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Chevrolet Impala Audio
There are several of us from the Impala III
conference who are notably unhappy with our top-
end, factory-installed Impala RDS radios. This
quirk mars an otherwise very nice automobile.
RECEPTION is less than optimal and SOUND QUALITY
is just plain lacking.
These radios are the units with the amplifier
mounted in the trunk up under the rear shelf, below
the back window, between the two rear speakers.
IF you have one of these radios in your new Impala
and you are dissatisfied, this is the forum where
we can discuss it and hopefully arrive at a cure.
My complaints are the sound quality - it's just
not "sweet". Singing voices are often harsh -
particularly in multiples. Violins are screechy.
Rich Bass is lacking. I am not looking for the
sound of an Alpine or Bose system, but this is
ridiculous.
My standard 89 Olds Royale sounded way better.
My wife's standard Camry radio sounds better.
My friends' Hondas, Contours and Regals sound
better! Even my 1972 Dodge Challenger sounded
better!!!!!
Reception is no prize winner either - those
antennas in the window have got to be designed just
right. Toyota Camry's is far less susceptible to
interference and direction - particularly when
picking up distant AM stations or riding along back
roads with power lines alongside.
At least two of us have called GM and filed formal
complaints registering our dissatisfaction.
In the other forum, early mentions of replacing
speakers have been made but no one has yet reported
doing it. After all, who wants to start replacing
expensive components in a brand new car?
If you have this radio in your 2000 Impala, please
post your observations, comments or solutions
here.
After all, for $25,000 we should be getting a
really good radio in our cars.
conference who are notably unhappy with our top-
end, factory-installed Impala RDS radios. This
quirk mars an otherwise very nice automobile.
RECEPTION is less than optimal and SOUND QUALITY
is just plain lacking.
These radios are the units with the amplifier
mounted in the trunk up under the rear shelf, below
the back window, between the two rear speakers.
IF you have one of these radios in your new Impala
and you are dissatisfied, this is the forum where
we can discuss it and hopefully arrive at a cure.
My complaints are the sound quality - it's just
not "sweet". Singing voices are often harsh -
particularly in multiples. Violins are screechy.
Rich Bass is lacking. I am not looking for the
sound of an Alpine or Bose system, but this is
ridiculous.
My standard 89 Olds Royale sounded way better.
My wife's standard Camry radio sounds better.
My friends' Hondas, Contours and Regals sound
better! Even my 1972 Dodge Challenger sounded
better!!!!!
Reception is no prize winner either - those
antennas in the window have got to be designed just
right. Toyota Camry's is far less susceptible to
interference and direction - particularly when
picking up distant AM stations or riding along back
roads with power lines alongside.
At least two of us have called GM and filed formal
complaints registering our dissatisfaction.
In the other forum, early mentions of replacing
speakers have been made but no one has yet reported
doing it. After all, who wants to start replacing
expensive components in a brand new car?
If you have this radio in your 2000 Impala, please
post your observations, comments or solutions
here.
After all, for $25,000 we should be getting a
really good radio in our cars.
0
Comments
My previous cars (Hondas and Acuras) had terrible sound systems (Yes Honda has the WORST Factory radios) except my last '97 Acura TL that had a decent Alpine unit with Tape/CD and 8-speakers. The Honda radios had the opposite problem of the Impala RDS units....Too much bass...so their radio sound reproduction was dull to say the least. One thing I can give credit to the Honda radios is that they have steady good reception no matter if the system is hooked to a metal antenna or the "Window Diversity Antenna" that my TL came with. The bass issue on the RDS radios can be bothersome but I personally can live with it more comfortably. But the reception issue needs to be addressed by GM...too much interference many times.
I really like your forum as we can get "our heads" together and try to find a workable solution to the Bass/reception issues of the RDS radios, even if the solution takes involving GM to provide a "free" upgrade or fix to the problem. May be a recall is what we need to accomplish.
Last, have you attempted to disconnect the amplifier? Will the system work without it? I haven't even try to mess around with the car as the RDS radio acts as the "Central nervous system" of the Impala. I am a Computer Engineer but I am not very knowledgable of car stereos to start tinkering with them.
I am positive the solution is not to start buying expensive replacement speakers for a brand new car like you said. May be the amplifier is causing the grief, and if so, Chevy should look into the issue and revaluate the performance of the component. Probably you have a better insight at the problem.
Don't hesitate in contact me if you have any comments/suggestions/ideas,etc.
Good luck.
radio system in my loaded Impala LS w/cd& cassette
- I love the car but sure wish there is a simple
solution from GM or others here on how to improve
the sound - can we do something about amplifiers
on the rear shelf if that truly is the problem -
my car was built in june of 99 if that means any-
thing. Wouuld like to hear from others on this.
Thanks, Lincoln
So... how does it sound? A lot better, but still lacking in the base area. It also seems (and I don't know if it is just due to the clarity difference) that the rear speakers are much louder than the front ones now.
Making this sytems actually sound great is going to take the same kind of speakers in the front (approx. $250) and replace the amplifier. I don't know if I am willing to spend it.
I hope you don't take offense to me saying that I don't think GM gives a damn about your complaints. They are not going to recall all of these cars and replace the amplifiers. They can't even honestly describe their speaker system as a FOUR-speaker system. They discribe it as an EIGHT-speaker system by counting the tweeters and woffers as separate speakers. This is incredibly insulting and misleading.
So, can the amplifier be exchanged with another? I don't see why not (but I'm not an expert). The gagitry is within the radio itself. The amplifier is just a power supply with inputs (from the radio and power sources) and outputs (to the speakers). I can't imagine that this cheap amp is anything more.
Sorry for the long-winded reply. Please let me know what you think.
Did you check if installing replacement speakers invalidates your warranty in any way? Hope Not.
You may already know this but if your new BAs are louder than your Chevy originals, it simply means they're more efficient - they deliver more volume from the same amp by processing the power more effectively. (This of course assumes that the fader position is still at center.)
IF you do replace the front speakers, you might want to make sure that they are equally efficient. ____________________
It's the FRONT SPEAKERS that really bother me. They are so shrill - like fingernails on a chalk board. Group voices, horns, violins - OUCH!!!
I know what my tapes and CDs sound like - on everything from a portable tape player to the big stereo at home and the new car is the worst.
Although I dread the prospect, replacing them as a last resort has crossed my mind. Do you know what size speakers are in the front door panels?
5-1/4, 6-1/2?
Some people claim that the Standard Impala Radio (Tape deck only/no amplifier) sounds much better than the CD/Tape/Amplifier upgrade system. So the problem might not be entirely the speakers or the radio unit itself. I wonder if the trunk mounted amplifier is really working?? Has anyone tested the amplifier unit to see if the thing is alive or not? Is the amplifier properly connected from the factory? or properly installed? In my limited knowledge of car audio systems, the amplifier main purpose is to enhance the sound output from the speakers, thus improving the bass, midrange response and the overall stereo sound imaging. If we all are having bass response problems, may be the amplifier just quit working (Who knows..a defective batch?)and we are banging our heads against the wall when the answer to the problem might be in the amplifier itself.
My suggestion to this dillemma would be to somehow have the amplifier tested and truly make sure that the device is doing what it is supposed to. Has anyone attempted to disconnect it and see what happens??
Then again, I find it very hard to believe that the basic radio system sounds better than the Upgrade system with the amplifier. If so, then let's all take the time to look into the amplifier and see if this is the source of all grief.
I will get in touch with my nearest Chevy Dealer and inquiry about this. Later I will contact GM to have them open a file.
Impala owners should not be spending extra $$$ to get satisfaction from the stereo system. GM has to pick up the tab and rectify the issue accordingly...no if's and's and but's.
Aside from the lack of bass issue, I find the Impala RDS radio one of the most interesting units I have ever owned on a car. The RDS technology, the speed conpensated volume, the pre-set EQ settings, the ability to control most other functions on the car (Key fobs, etc) make it a truly remarkable unit from Delco. All this great radio unit needs is a good working amplifier unit.
What do you guys think?
____--JOE
jreimann
In Crutchfield's "Car Stereo Installation" booklet, they allege that these baffles installed around the back of each speaker "can even improve bass performance". Maybe.
Another possibility are speaker enclosures around the 6x9s in the rear. My previous car (Olds Royale 88) had such enclosures (std. factory issue) built around each of its rear speakers on the underside of the rear deck. Similar enclosures are shown in the Radio Shack catalog. I know they would help but installation would require some creativity and time.
At quick glance in the Crutchfield catalog, the cheapest and smallest external amplifiers from Kenwood and Pioneer have 35 watts per channel. Those amps each cost $100. IF and how they would work with our radios, I don't have a clue. I also do not know how they would mate with our wires plugs and so forth.
Regardless, it does go to show that a replacement amp from GM would not cost them a fortune - if indeed that is the cure to the problem.
Anyway, if jojo28 is right that the top radio has different speakers than the radios WITHOUT the external amp, I'd opt for the lower end speakers.
* The amplifier? (Is this device working as it should?)
* The upgraded speakers? (We need to find out the main differences between the standard and upgraded speakers)
* some other issue we are not yet aware of?
I am still very suspect of the amplifier.
I'LL KEEP EVERYONE POSTED
However, I feel like the CD sounds okay. I never use tapes, so I can't judge there.
I do feel, however, like many of you do that for the money we should have better "all around" sound.
Ref. No. - CY-BG-2911 ZC
My serial No.-428261
My description of a good sounding stero system is when you can set the volumn at a medium to low level and still get a rich tone which has a definite background of bass. I am almost certain that the problem is in the amplifier. I have listened to many base model impalas with the up-graded ULO package ( this is the AM/FM cassette without any CD player, but it does have the preminum 8-speaker system) and they sound great!!! I get no assistance from the dealer service dept. We need technical assistance!! I have found out that Delco Electronics is the supplier of the radio but they don't have any specs. or info on the amplifier.
Did you subsequently learn that all the radios have the same speakers. If so, that would definitely point to our problem being the external amplifier mounted in the trunk.
I have got to get to a dealer and hear one of these lesser radios WITHOUT an external amp.
Incidentally, does anyone know someone with an Olds Intrigue with an AM/FM/CD/cassette? If so, is the amp in the trunk or is that radio completely self contained? How does it sound?
If so, please tell us - what is the size of the front speakers in the door panels?
At the very least, I am seriously considering adding the waterproof SOUND BAFFLES I mentioned in my post #11.
I also started to LISTEN to some rather basic replacement speakers at WalMart - yes WalMart! They have a car sound wall. I used a $150 basic radio that I could easily figure out how to work. I just kept switching speakers by pushing the buttons. Listened for a half hour to Sinatra, CW, Oldies, Soft Rock and Classical (Philly has a lot of radio stations)
Really liked some nice 6-1/2" Jensen and 6-1/2" Pioneer - very sweet sound particularly on vocals. Jensens were more mellow than the Pioneers but both were nirvana compared to what we have in our IMPALAS. Price- under $70 per pair.
NOTE: 6-1/2" is a GUESS.
cant we as group take some kind of class action
against GM and demand them to rectify this matter
or at least split the cost of correcting it and the first thing is to have their engineers tell
us what actuall y is the problem to begin with.
If the base model radio sound is OK then they
certainly find out why the upscale units on the
LS sound so crappy. Let me hear other views on
this - thanks, Lincoln
The Panasonic rep did agree with the fact that the amplifier should enhance the bass response not diminish it as it appears to be happening.
Well, at this point I am open to more suggestions..
You should not have to set the BASS to MAX and the volumn up to 3/4, especially if you have a working properly amplifier!! This is more proof of a problem with the system.
Oh, as a suggestion, you had better check with the Chevrolet Service dept. before you add a sub-woofer to the system - they may cancel your factory warranty on the whole radio system.
Jojo I have the Impala ls with all options including the "upgraded" stereo w/ amplifier.
and as far as the warrenty on the stereo system...
screw it, It already looks like I am going to replace most of it anyway eventually except the cd/tape/radio stereo unit.
I haven't yet received their response, but I know that they take anywhere between 24 and 48 hours to respond to E-mail communication.
At least I have made aware our Canadian friends about the issues with these radios.
If we are to grab GM's attention on this issue, I can suggest to:
1) Contact GM here at home, make them aware of the radio situation and open a customer file. The more complaints filed the better will be for all owners. Remember the customer satisfaction surveys? Chevy claims they want us to be satisfied...so let's get on it!.
2)Go to the GM of Canada web site and submit the customer feedback form, along with your Impala's V.I.N#. This will be very helpful to determine if in fact there is a batch of defective amplifiers, speakers, etc that apply to certain build dates, if that's the case.
3)People, don't be afraid to complain to GM. That will not void your warranty! On the contrary, we are helping GM to provide a better sounding stereo system in future vehicles and for us to obtain the satisfaction we all are entitled to from our current Impala RDS radios.
4) Good luck to all!
See ya!
The problem I have is that I listen mostly to talk radio and the AM reception sucks. I live 17 miles away from the nearest AM station and reception is extremely poor during the day and non-existent at night. It's definitely not the station because the reception is fine in my other three vehicles.
Any help I can give to the group, I will, including registering a formal complaint.
And if you are unhappy with the AM reception,
as I am, please do let GM know.
Venting are complaints on this forum alone will
not bring results from GM.
Although I can pull in big AM stations from NYC 90 miles away, my AM is exceptionally prone to interference from power lines alongside the road (where my wife's CAMRY is far less so). Also the direction the car is pointed affects my reception on AM and FM - particularly in fringe reception situations.
I think the Impalas need a "diversity antenna" - saw that as an option on the upgraded Buick Regal Concert III radio system.
Remember: The most Complaints filed with GM, the greater the chance to have our radio woes solved.
I used it as you suggested hope others will as well.
Generally, a stick or rod antenna on a car does a better job with AM (and FM) reception than an antenna built into the glass because, mounted vertically, the stick is not subject to directionality - it catches the waves from all directions equally.
EXAMPLE: If you're driving north and the transmitter you want to pull your station from is due west and distant - you'll probably get it on the stick antenna - you may or may not get it from the window antenna - AM or FM. Such is my experience.
Diversity antenna systems are supposed to resolve this issue - if and how they do, I don't know.
***************************
"Boring" background for the technically-minded
General notes on reception - yes, FM and TV waves basically do travel line of sight. This physical reality allows there to be a Channel 7 in NYC and a Channel 7 in Washington DC. They do NOT interfere with each other because they are about 240 miles apart. (AM stations on the same frequency are usually much further apart.)
Good TV and FM reception is usually limited to about 50 miles MAX.
Broadcast AM travels further - sometimes much further. Like shortwave, AM signals do bounce between a certain layer of the atmosphere and the curve of the Earth until their strength is dissipated by distance, frequency, wavelength and so on.
As a result, AM signals can sometimes travel hundreds of miles (Shortwave, thousands of miles). AT NIGHT, I have picked up WHAS in Kentucky from over 500 miles away!
The trick is the directionality of the antenna (and the sensitivity of the tuner). Yes, small table radios do have small AM antennas built in, usually mounted horizontally. Consequently, for distant or weaker stations, the radio must be rotated so that the antenna can "catch the wave" and receive the signal - and so it is with cars.
Problem is you can't rotate a car just to get a radio station and still point the car where you want to go.
Well, the weekend is almost here! Please keep enjoying your Impalas and don't give up on the radio just yet..:)
Lousy car (felt cheap all around and the brakes were dragging as we drove) BUT surprise, surprise - a really decent radio!!! Standard GM issue- AM-FM, with 4 speakers. No tape or CD. Don't know if it had an external amp.
There was more than enough BASS and relatively mellow front speakers. TREBLE could be cut way back and everything sounded good - Sinatra, Oldies, CW, even the news!
EXCELLENT AM reception from NYC (90 miles away) with a standard stick antenna on the right rear fender.
AMAZING - I'm not crazy after all and GM can still produce a good radio with good speakers in a less expensive car. So why not in the Impala?
I can't stress this point enough: We all need to flood GM with complaints about the sound quality of the RDS radio. If we are to see some results in the form of a Recall or some other corrective action in part of GM we need to bug them and bug them and bug them....
AT YOUR OWN RISK.
This morning, after a half hour of listening to the "Impala sound" while my wife and I were cruising in the country, a thought came to me. We parked and were about to go into an auction when I impulsively took my hand to the perforated trim panel of the left front door speaker. Working from the front right edge, I carefully pryed it off and out and removed it from the face of the speaker(s). And there they were.
Yes there are actually two - count'em (2) SEPARATE speakers in the door!!! One is about 6-1/4" and the other is a separate tweeter about 1-3/8" mounted at 2 o'clock to the side of the larger speaker. (Tweeters produce the very highest pitch sounds)
The face of the 6 incher is "permanently" covered
with a black gauze-like material (presumably to keep out dirt and particulate matter that would audibly rattle around in there).
Later, when we got home, I explored further. The bigger speaker is held in with TORX screws, size T15. I carefully removed the big speaker to look behind it. It is marked 4 ohms, Chevy front left, made in Mexico.
The face of the tiny tweeter is wide open. Both speakers are mounted in a plastic frame.
The big speaker is fed from a wire with a special connecting plug. The little guy has wires soldered to it that feed off the bigger speaker next to it.
There is NOTHING behind the speakers. By default, the inside of the big metal door of the car serves as the sound chamber. UGH! No wonder it sounds bad.
There is no molded shell or surround of any kind behind the speakers. Learning this, I will definitely be ordering the waterproof foam baffles from the Crutchfield audio catalog. (only $8 per pair!)
BUT WAIT, there's more! I suspected that the little tweeter was also a culprit in the shrillness of the sound so I folded several layers of a flannel rag over it - effectively MUTING only the little tweeter. BIG DIFFERENCE, Much Better.
The shrill was gone. It's particularly noticeable on female vocals like Whitney Houston.
By using the fade and balance controls, I had isolated all the sound to the FRONT LEFT ONLY.
In manual tone mode, I played with the Treble and Bass and what a change. I intend to try it for a few days and if I still like it I will simply snip both wires leading to the tweeter and wrap them with electrical tape. And there the tweeter will sit - very quietly. If I ever want it back, I'll simply resolder it.
DISCLAIMER: This is what I have done.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT I DO NOT KNOW FOR CERTAIN THIS IS SAFE BUT I BELIEVE IT TO BE -
HOWEVER, WHATEVER YOU DO TO YOUR OWN CARS, YOU OBVIOUSLY TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY ON YOURSELVES.
Chevrolet about our Delco Radio problems. I just
sent the following to Chevrolet. I will post a response as soon as I hear from Chevrolet.
Most likely it will take them several days.
On behalf of my peers who have purhased
2000 Impalas, I would like to make an
offical complaint to Chevrolet. We are
extremely disappointed with the sound
quality of our Delco Radio/Casette/CD/RDS
with auxilary amp (feature code Up0).
We feel there are two major flaws.
1) Lack of bass
2) Poor radio reception
We want to hear from Chevrolet what the
plans are to correct these problems.
I strongly recommend you reference
WWW.EDMONDS.COM and select Town Hall.
Then under Topics enter IMPALA RADIO to
see for your self the details and deep
concerns about our Delco systems.
You'll find there is a growing number of
dissatisfied owners. Just by the fact
that there is seperate topic just on Impala
radios should be a indication that this is
a serious concern of many customers.
Only Canada responded - essentially saying to get lost - you're USA, call USA - not our problem.
At this point, I hold little hope that GM will offer a replacement amp or speakers. What have the rest of you heard? I believe there will only be a recall if everyone who is dissatisfied lets it be known to their dealers and to GM.
PS to cookie00:
I'm glad I amuse you - now call GM will you please.
Its from a fella named Don Parkinson at Chevy, thanking me for my purchase and explaining the many wonderful features of the RDS radio. Uh... yeah...Included the 800 customer service number, but no number for Mr. Parkinson, or an e-mail either. The letter is signed by him and calls him the "Brand Manager, Chevy Impala"
That was very interesting to me. So I called and asked "Ashley" (who by the way, has never even SAT in an Impala) if there was any way to contact Mr. Parkinson. She didn't know of any way. But I did my complaining schtick about the radio and the speakers (I believe it's a speaker/antenna problem, much from Duraflex's account) and got a Case #. She said there's no way to find out if anyone else has the same problem. Hmmmm, interesting computer software that wouldn't or couldn't sort by "type of complaint" maybe she just doesn't have access.
I may root around and see if I can find an e-mail address for this mystery "Brand Manager."...
Good luck all.
Have you had a chance to do that yet ? If so, what did they think?
The following is what I posted at Impala III this AM.
_________________________________________________
I have the RDS radio cd/cass in dash.
8 spkr system with trunk mounted amp.
No cd changer.
I drove my brother-in-law to work this AM.
I had him listen to the CD (Queen, Another One
Bites The Dust - heavy, heavy bass). He said that
it has a lot of 'kick'. Setting are as follows;
Volume - 3/4 full
Balance - middle
Fader - 2 positions from center (toward the front)
Bass - 3 positions short of max
Treble - 2 positions from center (max side)
Galaxy Silver LS - loaded sans leather &
hole-in-the-roof. Built on February 7.
_________________________________________________
I'm glad to hear that TEO had a better response from the GMCanada site than DURAFLEX. Being a Canuck myself, I certainly don't agree with the treatment you received from GMCanada.
Ciao.
could it be that you have a different or improved radio than the rest of us?
Is it possible GM started putting in better speakers or a better amp?
My car was built 01/00. Since I plugged up the separate front tweeters (post #42), I can stand it but it still isn't right. Now waiting for baffles from Crutchfield (See post#45 from luckyjdr).
So Dave, how's your radio reception - AM and FM?
I listen mainly to one FM station, which rarely transmits properly or in stereo (stereo signal flashes on & off intermittently - Noticed that in my old car and home stereo) All other stations are good also.
But, this particular station seems to come in clearer in the Impala than my 97 Civic Si [sold it to buy the Impala
I haven't even set the AM stations.
Does anyone know if the Impala radio has a signal or light that lets you know the station you are tuned to is in stereo?
Ciao.
If, beginning 2/00, GM started installing better Speakers/amplifier, then it would mean that they are fully aware of the problem. Could this be covered by one of those famous "Secret Warranties"?