How Good Is The Factory Stereo In The 2002 Viper GTS?

[SUN RA KAT]

I did a search here for info and there wasn't much to be found.
How good is the factory stereo? Can it play CDs that are burned on a computer or a professional CD burner? (saw a post where someone was having trouble playing home made CDs on his factory stereo)

 

[MiamiJeff]

Sound is mediocre but far better than in an RT/10. Many replace the speakers to start as it seems they are the weakest link to most folks' ears.

Sorry, I know nothing about playing home made CDs since I'm a vinyl freak (just sounds better) and still have yet to figure out how to put a nice VPI turntable into my car. Seriously now, if CD manufacturers still can't bring CD quality up to vinyl quality (in a high end home audio setup), I just wonder how good my home made CDs would be made on a $200 CD burner? Probably in a noisy car environment, home burned stuff can still sound fine. Maybe with technology changing so fast, that, with CD burners, the YEAR MATTERS?

 

[Gerald]

ANY CD player can play burnt CD's. YOu just have to select the option in your software when you burn them that allows them to be read in ANY cd player.

If you burn them froma CD burner attached to your stereo, it's just as simple. Just finalize them them when your done. If not, you won't be able to play them on a CD player except the one you made it on or similar models..

Hope that helped
Gerald

 

[Ron]

<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">While Gerald is correct on CD-R's, most CD-RW's will not work in the Alpine, or more accurately, my Alpine.</FONT f>

 

[Mike Brunton]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gerald:
ANY CD player can play burnt CD's. YOu just have to select the option in your software when you burn them that allows them to be read in ANY cd player.

Hope that helped
Gerald
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not all CD players can play CDR's... the reason is the coatings used in recordable CD's are not as reflective as the CD's you buy... some CD players have trouble with burned CD's. The CD player in the Honda Accord is an example - it sometimes skips and burps on CD's. But, just about any CD player made in the past 5 years should have no problem with CDR's.

As for the Viper stereo, I think it's pretty crappy. I upgraded mine as many others have too. It cannot go even semi-loud without distorting. Replacing the speakers made an 70% improvement for a modest investment of under $500. Then I spent another $2,500 and only got another 30% improvement. If you just want something a bit better, speakers will make you happy. I woudln't bother with the whole setup (amp, head unit, wires) unless you're really into your music.

 

[SUN RA KAT]

I have a professional digital recording studio and professional CD burner at my home where I record myself (SUN RA KAT) and other groups on the highest quality CDs and was thinking about how long it is from Blair, Nebraska to Centerville, Ohio (760 miles) and that I may want to bring some sounds that I recorded to listen to at times on the way home. I mostly plan on listening to my new Viper most of the time. I've never had any problem playing my CDs in any car stereo before. It looks like I should have no problem, but I'll take some store bought CDs with me, too. I hope the stereo is better than what you all say it is - I'd like it to be as good as the top factory Infinity in my 2000 Dodge Ram.

 

[jimandela]

Kenny,
in my 2001 rt (think same system in 2002)
it is okay but not great.
the door speakers will be one of my next mods the rest of it
seems okay. but I am not an audio enthusiast just want some better sound.
I will be installing MB Quartz speakers in the front doors over the summer hoping for some better sound.

try it and then change it if you need to.
good luck
JIM

 

[GTS Bruce]

I tried out the radio and CD once when the car was new to see if they worked.Last July I think. Bruce

 

[Gerald]

I do not use CD-RW's, just the CD-R's . So I guess I'm talking about them (CD-R's)

 

[artman]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SUN RA KAT:
Can it play CDs that are burned on a computer or a professional CD burner? (saw a post where someone was having trouble playing home made CDs on his factory stereo)

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Plays CD-R's just fine. Have updated side and rear mids with JBL component system (rear 6.5 sub upgrade makes a nice difference) - $275. Rarely have stereo on anyways; like most of you, rather listen to the beast run

 

[MiamiJeff]

Has anyone found if there is an MB Quart speaker that will fit the factory cut outs in the GTS without any modifications? Here's their link, www.mbquart.com

 

[Bad02ViperGTS]

I just replaced all my speakers in the car with JL Audio in the front and in the back as well as replaced the amp in the trunk area due to the biggest problem is that the factory radio puts out 7 watts and the amp puts out 15 watts to each channel so what I am trying to say is that the factory system puts out less power than a new after market head unit with no amp. These speakers that come in our Viper are the same speakers that they put in the Dodge Neon. Also the back 6.5 inch spekers are only used for mid bass and no highs come out of them. So if you replace your speakers make sure you put a 2way speaker in the back as well as changing the componets in the front with 2 ways..The reason I went with the JL audio speakers is that they drop in with out any cuting and I went with Eclipse head unit and amps. I hope this helped....................

 

[jcaspar1]

Do you use two ways in the doors or can the factory tweeders be replaced with component tweeders?

PS I have had no problems with CDRs in mine. My home Onkyo (older model) will not play them.

 

[Bad02ViperGTS]

I put 2 ways in the back and the new componets in the door replacing the speaker and the tweeter as a set....

 

[King GTS]

It *****. Juts like the 2001 GTS.

 

[Jerry Dobson]

Miami Jeff,

The 5.25" MB Quarts will fit just fine in the front. Something like a PSC 213.

The 6.5" MB's will not fit in the front. MB's are metric and with the grill ring are actually about a 7" Speaker. You can get them in the door, but then they will hit the side of the dash.

6.5" will fit just fine in the rear.

The factory speakers are terrible. They are a very low grade paper speaker. Disappointing in a $80k car.

If you do an exhaust upgrade, the factory system is worthless.