Audio System Upgrade for ‘19 Stinger GT

[ScholarBone]

Hello everyone! First time poster.

I finally pulled the trigger and bought my (reasonable/affordable) dream car, a ‘19 Stinger GT AWD in Hichroma Red last week. I love everything about it. A GT1 would have been absolutely perfect because GT1s have the HK sound system (don’t care about the sunroof). Sadly, Stinger supply where I live is basically nonexistent and this one has everything I consider essential (V6, AWD, heated seats, Apple CarPlay) and almost everything I desired, except for the upgraded audio and memory seats, at the perfect price and at the perfect time.

Got a question about upgrading my audio system. Most of what I could find on this forum was about updating the HK system in the GT1/GT2, but I just have the standard 9-speaker set up in the regular ol’ GT.

My last 3 cars, including the family SUV we still own, have had upgraded systems from Bose or HK. They’ve all sounded great.

I need some help. I’m not trying to make it an audiophile’s dream, or register an earthquake on the Richter scale with my bass. I just want my system up to par with some of the factory options from Bose and HK that include minimal invasive/electric work and can be done by someone with minimal mechanic/electrician experience (me), though if necessary I’m willing to get it installed professionally. Don’t want to add new speakers or a giant subwoofer in the trunk or anything like that (again unless it’s necessary for the system, idk anything about this stuff).

Does anyone have any recommendations? And thank you for reading, so glad to finally be a part of the family!

 

[Snicklefritz]

My understanding is that the nine-speaker "factory" stereo is still a HK, but it has a lower power amplifier, and of course fewer, combined speakers. If you install a more powerful amp that should do most of what you ask for. I'm no audiophile, and have only compared a GT's stereo with my GT1's 15-speaker system once. Other than bass output I didn't notice a real difference to worry about. But sound is where YMMV really comes in, so, this is just my opinion.

 

[Transmetal]

I also own a base gt. The stereo is not that loud. I drive with my windows down on the freeway much of the summer so I'm used to turning up the volume. In that scenario, the stereo could be louder imo. I've literally turned the volume up all the way. I'm used to having aftermarket stereos in my other cars. That was not possible with those stereos. You could never turn them up that loud as the stock speakers couldn't handle that much power, you still had more volume to go. I feel that the stock radio in the bass gt is lacking just a bit.

For regular street driving it's more than adequate though.

 

[Volfy]

Our '19 base model has the regular system too. The only really glaring problem is the lack of bass. I really didn't want to add much weight or sacrifice trunk spaced, so I bought the OEM infloor subwoofers that go into the empty cavities under the front seats.

A guy on YT modded his Stinger GT's OEM subs with a dedicated amp. That's what I plan on doing.