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If I had the money for a car, I'd probably have the money for a real car stereo... But I don't.

No need for a car in Tokyo!

Generally, whatever the auto manufacturer makes available is good enough for me. I would never even consider throwing away money to upgrade my car system. Instead, use the extra money to improve the home rig, purchase more music or attend a concert. I've yet to hear a car system that even begins to approach real music. Unfortunately, the environment of an automobile is simply inadequate. Tony Harrison Sr.

I added a new in-dash cd receiver, four channel amplifier, and upgraded the speakers to audio quality sound

Other than adding a CD player so I don't have to make tapes for the car, I have not and will not do anything to improve the sound in my car. Once you consider the amount of noise in a car (road, wind, engine) and the fact that only one person will be sitting in the "sweet spot," it just is not worth the trouble.

Different Criteria in car to in-house - but performance is just as important!

The newest automobiles have such high-end systems by manufacturers like (my favorite) Harman/Kardon, Infinity and Bose, so you really don't need to do much to them.

Years ago I went all out on a nice Alpine car system, custom sub, MB QUART speakers, etc. The car sounded better than my home system. So I found a high end stereo shop and overhauled my home stereo. Now the home stereo is way, way better than the car stereo. So I listen to music at home, and listen to sports talk radio on AM in the car. So I have this killer auto system to listen to AM! What a joke. But I do burn some cd's from my Basis Debut TT to play in the car. That helps, but I still listen to AM most of the time.

When I bought my first used car, I set aside a portion of my budget specifically to upgrade to a good stereo system, which came to about 1/5 the cost of the car itself. And when I just leased my new car, one of the main clauses I needed, was to be able to upgrade the stereo further down the line.

I try to get the most bang for my buck in the car, but I won't pay big bucks for a car system, as I have learned the hard way it is way too easy for the crooks to steal.

I used to care alot more, but then gave up on great sound and went for a clean convenient system. I love the flexability of having a MiniDisc changer in my car. I don't have to carry a bunch of CDs around anymore.

It doesn't have that good. imaging and depth are impossible.

Yes I have invested up to $10000.0 so far in last 5 years.First off, the Pioneer premier head unit with graphic eq(preamp),which has DSP modes(enhances ambience) and time alignment for driver position, which I think is most important in car sweet spot seating. Dedicated amps for Front/rear, subwoofer, midbass- All driven by Precision Power amps. Front speakers are the new JL audio 3 way component system, tweeters cast in the lower end of A-pillars,45 degrees 'tow-in',pair of midrange and bass and 8 inch midbass all in door firing towards driver(the innards of door has dynamat to avoid ringing).Rear speakers are Infinity coaxials.There are pair of MB quart tweeters in the read view mirror firing on windshiels (helps bring image even higher).The subwoofer section uses sealed box with 10" Accurate image woofers by Cerwin Vega. An additionl 10" woofer(a Bazzoka tube) firing rear reinforces low end further without deterioting the bass character.A multidic CD player in trunk, a single CD player built in the excellent head unit. The 88 Honda prelude alternator is upgraded to 130 amp output. The Battery is the Optima. And yes forgot about the 2, capacitors that reserves power for subwoofer and mids.And sound: damn good for what is possible in the car. Imaging still is not greatest. The sound system is another reason I still drive this car. It does take lot of effort to get the sound right.

I like to listen to the engine!

At home, I give any music I listen to 100% of my attention. While driving, I tend to concentrate on where I am going. Therefore, I will pay more money for home audio than car audio. Also home audio components are less likely to be stolen!

Most car systems are built to blow off all your body hair and thump the guts of innocent pedestrians, not to sound good!

I presently devote all my earnings towards food and home stereo equipment. My car cost practically nothing. My stereo is an upgrade along with the speakers but, it's typical Best Buy crap. Once I start making the big bucks like Stereophile reviewers I'll equip my new Audi w/ Dynaudio separates and McIntosh amps.

it's only somewhat important because i can't afford very important. i can, however afford stereophile. thanx.

Pioneer's FIE (front image enhancer)receiver sends only the bass to the rear, usually larger, speakers and keeps the image up front without a lot of extra equipment or the fader control. Great feature!

The car is an awful acoustic "chamber", even more so these days with the advent of the obnoxius proliferation of the obnoxius cellphone...

I would love to have a high quality stereo system for the car. It make the drive to work much more tolerable.

Here's a really good, really cheap tweak for any car audio system: insert a pair of those foam earplugs into your ears, and crank the volume to compensate. The road noise drops a whole lot, giving you a better signal to noise ratio - for pennies!!

I spend a lot of time in my car and probably listen to more music there than at home. Even with all the road noise, I can tell the difference between a good car system and a bad one, and quality matters. Sometimes I take drives just to listen to tunes. Scenery adds another dimension to the music.

I like to listen to music in my car, but the experience is completely different than when I listen at home. The absolute quality is not nearly as important.

I have spent about 4k on car audio improvements

So long as the AM traffic and the brap of the radar detector is heard above the 4-valve per cylinder, twin cam VTEC harmony and kid yelping disonnance who really cares about car stereo?

My car is the only place where I can listen as loud as I want to whatever I want. Try that in an apartment or house.

Yes, I have added new speakers and a new CD player.

With the wind and engine noise in my small pickup, there is no need for anything besides the stock AM/FM/Cassette radio 2 speaker sound system. Besides, why give someone an excuse to break into the vehicle in the first place?

Shold be a decent system, as I concentrate more on driving rather than listening to music, while driving.