What Radio to Get on an '05

[ERohloff]

Folks, Getting ready to order a SLT and wonder if the RAZ ($700 option) is that much better than the stock radio.

Not much of an audiophile so stock radio likely ok IF it's a good unit. Have heard on some of these forums that the upgrade RAZ Infinity unit is not that good. What do you guys think? Subjective question (beauty is in the eyes of the beholder thing) I know, but most of you guys have been there before.



The Bose unit in my old Tahoe was great but heard the Infinity is not up to the Bose in sound quality - or is that "Chevy Talk !!

Bob R...

 

[EBottema]

save the 700 bucks and buy a nice headunit from the electronics store... .

 

[Matt400]

You will probably get many different responses on this, IMO there is nothing wrong with the standard head unit that comes in the SLT. Thats what I got and added an amp for the door speakers and then added dash speakers powered by the head unit and it sounds just as good if not better than the Infinity I had in my 02 1500 that was the same body style.



If you don't want to change stuff around then the Infinity would be better but if you plan to change things its a waste of money IMO. The Infinity was good enough for me in my last truck but I stepped out of it and into my SLT CTD in the same hour and was very disappointed.



Your best bet would be to listen to them both back to back on a dealers lot before you order.

 

[Carlsummers]

Get the cheapest thing you can, then go to a good auto stereo store, and have a nice system installed... you can get out with a really nice sounding system for around $1200. 00... ...

 

[JCrockett]

The real question is if you want to order the audio controls in the steering wheel, if you do you HAVE to order the more expensive unit. I love the controls in the steering wheel, so I have the in dash 6 disc. If you are ok with out the audio controls, then get the standard raido and go to an aftermarket setup. I know there are aftermaket units that have remotes and such that you can mount on the steering wheel, but I like the clean look and feel of the factory controls. The sound quality is a little better, but it is not the greatest.

Just my . 02

Jason

 

[KevinO]

get the navigation unit it really comes in handy more than you would think. Just write down an address and enter it in no more wrong directions

 

[Colonel102]

Get the cheapest thing you can, then go to a good auto stereo store, and have a nice system installed... you can get out with a really nice sounding system for around $1200. 00... ...

DITTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BHolm]

It wasn't "chevy talk" the Bose in my '03 CC truck was 100 times better than the "Infinity" in the '05 Laramie. Now if we could get the higher powered system coming in the Power Wagon, or the really powerful one from the STR-10 trucks, I would buy it.



I do like having the CD changer in the dash and the wheel controls. I am pretty sure that amplification and good speakers could be added without disturbing either of the factory features I like. Still... . it isn't bad as it is for a truck

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I'm happy with the standard radio in my 2004. I rarely bother with cassettes any more, so having AM/FM/CD only is fine with me. I also don't care about 700 watt units that vibrate the doors of the car next to me at stoplights, so the ordinary volume control situation is all I deserve



As posted above, you can get all sorts of responses. Listen to them at the dealership and decide what you need and want to pay for. One other member has had a lot of trouble trying to upgrade to a high line stock radio and get the truck computer to recognize it, so pick a stock or aftermarket system that others have found to work.

 

[Tomeygun]

My vote goes to stock stereo, then add these ingredients:

1 part Focal components

1 part orion amp

1 part JL audio stealthbox

1 part kenwood headunit



Stir rapidly, Serve hot

 

[tschwab]

I as well as others have had bad luck w/the Infinity sound system. Horrible sound for a premium unit, mine goes back into the shop for a 2nd time next week to try and correct (wrong wiring harness? reversed polarity? or ??). If I would have known it sounded this bad, I definetly would not have ordered this package. On the flip side, others with this system report great sound, I think the unit has the potential, I believe it was installed wrong from the factory with one or more of the things mentioned above. My '98 12V with single disc sounded much better. The stock radio in my '01 ferd tauras company vehicle sounds much better than my Infinity system.

 

[opjohnny]

I don't know how easy it would be to retrofit the SRT-10 radio, hey should just offer it as an option. You do get a nice steering wheel when you order the upgrade. The wheel is something your looking at all the time.

 

[ERohloff]

Really? - Different steering wheel with radio upgrade!

Opjohnny, Do you really get a different steering wheel with the RAZ radio upgrade? Or is it that most who upgrade also get the steering wheel radio controls option which "is" or "looks like" a different wheel?

Will have to stop at a dealer and look-see ... ... ... And thanks all for your input. Still "think'in " on it !!

Bob r...

 

[opjohnny]

When I ordered mine you had to get the leather wrapped wheel~$45 when you ordered the upgrade. I like the leather wheel. I just can't picture the base wheel looked like in my mind right now.

 

[opjohnny]

On my wheel the cruise buttons are built into the spokes not between them. I have the radio controls built in. Its the same wheel as in the SRT-10. I have seen pictures of the slt wheel and the larm wheel (same type just leather wrapped). I don't know what an ST wheel looks like without cruise. I have seen a total of three different types of wheel. I think if you just order a leather wheel without the radio buttons you get the wheel with cruise buttons between the spokes wrapped in leather. Boy I hope this makes sense!