POLL: which car audio systems are better? stock high end or aftermarket low end?

[Lifer]

lets say you have a lexus with the mark levinson system (or JBL or BOSE or RF)... top of the line system you can get in that car model.

compare that with lets say kenwood head unit, components up front for staging and 4x6's in the rears and a sub, everything pushed with external amps of adequate power.

i've never heard the mark levinsons but my friend's low end system sounds pretty nice.
for those who have experience with both, which would sound better?
not to say you've heard my friend's system, but in general, compare a high end stock system and a low end aftermarket system.

 

[Lifer]

no one?

 

[Ryan]

Acura's new DVD-Audio systems are supposed to be some of the best in the Industry - I'd say that would kick the ass of any low end aftermarket system.

 

[Strk]

I heard the Mark Levinson one you can get from Lexus is amazing.

 

[Howard]

Hard to answer without listening to EVERY DAMN STOCK SYSTEM.

 

[Syringer]

Priced the same, aftermarket will sound better.

 

[atom]

It depends. The Bose in Nissans suck goat but there are some audio systems that are pretty good (Mark Levinson in Lexus, The McIntosh sound system on the Subaru Outback is supposed to be pretty good as well).

 

[Lifer]

Originally posted by: Howard
Hard to answer without listening to EVERY DAMN STOCK SYSTEM.

that's why i made an example of mark levinson vs. a basic aftermarket since the ML systems are supposedly nice.

 

[Lifer]

no one has experience with mark levinsons?

 

[MikeMike]

what is low end aftermarket?

<400$?
<1000?

cuz for <1K i could build one hell of a setup.

MIKE

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Bose isn't a high end stock system.

 

[IamElectro]

Originally posted by: ThisIsMatt
Bose isn't a high end stock system.

I couldn't agree more. They are using the name to charge more for a piece of crap.

 

[prvteye2003]

I have the infinity 5.1 high end stock system in my car and it sounds like crap.

 

[r6ashih]

2001 lexus gs 300 premium sound (nakamichi?) > 2001 Auti TT quattro roadster premium sound (bose)

 

[Wahsapa]

aftermarket by far....

for example, nobody enters a car stereo compition with a stock radio from Lexus(who btw is overcharging you for the same sound you can get for cheaper)

 

[Lifer]

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
what is low end aftermarket?

<400$?
<1000?

cuz for <1K i could build one hell of a setup.

MIKE

$150 for head unit
$150 for components and rears
$200 for amps and sub
$50 accessories/cabling

so about $500-600

 

[Kadarin]

To me, "low-end aftermarket" = Audiovox or Radio Shack. Given this, the answer is quite clear.

 

[spidey07]

I'm quite an audio fan and even installed car stereos for a living (pretty good stuff too, upper end availible for a car)

The ELS system in my TL is pretty friggin' good. I'd put it up against any sub 1000 dollar aftermarket stereo mainly because the speakers and everything have been setup for the car's interior and it is tonally very accurate (with DVDa 5.1 sound to boot!)

You'd have to spend 500 bucks plus just for a good xover and eq to get this kind of balance.

So i believe in some instances (the levinson and ELS stereos) the stock is much better than aftermarket mid-fi.