OEM Sony System: Your Review

SRT82ECOBOOST · October 11, 2013, 11:17:04 AM

I am trying to get a feel for how good or bad the OEM Sony system is in the SHO. Please weigh in with a quick review on how your experience has been with the system.

ONLYA6 · October 11, 2013, 12:32:51 PM

It's not very good in my opinion. The bass sucks, that's my biggest complaint. I know it doesn't have a dedicated sub but with bass set mid way and the volume turned up it doesn't hit very hard and on certain songs it is distorted. Seems like every car I've been in with an optional high end factory system has been better. Heck, the Audiophile system in my 2002 SVT Focus was probably better than the Sony. It even had a dedicated subwoofer.

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TSS · October 11, 2013, 12:43:09 PM

I have found the THXII Sony in the MKS to be superior. It is not insanely loud, but it is loud enough for me and more importantly to me, it is crystal clear right up to its maximum. I am more about clarity than distorted insanely loud sound.

yowen · October 11, 2013, 01:01:40 PM

Something I've been wondering lately, what would you guys consider the best bang for your buck upgrade for this system? Some upgraded front speakers perhaps? (that's what I've been considering). I am happy with the bass, but I'd like more overall clarity.

jcl78 · October 11, 2013, 01:35:38 PM

You know, I actually think it does really well for a stock system. Make sure you switch the "Surround Sound" setting to "Stereo" in the settings menu though, it sounds like crap with the surround setting.

FracaSHO · October 11, 2013, 01:51:45 PM

I don't know why people rag on the Sony System, and Sync for that matter. Here's my take on both. Keep in mind this is coming from a guy who had really good stereo systems in my T-Bird and F-150, and a sick stereo system in my Mustang, not to mention my life revolves around my Apple products:

Stereo is really good, FOR A STOCK STSTEM. Could use a little more bass in higher volume, but clear, and louder than most. To upgrade just amps and subs would've cost me almost $3K. If you do the install yourself, cheaper, but top of the line stuff is not cheap. So I am happy enough with my stereo that I'll save that money and put it towards making my SHO faster than rice burners that are half the weight.

Sync is also really good, FOR A MICROSOFT PRODUCT. One of my main needs is using my iPod, or iPhone to play music. Connecting through the headphone jack sounds like crap. But the USB port, or even Bluetooth streaming, it sound just as good as CD's. And staying hands free while on the phone and the steering wheel controls makes it a whole much better experience.

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SRT82ECOBOOST · October 11, 2013, 02:01:56 PM

If you were to relieve the bass from the Sony system and run a small subwoofer, do you think it would take away most of the complaints about the system?

FracaSHO · October 11, 2013, 02:10:23 PM

Quote from: SRT82ECOBOOST on October 11, 2013, 02:01:56 PM
If you were to relieve the bass from the Sony system and run a small subwoofer, do you think it would take away most of the complaints about the system?

I would imagine so. I think most peoples issue with the stock system is fairly uniform bass from all speakers. Sure, the speaker in the deck is mostly if not all bass, but it comes through the door speakers as well. So the bass can't hit too hard, otherwise the speakers would blow or sound distorted. I was gonna get rid of stock amps, and run alpines new 6 channel amp, 2 for the subs, 4 for the doors. And then go with their W7 sub. That would have sounded good, but rattles would have popped like they always do, and I would have ended up with 2 packs of dynomat. Personally I need to choose between sound and performance. For the first time in my life I feel like sound is "good enough" as is and I'm gonna try to make my SHO faster than my Mustang was. Probably get close, but not faster.

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SRT82ECOBOOST · October 11, 2013, 02:13:55 PM

Are the deck speakers true subwoofers or are they full range speakers?

BigPelo · October 11, 2013, 02:16:02 PM

Quote from: FracaSHO on October 11, 2013, 01:51:45 PM

Stereo is really good, FOR A STOCK STSTEM. Could use a little more bass in higher volume, but clear, and louder than most. To upgrade just amps and subs would've cost me almost $3K. If you do the install yourself, cheaper, but top of the line stuff is not cheap. So I am happy enough with my stereo that I'll save that money and put it towards making my SHO faster than rice burners that are half the weight.

Sync is also really good, FOR A MICROSOFT PRODUCT. One of my main needs is using my iPod, or iPhone to play music. Connecting through the headphone jack sounds like crap. But the USB port, or even Bluetooth streaming, it sound just as good as CD's. And staying hands free while on the phone and the steering wheel controls makes it a whole much better experience.

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I second that ^^

mjhpadi · October 11, 2013, 02:32:57 PM

I think the Sony system sounds pretty good for a stock system...I'm not a fan of overpowering bass, I enjoy more of the mid-range and treble, I normally reduce the bass with the graphic equalizer. My only real complaint of the system is that the surround sound mode is terrible, it really reduces the sound quality of the entire system, but since I normally only listen to music, I just have it set to stereo and I'm fine with it. I think the sound quality is good enough that I would never consider replacing it with an aftermarket, there are too many other mods I want to do before that, and the sound is good enough for my ears.

EcoPowerParts · October 11, 2013, 02:41:55 PM

Guess I'm lucky to have the Flex with the dedicated sub because the 2011 Sony system is good enough I'd really have to be done with a ton of other mods before I thought about swapping it out.

mjhpadi · October 11, 2013, 02:55:26 PM

Yeah, I have never really considered changing the system, I enjoy good sound and I think the system sounds good when I have it cranked up or at normal levels. I think it is fine, and that I won't see a large improvement in sound, at least not enough to justify swapping it out and going to all the expense and work to do it.

Lanson · October 11, 2013, 03:37:37 PM

Not sure if you want to go down the rabbit hole here, but to me the biggest problem was the processing. So, that's my "bang for buck" approach. The speakers are actually quite good. Second to the processing, deadening and sealing up the doors is critical to get good sound. Third, yes, add some bass.

I used this logic in my 2010 Flex (with Sony system) to great effect. My 2013 received most of the same treatment, but the path was slightly different since the Sony and non Sony setups are different themselves.

Once I connected the Sony stuff to my MS8 processor and tuned it, I was quite pleased even with the stock speakers, on meager ~20W chipamp MS8 power. After I deadened the doors I was even more pleased, and the stock speakers were basically "good enough" for a long time. Then I added extra amp power to the front doors and center which helped further, as did doing an amp and sub setup in the spare tire well. Eventually I went and installed new 5x7 components (Bravox in the 2010) and the system was pretty much complete up to the point I ripped it all out to put in my 2013.

So, yeah, processing.

mbehna · October 11, 2013, 03:53:51 PM

I will only say that the Mach 460 system from my '01 Mustang is superior to the Sony in all respects!

It is cripser, louder and does not distort at loud volume and the DSP actually worked unlike the "surround" on the Sony. I find it to be the biggest and only disappointment on my SHO. grrrrr.....