Yeah do the math, because an extra 400 in monthly payments isnt anything compared to the total price. I added the TRD exhuast for more than that, and it didnt make much of a difference.

But if money is a big issue, you could always save up on the side, and get a cheap 10" and save a lot $.

 

If you blew the speakers they'd be covered under warranty I would have them replaced for free.

Obviously at highway speeds with the windows down the bass will either be mostly drowned out or you'll have it cranked way up and distorted. Windows up at highway speeds and you can hear most of the bass you have when standing still.

Of course the stock system can't compete with an aftermarket system. That's why the aftermarket exists. But the stock system isn't so bad that everybody should just rip everything out automatically. If you listen to the stock stereo for a while, and think "This is ok, but I'd like more bass" then the OEM sub is probably for you.

xA and Feel are definitely the best settings (at least with the OEM sub.)

 

Along with that...if you just amp the stock speakers, they sound 100 times better.

 

I hope to someday replace the stock system with a nav/audio system, but for now, the stock system is okay. The one thing that I find annoying is that the XM display doesn't scroll, so you only get the first few characters of the song/artist information.

Why the faq would you even build an XM-ready system that doesn't scroll?

 

This is what I think of the $450 subz ------>

People, visit a custom sound store and get yourself a pair of 10" or 12" subs in a SEALED enclosure. I can't stress enough, if you want that DEEP bass sound WITHOUT distortion, get yourself a SEALED enclosure for your subs. Additionally, I want you guys to understand that I went to a stereo shop and got my Power Acoustic Amp hooked up to the stock stereo system. I didn't get the CD changer, and I didn't really want it, with as many MP3 CD'z as I have, I'm good. The next stereo move for me is the iPod hookup (30 Gig Photo). Believe me it sounds SICK, why, see my siggy.

 

Ported enclosures have their place, just as sealed ones do. A properly tuned ported enclosure will have no distortion and will be louder than a sealed enclosure. I would definitely say that sealed is not the be-all end-all of subwoofers, but it is the easiest way to go. A proper enclosure is as important as the subs you use.

 

So how do the stock speakers sound with an aftermarket sub? I like to have good highs, so i can hear the words and the music instead of just bass.

 

I bought two 6x9 Speaker boxes and mounted them in the rear like a sub box. Now it sounds 10x louder and clear as well. This is with stock system.

 

Its better than a lot of other stock systems but not great.

 

With an MP3 Cdz and the SSP (FEEL) / SRT (ON) Enabled, you will hear clear highs. Additionally I turn my bass down to -4 on my stock head unit. The gain for my subs is maxed out, and the crossover on the amp is set to 50Hz. That's how I have mine configured and it kicks!!!

 

Its a decent stock system, however doesnt really seem to have much ***** to it. I had to rip it out as what I had prior was 10x better.. but i suppose if you have never had anything but a stock system in a car before, it had mp3, it had separate tweeters in the fronts it was fairly decent.

 

Being the non-audiophile I am, so far I've been impressed with the stock system. I comtemplated getting the subwoofer, but I just couldn't justify the $400(ish?) to get it. When I came to pick up my tC, they had just installed the stock stereo and had some rap station playing on the radio. I don't care much for rap, but I turned it up to see if it would have bass. I dreaded getting a tiny sounding stereo. As I later found out, the dealer had already set the stereo to SSP Feel and xA Style. The rap had just the right amount of bass for me; my ears weren't bleeding, but I could feel some thump.

 

Amen. I suspect there's no way to hack up the system to scroll that stuff either. If I thought it was possible I'd be tinkering with it, but it seems unlikely that there'd be updateable firmware in something like that.

 

My sub, amp, HU, changer, and possibly XM are going in Friday.

I HAVE to have a good system.

 

yea its not as great as i think it shpuld be...

but its ok..

 

i have my volume at 35-40 on xB settings and bass 1 and treble 3. it can get pretty loud and the bass is thumping. but on the highway i notice it a lot less. was thinking of adding a sub maybe too

 

I thought the stock system with 6-speaker pioneer everything was going to be great....

Boy was I sadly mistaken.

I had a '95 Camaro with the BOSE sound system in it, and it royally kicks the stock tC system's ___.

New system is going in soon... I can't stand it any longer.

 

So Im starting to think that my sub isnt installed correctly. Its the bazooka. I keep hearing people talking about having the bass on the head unit down to -3 or -4. My gain is about 3/4 of the way up, and if I put the bass on the HU down past 0 you can barely hear it. How can I figure that out? I'm electronic technically challenged. I don't have another tC to compare the sub with.

 

hmmm do you get any bass at all? even at 3/4?

 

comeon guys the stock system is not THAT bad ..... what do u expect? i think its nice fro stock, but i am gonna add few things in the next weeks.... dont freak out the ppl that wanna get a scion hehe, actually check that the less TCs on the road the betta THE STOCK SYSTEM SUX