Monsoon vs stock

[OffRoadSonoma]

I just sold my truck and bought a '96 Buick Riviera. The stock hu keeps eating my cd's so I'm going to replace it but I would like to keep the stock look. I've seen some radios that look excactly the same as the stock one but say monsoon on the tape door. Is there an actual difference inside or in the quality of sound?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Buick...30095932QQrdZ1


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BUICK...30681660QQrdZ1

[98gpking]

Originally Posted by OffRoadSonoma

I just sold my truck and bought a '96 Buick Riviera. The stock hu keeps eating my cd's so I'm going to replace it but I would like to keep the stock look. I've seen some radios that look excactly the same as the stock one but say monsoon on the tape door. Is there an actual difference inside or in the quality of sound?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Buick...30095932QQrdZ1


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BUICK...30681660QQrdZ1

yes there is a difference. the stock system is ACdelco sound system. its a good system but the Monsoon is actualy the upgraded system as well as bose is another option. i dont think bose was an option though in that year rivera but i know it is for the GTp's, bonnevilles and park avenues. id say as long as the cconnector in back connects properly id definetly go for the monsoon one. its a great brand and depending on the year from the monsoon HU it actualy has a built in AMP either way you need a new CD player and you cant go wrong with monsoon

[PaulD]

factory systems are not that great.

[OffRoadSonoma]

I know the systems aren't that good. I was going to replace all the speakers and amp them. But is that monsoon unit gonna make any difference over a reg head unit or is that gonna depend on the speakers and amp I use?

[BigBL87]

Originally Posted by OffRoadSonoma

I know the systems aren't that good. I was going to replace all the speakers and amp them. But is that monsoon unit gonna make any difference over a reg head unit or is that gonna depend on the speakers and amp I use?

Yes, HU's to make a difference. Between the Monsoon and the AC Delco, I dunno how much of a difference it would make. Now, if you went with something like this, it might make a little more of a difference:

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_7063.html

I'm not sure how much the AC Delco or Monsoon decks push, but usually aftermarket units just tend to have a better sound, dunno why, I'm sure someone could explain it, but thats just my experience.

[OffRoadSonoma]

ok, so if I'm going to replace all the speakers with after markets and amp them all with an external amp is the head unit gonna make any difference at all in quality going from the plain stock to the monsoon stock?

[PaulD]

not as long as you have a good LOC to convert the deck outputs to RCA's .... I doubt you will be able to hear any difference unless they have built-in car specific EQ circuits that are non-defeatable.