Factory sound systems

[bronzebird]

"Hey Rick
I noted your above post that you mentioned that the entertainment system sounds better with the HT on than with the soft top. I was wondering if you use all the option settings that are available when you select the DSP (Digital Signal Processing)button. Owner's manual pg. 16 & 17.
Also on page 18 there is a way to set speed sensitivity volume to compensate for wind & road noise.

With these settings I find the entertainment is great with the HT on or off; soft top up or down."


I want to thank Mike (steelblue5505) for the above comment. I guess I should have read the manual more thoroughly. The DSP Ambiance setting seems to improve the sound quality dramatically.

The best factory system I have heard was the Bose Gold system that came in my 1993 Cadillac STS but now that I have learned more about the system in my Thunderbird, I think it rivals the Bose system.

Of course it could also be that my hearing has deteriorated since then. At age seventy, a real expensive system would be wasted on me as I probably can't discern much at the top and bottom ends of the sound scale any longer.

It's either age or maybe too much listening to Pink Floyd albums at or near top volume level.

Bronzebird

[texasbird]

Re: Factory sound systems

Alright!!! Another Pink Floyd fan. My idea would be to go ahead and get the system you need to compensate for the hearing lost over the years.
James

[Lonestar]

Re: Factory sound systems

Pop in some decent speakers and kick them with an amp and you can still decern the highs and lows or at least feel them.

[texasbird]

Re: Factory sound systems

Pop in some decent speakers and kick them with an amp and you can still decern the highs and lows or at least feel them.

This is a great suggestion because keeping the original factory unit in place in the dash will make your car less of a target for thieves. Just make sure the original speaker grilles are utilized as well.

James

[FUN X 3]

Re: Factory sound systems

One of my greatest experiences of my younger days was one day getting a little bit high and setting the needle on "Dark Side of the Moon" for the first time, slipping on the head phones, and falling away into dreamland. The clocks in "Time" scared the 5h!t outta me!

[texasbird]

Re: Factory sound systems

Phil & Rick,

If you appreciate Pink Floyd and enjoy watching DVD Concerts, I highly recommend the Pink Floyd "Pulse" DVD. It is a 2 disk set, and disk 2 is almost entirely Dark Side of the Moon.

James

[FUN X 3]

Re: Factory sound systems

Yep, been there, done that, great DVD.

[bronzebird]

Re: Factory sound systems

James:

Yes, the Pulse DVD is great. Between legit releases and bootlegs I probably have thirty PF concerts on DVD and tapes converted to DVDs.

I also have the full collection beginning with 'Piper At the Gates of Dawn' through to the latest releases by Gilmour and Waters in their various iterations.

It also runs in the family. One of my sons has a number of Floyd solos up on youtube. Here are a couple of his postings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqV_J8Jj0OQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI4hntFg4go

Bronzebird

[Bruce]

Re: Factory sound systems

In the '03 and '05 Birds I took out all the OEM speakers and replaced them with Alpine and Boston Accustics respectfully and also added XM Radio. Both have made listening to the audio system much more enjoyable.

[Leroy]

Re: Factory sound systems

Bruce, Could you elaborate on the XM radio. I would like to have it in my Bird. I think I have a shop near me that will install it but I need to know what to buy and were to buy it. We have it in our 2008 Malibu LTZ and love it. Thanks, Leroy

[Lonestar]

Re: Factory sound systems

http://www.audiovox.com/webapp/wcs/s...5004&langId=-1

The above link is for the XM plug & play system for the 04-05 Thunderbird.

A Sirius plug and play kit is also available for the 04-05 Thunderbird but is a larger unit and more expensive.

[Bruce]

Re: Factory sound systems

What Lonestar links to is very much like what I have. All the components can be installed easily and neatly out of sight except for the antenna. I elected to mount it on the dash in front of the sensor. Some here have mounted it in the inside of the trunk lid (fiberglass) and others do it the standard way by mounting it on the rear sail area which is what is recommended by the Mfg'er for the best reception.

[joe166]

Re: Factory sound systems

Get the Sirius adapter. It fits in and doesn't show and there will be no difference between XM and Sirius soon with the merger going through.

Personally, I prefer Sirius, but we have XM in my wifes Lexus and it has decent stations too. Frankly, there isn't enough difference between them to get me excited. I won't listen to Howard Stern and now you can get the best of XM on Sirius. Sirius has the PBS talk shows and you can always find something to listen to there.