[dgs]

Originally Posted by thekiffer

I do agree it is par for an economy car factory system. Thing is this isn't an economy car. It is in the same price range as 350Z's and those have had pretty decent systems for years. It is the same price as an Acura and those have pretty decent factory systems and sadly I own a 2003 Park Ave that has as good of a sound system and GM's are notoriously bad.

Yep, I started a post about the weak STI system a couple of months ago. 100 watts, what's up with that? A freaking $23,000 Honda Si comes stock with a 350 watt system. It's kind of insulting to pay almost forty grand for a car to get such a crap stock system. You look at the stock systems in cars in the $40K range and they blow the STI away. I mean I'm happy most of the money went into performance but for the kind of money they're asking for this thing Subaru could have done much better with the sound system.

[cusco]

i have mine set at 5 with windows up! and maybe 15-20 when windows down...depending on mood!
if you listen to the radio it a whole different story because of the quality! all my cd are 198bits or higher soo the stock speakers are pretty good if you ask me.

[Bownse]

Originally Posted by thekiffer

I agree that as a whole we shouldn't be obnoxious with noise but you are making a lot of assumptions. I can't speak for everyone but I actually listen to NPR and at highway speeds with the windows down. My commute is about 30 miles mostly highway. When I get into the neighborhood I turn it down cause I going slower and it is quiet.

you realize that you get better fuel economy with the windows up and the a/c on than with the windows down due to increased drag and improved a/c efficiency. right?

at highway speeds i have the a/c, heater, or vents on. much quieter.

and thanks for thinking of the home owners. one area i had control over this phenomenon was with my kids and their friends. any time i could hear their stereos when they pulled up to the house, i asked them nicely (or asked the kids to remind them) that it was rude and turning it down was appreciated. it actually worked. i wish the neighbor across the street would do the same with their kid's friend. he comes in every morning to give the guy a ride to work with his radio up and his windows down.
A real if you know what i mean.

[thekiffer]

Originally Posted by Bownse

you realize that you get better fuel economy with the windows up and the a/c on than with the windows down due to increased drag and improved a/c efficiency. right?

at highway speeds i have the a/c, heater, or vents on. much quieter.

and thanks for thinking of the home owners. one area i had control over this phenomenon was with my kids and their friends. any time i could hear their stereos when they pulled up to the house, i asked them nicely (or asked the kids to remind them) that it was rude and turning it down was appreciated. it actually worked. i wish the neighbor across the street would do the same with their kid's friend. he comes in every morning to give the guy a ride to work with his radio up and his windows down.
A real if you know what i mean.

It is negligible and I live in Colorado for a reason. I rarely get it enjoy it so that is my one little piece of the outdoors.

If the Subby came in a convert I would probably have bought it. If I wanted total fuel economy I would have bought the Outback sport. And why is it to much to ask for $40k car to have a decent radio, paint that aren't total crap.

[pisymbol]

Originally Posted by Bownse

this is why our town passed a noise ordinance that specifically included car stereo volumes. having it loud enough that people can hear it, in their houses with the doors and windows closed (and the AC going) is not the way to win friends and influence people.

and, before the ordinace, that's what was happening. now when it happens neighbors get the tag number and call in a complaint, the cops follow up, and the stereo continued to cost them more than just purchase and installation.

maybe on the highway but failing to turn it down when driving through residential neighborhoods is what upsets people and gets The Man down on us.

same for bikes with loud pipes (except they can't turn them down).

No offense, but this is BS and has been for years. What constitutes loud? What neighborhood? These are feel good laws that really don't make any sense. I live in metropolitan NY/NJ area and I can assure you, depending on the town, loud means different things to different people.

40 is NOT NEARLY loud enough to even dent the noise in my residential area - I mean c'mon.

[008STI]

Stock speakers are only rated 40W (as printed on the back, made in China).
This is for the STi with Nav.

[jmswinger]

Originally Posted by pisymbol

40 ain't cutting it sometimes (especially with the windows down). Anyone else in the same boat? I've NEVER EVEN considered replacing the stock speakers until now. I have no idea how much it would cost to upgrade them (also if I get new speakers, can I adjust the gain from the stock NAV unit)?

I found that when I use the rca jacks I have to turn it up like high 30's but when I use a CD the volume has to come down alot.

[mossie4]

The aux jack that I use for my IPOD (I don't have the NAV system btw) forces me to turn both the IPOD and the stereo up signficantly to hear it well and even then the quality is not what I would call impressive. My hearing is actually quite good but I am forced to drive with the back windows down frequently as my golden retriever is in there 90% of the time. He prefers the open windows to the A/C system....as do I.

I was expecting a bit more from the system in a $36K car...of course I was so blown away by the performance that now, I really don't care!