Hey guys I was wondering about the 500 and 1000 shaker stereo systems, are they worth the money? I am wondering if I should just get a full custom setup, or is the stereo pretty good?
The Shaker 500 is excellent, and if I hadn't gotten my car off the lot for less than invoice, I would regret having the Shaker 1000. Both systems have excellent clarity, even to very high sound pressure levels.
Unless you really feel the need to annoy people with excess bass the Shaker 1000 system is overkill. It does sound great with the stupid "shaker mode" turned off (it's on by default and it severely over-amplifies bass out of proportion).
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Black 2006 Mustang GT Premium Coupe | Interior upgrade package | 18" 'Torque-Thrust' style wheels | Shaker 1000 | T3650 | Side airbags
The factory stereo system is just that... a factory stereo system. Don't expect anything else from it. The cheap 20w paper speakers have a crappy range to them. The subs are flat so don't look for anything spectacular out of them. And the head units have a long history of problems. I went through three in the first five months I owned my car. When the third one crapped out, I gave up. Warranty just wasn't worth the effort of having another one put in.
Your best bet is going to be to order the 500 ( simply for the door panel sub boxes ), gut the entire system, and put something descent in it that will fit your musical taste. And no I am not saying remove the rear seat and put in four 18" subs and fill the trunk with amps. I am just saying put in something of descent quality that will achieve the range of what you like to listen to. It will be well worth it.
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2005 GT Premium,torch red, all available factory options.
Performance mods: Lets just say it's not stock.
Some people are like Slinkies. They're really good for nothing. But they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
The factory stereo system is just that... a factory stereo system. Don't expect anything else from it. The cheap 20w paper speakers have a crappy range to them. The subs are flat so don't look for anything spectacular out of them. And the head units have a long history of problems. I went through three in the first five months I owned my car. When the third one crapped out, I gave up. Warranty just wasn't worth the effort of having another one put in.
Your best bet is going to be to order the 500 ( simply for the door panel sub boxes ), gut the entire system, and put something descent in it that will fit your musical taste. And no I am not saying remove the rear seat and put in four 18" subs and fill the trunk with amps. I am just saying put in something of descent quality that will achieve the range of what you like to listen to. It will be well worth it.
Not at all sure what you mean by "the subs are flat", I've found them to be quite crisp with excellent control. There's no extra reverb, no rattle, just good, crisp bass.
Unless you're spending a few thousand dollars on an aftermarket system, you're not going to beat the stock setup. Yes it's factory, but not all factory systems suck and the reviews that the Shaker 500 and Shaker 1000 systems have gotten from the press are astounding.
I'm not saying it's perfect. Just that for the price you would be hard-pressed to beat it.
Of course there are still some people who feel the need to stroke their e-penis and claim any stock system is junk, but hey, whatever works.
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Black 2006 Mustang GT Premium Coupe | Interior upgrade package | 18" 'Torque-Thrust' style wheels | Shaker 1000 | T3650 | Side airbags
Not at all sure what you mean by "the subs are flat", I've found them to be quite crisp with excellent control. There's no extra reverb, no rattle, just good, crisp bass.
I meant exactly what I said. They are flat. You are correct, the do not rattle. I will give them that. But you have no control over them what so ever as far as frequency or output. Sure, you can turn on and off the bass boost. That isn't control. You can turn up and down the bass level and it will somewhat affect the subs. Again, that isn't bass control. They are flat.
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Originally Posted by Zenmervolt
Unless you're spending a few thousand dollars on an aftermarket system, you're not going to beat the stock setup. Yes it's factory, but not all factory systems suck and the reviews that the Shaker 500 and Shaker 1000 systems have gotten from the press are astounding.
I'm not saying it's perfect. Just that for the price you would be hard-pressed to beat it.
You can get a very descent head unit for under $300, spend another $350ish on six good speakers, and have twice the system.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zenmervolt
Of course there are still some people who feel the need to stroke their e-penis and claim any stock system is junk, but hey, whatever works.
No, if that were the case I would be talking the person in to one of those two to three thousand dollar systems you seem to be fixating on instead of offering a simpler solution. Sorry if I am stroking my e-penis by having a differing opinion of your wonderful skipper500 system than you do. I guess your e-penis is superior.
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2005 GT Premium,torch red, all available factory options.
Performance mods: Lets just say it's not stock.
Some people are like Slinkies. They're really good for nothing. But they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
I think i have to agree with hawgman because i'm more of an audiophile, and i always have great sounding aftermarket systems in my cars. I opted for the base stereo so i can gut it out and put in a $1500 aftermarket system. I added a kenwood CD/MP3/Sirius + 1/2 din parametric EQ + 4 sets of 6 1/2 inch mb quart components,+ 4x6 plate for center channel + 1 5 channel Alpine V12 amp, 1 JL audio 12 inch sub. I can tell you right now that my setup sounds way better than any stock system does, plus i can control all outputs with my 5 band parametric EQ, i have not seen any stock setup use this type of EQ. I can control all filters of bass, midbass, mid, high and sub output in Db, and sub frequency (control how deep your bass output is). Most will be happy with the stock setup, but i am use to this kind of setup so i would not been satisfied.
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2006 Deluxe GT 5 Spd Manual Tungsen Grey with black painted stripes, 20 x 10 konig beyonds, kw V3 coil over kit, BMR Chomoly Panhard rod, BMR Boxed Subrames, BMR Upper Strut, BMR lower control arms, BMR Upper Control Arm, Eibach Sway bars, Prothane Eurethane bushing kit. Bassani cat back.w/ x-pipe + hi flow cats, Roush Rear Spoiler, Street Scene Body kit,Street scene grille, 3D carbon louvers, HID system, Raptor Shiftlight with Speed of sound pillar guage, C&L with Preditor 91 Custom Tune
Last edited by sincitystang; 07-04-2006 at 06:52 PM.
Reason: Added pic of EQ
I think i have to agree with hawgman because i'm more of an audiophile, and i always have great sounding aftermarket systems in my cars. I opted for the base stereo so i can gut it out and put in a $1500 aftermarket system. I added a kenwood CD/MP3/Sirius + 1/2 din parametric EQ + 4 sets of 6 1/2 inch mb quart components,+ 4x6 plate for center channel + 1 5 channel Alpine V12 amp, 1 JL audio 12 inch sub. I can tell you right now that my setup sounds way better than any stock system does, plus i can control all outputs with my 5 band parametric EQ, i have not seen any stock setup use this type of EQ. I can control all filters of bass, midbass, mid, high and sub output in Db, and sub frequency (control how deep your bass output is). Most will be happy with the stock setup, but i am use to this kind of setup so i would not been satisfied.
Been there, done that, ran sound for a theatre (plays, musicals, musicians). If I want to play with a sound board all the time, I'll go back to that. During a performance, a sound tech almost always looks like an octopus on crack because of constant fidding with the board.
In my car I just want to set it and forget it. It's 90% of the way to perfect and the hassle of that last 10% just ain't worth it to me in a car. Your approach is fine if that's what you like.
What bugged (and still bugs) me about hawgman is the constant implication that anyone who likes the stock systems is an idiot. He should know full well 99% of people are going to be just fine with the Shaker 500 (I haven't heard of any difficulties with the head unit since the '05 model) or Shaker 1000 systems. Hell, probably 90% of people would be happy with the base, non-Shaker system. The Mustang has more than enough road noise that a perfectly clean system just doesn't seem worth it to me.
Back when I had my 924S, I went to the trouble of putting in a Nakamichi cassette deck (this was back in the day, and anyone who has been in audio for a while will know the name Nakamichi) with Infinity Kappa speakers. Was it better than the stock Blaupunkt deck and speakers? Yes. Was it enough better for me to ever bother with it again? No.
I'd love to know where he can get 6 good speakers for $350 though, since a single pair of good speakers runs about $200 from Crutchfield so he's about 50% underbidding there. And he's conveniently forgotten the cost of replacing the amps and subs.
Anyway, enough of a ramble. The stock stereo is far from junk. If you're a severe audiophile, you can still do much better, but it will cost you time and money. Unless you're really good, you probably won't hear a difference. If you're going to be running MP3 CD's through the system, it's already well past the point of being good enough to prove that MP3 is a crappy format (if you encode your own MP3 files at 320 kbps then you may be OK) so it seems silly to improve it. For FM and MP3 no amount of upgrades to the system will cover the crappy source. CD and Satellite (if the satellite is through a dedicated line in and not any sort of FM modulation, which includes hardwiring it to the antenna cable) will be what pick up the sound improvements.
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Black 2006 Mustang GT Premium Coupe | Interior upgrade package | 18" 'Torque-Thrust' style wheels | Shaker 1000 | T3650 | Side airbags
Stillborn, I have the shaker500 and so far, it has been skip free. Personally, I don't think the extra $1400 for the shaker1000 is worth the money. The volume and sound quality on the 500 is suffiecent enough for me in a car. At times, I've had to turn it down simple because I couldn't take it any more. The best thing to do, grab your favorite CD. Put it in the 500 with the windows up, and crank up the sound til you see 7 - 8 bars on the volume level. If you like the sound, there you go.
I'm still more of an audiophile than most, I always have and i like to hear crisp and clean music and i like to listen to it louder than usual. With a paragraphic EQ your not always touching it, only when one song doesnt sound right and you want to turn the bass up or down, or the mids...depends. I'm the 1% that is not satisfied with the stock radio. Another reason i got the kenwood is it was built in Sirius, and it doesnt need an external module, plus it has a USB port for Ipods or USB flash drives, and yeah, i encode my MP3's at max so it sounds just like my CD's.
BTW, you can find speakers like Planet Audio, they are basically made in the same factory as some high end brands like kicker etc... but you can get a set of 6 1/2 inch seperates for 100 bucks. The quality of off brands these days are pretty good than it was in the Nakamichi/Soundstream/Alpine days. Most of the mainstream now is made overseas in the same factory and quality as some of the off brands. I know someone who has a Planet Audio system and he spend 1/3 the price of brand name stuff and it sounds awesome.
When i took the factory speakers out, they are so cheap! i think they put the cheapest speakers possible. But for the most part, your right..most people who be satisfied with the stock setup...i'm not one of them...
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2006 Deluxe GT 5 Spd Manual Tungsen Grey with black painted stripes, 20 x 10 konig beyonds, kw V3 coil over kit, BMR Chomoly Panhard rod, BMR Boxed Subrames, BMR Upper Strut, BMR lower control arms, BMR Upper Control Arm, Eibach Sway bars, Prothane Eurethane bushing kit. Bassani cat back.w/ x-pipe + hi flow cats, Roush Rear Spoiler, Street Scene Body kit,Street scene grille, 3D carbon louvers, HID system, Raptor Shiftlight with Speed of sound pillar guage, C&L with Preditor 91 Custom Tune
What bugged (and still bugs) me about hawgman is the constant implication that anyone who likes the stock systems is an idiot. He should know full well 99% of people are going to be just fine with the Shaker 500 (I haven't heard of any difficulties with the head unit since the '05 model) or Shaker 1000 systems. Hell, probably 90% of people would be happy with the base, non-Shaker system. The Mustang has more than enough road noise that a perfectly clean system just doesn't seem worth it to me.
Point out anywhere that I have implicated that anyone that likes the stock system is an idiot. I could just as easily say that what bugs me about you is your constant implication that anyone who doesn't like the stock system is an idiot. You seem to be doing a better job of proving my point than I am proving yours. I have yet to attack you in the manor you have me...... yet
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zenmervolt
I'd love to know where he can get 6 good speakers for $350 though, since a single pair of good speakers runs about $200 from Crutchfield so he's about 50% underbidding there. And he's conveniently forgotten the cost of replacing the amps and subs.
Ah yes... because the world cannot survive without Crutchfield.
But since you want to use them as a point of reference, why not.
You obviously don't care for Blaupunkt since you replaced the one in your 924 ( which by the way, I worked for Porsche from 79 to 87. Don't get me started on that fine piece of machinery ), but here, lets start with a set of Blaupunkt 3 ways for $50 a pair http://www.crutchfield.com/S-llvMalc...0&I=023PCXB573
If that is too low rent for you ( even though they are superior to the 20 watt paper cone factory speakers ) then maybe go a step up to a set of Kenwoods 2 ways for $70 a pair http://www.crutchfield.com/S-llvMalc...0&I=113KFC6880
Now, even with the Infinity speakers, that still leaves $150 to buy two 8" subs that will fit in the doors. Keep in mind, you can't go with any type of monster sub simply because the depth of the box in the door panel will not allow it.
So lets keep it simple. Hopefully you will approve of Rockford Fosgate. Personally, I think they might be slightly better than the factory subs. But that is just me.
A pair of Rockford Fosgate 8" subs that will fit in the door for $80 for the pair. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-llvMalc...520&I=575P18S4
I never said a word about replacing the factory amps because you can run the replacement subs off of them. Yes, I know they are 2ohm amps. Not technical enough to do a google search and figure out how to wire them properly? Fine, add another $100 to the price (which will still put me $200 total under what you are saying just speakers cost ) and you can have a nice little MTX amp for the subs that will outperform the factory amps by 100% easily. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-llvMalc...=236T282&g=120
The factory head unit runs the four main speakers. Those can easily be ran off of the replacement head unit.
Now... tell me again how I am under cutting the speaker bid by 50%. I certainly am not posting links to crappy speakers. Every single one of them has a wider range than the stock speakers, every single one has a higher RMS and higher peak and a lower THD % than the stock speakers. And yes, replace all six for under $350.
Remember, I am not talking building a monster system, I am talking building a replacement system for the factory skipper 500 system, and a descent cost that will sound better than what you have.
Now... need me to find that $300 head unit with more features and better quality than the stock one for ya? Or do you want to call me on that too?
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2005 GT Premium,torch red, all available factory options.
Performance mods: Lets just say it's not stock.
Some people are like Slinkies. They're really good for nothing. But they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
These are good factory systems, no more no less........they are not as good as the entry level Wal-mart pioneer systems.......but they are as good as I've ever heard from ford.
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'06 GT Vert Torch Red/Black top/int, IUP, Polished Bullits, , PioneerInfinityMTX Sound System, Tuneable Induction by DeMolet, SCT2 93 Octane Tune by Brenspeed, Red Calipers, Steeda Ultra Lites, Shifted by Hurst,
Thoughts on the stereo 
