I've always been puzzled about how the standard 3rd gen Magna head units sounded better than other Mitsubishi's i've owned.

I've owned two 3rd gen Magnas and they both had better sounding factory cassette deck systems than my GTO, Legnum and both Evo's.

I even replaced my GTO's speakers with the same ones from a Magna.
Then i installed the stock Magna head unit in the GTO and the sound was still very "hollow" compared to when those speakers and head unit were in the Magna.
How does this work?

I can only imagine that the Magna is powered by an additional amplifier hidden somewhere?

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii158/dimi108/Default%20Album%202/2669_8mg.jpg

Position of the speakers and their boxes, perhaps?

Nah, definitely not as the Evo's speakers have a similar layout.

No one knows if there's an additional amp somewhere?

No exterior amp - stock Magna sound system had speakers powered off the HU.

Larger body of the magna holds better acoustics haha

Better acoustics in a larger car? Haha, yeah right.

Better acoustics in a larger car? Haha, yeah right.

How are the rear speakers mounted in the GTO?

Larger body of the magna holds better acoustics haha

You're kidding right? The accoustics of the magna are terrible, the doors are too large for standard speakers, the parcel shelf not much better. Takes some decent work to get good midbass from the magna / verada doors with decent gear

I was joking...

hence why i said you're kidding right? lol

It amuses me that you went to all the effort of moving a stock Magna sound system into a different car entirely. Why not just go after-market for something a hell of a lot better? Even cheap gear from JB sounds better.

Why not just go after-market for something a hell of a lot better? Even cheap gear from JB sounds better.
Yeah, considering i replaced my hektik aftermarket front door speakers with $300 Rockfords... Just to TRY and match how good the original Ralliart items were. And you can still hear all the good sound coming from the factory 6x9s. That's a no.

Wow... I really didnt believe that a stock car could possibly sound worse than a 3rd gen Magna! It has to be the worst stock system I have heard in my life.

As suggested above, i could easily go out and buy something aftermarket, but i don't like the cheap look of an aftermarket head unit. I've always preferred the stock or OEM look inside.

Now i've compared three head units from Australian Magnas.
As funny as it sounds, some of the earlier 3rd gen Magna head units (particularly the older Cassette decks) are more powerful than the CD player units that were equiped on the Evo's and GTO's from Japan.
But the newer TJ-TW model Magna CD player produce worse (very hollow) sound compared to any Mitsubishi head unit i've heard before.

Appreciate the responses guys.

Is this stock looking enough?

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_21600_Eclipse-CD1200G.html

Advantage of stock look, but high quality Eclipse gear.

Sh*t mate, that's a nice stock-looking unit.
It's only $99 too.

I'm going to buy it.
Added it to my cart. Thanks a lot bro :)

Btw, how did you find that? I've been looking for a nice unit like that for a while but all i found were those expensive Nakamichi ones that cost like $800.

Haha, I did a quick google on "stock looking aftermarket head unit" and found a couple of people like yourself who love the stock look. One of them linked this unit. Having heard Eclipse gear before, I'm sure you will love the addition of quality it will provide. However, it is a big must to upgrade the stuff you can't see as well (that being speakers!) if you want a nice quality system.

But the newer TJ-TW model Magna CD player produce worse (very hollow) sound compared to any Mitsubishi head unit i've heard before.
Have you used the Premium head unit that comes in the TL VR-X and KL Verada's? I would be quite content with one of those running high level input on an amp if they had mp3 support. Very good head unit for a stock one if you ask me!