Stereo reception terrible on Factory unit
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: San Francisco CA
Originally Posted by Zuntov
By looking at the Siemens VDO website, I would say they make some decent aftermarket heads. I doubt that GM would have the vette's base stereo performance specs. would be anywhere near that of any decent aftermarket unit.
I know the Alpine unit I installed made a big difference in sound and clarity using the base amp and speakers.
I know the Alpine unit I installed made a big difference in sound and clarity using the base amp and speakers.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Skippack PA
St Jude Donor '13
Originally Posted by LS WON
So Seimens is the head unit for the 1SA stereo and the 1SB stereo on our Corvettes? The 1SB has "BOSE" written across the speakers?
How does Seimens compare to sony, Pioneer, Alpine, Delco?
How does Seimens compare to sony, Pioneer, Alpine, Delco?
Originally Posted by LS WON
I don't know if your'e Corvette is a C-6 or not but when you installed the Alpine stereo were there any problems with the computers and the stereo you installed?
I remember you mentioning in another thread that you liked the functionality of the stock unit. If you are considering switching I really would try to get the problem you're having taken care of at a dealer before going any farther because you WILL lose some of that functionality (speed dependent volume for instance) with an aftermarket unit, but of course you'll also pick up features that stock doesn't have. YMMV.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
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Originally Posted by LS WON
I don't know if your'e Corvette is a C-6 or not but when you installed the Alpine stereo were there any problems with the computers and the stereo you installed?
No probelms at all. The new Alpine installed fine with no glitches.
There were a few items that had to be included in the kit from Crutchfields.
1. An antenna adapter. The GM antenna plug is smaller than standard plugs so there is an adapter to fit the Alpine to the facyory plug.
2. The safety door chime circuitry is routed through the GM harness and through the GM radio. Crutchfield provides a harness and the chime that uses the factory GM connector so you can remove the stock radio and simply plug in the Alpine and keep the safety chime. Of course, you do have to solder this harness to the harness that comes with the Alpine. Straight up color for color wiring. Quite simple.
The toughest part of the whole install was getting the power plug disconnected from the console.
I have a step by step write up on the install if you want to e-mail me I'll send it.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: San Francisco CA
Originally Posted by Zuntov
I have an 06, C6. I had a base US* radio/cd with U66 speakers.
No probelms at all. The new Alpine installed fine with no glitches.
There were a few items that had to be included in the kit from Crutchfields.
1. An antenna adapter. The GM antenna plug is smaller than standard plugs so there is an adapter to fit the Alpine to the facyory plug.
2. The safety door chime circuitry is routed through the GM harness and through the GM radio. Crutchfield provides a harness and the chime that uses the factory GM connector so you can remove the stock radio and simply plug in the Alpine and keep the safety chime. Of course, you do have to solder this harness to the harness that comes with the Alpine. Straight up color for color wiring. Quite simple.
The toughest part of the whole install was getting the power plug disconnected from the console.
I have a step by step write up on the install if you want to e-mail me I'll send it.
No probelms at all. The new Alpine installed fine with no glitches.
There were a few items that had to be included in the kit from Crutchfields.
1. An antenna adapter. The GM antenna plug is smaller than standard plugs so there is an adapter to fit the Alpine to the facyory plug.
2. The safety door chime circuitry is routed through the GM harness and through the GM radio. Crutchfield provides a harness and the chime that uses the factory GM connector so you can remove the stock radio and simply plug in the Alpine and keep the safety chime. Of course, you do have to solder this harness to the harness that comes with the Alpine. Straight up color for color wiring. Quite simple.
The toughest part of the whole install was getting the power plug disconnected from the console.
I have a step by step write up on the install if you want to e-mail me I'll send it.
If I go aftermarket I will definitely have to find a reputable shop that has done sucessful work on C-6 Corvettes.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: San Francisco CA
Originally Posted by TheKomoman
I think comparing Siemens to Delco is far more apples-to-apples than comparing them to Sony, Alpine or Pioneer. Siemens and Delco are industrial giants that happen to have an electronics division. The other 3 are consumer electronics companies. While you can never paint with a brush broad enough to use the word *always* it's a safe bet that the designers at a consumer electronics company are going to produce better audible results than a company that is more interested in vehicle integration.
You can swap out the factory head and have no trouble. The only problem you would run into is if you tried to put a factory head from a DIFFERENT car into your car - that head would have the VIN registered in it's memory and would have to be reprogrammed by the dealer. Aftermarket units do not have that programming.
I remember you mentioning in another thread that you liked the functionality of the stock unit. If you are considering switching I really would try to get the problem you're having taken care of at a dealer before going any farther because you WILL lose some of that functionality (speed dependent volume for instance) with an aftermarket unit, but of course you'll also pick up features that stock doesn't have. YMMV.
You can swap out the factory head and have no trouble. The only problem you would run into is if you tried to put a factory head from a DIFFERENT car into your car - that head would have the VIN registered in it's memory and would have to be reprogrammed by the dealer. Aftermarket units do not have that programming.
I remember you mentioning in another thread that you liked the functionality of the stock unit. If you are considering switching I really would try to get the problem you're having taken care of at a dealer before going any farther because you WILL lose some of that functionality (speed dependent volume for instance) with an aftermarket unit, but of course you'll also pick up features that stock doesn't have. YMMV.
so I had the windshield antenna changed to a power antenna by Hirschman? On a switch with a switchable preamp.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: San Francisco CA
Originally Posted by TheKomoman
I think comparing Siemens to Delco is far more apples-to-apples than comparing them to Sony, Alpine or Pioneer. Siemens and Delco are industrial giants that happen to have an electronics division. The other 3 are consumer electronics companies. While you can never paint with a brush broad enough to use the word *always* it's a safe bet that the designers at a consumer electronics company are going to produce better audible results than a company that is more interested in vehicle integration.
You can swap out the factory head and have no trouble. The only problem you would run into is if you tried to put a factory head from a DIFFERENT car into your car - that head would have the VIN registered in it's memory and would have to be reprogrammed by the dealer. Aftermarket units do not have that programming.
I remember you mentioning in another thread that you liked the functionality of the stock unit. If you are considering switching I really would try to get the problem you're having taken care of at a dealer before going any farther because you WILL lose some of that functionality (speed dependent volume for instance) with an aftermarket unit, but of course you'll also pick up features that stock doesn't have. YMMV.
You can swap out the factory head and have no trouble. The only problem you would run into is if you tried to put a factory head from a DIFFERENT car into your car - that head would have the VIN registered in it's memory and would have to be reprogrammed by the dealer. Aftermarket units do not have that programming.
I remember you mentioning in another thread that you liked the functionality of the stock unit. If you are considering switching I really would try to get the problem you're having taken care of at a dealer before going any farther because you WILL lose some of that functionality (speed dependent volume for instance) with an aftermarket unit, but of course you'll also pick up features that stock doesn't have. YMMV.
