Best settings or mods for '98GT Stereo

[Longs]

My son has a '98GT with the 7-band equalizer and 6 speaker setup. He feels like the radio doesn't sound good (although he doesn't seem to know how to set the equalizer, he puts all 7 levels to max).

Does anyone have suggestions about the best way to adjust settings - balance, fader, equalizer, etc. to get the best sound?

What would be the best changes to make without replacing the head unit? I'm assuming that he won't drive the car for more than a couple of years and I don't want to see him making mods that will not be of any value to anyone else. Rear speakers, or fronts as the top priority? Amp or subwoofer? What would be best?

Thanks!
Longs

[MantaGreen97]

LOL, putting all 7 of the bands to max is not going to sound good at all.

The bands on the factory HUs aren't that great as they have little physical travel and are therefore difficult to adjust finely. Usually people adjust EQs like that with the "ends" higher than the middle as human ears hear better at the 1kHz frequency (which is usually the mid point of an EQ like that) and many speakers also perform better there as well. The EQ should never be overboosted though, as your son is doing. That will only introduce distortion, particularly at higher volume levels. I would stay away from "maxing" any of the bands on the EQ. Also be careful boosting the low end (bass end--the left size of the EQ) too much as the stock speakers aren't really designed for that. Lower frequencies are really better left to a subwoofer, even with aftermarket speakers.

Without making changes to the HU the best/simplest way to upgrade everything would be to use external amplification, new/aftermarket speakers, and a subwoofer in the trunk.

Front speakers are definitely a priority... The stock speakers up front are 4x6" (if you have the "6 speaker XRSS" setup you also have tweeters in the door sail panels). The best thing to do is to make a baffle for fitting 6.5" speakers up front instead.

There are a few threads about putting in 6.5" speakers up front, on the forum. You can do a search for that, and here is one I found for you as well:
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=50699

You'll want to get a component set so that you can replace the door tweeters as well (many aftermarket tweeters are about the same size as the factory ones and will require only minimal effort to fit them in the stock locations, if you desire keeping that location for tweeters).

In my personal opinion the rear 6x9s are a complete waste of time/effort. Don't replace them with aftermarket speakers, don't run them at all, just disconnect them (you don't even need to bother pulling them out if you don't want to). I have tried with various aftermarket 6x9s, with external amplification, and various crossover points to make the 6x9s in the rear sound good and I'll tell you it's way more hassle than it's worth. They just ruin the front soundstage. I eventually took my 6x9s out altogether and I'll tell you it's much better that way. The only thing those speakers are good for IMO is rear-seat passengers so if that's a priority of some sort for you then keep them going but otherwise I wouldn't use them at all.

You could run the front component set from the head unit but even a small/low-powered good brand aftermarket amplifier will sound much better than powering from the head unit. The head unit does not have line-level output so you'll either have to get an amp that can take "high level" or "speaker level" input or use a good LOC (Line Output Converter).

As for a sub, the same for a line-level signal noted above applies. You'll want to get a sub (or two) a proper box (sealed is easiest but ported is generally better though you have to pay attention to more details in getting the right box), and of course an amp to run the sub.

The one thing that I would change about the plan would be to get an aftermarket head unit, because the stock HU in a 98 isn't integrated with anything other than the wheel controls (if you have those) and even those can be carried over to some aftermarket heads with an appropriate adapter product. A decent mid-priced aftermarket head will usually give you more features, more sound control and better overall sound quality than the stock unit.

As for worrying about "making mods that will not be of any value to anyone else" keep in mind anything installed in a simple install like you're looking at can easily be taken out of the car later on. (For use in another car or sold separately, if desired.) Converting everything back to stock is as simple as keeping the stock components and reinstalling them at that time.

[PontiacGT]

wow I'm not reading that whole post man, but here's the way to do it...


with stock speakers, set the fade knob slightly to the REAR, leaving the balance in the middle of left and right.

Set the 7 equilizer knobs to make a smiley face....that is the ones on the right (treble) and left (bass) should be higher than the ones in the middle...and have the middle one about halfway to max, the rest progressively higher.


hope that helps