Finally got my Stereo installed

[Dave S.]

My 03 Boxster S came with the low-end stereo option. Didn't even have speakers in the doors and no amp in the trunk.
Had my new system installed yesterday. It's nice to be able to hear the music again. I know it no longer looks stock, but I'm happy with it.

I ended up replacing the dash speakers with 4 inch Alpine co-axial units. The doors got 6 inch components with separate tweeters and the amp and cross overs are mounted in the trunk. The head unit is an Alpine digital media player designed to play USB drives and ipods - doesn't have a CD in it. Really enjoyed the hour drive home from the stereo shop last night.

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[Cloudsurfer]

Um....? Running coaxials along with 6 1/2" components is a VERY strange way of doing things. A FAR better idea would have been to use a true 3-way system designed to work together. How is that even wired to the amp and crossovers?

As far as the install, well, all I'll say is I've seen better work. You're going to find that your front trunk is now fairly useless, as you're hardly going to want to put things on top of that amp and crossovers.

Cool head unit if it was going in a Civic, but I think that looks absurdly out of place in a Porsche.

Just my $.02....

[demick]

Good thing it is your Porsche Dave, and not Patrick's. Everyone will have differing opinions, but the only one that matters in the end is your own.

I have a similar head unit (IDA-x001) and I like it for the most part (radio reception isn't very good, and the preset selection process is awful). I will agree with Patrick on the amplifier placement. When I bought my car, it had a giant amplifier that took the whole front trunk floor. I replaced it with a compact 5 channel amplifier that fits behind the spare tire in the stock amp location.

Bet it sounds worlds better than stock!

[Dave S.]

The installer said he'll build me a cover for the amp and cross overs. I just ran out of time the day he installed it. I was doing this on a budget so used an amp I already owned and unfortunately it was a little too big to fit up behind the spare tire.

I almost bought the older style IDA-X100 head unit because it was all black, but I wanted the unit to run and charge my ipod touch and that really limits your choices.

[mikes_box]

looks good to me.... just curious as to how much they charged you for the install... funny how when you tell a shop the car is a porsche they're basic install rates just jump up like crazy....

[Dave S.]

Originally Posted by mikes_box

looks good to me.... just curious as to how much they charged you for the install... funny how when you tell a shop the car is a porsche they're basic install rates just jump up like crazy....

The installation was about $320. That included the installation material like power wires, speaker wires, RCA cables etc., plus the labor to put it all in.

[Cloudsurfer]

If they charged you $320 for that I"d say you didn't get such a good deal. I'm still completely at a loss to even begin to guess how what you have is wired.

I completely understand using what you have instead of purchasing new (which is why I have "non-matching" Audison amps in my car), however, if I were doing an install in your car, would have gone a very different direction for a similar amount of money.

At the end of the day, if you're happy, then that's great!

[Dave S.]

Originally Posted by bmwm750

If they charged you $320 for that I"d say you didn't get such a good deal. I'm still completely at a loss to even begin to guess how what you have is wired.

I completely understand using what you have instead of purchasing new (which is why I have "non-matching" Audison amps in my car), however, if I were doing an install in your car, would have gone a very different direction for a similar amount of money.

At the end of the day, if you're happy, then that's great!

Not the competition install that you have for sure, but it sounds good to me and I thought it was a fair deal. The 4 inch alpines run off the front channels, with the high pass filter on the amp, and the components run off the rear channels. Pretty straight forward.

[Cloudsurfer]

Don't think I've ever seen anyone use coax's and components at the same time before, but if you're happy that's all that matters.

[TriGem2k]

Patrick I completely agree with you however I doubt most people on this forum are as picky as you and I when it comes to sound.

I think systems like what you and I have are not the norm for most car owners. I consider myself a borderline audiophile.

As long as Dave is happy thats all that matters.

[Cloudsurfer]

James

Could not agree more. And I consider myself a true audiophile, not just a borderline one