My daily driver is a 2003 Bonneville SSEi. This car has a phenomenal radio system. I don't understand why, the radio in my 2002 Trans Am Collector Edition convertible is so different? I understand there are not as many speakers, but it just does not have the quality crisp sound that my Bonneville has? Now I am wondering if all of my speakers in the CE are operational or if there is a defect in my radio? The other thing that I determined last night is that even though both cars have a GM 12 disc player in the trunk and they are one year apart, the disc pack is not interchangeable!

Is there anything I can do to improve the sound in my cpnvertible without changing the radio (I am a stickler for keeping the appearance all original) - will upgrading the speakers do anything to help and I do not want to fill the trunk with a base box.

Maybe I need to take it to a radio shop and have them inspect it - I really don't like relying on the dealer for accessory items like this.

Here'* the thing with upgrading speakers. If you do, you need more power. A lot of aftermarket speakers won't produce excellent sound on factory power. You'd need to amplify them, then keep the volume **** lower.

It could still look stock, you could still use your stock head unit, but need to place an amp somewhere unintrusive.

doies the trans am have a monsoon?

Yes the Trans Am has the Monsoon, but the equalizer is the old style with the slide controls.

does it have an amp too? and the controls your speaking of are the 7 band or treble and bass?

7 band equalizer and no other amp than what is in the radio itself?

Hmm. Doesn't the TA have the 10 speaker Monsoon system or did they drop the # of speakers in the Monsoon system since the late 90'*? The SSEi should have 8 so I am assuming the TA has two more.
I'm am going to venture to say that alot of it has to do with the TA being a Convertable has alot to do with it. My brother had a 1989 Chrysler Lebaron TURBO II GTC Coupe with the Infinity II stereo system and I had/have my 1988 Lebaron TURBO II GTC Conv which also had the Infinity II (with factory CD). His system blew mine out of the water due to the flow of accoustics. The soft top doesn't provide much for sound insulation, while the roof line of the Bonneville helps the flow of the music towards your ears (seems like I read this once in a Bonneville sales brochure)
Also, the Bonneville'* were designed for much better accoustical flow.
BTW I am guessing the SSEi has the Monsoon speakers too, or are they Premium Pontiac/Delco speakers? Am I correct to assume that the BOSE equipped SSEi'* stopped in O2?

Trans Am has 8 speakers because it is a convertible. My SSEi does have the Bose system and I agree that the general consensus seems to be the "acoustics" of the hardtop with more speakers vs. the convertible with less speakers.