What did you do to your Mirage today?

[Mark]

I don't care enough to upgrade, but no car company should skimp on a stereo system. I don't buy fancy vehicles, but nothing has been as lame as the Mirage stereo system. I guess it beats the 1990 Ford Festiva L that didn't come with a radio, speakers, or antenna, but even the cheap crap I added to that car was better than the Mirage radio.

I am actually surprised how bad it is for a vehicle of this vintage. I was listening to a CD book on my recent fishing trip to Devils Lake, North Dakota, and I had to have the volume cranked to 40-45 most of the time. 45 is maximum!

I know my hearing is not 100%, but it's not that bad!

[Dookaughs]

Did they increase the volume at all? Or just better sound quality?

The volume or loudness shouldn't increase because they are connected still, to the OEM head unit / radio (the exact same amount of current).

However, I'm utilizing the equalizer to accentuate the speaker's advanced audio fidelity.

They sound more than moderately better.

[Basic]

100% agree. It's by far the worst part of the car.

Does anyone know the power of any of the factory 14-15 head units?

I bought the OEM Clarion NAV head unit from a member here, but it doesn't have the power output on the tag anywhere and if it isn't more powerful than the standard unit, I will install something else instead. The double din surround was the main thing I wanted anyway.

[Wallythacker]

I don't care enough to upgrade, but no car company should skimp on a stereo system. I don't buy fancy vehicles, but nothing has been as lame as the Mirage stereo system. I guess it beats the 1990 Ford Festiva L that didn't come with a radio, speakers, or antenna, but even the cheap crap I added to that car was better than the Mirage radio.

I am actually surprised how bad it is for a vehicle of this vintage. I was listening to a CD book on my recent fishing trip to Devils Lake, North Dakota, and I had to have the volume cranked to 40-45 most of the time. 45 is maximum!

I know my hearing is not 100%, but it's not that bad!

It's the terrible sensitivity on the FM band of my 2017 that pisses me off. I can pull in stations 2-3x further away on my 2014 radio. I think the useless short antenna on my 2017 is to blame. Even my 2006 Vue has a far, far more sensitive radio than my 2017, I sometimes wonder if my 2017 doesn't have a dud radio (out of spec) that warranty would have covered, but can you imagine fighting with a dealer over the FM range of your radio?

I like that dash cover. WHere and how much may I ask?

And...I'm developing tinnitus in my right ear. Dunno why. I haven't played my Marshall stack in 2-3 years, nor used noisy powertools (grinder/leaf blower/chainsaw) so it's a mystery as of now. I have some beautiful 3 way Pioneer speakers to install, probably in my 2014. Along with some form of 7" info/gps system. Undecided as of yet. I'd like the factory GPS but don't know about map upgrades. If the maps are locked to 2014 they are nearly useless.

[Mark]

100% agree. It's be far the worst part of the car.

Put a kick-as- stereo in any vehicle, & the cool factor increases immensely!

It's a simple little thing that shouldn't be overlooked!

[Eggman]

The volume or loudness shouldn't increase because they are connected still, to the OEM head unit / radio (the exact same amount of current).

Keep in mind some speakers are more efficient than others. This is one reason why speakers have a wattage rating.

[Wallythacker]

Keep in mind some speakers are more efficient than others. This is one reason why speakers have a wattage rating.

Lots of car speakers are in the 92db/1w/1m range but to my surprise some altec lansings I had were rated 102db/1w/1m. What does that mean?
the Altec speakers were 8 times louder than others. Might be 3 times louder. My head is fuzzy today on sound stuff. In any case I never ran the radio above 5, it was just too loud for comfort where before I ran the radio a 8-9 all the time. (and had distortion I disliked) Look for really high efficiency speakers if you have a lower wattage radio.

[Wallythacker]

100% agree. It's by far the worst part of the car.

Does anyone know the power of any of the factory 14-15 head units?

I bought the OEM Clarion NAV head unit from a member here, but it doesn't have the power output on the tag anywhere and if it isn't more powerful than the standard unit, I will install something else instead. The double din surround was the main thing I wanted anyway.

Here's a Clarion for Mitsubishi. It's a newer spec radio and only puts out 22wrmsx4. Not much. It peaks at 50w x 4. I imagine much the same power transistors would be in your Clarion.

[inuvik]

Lots of car speakers are in the 92db/1w/1m range but to my surprise some altec lansings I had were rated 102db/1w/1m. What does that mean?
the Altec speakers were 8 times louder than others. Might be 3 times louder. My head is fuzzy today on sound stuff. In any case I never ran the radio above 5, it was just too loud for comfort where before I ran the radio a 8-9 all the time. (and had distortion I disliked) Look for really high efficiency speakers if you have a lower wattage radio.

I'm with Wally on this, look for high efficiency speakers and you won't need a separate amp unless you plan on going all in and using a crossover with a sub etc... I had a set of Pioneer 3 ways years and years ago that were rated 98db/1w/1m with a Clarion OEM headunit in my 1986 Mazda B2000. It just so happened that Mazda used the same radio wiring set up for the pickup as the RX7. So you could snag the premium stereo out of the RX7 (which did have separate front and rear amps but it was only 25 watts per channel) and it was literally plug and play. With those speakers it was LOUD and clean, amazing difference. Just for old times sake here is a picture of what that setup looked like.

[Wallythacker]

WOW! what a rig! Even has a Metal switch. That says a lot. I remember that radio well, my g/f had a 1986 RX7 with it. Very loud but clean.