How to boost the power on std stereo?

Are you turning up the volume on the aux device? It should be near 3/4 volume on the device or at maximum if you still can't get enough volume.

 

The fine line between distortion and blowing up your speakers varies. It all depends on the music you are listening to at the time. Some songs are not very dynamic and they run a low risk of hurting anything when played loud. other songs, especially those containing heavy bass can easily damage speakers because of one or two "high energy" beats.

The general rule of thumb is when you start to hear a little distortion, turn it down a notch or two. Or if the volume control goes up but it doesn't seem to get any louder then stop and dial it back a bit.

In all, as long as you're not listening to bass cds or stuff with heavy bass you'll be fine.

 

Where's the fun in that????

I don't like to use the AUX port because I feel I get cleaner sound out of burning MP3s to a CD-RW. I have the 6CD version though, where I'm told the amp does a analog->digital->analog conversion (don't remember where)

 

Look at F8L's mod list in his sig (and mine for that matter). Quite a few of us have added better speakers and an amp and sub. That goes a long way toward solving the sound issue. Toyota is prowd of the fact that the stock speakers are the lightest weight speakers produced for a car (I read that somewhere). They sound it, however.

I started with better speakers, then added the amp and sub.

 

Like Lewis stated, the next step would be to ad an amplifier and new speakers.

As far as volume is concerned I did pretty well with just replacing the factory stereo with a new one and then adding an amp and subwoofer. I kept the stock speakers for some time and the volume was pretty good. The sub goes a long ways towards making the system "feel" louder.

The new stereo will provide more power and cleaner sound as well as adjustments that allow you to match the volume from your iPod and the stereo. Then simply add new front speakers and eventually a small self-contained subwoofer/amp combo and you'll have a nice tidy sound system that rocks the house err car.

 

Or you could get hearing aids. If you listen to music at the top volume availeable all the time, you're gonna need them soon anyway...







Oh come on... I was kidding.




Sorta

 

There is a difference with the aux port. If you turn your iPod all the way up it distorts at high volume so the 80%-90% volume range on the aux device is the best you will get. Eventually i had to switch to the Dice iPod integration available at the store on this website and it is definitely better volume and clarity.......but the interface takes a bit to get used to. Aside from that upgrading speakers is the only cure.