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I've had my '12 GS for almost a year, it's stock except for Carbide GT headlights. I've thought about replacing the head unit with one that has CarPlay, but the XM radio is still working! I thought it only came with a 3 month trial, but still going.
What are your thoughts on Sirius XM vs Nav? I use the radio much more than I would Google Maps. The Bluetooth works fine.
I've had my '12 GS for almost a year, it's stock except for Carbide GT headlights. I've thought about replacing the head unit with one that has CarPlay, but the XM radio is still working! I thought it only came with a 3 month trial, but still going.
What are your thoughts on Sirius XM vs Nav? I use the radio much more than I would Google Maps. The Bluetooth works fine.
I'm not sure what your question is? You can get a new head unit and still have a Sirius XM subscription.
About your XM still working, previous owner may still have the subscription active on his account. Sirius loves to set up accounts with auto renewal. There may be a few different reasons why it's been overlooked up to this point.
I replaced my head unit with a Kenwood last year. I have the Bose system, and it was a night and day difference with just changing the head unit. The sound is so much better than what the factory head unit was capable of producing. Another Upside was adding the back-up camera to it as well. As for the Sirius radio goes. I have a Ram 1500 work truck, a 2nd Ram 1500 personal vehicle and my girlfriend has a BMW.... at 1 point I had 3 subscriptions on my Sirius account until I started using the Sirius app on Android auto with my work truck. That's when I realized I just need to pay for 1 vehicle subscription which is the BMW. This gives you the app subscription too which I use between the 3 vehicles I drive.
I replaced the stock non-Nav unit on my new-to-me 2011 with a JVC unit. I also wanted Wireless CarPlay and a backup camera. I did not pay for the XM tuner add-on since I don't drive this car much. I can just stream via the SiriusXM app or use Apple Music instead and that works fine.
Sirius XM via sat connection has a very low bitrate..... Around 35/48KBPS..... If you were to go to an aftermarket radio and use a streaming service, you would have waayyyyyy better sound. Here is a helpful chart:
32 kbps – generally acceptable only for speech.
96 kbps – generally used for speech or low-quality streaming.
128 or 160 kbps – mid-range bit rate quality.
192 kbps – medium quality bit rate.
256 kbps – a commonly used high-quality bit rate.
320 kbps – highest level supported by the Mp3 standard.
Find a streaming service you like that has the bit rate needed and go with them...... I use both Sirius and Amazon Unlimited. Sirius in my wife's jeep (ease of use for her), Sirius in my Titan (older radio with no apple carplay) and I stream Amazon/Sirius in my Vette. Streaming Sirius will get you to around 130ish KBPS vs the 48KBPS of the sat.
I replaced mine with a Pioneer DMH-WC5700NEX with wireless/wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Never looked back. Massive sound quality difference. Did it myself.
Lossless music is the closest you can get to a CD, which is 16 bit/44.1khz. Apple Music goes up to 24bit/48khz without an external DAC, and will work on CarPlay over a USB connection.
Can you hear a difference between 256/320 kbps and CD quality or above? Not entirely sure! I think I do, but it's extremely minor.
I replaced mine with a Pioneer DMH-WC5700NEX with wireless/wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Never looked back. Massive sound quality difference. Did it myself.
Lossless music is the closest you can get to a CD, which is 16 bit/44.1khz. Apple Music goes up to 24bit/48khz without an external DAC, and will work on CarPlay over a USB connection.
Can you hear a difference between 256/320 kbps and CD quality or above? Not entirely sure! I think I do, but it's extremely minor.
In the car, I doubt it. With some audiophile headphones, perhaps
I bought my 2013 recently and I love everything about it except the radio. It's antiquated. I like using my phone to stream music and Waze for maps which I can't do with the stock stereo. While I really could care less about talking on the phone when I'm driving my car the Onstar phone connection is terrible. Needless to say the head unit is going to be replaced.
I bought my 2013 recently and I love everything about it except the radio. It's antiquated. I like using my phone to stream music and Waze for maps which I can't do with the stock stereo. While I really could care less about talking on the phone when I'm driving my car the Onstar phone connection is terrible. Needless to say the head unit is going to be replaced.
I'll tell you, the more seat time I get with this, the more it feels like a much more modern vehicle. It's definitely a bit of a learning curve since you're essentially bolting in an Android tablet that interfaces with the car, but once it's all dialed in to your liking, it's pretty neat. I mostly use wireless CarPlay with XM radio, but I also dumped all of my ripped CDs (FLAC format) onto a USB drive and have full access to my entire digital library.
Eventually I'll add a sub to give it some more depth.
I'll tell you, the more seat time I get with this, the more it feels like a much more modern vehicle. It's definitely a bit of a learning curve since you're essentially bolting in an Android tablet that interfaces with the car, but once it's all dialed in to your liking, it's pretty neat. I mostly use wireless CarPlay with XM radio, but I also dumped all of my ripped CDs (FLAC format) onto a USB drive and have full access to my entire digital library.
Eventually I'll add a sub to give it some more depth.
My everyday car is a Lincoln Aviator. It does everything including a huge touch screen and it is very convenient. That said, when I drive my Vette I'm not really into all that technology. Don't get me wrong, your stereo looks beautiful and I'm glad it suits you. But for me, I just want to stream some music, use a GPS app and answer the phone when necessary. I had a local tech install a Sony head unit in my C5 and it's simple, works well and sounds good enough. I drive with the top down always and I'll never hear high fidelity imaging anyway so that's what I'm going to do in my C6. Thanks for your input, appreciate it. Nice car!
My everyday car is a Lincoln Aviator. It does everything including a huge touch screen and it is very convenient. That said, when I drive my Vette I'm not really into all that technology. Don't get me wrong, your stereo looks beautiful and I'm glad it suits you. But for me, I just want to stream some music, use a GPS app and answer the phone when necessary. I had a local tech install a Sony head unit in my C5 and it's simple, works well and sounds good enough. I drive with the top down always and I'll never hear high fidelity imaging anyway so that's what I'm going to do in my C6. Thanks for your input, appreciate it. Nice car!
Thanks! And I hear you. That's one of the reasons I want to add better speakers and a sub or two at some point. I'm mostly running around topless also.
Before I installed it, i just ran everything off my phone using the factory USB iPod connection.
Thanks! And I hear you. That's one of the reasons I want to add better speakers and a sub or two at some point. I'm mostly running around topless also.
Before I installed it, i just ran everything off my phone using the factory USB iPod connection.
My other hobby is audio and I have and appreciate great sounding music. I just think I'll ever get there with my Vettes so I'm not going down the rabbit hole. Maybe if I had coupes...but not with high HP loud convertibles. Both my cars are pretty loud.
My other hobby is audio and I have and appreciate great sounding music. I just think I'll ever get there with my Vettes so I'm not going down the rabbit hole. Maybe if I had coupes...but not with high HP loud convertibles. Both my cars are pretty loud.
You and me both. My home away from here is Audiocircle. I built my open baffle subs and my surround speakers in my theater room myself using GR Research kits.
You and me both. My home away from here is Audiocircle. I built my open baffle subs and my surround speakers in my theater room myself using GR Research kits.
My sound system at home is ridiculous. Took me many years to get it right, not interested in chasing that in my Vette. My Lincoln however is amazing with Revel speakers.
Replace head unit?
