OEM Audio Plus

[football751]

Glad to find this as I'm currently in the process of making this decision.

Originally was going to get the Reference, but then decided to go the custom route. But then I really started looking at prices...$350 for 2-way components, $650 for an amp, possibly $650 for sub+enclosure (Stealthbox) and I'm already at the $1600 OEM Audio+ wants. So the price tag really isn't as bad as I originally thought.

JGalp, what speakers, sub, and amp were/are they going to do for $1000? Seems fairly inexpensive for a system installed and tuned. I need to visit my local shop here and see what they'd do for me, but I can't imagine I'd get out of there for less than $2000.

I guess the biggest question is this: has anyone gone from OEM Audio+ to a custom system, or a custom system to OEM Audio+, and if so why? When I went into this I really thought I good build a better system for the $1600 OEM Audio+ wants, but I have my doubts now.

Also, from talking with OEM Audio+ through email and another forum, they build their own speakers, amps, and DSP, or at least spec them out to the same kind of building everyone elses. These aren't off-the-shelf components they just slapped their name on, they did the engineering and design for all of the components. So OEM Audio+ makes their own components just like JL, Alpine, etc. make their own components.

[JGalp]

Originally Posted by football751

Glad to find this as I'm currently in the process of making this decision.

Originally was going to get the Reference, but then decided to go the custom route. But then I really started looking at prices...$350 for 2-way components, $650 for an amp, possibly $650 for sub+enclosure (Stealthbox) and I'm already at the $1600 OEM Audio+ wants. So the price tag really isn't as bad as I originally thought.

JGalp, what speakers, sub, and amp were/are they going to do for $1000? Seems fairly inexpensive for a system installed and tuned. I need to visit my local shop here and see what they'd do for me, but I can't imagine I'd get out of there for less than $2000.

I guess the biggest question is this: has anyone gone from OEM Audio+ to a custom system, or a custom system to OEM Audio+, and if so why? When I went into this I really thought I good build a better system for the $1600 OEM Audio+ wants, but I have my doubts now.

Also, from talking with OEM Audio+ through email and another forum, they build their own speakers, amps, and DSP, or at least spec them out to the same kind of building everyone elses. These aren't off-the-shelf components they just slapped their name on, they did the engineering and design for all of the components. So OEM Audio+ makes their own components just like JL, Alpine, etc. make their own components.

Yea i was hoping to get the same info from someone that has gone from a custom system to OEM audio or vice versa, i think the place is called audio lab in orange county, it has 5 star rating and 200+ reviews on yelp..heard nothing but good things from the place... i didnt get into much detail with the guy but pretty much it was front and rear speakers, a custom box, 10in sub and amp for between 600-1200 depending on brand. that sounded good to me. im not an audiophile or anything i just want to be able to turn up the music and feel a little bass without it feeling like the stock speakers are going to blow out.

Do you really think the reference is worth the extra 400 bucks? all it adds is the front speakers right?

i need to do more research on speakers..so i can learn the right questions to ask the guy that was building the custom one

[football751]

Originally Posted by JGalp

Yea i was hoping to get the same info from someone that has gone from a custom system to OEM audio or vice versa, i think the place is called audio lab in orange county, it has 5 star rating and 200+ reviews on yelp..heard nothing but good things from the place... i didnt get into much detail with the guy but pretty much it was front and rear speakers, a custom box, 10in sub and amp for between 600-1200 depending on brand. that sounded good to me. im not an audiophile or anything i just want to be able to turn up the music and feel a little bass without it feeling like the stock speakers are going to blow out.

Do you really think the reference is worth the extra 400 bucks? all it adds is the front speakers right?

i need to do more research on speakers..so i can learn the right questions to ask the guy that was building the custom one

I misspoke before, reference is $1500. So it's $300 more if you buy the Reference from the get go. The upgrade is $400, extra $100 seems to cover the shipping of your amp to them for retuning and then return shipping to you.

Here's a review from O+'s website on the Reference upgrade product page:

I find the reference to be an improvement over the base 400 series in spacial positioning and midrange. The OEM door speakers along with the dash mids were a shallow/narrow mess compared to the Reference door speakers and deactivation of the dash ones. That being said, it provides no more "boom" for those of you looking for that,(it SHOULDNT, its a "REFERENCE" system) its just cleaner, better positioned and supplies a complete aural range as the door, dash tweets and sub all complement each others range specs better than the OEM ones ever did. The backseat speakers are along for the ride it seems, and barely audible... there just for positioning. I am happy with my setup. I work in the music entertainment industry and I was a bit embarrassed to let my co workers ride and listen to the stock setup. OEM Audio will keep me in the lunchtime carpool rotation as even our head of A&R was impressed.

The Reference system also gives you 3 bass levels, though once you select one when ordering you can't change it on your own later on.

[JHSurf]

I just ordered the BRZ Reference system. Waiting on notification of shipping and will update when it gets installed and how it sounds and if the $400 was worth it.

[football751]

Originally Posted by JHSurf

I just ordered the BRZ Reference system. Waiting on notification of shipping and will update when it gets installed and how it sounds and if the $400 was worth it.

What are you comparing it to to know if the extra money was worth it?

[JHSurf]

lol yeah didnt think that through much. I have the stock HU/system so I guess at this point about anything would be an improvement.