Low-Cost Audio Add-Ons Aren't Always "Cheap and Dirty"
While the aftermarket car audio industry is singing the blues
, it's never been a better time to get great music in your ride -- without visiting a car stereo shop. Wired's Autopia
points to Bentley's alliance with fellow Brits
at the high-end home audio company Naim Audio
as yet another example of the automaker/audio brand mash-up, but Naim's Paul Stephenson makes it sound like you have to spend tons of money on a car and a premium audio system to get better than "quick and dirty low-cost" audio add-ons.
Although hardcore audiophiles can and will beg to differ (because that's just what they like to do), there are several examples of premium audio systems below $1,000 that offer better sound dollar for dollar than aftermarket options. Several Boston Acoustics
systems available in Dodge
, Chrysler
and Jeep
vehicles range from $495 to $995, and while these systems are far from the last word in superior car sound, try getting similar quality from the aftermarket for the same amount of coin.
THX
is another premium audio supplier that offers excellent value. I've often pointed to the $995 THX Certified Premium Sound System in the Lincoln Zephyr
as an example of excellent bang for the car audio buck, and the company's stereo system in the '09 Lincoln MKS
runs $645, while the 5.1 Surround version is bundled with the vehicle's Navigation Package option that includes voice-activated nav, a hard disc Jukebox and Sirius Travel Link for $2,995.
But the OEMs aren't only trumping the
aftermarket in terms of value. "The aftermarket just can't compete in integration," observes Sandy Lirag, who began his car audio
aftermarket career in the early 1980s, worked for Boston Acoustics from 1994 until earlier this
year, and is now the U.S. rep for the
high-end British home audio speaker company Acoustic Energy. And while Lirag feels that the
products from the aftermarket still far exceed what most OEMs offer, he adds that tuning them to fit the
vehicle's acoustics is where the aftermarket often falls short. "There's such a disparity in the aftermarket," Lirag says "They forget to do the last step."
That's why we're seeing more and more branded systems even in economy cars like the Kia Rondo, and why the OEMs are slowly chipping away at the aftermarket's longtime dominance. It's also why you don't need to buy a Bentley or even a Lexus to get great car audio anymore.
- Posted by
- Doug Newcomb August 18, 2008, 1:05 PM
- Permalink
- Categories:
- Car Buying, Life with Cars, Used Cars
- Technorati Tags:
- Bentley, Car Audio, THX, Wired
Where OEM's still fall short is that there's no upgrade path. What if Apple suddenly goes bankrupt and the SanDisk Sansa becomes the new dominant music player? What if BlueTooth 4.0 replaces USB? What if music starts being delivered in Dolby TruHD via Blu-Ray discs?
Aftermarket: swap in a new head unit
OEM: You're stuck; buy a new car
Though not readily available in every model, the OEM's have placed much emphasis to allow the connection of any portable playback device that has a headphone output. This is most true with all the popular vehicle models. For the majority of car shoppers, these solutions more than fulfill their needs. What you cannot get consistently in aftermarket car audio is quality. Quality in sound performance, reliability and installation integrity in comparable value. Most of the premium branded system offered in the market seldom cost more than $1000. This is impossible to match in the aftermarket. You will have to spend allot more to come close.
Yeah, AUX input does make up a lot of ground, but you still lose steering wheel control, voice control (of playlists, tuners, etc), big LCD display (if your car has Navi, MMI, iDrive, MyGig, etc) and all the other things that make integration so nice.
Oh, I forgot to mention (loss of edit button = F41L!), Microsoft is making a good step towards OEM upgrade paths with their Sync system. I just hope more companies would jump in, if not with Microsoft per se then at least with something comparable.
I would have thought companies like Alpine, JBL, Bose, Pioneer, etc. are making MORE money these days because they collaborate with manufacturers to create expensive "premium stereos" in cars! I'm surprised they're complaining about losing money.......
".......there are several examples of premium audio systems below $1,000 that offer better sound dollar for dollar than aftermarket options."
I disagree, and it's not because I'm a "hard-core audiophile"...I'm not. Aftermarket systems, provided they are carefully selected, are just better, and if one shops on the Net, are often cheaper than factory-installed options.
I believe the main reason why aftermarket sales have reduced is that factory-installed systems have gotten better. I remember when I recently test-drive a 2006 Civic and an Accord with the regular stereos, while my aftermarket Alpine was clearly better, I still felt the factory stereo was good enough for me not to need an amp.
Another major reason is that many factory car stereos are so integrated into the dashboard that it seems impossible to replace the factory stereo in an elegant way.
As for the integration issue, I couldn't agree more.....aftermarket systems can just not integrate properly.