stock (non bose) radio

kevin8086 · 10-06-2010, 11:28 AM

just wondering if anyone else has a really crappy sounding radio? CD's sound good and i have no issue with the way it sounds but FM is just terrible. it sounds like everything is very distorted and almost impossible to listen to. i bought the car used and it is tinted, could the tint be messing with the signal and causing every station to sound like garbage? i just thought it was the crappy head unit but like i said, CD's sound perfect.

90 ST · 10-06-2010, 11:48 AM

the tint may cause it, the lead in the film could mess with the antenna that is in the glass.

kevin8086 · 10-06-2010, 02:08 PM

anyone experiance this with a before and after tint install?

bigaudiofanat · 10-06-2010, 02:16 PM

FM radio is only around 8kbps? and very compressed normal store bought cd's are around 1024kbps even mp3's are around 128kbps. That could be what you are hearing. Unless you are hearing this after tint install.

kenchan · 10-06-2010, 02:48 PM

or the antenna booster is dead?

kevin8086 · 10-06-2010, 04:52 PM

it was tinted when i bought the car. i just cant believe how terrible the radio sounds. if it sounded as good as the cd's do then i wouldnt even think about changing it out. im not really big into audio but would like a halfway decent sounding radio ya know. where is the antenna booster?

vipor · 10-06-2010, 04:55 PM

I have the base stereo and UV tint, sounds surprisingly good though, both CD and FM. The Aux in is fine as well. Maybe the tinter effed up your antenna?

kevin8086 · 10-06-2010, 06:49 PM

hmm, anyway to tell? i just want to be able to turn it up a little without it sounding like all the speakers are blown and it only sounds like this on FM wtf. i did get some talk show and the people talking sounded just fine. there was base when one guy talked and it came in loud and clear. maybe i need a new stock crappy head unit

TreeSemdyZee · 10-06-2010, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin8086

hmm, anyway to tell? i just want to be able to turn it up a little without it sounding like all the speakers are blown and it only sounds like this on FM wtf. i did get some talk show and the people talking sounded just fine. there was base when one guy talked and it came in loud and clear. maybe i need a new stock crappy head unit

I've got one if you want it.
I know mine sounded pretty crappy, but I didn't really listen to it enough to judge if it was like you described. I swapped it for an aftermarket within a few months.

cab83_750 · 10-06-2010, 07:24 PM

FM would never sound as good as CD.

My old HU was ok, not crappy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin8086

it was tinted when i bought the car. i just cant believe how terrible the radio sounds. if it sounded as good as the cd's do then i wouldnt even think about changing it out. im not really big into audio but would like a halfway decent sounding radio ya know. where is the antenna booster?

sonic370 · 10-06-2010, 08:12 PM

Yes the stock HU is crap. Nothing will sound good until you upgrade the system........ Others will disagree but a good set of component speakers will
make a major difference....

kevin8086 · 10-06-2010, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreeSemdyZee

I've got one if you want it.
I know mine sounded pretty crappy, but I didn't really listen to it enough to judge if it was like you described. I swapped it for an aftermarket within a few months.

Thanks for the offer but if i spend any time doing something with the radio i may as well just put a better one in and then see if the speakers need to be changed. i changed only the speakers in my base 350z and it sounded a lot better but not quite what i wanted.

bigaudiofanat · 10-07-2010, 06:32 PM

I think your answer lies somewhere in between a new head unit and new speakers. Do the head unit first and see what that gives you than go for speakers. Just keep in mind radio always is going to sound more FLAT than cd's or mp3's.

hdskull · 10-07-2010, 08:09 PM

My stock radio sounded fine, when I got it new w/o tint. It sucks now with a new HU. I only listen to my ipod now.

butdamnbrian · 10-07-2010, 08:19 PM

my stock non-touring head unit also gets terrrrrrible FM reception. no tint on the z.

as a test, i plugged my ipod nano into aux and used its FM tuner function just to compare quality.

the ipod nano's FM reception (basically using only the patch cable as an antenna) is FAR superior to the head unit's FM reception.

so sad. aftermarket head units plug into the car's existing antenna, right? i wonder if the poor FM reception issue is a function of the antenna or the stock head unit.

it would be a shame to replace the head unit only to have the same terrible FM reception.

10-06-2010, 11:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
kevin8086 Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Austin Posts: 228 Drives: 09 370Z Sport Rep Power: 15	stock (non bose) radio just wondering if anyone else has a really crappy sounding radio? CD's sound good and i have no issue with the way it sounds but FM is just terrible. it sounds like everything is very distorted and almost impossible to listen to. i bought the car used and it is tinted, could the tint be messing with the signal and causing every station to sound like garbage? i just thought it was the crappy head unit but like i said, CD's sound perfect.

10-06-2010, 02:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	FM radio is only around 8kbps? and very compressed normal store bought cd's are around 1024kbps even mp3's are around 128kbps. That could be what you are hearing. Unless you are hearing this after tint install. __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

10-06-2010, 04:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
vipor A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Euless, TX [ DFW ] Age: 42 Posts: 13,531 Drives: Nismo 09-0183 QAB Rep Power: 49	I have the base stereo and UV tint, sounds surprisingly good though, both CD and FM. The Aux in is fine as well. Maybe the tinter effed up your antenna? __________________ 2009 NISMO # 0193 \| QAB \| Albums! \| 05.04.10 (Dynojet) 291.94hp/248.28tq Oil Cooler (DIY) \| Custom Headlights \| GTSPEC Braces \| F.I. Long Tube Headers

10-07-2010, 06:32 PM	#13 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	I think your answer lies somewhere in between a new head unit and new speakers. Do the head unit first and see what that gives you than go for speakers. Just keep in mind radio always is going to sound more FLAT than cd's or mp3's. __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

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10-06-2010, 11:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
90 ST A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,861 Drives: 90 and 15 GMC Sierra Rep Power: 421	the tint may cause it, the lead in the film could mess with the antenna that is in the glass.

10-06-2010, 02:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
kevin8086 Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Austin Posts: 228 Drives: 09 370Z Sport Rep Power: 15	anyone experiance this with a before and after tint install?

10-06-2010, 02:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	or the antenna booster is dead?

10-06-2010, 04:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
kevin8086 Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Austin Posts: 228 Drives: 09 370Z Sport Rep Power: 15	it was tinted when i bought the car. i just cant believe how terrible the radio sounds. if it sounded as good as the cd's do then i wouldnt even think about changing it out. im not really big into audio but would like a halfway decent sounding radio ya know. where is the antenna booster?

10-06-2010, 06:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
kevin8086 Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Austin Posts: 228 Drives: 09 370Z Sport Rep Power: 15	hmm, anyway to tell? i just want to be able to turn it up a little without it sounding like all the speakers are blown and it only sounds like this on FM wtf. i did get some talk show and the people talking sounded just fine. there was base when one guy talked and it came in loud and clear. maybe i need a new stock crappy head unit

10-06-2010, 08:12 PM	#11 (permalink)
sonic370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Orange Texas Posts: 1,574 Drives: 09 370Z Sports PGK Rep Power: 18	Yes the stock HU is crap. Nothing will sound good until you upgrade the system........ Others will disagree but a good set of component speakers will make a major difference....

10-07-2010, 08:09 PM	#14 (permalink)
hdskull Track Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 680 Drives: '10 Black 370Z 6MT Rep Power: 17	My stock radio sounded fine, when I got it new w/o tint. It sucks now with a new HU. I only listen to my ipod now.

10-07-2010, 08:19 PM	#15 (permalink)
butdamnbrian Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: bay area, ca Posts: 254 Drives: the ladies wild Rep Power: 15	my stock non-touring head unit also gets terrrrrrible FM reception. no tint on the z. as a test, i plugged my ipod nano into aux and used its FM tuner function just to compare quality. the ipod nano's FM reception (basically using only the patch cable as an antenna) is FAR superior to the head unit's FM reception. so sad. aftermarket head units plug into the car's existing antenna, right? i wonder if the poor FM reception issue is a function of the antenna or the stock head unit. it would be a shame to replace the head unit only to have the same terrible FM reception.