So I want to give my stock GSL stereo a boost.....

What do I need........Do I need a 4 channel amp to replace the two
stock amps..... Do I need two amps?

I dont want a killer system..........just a cleaner sounding system...
and I want to hide them back in their hole.......

Jim

 

Take it from someone who knows, Im a car stereo installer....for almost 13 years.

Ok whenever you add aftermarket amps to a factory stereo via a high to low converter (speaker level to rca)... There are several things to consider, 1) there are inherent noises in factory car stereos that you dont hear until amplified IE a pop (boom if its a sub your adding) when a tape is ejected etc. 2) you are converting from high power to low power and then into the amp and back to high power again , thats definately gonna be dirtier, 3) the signal to noise ratio of most factory head units suck.

If it were mine, Id just upgrade the deck first bypassing the factory amps and use a good high power deck like an alpine or pioneer etc.

Car stereo is kinda like building a house, if you short cut the foundation and the flooring, it doesnt make any difference how pretty you make the roof..

 

Mike, I agree completely, but our systems have line level outputs available, so introducing noise is not a problem.

jimtesla, I used a Blaupunkt amp for the rear and another for the front. I just made DIN plugs to connect to the factory wiring at the original amps and ran a separate power cable for the new amps. Mounted them in one of the storage compartments. Easy to add and a major improvement over the factory setup. But you also will want to upgrade the speakers.
I added two 6"x9" Alpine twin coil speakers in the storage compartment lids, replaced the front speakers, and added a midrange and tweeter to each door in the door pockets. And a CD player in the glove box.
It is not a killer system by any means, but is much clearer than stock and has more than enough punch for me.

I think the stock head unit is great. The amps and speakers are where you want to improve.

-John.