Need an honest audiophile evaluation of the premium sound system

[tgrocott]

With so little credible information we have seen so far, has anyone taken a serious look at the premium sound system? Has anyone taken their smart to a stereo install / dealer? What did they say? Is the head unit worth keeping? How about the factory speakers? The sub under the seat? When you bought the smart fortwo with the premium sound system did they provide any specs? How about wattage? Balance left / right? Front / rear? If anyone has a system that has been pro-designed for the smart and is willing to share their contact info please do not hesitate to contact me personally or post openly for all to benefit. Hope the factory system is usable but I am half deaf already and I do love music. I have been in new cars that have respectable sound systems so I'm not ready to right off the factory smart system as junk but, I would like some qualified feedback of our true audiophiles out there.

[spdickey]

One brief remark. There is no rear in this car, so no rear speakers.

For a noisy car like the smart (nosier than my Lexus, for example) the Radio 10 and premium sound system is remarkably nice. Especially for playing MP3 encoded disks.

This is not a hear you coming from down the block boom blaster. For that kind of action, get the Radio 09, and start replacing everything. But I'm listening to mostly classical, both from regular CDs and from burned MP3 files on CD, both sound great, can be turned up loud enough to annoy your passenger and still sound great. The woofer under the seat is remakable in how well it works and fits in the space available. Tweeters mounted next to the defroster vents at the base of the windshield reflect well into your ears, and the door mid range speaker are acceptable, but could be improved.

Not junk, not high end audiophile either. Not bad, really.

[tgrocott]

spdickey,

Liked your review, especially the part about... can be turned up loud enough to annoy your passenger and still sound great! Sounds good to me, won't have to spend time and money fiddling with upgrading things.

Thanks Terry

[Fredvon4]

spdickey

Does it look like there is a front rear fade function on the head unit if rears were added... Radio 10 is used in many different cars.. I know there are only the speakers you describe...just wondering about head unit function capability

[MarkB]

I just purchased a really nice single DIN Alpine and if and when I get my Smart I would like to install it. Should I still opt for the premium sound and just swap out head units? Or should I just build complete system myself?

Also, does anyone have any idea when double din to single din dash adapters will be available?

[Fredvon4]

The adapters are available now...source and part nums are here...search sucks

I did not book mark...good luck!

If you know for a fact you are replacing factory unit... opt for the stock system.....The premium system is a very expensive way to get wires for two tweeters, two door speakers (alreay there either way) and one under seat woofer...basically you will get two tweeters and one woofer and associated wires for a couple of hunded bucks...

[olguilla]

Originally Posted by spdickey

One brief remark. There is no rear in this car, so no rear speakers.

For a noisy car like the smart (nosier than my Lexus, for example) the Radio 10 and premium sound system is remarkably nice. Especially for playing MP3 encoded disks.

This is not a hear you coming from down the block boom blaster. For that kind of action, get the Radio 09, and start replacing everything. But I'm listening to mostly classical, both from regular CDs and from burned MP3 files on CD, both sound great, can be turned up loud enough to annoy your passenger and still sound great. The woofer under the seat is remakable in how well it works and fits in the space available. Tweeters mounted next to the defroster vents at the base of the windshield reflect well into your ears, and the door mid range speaker are acceptable, but could be improved.

Not junk, not high end audiophile either. Not bad, really.

I can not see the tweeters. Where exactly are they?
I thought they were incorporated to the speakers.

[olguilla]

I found them !

[spdickey]

Originally Posted by olguilla

I found them !

They are fast little tweeters, I found mine right at the base of the windshield. One each, left and right.

[Cruising n Coasting]

I don't see anyone who has specs on the radio RMS power output.
Is it enough power to push a decent set of high S/N ratio speakers (Infinity, Alpine etc) or should I just get a small 2 channel amp to push everything. I like the head unit and would prefer to just replace the speakers if it has enough power already. Any help is appreciated.