How bad will the stock speakers sound with a new head unit?

[muffd]

Vehicle: 2006 Honda Pilot without Nav and RES.

Hi
I'm thinking of adding a new head unit to my wife's pilot. Alpine CDE 125 with BT. I would like for her to have the bluetooth functionality along with the ability to control her iphone/ipod. I was ready to do this and then last week I read a lot of different posts about how this will basically disable the factory subwoofer (which we're actually okay with).

If I were to just go along with only the head unit and the factory speakers, would it sound that bad or should I just get the USA Spec Ipod interface?
I'm a little bit lost now and probably should have done more research before purchasing the head unit but I can't return it cause a buddy of mine works for Alpine and I'd hate to ask for a refund

I was really hoping to not put a lot of money into this and was praying that the only money I'd have to spend was for the head unit, wire harness and dash kit. It's not looking like that now...

Thanks for any input you'd like to share.

[oejeffrey]

I kinda doubt you will hear much difference. You could always EBAY the head unit or spend a little more money on some front speakers ???
I doubt it will sound bad or worse but yeah you are going to lose the subwoofer if you go with a aftermarket head unit. I personally do not see you losing that much bass and I think that if you lost enough bass to matter to you it could be made up with some inexpensive speakers up front.
The advanced head unit will be nice though. I doubt you will lose that much bass from losing the factory subwoofer.

[muffd]

Okay. I feel much better now. I think I'm gonna go for it.

thanks!

[nsaspook]

I sure it will sound ok, just know that most OEM HUs have undefeatable built in EQ to make the crappy stock speakers sound better and you will need to some major adjustment of tone controls on the new HU just to make it sound close to the same or better.

Example:

YouTube - CleanSweep® Training - Chapter 2

YouTube - CleanSweep® Training - Chapter 2

[jimfaster]

Quite positive response.

[oejeffrey]

Well I tried to give a positive response. The world is tough enough without having to be bashed by a sound nerd....LOL

[nsaspook]

If it's nerdish to tell the truth about OEM sound systems then, I'm guilty. Looking at your long list of great components and sound dampening you know the effort it takes to get the interior of a car to the point speakers can sound the best. The HU/amp is the least important thing in sound reproduction as long as it's got adequate power and good frequency response. Having a great room (cabin) is the most important factor followed by speakers. OEMs try to mimic that by sound shaping DSP functions but to do it right costs money and engineering effort. So more power to $3.00 speakers in a tin box is not going to sound better.

www.nsaspook.com

[oejeffrey]

Hey NSA...I didn't want you to think I was calling you a nerd....I just reread that & thought you might have taken it that I was making fun of you or something. I was using nerd in the sense of someone who bashes everyone elses system for whatever reason.
My apoligies if I offended you sir.

[nsaspook]

I was the nerd with the slide-rule in his shirt pocket when I was young, Nerds of the world unite. Enjoy the sounds.

[makpilot]

My speakers sound better with a new after market head unit.

[brownda]

I installed a Pioneer head unit in mine.- it did put more power to the factory speakers but i took out the unit cuz my rig had NAV and RES. when the head unit is in it disables the NAV and RES because the factory radio unit is the motherboard for the NAV and RES. so much for subs lol

[pilot_rave]

Originally Posted by brownda

I installed a Pioneer head unit in mine.- it did put more power to the factory speakers but i took out the unit cuz my rig had NAV and RES. when the head unit is in it disables the NAV and RES because the factory radio unit is the motherboard for the NAV and RES. so much for subs lol

Why don't you just upgrade the factory speakers; it'll make a whole difference!

[oejeffrey]

if you want subs...maybe the JBL clean sweep or if you want a more custom approach I think ARC audio makes something like the clean sweep.
Clean sweep with amps and new speakers...woahhhhh rockin...and you get to keep the stock look if that is important to you.

[THE215]

Originally Posted by oejeffrey

if you want subs...maybe the JBL clean sweep or if you want a more custom approach I think ARC audio makes something like the clean sweep.
Clean sweep with amps and new speakers...woahhhhh rockin...and you get to keep the stock look if that is important to you.

Jeffrey very nice point I believe you are referring to this cleansweep at Crutchfield.com which sounds like a good solution to keep the stock look especially where you have high crime areas.

You always can't go wrong with this also Scosche SLC4 Four-channel line output converter at Crutchfield.com and add a nice 4 channel amp and you are in business.

[oejeffrey]

E x a c t l y !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!