Monsoon System

[tw0t0n@aol.com]

I got a 2003 GA, with a monsoon deck. I called a local place, known as Ultimate Audio. They told me that Monsoon was a quality sound, like Bose. I bought a new HU. Pioneer DEH-3800. I did not know that there are factory amplifiers. whcih have to be bypassed.

Reason why i got a poineer deck, to hook up my amp, that would be connected to my new Infinity 6x9s, which replaced the factory ones, which sounded horrible. The Monsoon Head Unit does not have any subwoofer outlets. reason why i bought the pioneer deck.

So my question is, Do you think this is a down grade?

anyone can give any advice?

[kamoguy]

Not really, Monsoon is basically AC Delco Audio.

[JoeyK]

Originally posted by tw0t0n@aol.com
I got a 2003 GA, with a monsoon deck. I called a local place, known as Ultimate Audio. They told me that Monsoon was a quality sound, like Bose. I bought a new HU. Pioneer DEH-3800. I did not know that there are factory amplifiers. whcih have to be bypassed.

Reason why i got a poineer deck, to hook up my amp, that would be connected to my new Infinity 6x9s, which replaced the factory ones, which sounded horrible. The Monsoon Head Unit does not have any subwoofer outlets. reason why i bought the pioneer deck.

So my question is, Do you think this is a down grade?

anyone can give any advice?

Do a little searching on the Monsoon system. It can be upgraded. Sure, there's better sounding aftermarket equipment out there but you'd be supprised what you can get out of a Monsoon with a little education. Mine sounds better than 60 to 75% of the aftermarket setups I've heard in recent years.

The Monsoon is NOT an AC delco unit. Monsoon is an actual company. The H.U. is based off an AC Delco unit but that's as far as it goes. Most of what makes the Monsoon a Monsoon lies within the amp & speakers. As well as the internal crossovers added to the H.U.

[hamiltonaudio]

I can't remember off-hand if the Monsoon system has the amps at each speaker, or a central amp...either way, the amplifier(s) must be bypassed and your system will work correctly.

Much of the increase in sound quality you will receive is due purely to the additional power you're delivering to the speakers. As clearly stated in other threads, power is your friend <wink>

If you're looking to simply add bass, you can do so a number of ways...there are super OEM integration pieces available now...some of the more sophisticated ones will actually digitally flatten your factory systems response (they often have hella EQ built into their outputs) so that its delivering un-EQ'd signal to amplifiers. They then deliver strong/clean signal to a sub amplifier so you can keep the rest of the system intact.

Another way to go is a simple line-out converter (I /love/ the PDC-LOC - search it) but it will NOT deal with the EQ that the monsoon puts into the signal....

bmoney

[car audio dave]

monsoon is a single amp in the top DS corner of the trunk.

your 6x9s are used as dual speakers, they have a full range input and they also have a low pass signal input. pontiac calls that a subwoofer system.

with the pioneer, you didnt upgrade of downgrade. the quality isnt any better, the tuner is not any better either. you gained a low voltage subwoofer output. that can be achieved also with a decent line level converter.

i would recommend deciding what you want to do. if you want a high end system then replace everything including the speaker wiring. if you dont want to go all the way then id leave the monsoon system as is, but then disconnect the low pass input to the 6x9s and hook up a single subwoofer using a line level converter. youll be shocked at how much improvement youll see with just adding a subwoofer.

[exiter]

speaking of monsoons and this could be a little off topic here...
i was wonder if i could install this > http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/04-05-Grand-Am-Monsoon-Radio-with-CD-and-MP3_W0QQitemZ190037951494QQihZ009QQcategoryZ38641Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
in place of my,non mp3 playing, monsoon in my 2003 grand am gt?

[car audio dave]

if yours is a monsoon then this will work.

[tw0t0n@aol.com]

when the bypass the factory amp, will i need to buy another amp to power the other speakers?

[hamiltonaudio]

nope - the aftermarket deck has a reasonable little 4 channel amp built into it...

bmoney

[MantaGreen97]

Originally posted by JoeyK
The Monsoon is NOT an AC delco unit. Monsoon is an actual company. The H.U. is based off an AC Delco unit but that's as far as it goes. Most of what makes the Monsoon a Monsoon lies within the amp & speakers. As well as the internal crossovers added to the H.U.

You're right in that Monsoon is the amp and speakers (the HU is nearly the same), but I don't think Monsoon is really a company any longer.

The part of the company that made multimedia [i.e. computer] speakers has long gone under; Delphi (and therefore Delco) seems to be the only supplier of Monsoon branded products these days, all of which are for factory stereo applications I believe. I think Delphi owns the name Monsoon at least for use in cars; Monsoon otherwise, is no longer...

[taisgod]

i dont think i seen this anywhere in this thread but i might be wrong, but the front speakers are powered by an amp in the HU.

[JoeyK]

The fronts are powered by the 4 channel amp in the trunk. The tweeters are actuall powered by a small amp in the head unit.

[gilbert383]

how exactly do u bypass the factory amp to be able to use a aftermarket HU

[350F]

how exactly do u bypass the factory amp to be able to use a aftermarket HU

Gotta run all new speaker wire. Unfortunately if you want to upgrade the factory monsoon to something else, its pretty much all or nothing.