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Kia Spectra Audio & Entertainment Questions

25 messages,  Last post on Jan 17, 2007 at 8:30 AM

You are in the Kia Spectra/Spectra5 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Kia Spectra, Audio, Sedan, Wagon

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#1 of 25 Kia Spectra Audio & Entertainment Questions by pf_flyer HOST

Aug 28, 2006 (7:46 am)

From AM/FM to MP3, this is the place to talk about it.

#2 of 25 Re: spec5 Radios by spectraman

May 24, 2005 (7:26 am)

Spec 5 explained:
 
"It's a great car and 2 days into the Spectra 5 I can tell you the stereo is much better in the Forenza."
 
In what ways did the Forenza's stereo excel over the Spectra's? Bass response? Treble response? Audio reception?
 
My Spectra EX sedan's stereo really rocks playing CD's. I've noticed that I have to turn down the bass level when I flip over to FM. The FM reception on my previous car's aftermarket Clarion seemed to be a little stronger too.
 
For some reason, KIA puts a different stereo in the sedan vs. the Spectra5. My sedan's unit is very compact, and I have two cubbies below it. The other units I've seen are larger and only have 1 or no cubbies under it.
 
For being so compact, I'm really quite pleased with my radio. My musical tastes are quite diverse, so it gets everything from Alice in Chains to Diana Krall to Montgomery Gentry to Styx pumped through it.
 
One of my favorite showcase tunes I play in the car when I'm showing it to someone is the Alice in Chains song "Rooster". It goes from a really mellow beginning to one of the most awesome bombastic guitar slams I've heard in a song. The KIA stereo's 6-speakers really shine on that track.
 
-SM

#3 of 25 Re: spec5 Radios [spectraman] by spec5

May 24, 2005 (2:22 pm)

Replying to: spectraman (May 24, 2005 7:26 am)
Looking back on that comment I really should have been more specific. First, the S5 cd player operations are much better than the Forenza. The Forenza didn't maintain where you were within a track (not sure what you call that). If you swapped to radio and came back to cd it would start the song over. Also something I've never seen in a cd player, if you pressed "back" you didn't return to the beginning of that track, it would take you back to the previous track. Now on to why I said the Forenza was better... Better control over the sound. Not only could you set bass and treble (although you couldn't set mids) you also had a variety of presets based on the type of music you were listening to. "Bass Up" button boosted the Bass response even more. While I don't know specifics of power output of the Forenza, I have to turn up the Spectra much higher to get the same sound levels and the quality still doesn't seem as good. All in all I think the Forenza SOUNDED better, but the S5 probably is a better head unit. Hope that helps.
 
BTW, no mileage figures yet. Just bought it this past Saturday and I only drive 15 miles a day to work. Will update when I can.
 
BTW again...I'm loving my S5

#4 of 25 Speaking of Stereo by spec5

May 25, 2005 (2:25 pm)

Well, not the kind of person who will leave well enough alone for very long, I looked on Crutchfield.com to see what size speakers the Spectra 5 has in the back. Turns out there are 5 1/4" speakers. I wanted to do a little investigating to see how easily they could be removed to replace them. I was a little suprised to find what looked like a fairly simple job turned out to be much more involved. For anyone who cares, you have to disconnect the small side section of the back seat to expose 2 bolts along with removing a cover cap near the liftgate along with the 2 bolts that are visible from the hatch area just to remove the hard plastic cover. You are right there, speaker is visable...should be a done deal right? remove 4 screws holding in the speaker and viola! uh, no. one of the screws on the outside edge of the speaker is completely blocked by the upper side panel. I thought ok, not the greatest design if they expect anyone to ever replace speakers but anyway. The black lining of the hatch area is held to the outer edge of the speaker mounting bracket by plastic retainers. I think well, I should be able to remove those and bend the bracket down slightly to access the rear screw. again, no. After removing the plastic retainers I find the speaker bracket overlaps the solid steel mounting hardware of the seatbelt retainer thus not allowing it to bend down. Next resort, I figure ok, well I'll pull back the black liner and just remove the bracket the speaker is attached to thinking, the other side will be a breeze once I figure all this out. Simple right? and again, say it with me...no. The seatbelt bracket and the speaker bracket share a bolt...a big bolt...that will only have easy access if I completely remove the hatch area liner. So, I stopped there and reassembled everything (since I was only doing this for fun and never intended to replace the speakers now anyway) and made LOTS of mental notes the largest of which is...buy speakers...have them installed! Just thought I'd share. If anyone has tips let me know. I'll also update when I figure out the best way to actually remove the speaker for replacement!

#5 of 25 Re: Speaking of Stereo [spec5] by geomatics

May 27, 2005 (11:46 am)

Replying to: spec5 (May 25, 2005 2:25 pm)
I guess that's how you know you have a well made car.

#6 of 25 Re: Speaking of Stereo [geomatics] by spec5

May 28, 2005 (7:21 am)

Replying to: geomatics (May 27, 2005 11:46 am)
I didn't think of it like that but you're right. Would I prefer I be able to just "pop" it apart in 2 minutes? Probably not!

#7 of 25 Re: Speaking of Stereo [spec5] by zippys5

May 31, 2005 (3:51 pm)

Replying to: spec5 (May 25, 2005 2:25 pm)
I recently replaced the speakers in the back of my s5. I was surprised to notice the small size of the actual magnet (about the size of a golf ball). Anyway the procedure you are following is about right. Just one thing the speakers are actually 6 1/4" and have a weird hole pattern. I had to drill some new holes in the mounting backet for the screws. It was a lot of work(got lots of scratches on my hands and arms). but well worth the replacement.
good luck.

#8 of 25 Re: Speaking of Stereo [zippys5] by spec5

Jun 01, 2005 (3:27 pm)

Replying to: zippys5 (May 31, 2005 3:51 pm)
So what did you finally do to actually access the speaker screw? I haven't tackled it again since. Did you unscrew the bracket to get it out? Also, what speakers did you go with? Maybe I'll give it another go. Any info about installing an amplified sub? I'm thinking about a sub tube or something simple.

#9 of 25 Re: That's funny because that [iluvmysephia1] by doohickie

Jul 04, 2005 (10:56 am)

The stock stereos in both the Elantra and Spectra both had a boomy quality to the bass, like every bass note was at a certain frequency. The Reno and Aerio stereos seemed much better balanced. I don't care so much about disturbing the neighbors and rattling the car apart, I want a nice pleasant, even smooth sound to my stereo. It seems like low-end stereos put all their power into a single bass note frequency.

#10 of 25 doohickie... by iluvmysephia1

Jul 04, 2005 (1:33 pm)

I like a nice, even sound to my stereo's as well. My '01 Sportage 4x4 has a nice, blended stereo sound that is loud and sharp. The factory tweeters up at the dash corners help on the high notes. I can absolutely rock my ears to buzzin' afterwards in that little SUV. I just crank up the Foghat to deafening levels every so often and rock to my heart's content.
 
I'm surmising that today's Kia stereo's would probably do me just fine because I don't subscribe to the deafening bass club that is so popular today. All I ask is for clean, crisp and loud sounds eminating from my car stereo.
 
Kinda gets me interested in trying out the different carmaker's stereo's when the time comes to buy again. It is definitely part of the car-buying process, and one Scion has decided to focus directly on to entice us with.

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