I found a sucker , er... um - kind fellow forum member to let me take his car apart yesterday

In the process of doing some work on JetBlackE31's car we exposed the Monsoon components. I didn't remove anything for closer examination, but I did snap some shots off while I was in there.

I also removed the head unit to see if adding XM to an XM-ready head unit was a simple matter of "plug-and-play" by adding an XM antenna. Sadly, this is not the case. His car is equipped with the mid-level head unit (single CD with road speed-variable volume). The connections on the back of the unit look the same as those on my base-level unit. I didn't really look into the wire harnesses to see if I could determine anything as far as how many extra pin-outs are used. I didn't take any pictures of the unit, but there is a fan inside the uplevel unit whereas there is none inside mine.

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I've never met a Solstice I wouldn't autopsy.

'06 #101409 - Sold to move to Germany

'08 GXP #105359 - Bought and stored 10 months before I move back from Germany!

For those who were hopeful, I'll tell you right now: I doubt that the wire harness is already there if your car didn't come equipped with the Monsoon option. Here are pictures of mine for comparison.

I suppose there's a chance the wire harness would be there if you didn't bet the bottom level head unit (like I did), which isn't even available with monsoon in the first place.

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I've never met a Solstice I wouldn't autopsy.

'06 #101409 - Sold to move to Germany

'08 GXP #105359 - Bought and stored 10 months before I move back from Germany!

Thank you very much. Very informative.

I suppose the big baffle box is plastic, right?

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"Emmaline" 5913 Envious/Ebony - loaded except base radio/no xm/polished
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It seems like plastic to me. No telling what type or how thick it is without taking it apart.

__________________
I've never met a Solstice I wouldn't autopsy.

'06 #101409 - Sold to move to Germany

'08 GXP #105359 - Bought and stored 10 months before I move back from Germany!

Boy that Monsoon stuff looks kind of junky, but now I understand the setup better from the pictures. I originally thought there would be a cut out in the metal for the sub to sit in, but I guess it's just a really thin cone with a thin driver. Anyone know what sits directly on the otherside of the metal where the sub is? Maybe if the metal was cut out a bigger sub could fit, driver on one side of the metal and cone on the other. The amp side isn't bad, probably could fit a regular sized aftermarket amp there. Maybe JL will figure out a stealthbox for the trunk.

Question, difference between Monsoon and non Monsoon? It's the same 6 speakers from the regular system, only they add the sub, and an amp. Is this correct? If that's the case it's easier to just get the standard system and then upgrade.

I haven't heard the Monsoon system. How is it?

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GXP Mysterious darkside l ebony leather with red
headliner l sport pedals l A/C l single disc Monsoon XM l chrome l no spoiler, onstar, smokers, or mayo
Ferrari F430/612 Scaglietti - Alfa Romeo 8C - Porche 911 Turbo - Lambo Gallardo Superleggera - Aston Martin Vanquish S/DB9/Vantage - Merc SL 65/SLK 55 - Tesla Roadster - Vette Z06 - Lotus Elise - Infiniti G35 6MT - BMW M3/3 series - classics - Chevy Nova - Camaro - Vette - Dodge Challenger - Pontiac GTO

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Have an awful lot of conclusions for having not heard it. It sounds great for stock, I assure you.

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They call me The Orange One™

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I was going to have my head unit swapped out for a Pioneer Nav system. The rep at the audio shop (An audio shop that has won awards and been in top auto audio mags) said that he thought the Monsoon system sounded pretty awsome for an OEM system. He also said if it was his he keep the OEM system because of well the OEM system blends with the look of the whole dash. I love the sound from my Monsoon system... I've had other high end systems in other cars and this one IMO sounds about the best.

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[FONT=Palatino Linotype]VIN-365, Mysterious, Steel/Sand, All the options minus OnStar.

P.S. I really don't understand why some members complain about "junk" or bad manufacturing... then in the next breath complain about a bad or less than favorable review... I think if you look at any car or take it apart you're going to find things that are not made to your liking... Overall I think Pontiac has done a great job and I really LOVE the design and performance of my Solstice... But then again everyone has their own opinion...

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[FONT=Palatino Linotype]VIN-365, Mysterious, Steel/Sand, All the options minus OnStar.

I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the monsoon. It won't make your ears bleed but it will rattle the neighbors windows.

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Ordered 08/09/05, "picked up" 11/11/05 3rd of 14 second allocation. born on the winter solstice. 4200 12/23/05. Delivered 1/18/06

Aggressive|power pkg.|polished|ls|mp3|monsoon|ebony cloth|a/c

VIN # 7672

Her name is Scully.

hey fortimir, have you noticed that the ipod setup sounds better than the cds?

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-Black 2006 Solstice #733 (Sold)
-Black 2007 GXP

I have only used MP3 CDs and the iPod setup, and for the most part they are indistinguishable.

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Not an owner any longer.

They call me The Orange One™

Fortimir Design
R&R Music Central

The Best iPod Solution for your Solstice

Fortimir's current screenshot

I'm not saying the car is junk or any of the parts for that matter, heck I'm buying one. There are just certain areas that will need improvement depending on who the driver is and what they like. The younger crowd might be more interested in upgrading audio, while maybe others will want to upgrade other things but not audio. And I have no idea what the Monsoon system sounds like, but I do know what sounds good (to me), since everyone's tastes are different. If everyone thought it was the best they heard, there wouldn't be other people on the forum already replacing the Monsoon system, just like there are people putting on CAI, lil' chromies, etc. who didn't think the stock was junk but thought they could make it better. Also the price is $400 and most audio enthusiasts would say that for that money the quality of the components can't be that good. I do like the look of the stock HU, but there are many other reasons for upgrading other than just sound quality. I'm currently used to listening with a 12" JL W6v2, JL 500/1 amp with 1F cap, Eclipse HU, alpine speakers, and I would be very impressed if the Monsoon system sounded just as good. I didn't mean to offend anyone, I love the car, we all do, but were all fiddling with it too.

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GXP Mysterious darkside l ebony leather with red
headliner l sport pedals l A/C l single disc Monsoon XM l chrome l no spoiler, onstar, smokers, or mayo
Ferrari F430/612 Scaglietti - Alfa Romeo 8C - Porche 911 Turbo - Lambo Gallardo Superleggera - Aston Martin Vanquish S/DB9/Vantage - Merc SL 65/SLK 55 - Tesla Roadster - Vette Z06 - Lotus Elise - Infiniti G35 6MT - BMW M3/3 series - classics - Chevy Nova - Camaro - Vette - Dodge Challenger - Pontiac GTO

banner courtesy of: crundell

I have only had mine for a couple days...but so far I am unimpressed by the Monsoon system. The Bose system in my Silverado SS sounds much better.

I think it sounds good for a stock system but it lacks the "punch" I was hoping for.

As long as I can hear it under WOT, CAI, Headers, Turbo, hi-flow cat, and custom cat-back exhaust, I don't care. Maybe I will just have to make sure the speed compensator works

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