Upgrade or after market?

[Holden05]

I have a VZ berlina with the stock stereo system, I'm looking at upgrading the system but want to keep the standard HU. I have seen a Blaupunkt stereo upgrade for $550 plus $95 for the additional 8 inch subs, i like the fact that it is plug and pay. I want to get peoples opinion as to whether it's worth getting this based on quality or spend a bit more and get after market speakers etc.

I do like the idea of putting the 8 inch subs in the rear parcel shelf leaving th boot space free, however I have read that the parcel shelf rattles, even with the Blaupunkt subs that .

If anyone has a copy of the Blaupunkt upgrade fitting guide or knows where I could find it, as thus far have not been able to find it online, that would be great.

Thanks for you help.

[axemurderer101]

A decent headunit will make most stock speakers sound heaps better, when i bought my vs i put my new headunit in and sounded 100 times better even with the stock speakers. I personally think the vy and vz sound systems sound like crap, even my mates statesman which has the premium system with the subs in the parcel shelf.

[HCVP]

My opinions..

The $650 total upgrade kit is good value for money when you consider what you get. While it won't compete with some aftermarket setups, you'd be hard pressed to spend the same money installing new aftermarket items,and then expect similiar gains.

As for modifying the original h/u, the ability to mod h/u's with low level rca's to accept external amp's is great. However, at the end of the day, when using external amps, the overall sq you get will come down to that of the signal quality of the h/u. So, in some cases, you are better off installing an aftermarket unit, and then going from there.

It all comes down to how much you want to spend, and what you expect as a finished outcome?

But if your budget is around the Holden upgrade package price point, then i'd stick with that.