aftermarket stereo system help

6.2Frank · February 10, 2016

I just installed a new amp, speakers, EQ, and sub but I kept the factory headunit since the mylink was nice along with the 4g. Everything sounds great but I don't have the factory chimes, the voice in the hands free controls, Bluetooth works but no volume, nor do I have onstar. Now is there anyway to fix this or am I stuck without the voice features? The place I took it to wants to install a speaker in the drivers side just for the chimes, onstar, Bluetooth voice and anything else.

SouthPawCO · February 10, 2016

Did you pay someone or a shop to do the work? If you did, sounds like it is there your problem. I would think since you really only changed the speakers, all the factory buttons, controls and sounds should still work.

6.2Frank · February 10, 2016

I took it to a shop, I had a amp and sub put in to.

Also all the Buttons work, it's the factory sounds that aren't working, they told me because the amp would amplify the sound, also that's it the factory headunit and not an aftermarket that it wouldn't control the sounds properly, meaning they'd be loud.

Silverado31 · February 11, 2016

They are bsing you. If they did it properly you would have full control over it all. Now, just make sure they didnt turn off your chimes in your settings, if they didnt sounds like they cut some of the wrong wires. I would demand they fix it or get a refund and get it fixed somewhere else.

6.2Frank · February 11, 2016

What they told me is the fact that they added an amplifier and a sub that the tones would come out extremely loud, and that because the Bluetooth sounds and onstar and wired directly in with the Bose system

6.2Frank · February 11, 2016

Also I checked and the chime volume is on and nothing.

Fasthotrod · February 11, 2016

Sounds to me like they tapped the main audio signal at the rear speakers to feed the amps, then on to the new speakers and sub. Chimes/voice/Bluetooth come from the front left channel, and if they ran those front channels to the amps the chimes would be much louder than stock. (Many other complaints on the forum about this.)

Odds are, they are looking to install a small speaker to be fed from the front left channel of the factory system and tucked under the dash. This would allow for the chimes and voice to work, but would also be another source of sound for the music as well. It could throw off your stereo imaging and stage, but you may not be concerned about that.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do, but from the sounds of it the shop is shooting it to you straight. Integrating with the factory Blose system can create all kinds of headaches. (Which is why I stayed away from it when I got my LTZ.)

6.2Frank · February 11, 2016

That's my concern with that, if they install a new speaker if it'll throw the quality of sound off not to mention if the voice, onstar, and chimes will sound loud or really low.

Either way I called up crutchfield for a bit of help and they told me if I was warned by the installers that all of this would happen, and I told them they didn't tell me anything, so tomorrow I'm going back to see what they'll do.

I also remember reading somewhere someone used a lc8i audiocontrol to so sort out the chimes issue

crewl1 · February 11, 2016

Sounds to me like they tapped the main audio signal at the rear speakers to feed the amps, then on to the new speakers and sub. Chimes/voice/Bluetooth come from the front left channel, and if they ran those front channels to the amps the chimes would be much louder than stock. (Many other complaints on the forum about this.)

Odds are, they are looking to install a small speaker to be fed from the front left channel of the factory system and tucked under the dash. This would allow for the chimes and voice to work, but would also be another source of sound for the music as well. It could throw off your stereo imaging and stage, but you may not be concerned about that.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do, but from the sounds of it the shop is shooting it to you straight. Integrating with the factory Blose system can create all kinds of headaches. (Which is why I stayed away from it when I got my LTZ.)

+1 on the explanation.

If everything else is to your liking then I would let them install the extra speaker and see how it goes.

Since there is no way to balance the sound of the chimes independently, the result will be a combination of what speaker they use with how the factory amp powers it.

I'd be interested to hear where they locate it and how it affects your sound stage.

When I was researching my sound upgrade these were some of the factors that led me to just add a subwoofer.

The mids and highs from the Bose system are fine for my taste.

sealteem1 · February 11, 2016

The only way to do this correctly is to use the iDataLink Maestro RR. Go to this website http://maestro.idatalink.com/product/product/product_id/102 and put in all your information about your vehicle and it will tell you the parts you need. What they are telling you is correct, but there are modules out there to correct it. You're going to need the Maestro GM3 part as well.

crewl1 · February 11, 2016

That's my concern with that, if they install a new speaker if it'll throw the quality of sound off not to mention if the voice, onstar, and chimes will sound loud or really low.

Either way I called up crutchfield for a bit of help and they told me if I was warned by the installers that all of this would happen, and I told them they didn't tell me anything, so tomorrow I'm going back to see what they'll do.

I also remember reading somewhere someone used a lc8i audiocontrol to so sort out the chimes issue

The LC8i could be the solution due to this feature as it would allow you to use front and back inputs and regulate the front pair level.

Level Matching Controls

Your LC8

i

has level controls for each pair of channels. These controls

allow you to adjust the signal level from your factory-installed amplifier

or source unit to match up with your after-market amplifier or processor.

The Auxiliary input also has a level-matching control to balance it with

the main inputs.

http://www.audiocontrol.com/downloads/car/current/lc8i/lc8i-user-manual.pdf

sealteem1 · February 11, 2016

The idatalink meastro fixes every issue with aftermarket radios for our vehicles. Its just been released. Reprograms all of you factory steering wheel controls, allows Onstar, allows backup camera, and incorporates all factory chimes into the new module that installs under the dash. There is no other way to properly do this without it.

crewl1 · February 11, 2016

The idatalink meastro fixes every issue with aftermarket radios for our vehicles. Its just been released. Reprograms all of you factory steering wheel controls, allows Onstar, allows backup camera, and incorporates all factory chimes into the new module that installs under the dash. There is no other way to properly do this without it.

I was under the impression idatalink would work only with aftermarket head units? I think OP is keeping his factory head unit, just adding amp and speakers/sub.

sealteem1 · February 11, 2016

I was under the impression idatalink would work only with aftermarket head units? I think OP is keeping his factory head unit, just adding amp and speakers/sub.

Oh, I didn't catch that. The headline for this thread was aftermarket stereo system so i thought he had an aftermarket head unit. LOL. It will still work but it would be way overkill.

6.2Frank · February 11, 2016

Yeah I kept the same headunit, I love oem look and all the little extras on it, that's why I was reading about the lc8i and it said it works with the factory units after installing aftermarket amps