clean sweep

[05rolla]

has anyone heard of, or is anyone currently using a jl audio clean sweep in their setup?

[MacLeod]

No need to.

This is for people with stock head units that also operate the HVAC and a host of other things so replacing it isnt an option and also some have EQ's that you cant get around.

This basically cleans up the high level signal so you can use it with no problems.

Its a great idea and innovation for people with new cars that force you to keep the stock head unit.

Luckily, my beloved Dodge was no problem. I just pulled out the stock piece of crap and stuck in my Alpine.

[Josh]

We just got one and put it in a 350Z. We haven't had much time to mess around with it, but it seems like a pretty cool piece. I like the fact that it has an AUX input so it makes iPod integration real nice for OE headunits.

[MacLeod]

Im glad they came out with it. Car manufacturers are making it harder and harder to have an aftermarket sound system. Ya gotta love the free market though, no matter what the manufacturers throw at us, some crafty individual will be there to get around it!

[1996blackmax]

Now one of the things I will have to look for in a car is the ability to upgrade from the OEM stuff :rolleyes: .

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

Why would they want to make it harder?

Not trying to sound sarcastic, serious question. It dosnt seem to make sense, they sell cars - people want an aftermarket system, the car audio side makes money. Makes sense.

The whole, scratch my back, we'll scratch yours.

[exalted512]

Ask the automakers. Some of the newer cars have the radios integrated with the navigation system along with the ecu of the car. Some of them have harnesses, most dont. They are simply too complicated to get around
-Cody

[MacLeod]

Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
Why would they want to make it harder?

Not trying to sound sarcastic, serious question. It dosnt seem to make sense, they sell cars - people want an aftermarket system, the car audio side makes money. Makes sense.

The whole, scratch my back, we'll scratch yours.

Dont known why they would make it harder.

Besides what Cody listed, a lot of factory h/u's also have the HVAC controls in them and some are built in to the center console completlely so you couldnt take them out if you wanted to.

Go look into a Nissan Altima or Nissan Titan. There is no way you could take out the head unit because there isnt one. The controls are part of the dash.

I dont know why they would want to do this but they are.

[bknauss]

Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
Why would they want to make it harder?

Not trying to sound sarcastic, serious question. It dosnt seem to make sense, they sell cars - people want an aftermarket system, the car audio side makes money. Makes sense.

The whole, scratch my back, we'll scratch yours.

Puh-lease... automakers are some of the toughest people to deal with (not meant as a shot at you, just the truth). CEA is trying to make a universal connection system for all cars... the order of things is CEA and the members make a "standard", then present it to the auto makers involved and they vote yea or nea. Basically no participation from them, and they get to make all the final decisions.

Also, if cars can have premium systems for several thousand dollars more and force you to not be able to change it out, more moola for them.

[MacLeod]

Originally posted by bknauss


Also, if cars can have premium systems for several thousand dollars more and force you to not be able to change it out, more moola for them.

Thats a very good point.

Go to any car dealer and look how much the "premium" sound system option is. Its usually well over $1000. Now for this $1000 you get 20 full range, paper cone, crappy speakers and about 250 watts total. Oh and a crappy subwoofer that is probably running full range.

Or you can go with the AM radio and then take that $1000 to your local car stereo shop and have a damn nice system thatll put any OEM "premium" offering to shame.

[neomagus00]

hmm... maybe it has nothing to do with the sound at all, cause the speakers are a marketing device rather than anything else; compare my car - "four speakers and 360 watts!" to the 'bose premium sound system' for the titan - "ten speakers and 265 watts, with a center channel and woofer and in-dash 6-CD changer!"... which sounds better to the average consumer?

perhaps the controls are all integrated because 1) they can and 2) it's easier for them to wire and so on. they wouldn't do it unless there was a reason, they can't possibly care enough to specifically block aftermarket audio, it's simply not worth their attention. perhaps looks? i'd have to agree that a completely integrated HU and screen looks better than the same thing floating out above your dash.

[Thom]

When was the last time you went to a dealer and checked the price on something? When your head unit stops working in a few years and it's not covered under warranty you're going to spend a bunch of money to replace it. People used to come into my shop to replace their Bose systems in Vette's or RX-7's because the dealer wanted more than $500 for one of the amplified speaker pods. We could do a new head unit and four speakers for that money. But many people don't realize they have an option. They go to the dealer and pay the money for OEM replacement.

A lot of the newer cars with integrated radios look better, so for better looking interiors it makes sense. Not that many people who buy a brand new $30K+ vehicle want to put a new CD player in. The stereo is most likely the best they've ever heard. I like the look of some of the integrated stereos, much better than a DIN- sized one that stands out.

[MacLeod]

Too many people are like my wife. She doesnt care about music at all. Sure she likes to listen to the radio while driving but its mainly just a noise in the background.

I like what CEA is doing and hope they make some ground. So far the aftermarket has been able to overcome all the OEM obstacles but with all this new fangled GPS, satelite radio and other stuff its getting harder and harder to get around.

[wlrandall]

It's all about making money after the sale. Truth be known, they don't make money selling cars...they make money servicing them. It's not only audio systems, it's everything. Alternators, compressors, suspension components, etc... The aftermarket is locked out for three years following the release of a new part, i.e. air filter. If the aftermarket doesn't coincidentally make something close enough, the dealer gets the sale. It's all about money, my friends...

[MacLeod]

I disagree with that one brother.

Most people never go back to the dealer for parts or servicing except for warranty work which is free. They make very little money off of selling parts.

[Thom]

We take our F- 350 to the local Ford dealer for oil changes and service (it's company money), and they've always got cars there. And not just late model vehicles. I think quite a few people think they HAVE to go to the dealer. Or they use the free oil change coupons when they buy a car and just get used to going there...

[neomagus00]

i go to the dealer because they know me and my car personally, and because they're saab specialists... i expect many more technicians to know how to work on a ford than on a saab (or porsche or whatever), so i trust the dealer to be properly trained on my particular vehicle... my .02

and they would be making an assload of money off of me from parts if i didn't know of a few saab-specific aftermarket manufacturers :)

[exalted512]

unless its under warranty or free...ill never go to a dealer...theyre worse than a used car salesman
-Cody

[neomagus00]

no, you just have to know as much as they do about your car, then they respect you (and you can call their bluff when they try to do unnecessarily expensive repairs, and after a couple of those they give up)...

[MacLeod]

I prefer to use the dealer for service mainly because at the dealer, mine will likely be the 10 Ram he's worked on this week while at a general mechanic, this could be the first Ram he's seen in a couple months.

But most people I know never go to the dealer as its way to costly.

I got brakes put on a while back for $200. I bought the pads from Autozone for $100 and had them put on at Midas for $100. My local Dodge dealer wanted $350! But for a transmission service, nobody but a Dodge mechanic will do that.