Mylink vs Aftermarket audio quality

[Breezybro]

Hi, future Sonic owner, just trying to get a couple questions answered before I get my Sonic, and I was hoping somebody could help me.

I'm trying to decide between the Mylink or the Original(which I would aftermarket) radio, and I just wanted to know what kind of audio quality you guys are getting out of the head units? I'm planning on getting subs, an amp, and new speakers most likely and was wondering if it was good enough that I should just pay the $200 more for the Mylink or stick with the original just to aftermarket it.

Thank you all very much for any responses.

Nathan.

 

[dja1ien]

It sounds to me like the MyLink is a pretty cool factory HU and it integrates really well with the car, so if you could plan to use it for playback and perhaps just add on your amp, subs, and maybe a speaker amp for your doors I think you'd be pretty damn happy you spent the $200 to upgrade.

I got a 2012 just before seeing the changes in the 2013, and I'm kicking myself for missing out on MyLink. I'd have snagged it in a heartbeat.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

Hi, future Sonic owner, just trying to get a couple questions answered before I get my Sonic, and I was hoping somebody could help me.

I'm trying to decide between the Mylink or the Original(which I would aftermarket) radio, and I just wanted to know what kind of audio quality you guys are getting out of the head units? I'm planning on getting subs, an amp, and new speakers most likely and was wondering if it was good enough that I should just pay the $200 more for the Mylink or stick with the original just to aftermarket it.

Thank you all very much for any responses.

Nathan.

Breezybro,

I've definitely heard more positive comments and experiences about MyLink quality than negative. As you may know, the NEW Chevrolet MyLink audio system - includes AM/FM stereo with six speakers, Bluetooth streaming audio for music and select phones, voice recognition for phone, Pandora and Stitcher smartphone compatibility. All functions are controlled through a 7” diagonal color touchscreen. Which is standard on RS and LTZ; available on LS and LT.

I think it's worth the $$ but it's your decision.

Vanessa
GM Customer Service

 

[RS Turbo]

Might we suggest you test one for yourself and see if you like it or not... Dealer will let you test drive it! Its is a Bring Your Own Media based radio. No cd player but you can stream bluetooth audio and will have cool Navigation app for about $50 for most smart phones. This actually makes this unit very attractive for Most people. Really a Navigation type radio in a vehicle starting at $14k... It is actually pretty cool. As for upgrading to with an amp and subs or upgraded speakers this is a pieces of cake if you purchase the correct equipment and then you can leave the head unit stock.

 

[severous01]

they radio in mine (mylink) is definitely better than my bmw was, and it had harmon kardon 9 speaker system with a powered subwoofer.

just depends on how far you wanna go. the mylink integrates all my usb and phone music, plus has steering wheel controls. it's a clean looking system, and you can view pictures and videos on the screen (while not moving of course)...

while it's nothing compared to the new lexus/infinity/bmw systems, it's great sounding, looks fantastic, and is very easy to use. i'm just thankful that the system isnt' set up for ipod...i can't stand apple.

speakers have plenty of bass response, and are quite nice for a factory system. however on about level 18-20 the speakers definitely start bottoming out. so i do plan on a few little subs in the back with an amp or whatever.

 

[Kuntryboy865]

they radio in mine (mylink) is definitely better than my bmw was, and it had harmon kardon 9 speaker system with a powered subwoofer.

just depends on how far you wanna go. the mylink integrates all my usb and phone music, plus has steering wheel controls. it's a clean looking system, and you can view pictures and videos on the screen (while not moving of course)...

while it's nothing compared to the new lexus/infinity/bmw systems, it's great sounding, looks fantastic, and is very easy to use. i'm just thankful that the system isnt' set up for ipod...i can't stand apple.

speakers have plenty of bass response, and are quite nice for a factory system. however on about level 18-20 the speakers definitely start bottoming out. so i do plan on a few little subs in the back with an amp or whatever.

Rear speakers suck though, if you switch it to the rear speakers only they're not loud at all. so an amp needs to be ran to the rear speakers.

 

[severous01]

Rear speakers suck though, if you switch it to the rear speakers only they're not loud at all. so an amp needs to be ran to the rear speakers.

why would you put full sound to the rears?? first off, you can't hear them because the sound is directed at the floorboard, in the REAR PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. second, you're further away from them, third they're in the back seat...

again, why would you turn it to full rear? that's pointless to me but if that's how you listen to it then by all means, upgrade. to each their own. but in all seriousness, the factory system is much better than what they used to be, even 5 years ago. but some just arent satisfied without 2000 watts. i would like a little more bass but it's just not worth it for me to sacrifice what little space i have. nor is it worth it for me to pay someone 1000 for speakers, amps, and installation

 

[Kuntryboy865]

why would you put full sound to the rears?? first off, you can't hear them because the sound is directed at the floorboard, in the REAR PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. second, you're further away from them, third they're in the back seat...

again, why would you turn it to full rear? that's pointless to me but if that's how you listen to it then by all means, upgrade. to each their own. but in all seriousness, the factory system is much better than what they used to be, even 5 years ago. but some just arent satisfied without 2000 watts. i would like a little more bass but it's just not worth it for me to sacrifice what little space i have. nor is it worth it for me to pay someone 1000 for speakers, amps, and installation

Wrong on so many levels. You're full of it if you think that the sound system in a sonic is great sounding. I've never owned a car that had weak sounding rear speakers, its pretty much well known on the forum that the head unit is underpowered that's why the rear speakers are so weak.

 

[doreo]

And here i thought it was cause the head restricted the rear speakers to lows and some mids making it appear low volume

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[CoHPhasor]

Want my advice?

It depends on the aftermarket you would put in.
If you would put in a single DIN sized radio it might be a tough choice.
If you would put in a double DIN size with a screen, get MyLink absolutely.
The kit to convert the single DIN to double alone is $200 and I GUARANTEE someone here would buy your MyLink unit if you didn't want it.
(In hopes they could retrofit it into their '12)

That all said, I have MyLink and definitely like it.
Having an Android phone the voice command for calling is pretty sweet.

Hate the scrolling text for radio stations though, a moron designed it.
(Who the hell doesn't use as much of the screen as possible for text and limits it arbitrarily??)

 

[Kuntryboy865]

I agree MYlink is awesome, its leaps and bounds over the 2012 sonic radio.

 

[Breezybro]

Thank you all very much for the information, it is very appreciated... but now it almost brings me back to the same point, half of you say it's great to have, but the other half says the quality isn't up to par as an aftermarket head unit, and not even close. I personally have never had anything like a Mylink screen in a vehicle, so I wouldn't know what I was missing, I'm more trying to find out if the audio quality is good enough for it, or if I should aftermarket, I'm not that attached to the extra features so going without the Mylink wouldn't bother me much. As for double vs single DIN, it would be a single DIN, if I got Mylink I wouldn't aftermarket the head unit.

 

[laborsmith]

I do not recall a single post in this forum defending any of the 2012 model year audio choices. Not a one, but if I missed one please correct me. On the other hand there are numerous posts with positive assessments of MyLink.

Laborsmith

 

[dblackston]

Go with the MyLink for the head-unit, I doubt you will be disappointed when it comes down to costs. ~$200 for factory MyLink or ~$300+ for aftermarket conversion and not to mention install costs if you don't do it yourself plus the cost of everything else (subs/amp/etc). I personally have never been one for aftermarket stereo equipment but do with I had the MyLink in my Sonic.