Vote

If I had a lot of money, I would care more. I just don't consider a car an environment where serious listening can take place. As a classical music lover, interpretation of the artist is most important, and this doesn't require high fidelity. I would love to be able to recreate the experience of going to a concert, but doing so inside of a car is not the right place - listening inside a car is very fragmented, since I rarely get to hear an entire piece from beginning to end. Bottom line, I would love to have something better than what you get from car manufacturers, but my priorities lie elsewhere.

I don't have a car. If I did I wouldn't waste money on my car system that I could spend on my home system, records or CD's

I don

The listening environment within a car is so compromised that to put lengthy effort into making the sound system sound more than just competent is a waste of time and money.

As a memeber of IASCA it is very important to me. The time I spend in my car is my only real chance to listen, and I mean listen, not watch, to any music. All too frquently, I have to compromise the system at home to watch a movie or listen to what the family wants to hear.

I think the engine matters more.

I spend more time listening to my car stereo than my megabuck home system, which is unfortunate but all too true. Therefore, I demand that the system have good resolution and dynamics. Reasonable power ratings only, since my goal is not to share my brand of music with my fellow travelers, windows down, bass pumping, headbanging . . . you get the picture.

Performance in car systems? You've got to be kidding!

Have not allocated many resources to this. Home music system has much greater priority.

I just changed out my JBLs to a soft dome based (smoother highs) system.

I dont really think anyone needs to put 10 thousand dollars into a car stereo. Cause u are supposed to be driving, But it is nice to have something that is atleast listenable to while you are driving to or from work.

Slightly important. I upgraded the speakers as the speakers that came with my '96 Impala SS (eat your heart out) weren't very good.

Cars are for driving. Period. I'd glady fund any military effort to produce a boom-seeking missile.

Very important. However, theft is such a real problem. I had to go with the full on stock system for my Volvo because I just don't like broken windows. Nonetheless, the stock system sounds wonderful. The CD changer is perfect. Can't compare it to the system at the house, but NPR rocks the freeway on the way home each day. I wish Linn made a car stereo that I could remove and put in my gym bag. :)

I have never heard a car stereo worth the time.

I'm not obsessive about the quality of the car - it just needs to do a reasonable job of producing good music. It's where I often make an initial audition of CDs before putting them on the big rig at home. If the system were REALLY good, I'd probably be too distracted to drive. Any way, I listen to NPR news half the time during my commute.

It's not on the same bugdet as my home system.

I never listen on the road. The best car system I've ever run across is designed to be plugged into the wall when the car is parked. The owner couldn't play his system loudly enough in his apartment, so he put the whole thing in his car, and now sits in the parking lot enjoying his music at full output.

I don't spend much time in my car!

It's never going to be as good as my home system, so why bother? As long as it plays loud and has some bass, I'm satisfied.

The performance is some what important though not to the importance to the safety of the vehicle.

My home system gets most of my attention. Actually, the factory installed system in my car sounds pretty good.

unless i'm on a rare long trip, i just listen to the tuner section for short periods of time

High end IS possible in the car. I have a Theta Pro Basic IIIA with Dynaudio speakers and Cardas cables. I also have two Theta TLCs, a DIP MKII and an Assemblage UJB-1. DACs are the only way to go in the car!

I listen to music at home, but consume it in the car. I see more "enjoyment for the buck" spending on home equipment, but will replace car speakers if they start degrading. And there actually was about a 50-hour break-in period for the factory car system.

Being into "doing it myself," I found out what a difficult thing it is to install a car stereo amp . . . I quit adding any more after that. Never again will I rub my hands and arms raw pulling cables under the carpeting on the center console . . . or trying to find a way to get wires through the firewall!

My car system is my private little musical haven or "heaven" if you will. In the past I invested a good deal of time, sweat and money in the purchase and installation of aftermarket components for my vehicles. However! I recently bought a new top of the line Pontiac Grand Prix this past May. I must say that the OEM system that came with the car is quite nice.If I was inclined to upgrade this Bose-Delco car system it might proove to be a very involved undertaking. First of all, the music system appears to be throughly integrated into the car's electrical system. Secondly, both Delco and Bose, especially the latter, are very reluctant to provide any technical information in regard to sound and electrical measurements of any kind. Can you say proprietary. Auto manufacturers have invested significant amounts of capital to meet the audio sound expectations of the driving public. As a greater percentage of people lease cars that they normally could never afford to buy, the auto companys are inclined to offer better and better music systems in their vehicles. They do not want people replacing their stereo systems then putting them back in at the end of a lease. To further discourage any such endeavors, the lease and or warranty agreements that a customer signs often state that if an electrical problem occurs and OEM equipment has been modified or replaced the warranty is void. This is not a chance I care to take. I take my music very seriously as evidenced by my home system which is comprised of names like Mark Levison, Theta Digital, Sonic Frontiers and B&W Nautilus. I would welcome any ideas or opinions regarding this subject. I mean,how good can an audiophiles car stereo system get?

My 1998 Volvo S70 came with an excellent eight-speaker stereo, and it has ample bass and clarity. If this were not the case, however, I would still spend my audio money on my home rig.

I think it is strange how many home audiophiles think car audio is ridiculous. A decent aftermarket car system is way better than OEM, and I enjoy mine a great deal. Generally, you can't get the same sound quality as in home audio, but it's better than I suspect a lot of you think. It's relatively cheap too. There are even a couple of tube amps on the market for you hardcore guys. With the amount of time the average guy spends on the road (a little less time for the audiophiliac shut-ins), I think it makes sense to spend a grand or two on a roadie.

I once had a nice system in my car, then someone decided he/she needed it more than I did. So I put the factory stereo back in and I'm in no hurry to replace it, just as long as I have sound.