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welcome to the forum!!
This is a super common question. The short answer is yes. You can change out the (really, really crappy) stock speakers with aftermarket. if that's all you do, you'll see some marginal improvement in quality.
If you want to keep the stock head unit, you need to use a PAC interface (the bose unit uses a DSP between the head unit and the speakers. If you keep the bose head unit, oyu'll need the PAC unit-- super easy to install_ . Do a search, there's literally dozens of threads on this, and a sticky I believe.
You'll also want to replace the stock "subs" I highly recommend replacing them . A stock "amplifier" for each sub is strapped to each of the stock subs. It's garbage. It's a 100watt max amp, RMS is probably half that. It's about the size of half a deck of cards. It's absolute crap, and I highly doubt that amp would drive anything other than the crap subs already in the door (calling them "subs" is a massive overstatement ... they're about 2" deep, paper, and weigh about half a pound combined) . Bottom line is if you want to put a sub, or even a 6" or so speaker, you need to run a new amp.
Also, don't forget you have speakers in the rear you can replace too.. I think 'vert and coupe have different size. They don't make a ton of difference, but they're also garbage, may as well replace those as well.
whatever you get -- if you're keeping the stock headunit, it's vitally important to get highly efficient speakers. RMS/Peak wattage isn't a big concernt (unless you plan on upgarding the head unit in the future) since the stock system is very low powered.
This is what I did ..for $300, the Alpine wx650 is hands down the best out there -- incredible screen, very shallow mounting depth. Uses android auto/carplay for nav, so no need for a DVD. It's thin, cheap, AND, you can get an add-on app that adds 450watts to the amp, and straps on to the back of the head unit, so all the wiring is done right at the console. The headunit ~$500 with the amp included, or I think around $300 without the amp (runs great without the amp too, delivers 25 watts per channel) consider this DD headunit if you're doing an upgrade... - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
I am thinking about new speakers in my 04 as well, but I already went with the Sony AX5500 headunit (also from from Crutchfield) I was actually amazed at how well the Bose speakers sounded with the new head unit. The car came to me with an older Alpine single din installed, and I was unimpressed. I have to disagree that Alpine is always the best. I have a Sony AX5500 on my 2017 Road Glide Ultra and it has survived rain, sun and 30,000 plus miles (since install in 2019) and keeps on working. I also like the Kenwood Exelon head units. The one I have in my truck is 7+ years old and works flawlessly. I was unable to find one for the vette.earlier this year though and went with the Sony... My preference for headunits based on my limited experience: Kenwood, Sony, Alpine.
welcome to the forum!!
This is a super common question. The short answer is yes. You can change out the (really, really crappy) stock speakers with aftermarket. if that's all you do, you'll see some marginal improvement in quality.
If you want to keep the stock head unit, you need to use a PAC interface (the bose unit uses a DSP between the head unit and the speakers. If you keep the bose head unit, oyu'll need the PAC unit-- super easy to install_ . Do a search, there's literally dozens of threads on this, and a sticky I believe.
You'll also want to replace the stock "subs" I highly recommend replacing them . A stock "amplifier" for each sub is strapped to each of the stock subs. It's garbage. It's a 100watt max amp, RMS is probably half that. It's about the size of half a deck of cards. It's absolute crap, and I highly doubt that amp would drive anything other than the crap subs already in the door (calling them "subs" is a massive overstatement ... they're about 2" deep, paper, and weigh about half a pound combined) . Bottom line is if you want to put a sub, or even a 6" or so speaker, you need to run a new amp.
Also, don't forget you have speakers in the rear you can replace too.. I think 'vert and coupe have different size. They don't make a ton of difference, but they're also garbage, may as well replace those as well.
whatever you get -- if you're keeping the stock headunit, it's vitally important to get highly efficient speakers. RMS/Peak wattage isn't a big concernt (unless you plan on upgarding the head unit in the future) since the stock system is very low powered.
This is what I did ..for $300, the Alpine wx650 is hands down the best out there -- incredible screen, very shallow mounting depth. Uses android auto/carplay for nav, so no need for a DVD. It's thin, cheap, AND, you can get an add-on app that adds 450watts to the amp, and straps on to the back of the head unit, so all the wiring is done right at the console. The headunit ~$500 with the amp included, or I think around $300 without the amp (runs great without the amp too, delivers 25 watts per channel) consider this DD headunit if you're doing an upgrade... - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Excellent reply along with good photo's showing the details !
I am wondering what was the correct temp.......75 or 81 degrees ?
81.
The vette has a sensor that directly measures it. I was in my garage at the time and hadn't yet turned on the AC
the temp on the head unit -- I was running google play, and the temp is the temperature reported by Google for my area.
My preference for headunits based on my limited experience: Kenwood, Sony, Alpine.
Depends on what you want.
Quality on both are more or less the same. Where the ilx650 shines is that it's a tiny unit (since it doesn't have a DVD player), and you can get a 450-watt amp that literally slaps on the back of it (even with the amp it's still shallower than most head units). OR, you can get a mono amp for a subwoffer.
The Kenwood is feature rich, generally tend to be a lot more expensive,and I believe most of the newer models are floating screens -- i.e. single DIN with a screen that pops out and floats on a mount-- which I can't stand, and I think looks super cheezy (I do think they have standard sized screens).
The thing that I like best though about the alpines are their implementation of Android auto -- it's flawless. The KEnwoods stumble badly with android auto and to a lesser extent apple carplay... tons of disconnects and they don't support a wide range of phones.
So, really, I don't think you can generalize. If your primary usage is android auto, and want nice unit that can support 450 watts, then the alpine is hard to beat. That doesn't make Kenwood bad -- Honestly, if you're not looking for android auto/apple carplay, really like kenwood's UI, and want to use the head unit for nav (As opposed to android auto/apple carplay) then there's nothing wrong with kenwood.
I had a Kenwood double din when when I first converted from stock that eventually glitched out on me. I then went to a more modern mechless Alpine for the AA/CP and found the Alpine to be quite a step up from Kenwood
I also use Infinity kappa perfect 6.5 components in the door with an extra pair of tweeters in the door pulls.
Of course there's way more to mention but needless to say I am very pleased with the audio performance of the car
