with the same issues (other than the speakers:) )

I just put in an AudioLink USB/MP3 adapter, and it works great. The one I bought has an SD slot in addtion to the USB and Aux inputs. Depending on compression you can get about 600 songs on a 2GB SD card, and of course SD cards are both cheap and small.

I also bought a small BT handsfree unit to go with my cellphone. it is velcroed to my windshield behind the mirror where it is easy to operate and doesn't look horrible. It does have to be charged, but I can either do that in-place using the car-charger or I can take it in the house and charge if from my USB hub.

[kai-wun]

I suppose I'm most concerned about this:

Is the LOC sound quality high enough to justify spending money on an amp/component speakers? I'm audiophile (high end tube amp/headphones/speakers at home) but in the car, there's too much outside noise and distractions to FULLY appreciate super high resolution audio anyway... but the stock speakers HAVE to go.

[cwp_sedan]

If you are a high end audophile then you won't be happy with the stock deck. I am happy with my current setup (loc+upgraded 6.5 speakers in the front+12" sub w amp). Would I be better off with an amplified mid/high system? Definitely. I miss not having more control and more quality but don't want to lose the stock look without paying a good $ to upgrade.

Put it this way...it does the job.

[Flagrum_3]

It is possible to get audiophile sound from the stock deck but it would cost about the same as purchasing a quality head unit.JL makes the 'Cleansweep' which is a top notch OEM interface.You'd also have to look at amps and good quality speakers, the stock speakers are just plain garbage.

You should try to make some meets soon and give a listen to some peoples systems (bring one of your audiophile recordings), you might be pleasantly surprised at what you hear.


_3


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[hoodlum]

I found the following posted by JL Audio on another forum in response to a Mazda3 owner and thought it could help other owners here.



The Mazda Bose systems have perfectly flat head unit outputs. No Cleansweep or similar device is needed to fix the freq. response.

If you use an amp with differential-balanced inputs (like the JL's) you don't even need a line output converter.

The non-Bose systems are equalized in the head unit and require CleanSweep or similar for correction of the response.

Hope that helps,

Manville Smith
JL Audio, Inc.

[mdass52]

Im running two clarion amps off my stock head unit. Ive got clarion 4 channel running clarion 5 x 7's in the front and rear. And I got a clarion mono amp running a clarion 10 ten inch sub. I didn't need a LOC. i patched my wires into the speaker wires and used the speaker level input on the amp.

[QBA]

The Mazda Bose systems have perfectly flat head unit outputs. No Cleansweep or similar device is needed to fix the freq. response.

If you use an amp with differential-balanced inputs (like the JL's) you don't even need a line output converter.

The non-Bose systems are equalized in the head unit and require CleanSweep or similar for correction of the response.

Hope that helps

Does the Mazda3 2008.5 has a Bose system?