Need Audio System Advice For 2004 Tahoe

[Lovemytahoez71]

Hey Folks,

 

I am trying to put together a great sound system for my 2004 Tahoe. I need some help. Serious help actually.

 

First, money is not really the issue. I am willing to pay for good components. I've been considering having the folks at Best Buy install it. They are the only folks that I know in the Maryland/Washington DC are that do installs.

 

Second, I would like to have MP3/WMA capability since I have a hard-drive full of songs. I am not interested in XM Radio.

 

Third, I am interested in something that looks nice. I'm having a problem putting all of the parts together because I am not sure what can be done with our vehicles. Does anyone have any pics or their Tahoe with a good system?

 

Any advice here?

 

Regards,

John

[tech12volt]

Hey Folks,

 

I am trying to put together a great sound system for my 2004 Tahoe.  I need some help.  Serious help actually. 

 

First, money is not really the issue.  I am willing to pay for good components.  I've been considering having the folks at Best Buy install it.  They are the only folks that I know in the Maryland/Washington DC are that do installs.

 

Second, I would like to have MP3/WMA capability since I have a hard-drive full of songs.  I am not interested in XM Radio. 

 

Third, I am interested in something that looks nice.  I'm having a problem putting all of the parts together because I am not sure what can be done with our vehicles.  Does anyone have any pics or their Tahoe with a good system?

 

Any advice here?

 

Regards,

John

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

there is so may things you can do in this vehicl. but some questions first. do you have bose and onstar?if so you will need a gmah24b. i actually just got through building a huge system for one of these vehicles.i actually build custom sub boxes for gms . check me out on ebay. my seller id is christyt3838 or email me at [email protected]

[Lovemytahoez71]

Yes, I have the Onstar system and Bose.

 

My big problem is that there are too many choices. I don't want to just go out and slap a bunch of stuff together and hope that it works though. I figure that it is worth the time and money to have it done right the first time around.

 

So suppose that I have the following parameters:

 

1) Want to replace all factory Bose/GM speakers with something that has high sound quality. Blasting 10000db at a sound show or mind-pounding thumping bass is not my idea of sound quality.

 

2) I would like to be able to download my MP3/WMA collection into the system as opposed to having to plug in my Ipod at all times.

 

3) XM radio is not a big interest to me.

 

4) Figure that I will need a good AMP as well.

 

In the end I guess I want a good head unit, amp, speakers, and moderate sized sub. The sound that I am going for is mainly midrange quality as opposed to thump or high decibals.

 

Regards,

John

[spacehog]

I'm in a similar situation. My problem is I like everything to look OEM. My plan is to go with the GM navigation unit. My Lux Bose doesn't have bad high-range, it's the fact that there's little to no low-end that makes it sound as cheap as it wasn't. I'm also not into thumping bass, but it needs a lot more range on that end. There is a GM unit that plays MP3s.

 

There are plenty of good aftermarket head units, but I don't like the look of 99% of them. In addition, the market is almost all single-DIN units, which means you're going to have an (in my opinion) ugly mount kit showing with your radio sticking out of the dash. There are a lot more double-DIN options now than there were 3 years ago, but it's still VERY limited.

 

So, I'm going to go with a stock GM head unit and add an amp and small sub somewhere hidden, and so some soundproofing.

 

Best Buy isn't your best choice, the stuff they sell is garbage and their installers are idiots, at least around here. I don't see why in my town of 60k rednecks there are probably 4-5 different shops that do installs, and in the DC metro area there are none... you need to look harder.

 

When the time comes, I plan on gutting the nav unit and putting a custom touchscreen and electronics in it, and a small single board computer to make my ideal head unit: customizable to do anything, while looking like it came direct from The General.

[tech12volt]

I'm in a similar situation. My problem is I like everything to look OEM. My plan is to go with the GM navigation unit. My Lux Bose doesn't have bad high-range, it's the fact that there's little to no low-end that makes it sound as cheap as it wasn't. I'm also not into thumping bass, but it needs a lot more range on that end. There is a GM unit that plays MP3s.

 

There are plenty of good aftermarket head units, but I don't like the look of 99% of them. In addition, the market is almost all single-DIN units, which means you're going to have an (in my opinion) ugly mount kit showing with your radio sticking out of the dash. There are a lot more double-DIN options now than there were 3 years ago, but it's still VERY limited.

 

So, I'm going to go with a stock GM head unit and add an amp and small sub somewhere hidden, and so some soundproofing.

 

Best Buy isn't your best choice, the stuff they sell is garbage and their installers are idiots, at least around here. I don't see why in my town of 60k rednecks there are probably 4-5 different shops that do installs, and in the DC metro area there are none... you need to look harder.

 

When the time comes, I plan on gutting the nav unit and putting a custom touchscreen and electronics in it, and a small single board computer to make my ideal head unit: customizable to do anything, while looking like it came direct from The General.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

try a pioneer avic z1 for a great nav unit or a avhp6800 nice units that look good.

[agtandt]

well i for one have the factory navi piece in the dash for the factory look and the navi option. I have a 8" solo baric subwoofer in the center console where the factory sub should be. I have a Zapco DC500.1 amp running it. I have a D360.4 running a High end set of componants in the front doors (CK16.2) with an additional tweeters in the front pillers. Another set in the back doors with a set of tweeters again in the rear, that back stuff is running off another Zapco DC350.2 . Now for the cherry. All hidden so that the truck is 100% useable. The 350.2 is mounted in the rear driver side panel right over the factory jack location"hidden" The dc360.4 is running upside down under the middle row captain chair, the 500.1 is under the other captain chair. These are mounted under upsidedown so nothing is getting kicked into them on the floor and they are serviced if need be by folding up the seats. CLEAN. All that is tuned and dialed in with my laptop from the drivers seat. Sweat equipment, Best Sound QUALITY WITH THE FACTORY LOOK.

[criffle]

There is a GM unit that plays MP3s.

 

...

 

So, I'm going to go with a stock GM head unit and add an amp and small sub somewhere hidden, and so some soundproofing.

 

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

Can you point me to some info on the GM unit that plays MP3's???

 

--chris