[dgs]

Originally Posted by djrossco

I feel what you mean when you spend 40K on a car that doesnt have a "luxury" stereo... But I have NEVER been impressed with a factory sound system.

I did my 08 this way:
Base model with the only options added are armrest extention and all weather floor mats. Cost was something near $35,000, certainly short of 40k.

My AVIC D-3 was on sale for $549 and has significantly improved the sound quality. Generally speaking, any new head unit will make any factory speakers sound better - whatever the vehicle manufacturer.

Find yourself a quality used Alpine HU for $100 bucks and you should find yourself happy with the speakers subaru provided. I certainly am! (I have one for sale, BTW)

I like that I've been able to customize my choices rather than pay for a luxury head unit that I'd only want to tear out anyway.

I feel what you're saying. But damn, it doesn't even have to be a luxury system, but just decent you know. Most cars over $30,000 are coming with pretty decent sound systems these days. A true audiophile will generally rip out any OEM system. I'm not an audiophile, I just like listening to loud, clear music when I drive with proper separation. My buddy just got a new Honda Accord coupe with the six speed transmission and that stock system is pretty kick ass. It's a no-name system but it has 270 watts I believe, and a separate sub. That car was only $30K. Couldn't Subaru have done something like that? It's like the sound system was a complete after though. I have no delusions the STI is a luxury car. But I don't think that's any excuse to skimp on a good sound system.

Yeah, actually I can get the Pioneer Nav on Amazon for like $1,200 so it's not that bad.

[drdome99]

subaru should just go back to no radio/NAV and knock 3k off the price lol. You can get much better NAV and radio for less than Subaru charges.

[HASTIhatch]

On most higher-end cars (and ours isn't technically "high-end")--cars that cost 35k+--you must *pay* for an upgraded system, either in the way of a direct cost for, say, a bose system, or, say like my father's Audi S5, a Bang & Olufson, the latter which, by the way, is an amazing sounding system, and most bose are decent. But anyhow, yes, with these systems you have to pay $600-1000, OR, the only way to get the system is, say, in a "Premium Package" which usually runs you 2-3 grand easy.

Now, of course, the stock system in these cars (say, BMW 3 series or even an infiniti G) are going to sound better than our stock system hands down, and will likely have more than 6 measly speakers. Now, if I had the bose or bang systems as options, I'd likely throw the 600-800 or whatever at them no questions asked. But given we don't, it gives me the opportunity to do it myself, and possibly, for less money, or a similar amount with a small subwoofer. In my case, I bought a set of relatively basic Infinity reference series components up front, and the 4inchers (I believe that's the size...or at least that's what it was in the previous gen STis) in back, plus a dual 7" amplified sub which tucks away nicely under my passenger seat. Cost?... well, let's see, at Best Buy I got a deal on the Infinitys for buy one set get other half off, and was somehow able to get the half off on the MORE expensive speakers (the components up front, which are the 6.5 + tweeters), so instead of 220 and 55 it was 110 and 110. The sub was about 125. Total cost is under 350, plus installation and any needed wires. That's not bad for my own custom set up, one that'll sound much better than the stockers, even if not quite my dad's S5's Bang & Olufson.

I almost prefer having really really crappy speakers so I can just flip them out, since if I got a mediocre to medium quality, I'd still want to flip them out anyway, and at least the manufacturer can make the car a little cheaper. Obviously the 08 isn't super cheap, but actually, the base model, which can be (easily) had for 32-33 invoice, with all the upgrades features, including side curtain, incline assist (with which I have a love-hate relationship, even tho it does comes on fancier cars, like my dad's old BMW 335i), and all the new technology w/ the ability to change maps and the center diff, that's gotta be worth something and cost Subaru a pretty penny I'm sure. To keep the fully loaded STi's MSRP under 40 (technically, anyhow), I wouldn't have been surprised if Subaru had kept the speakers dirt cheap for that reason alone.

Anyway, if you wanted a killer sound system, ya know that SSS package on the EVO is pretty nice I hear...

[cookin]

+1 on buying the base model and ripping out the stock stereo. Much better nav out there for the money than you would be spending on the Subaru upgrade. I get geeked out doing stereo upgrades so I'm actually happy Subaru puts in a less than mediocre system.

[Digitalfiend]

Originally Posted by cookin

+1 on buying the base model and ripping out the stock stereo. Much better nav out there for the money than you would be spending on the Subaru upgrade. I get geeked out doing stereo upgrades so I'm actually happy Subaru puts in a less than mediocre system.

Can you really get a much better NAV unit than what comes with the car? From all the reviews I've read, the NAV unit is actually rather high quality, though the stereo portion is rather weak (but that doesn't bother me.)

[sponge]

The Legacy is getting an Harmon Kardon system next year...wonder if they will carry it over (or some varition) to the STi?

Go with whatever nav unit you like the features and sound of the best (they do sound different). I like Kenwood personally and stick with JL Audio speakers/subs/amps throughout the rest of the car and you will not be disappointed no matter your budget.