Improve my stock stereo without voiding warranty?

bklynNupe

I recently purchased a used certified Volkswagen vehicle. The so-called premium sound system comes with cd changer and satellite radio.
I think the stereo sound like the average boom box. Is there anything I can do to improve the sound without violating my service warranty? I'm not looking for anything crazy but I'm just wondering if I could add better quality speakers and a bit of power to improve the overall sound quality.

Thanks.

decal

I seriously doubt your stereo is part of your service warranty. I could be wrong,have been before!!!!

pentoncm

Yeah you can do whatever you want. The major warranty that you want to worry about is the powertrain which doesn't have anything to do with the electronics.

Greg Peters

bklynNupe wrote: »

I recently purchased a used certified Volkswagen vehicle. The so-called premium sound system comes with cd changer and satellite radio.
I think the stereo sound like the average boom box. Is there anything I can do to improve the sound without violating my service warranty? I'm not looking for anything crazy but I'm just wondering if I could add better quality speakers and a bit of power to improve the overall sound quality.

Thanks.

Consumers in the US can upgrade factory electronics without voiding their vehicle's warranty courtesy of the Magnusen-Moss Warranty Act:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson?Moss_Warranty_Act

Unfortunately, car manufacturers in Canada have no such legislation preventing them from voiding the electrical portion of the vehicle's warranty when aftermarket audio gear is visibly installed during the warranty period.

What VW did you buy? Which radio did it come with? (there are several) Do you intend to keep a factory amplifier if equipped?

If you are going to upgrade, you can do something as simple as a Line Out Converter feeding signal to aftermarket amplifiers, then drop in some upgraded speakers with a small subwoofer, or something as high tech as an OEM Integration Processor taking signal from the OEM radio and tweaking it with equalization before passing it along to amps/speakers/subwoofer.

bklynNupe

Good to know Greg, thanks!
I have a 2009 Jetta. I don't drive much given I take the subway to work. I only use it on weekends. I'm really not sure about the exact stereo I have. I did use a tool available on the polk site to figure out which replacement polks would fit my vehicle. Off hand, I figure I would upgrade the speakers and add a amp. Does this make sense?
Also, how does polk auto speakers compare to other brands in the same price range?

Greg Peters

Well, I loved my db's and loved my SRs even more- haven't got to audition the MM series, but the DXi series sound promising in their price point.

You'll want to research your radio and whether it uses a factory amplifier (probably under driver's seat if equipped) to know the best way of taking signal for aftermarket amps.

bklynNupe

any recommendations for installers in the nyc area?

tonyw

Just keep your stock speakers, odds are they are better designed for where they are than the polks could ever be! ( thas my experience with replacement speakers) and add a powered subwoofer, like infinitys basslink, just gotta run wires to battery, slap the unit in your trunk, and take signal feed s off of back speakers, itl add plenty of bump, allow you to tur down bass on your deck and thus play stock speakers louder without distortion, plus the unit will take very little room in your cargo area, plus its amazing how some bass makes everything else sound so much better, specially since its a premium system your dealing with, god only knows therel be amps for every spaker youl have to bypass an all that jazz, and youl pay somebody agrip a cah just to swap it all out with a deck and amp that was no better than what you originally had anyway