What is a decent radio substitute that will work with Bose system?
 

I have a read a few threads about replacing the Becker radio with a superior upgrade radio like those made in the back alleys of small Chinese villages.

My radio has a couple issues, but I don't do radio issues, so I just want to replace it with something that takes an IQ of less than 140 to operate it.

My big question... The car is a 2002 S with the Bose system. I need a radio unit that will work seamlessly with it, and it needs to be a single DIN and easy to install. Will I need a radio plug adapter?

I don't want to spend a ton of money on this radio, as all I listen to is right-wing extremist talk radio and alternative stuff that was produced in the 1980's and 90's. It would be nice if this unit had a USB input as well.

I know that Alpine radios are not nearly as awesome as they used to be, but I am kinda wanting one.

Do like I did; drop the car to a car stereo specialist, leave him the car key, and go shopping for something else for the wife. Takes 3~4hrs and <$250. More if you want to change the speakers and amp I'm guessing.

Few options to look into; either using "analog-to-optical adapter" in the 12vdc ($25~$500). I think this is if yuou want to retain cd charger feature only, could be wrong.

or the back alley kit for a stomping $1,499 lolll
Porsche w Bose Premium Amp Stereo Radio Wire Harness | eBay

Alpine are great electronics :) does what it does anyway

Your eyes must be going bad from all the late nigh machining sessions producing your fabo lights.

The listed price is $14.00, not $1499
LOL

Porsche tax

lolll I was trying to be sarcastic (the original back alley comment made laugh).

Night Fumes. Yummy!!! Sulfuric acids vapor from anodizing, industrial de-greasers or polishers, petroleum based fumes inhaled from machining at high speed (coolant evaporating in the air). Colleague Andy's funny cigarettes smoke.....

Allll good fun.... you should see my Headwear Gas Mask bud :/

Alpine CDE-HD148BT from crutchfield. Just put it in my boxster and I'm happy with it. I did a lot of research and found this to be the best bang for the buck. Doesn't break the bank and has good features like bluetooth and a USB adaptor you can use to charge and connect your phone. Costs a little more from crutchfield, but they include everything you need to install it yourself.

I used an Alpine CDE-HD149BT and it does everything I need.

You are the Walter White of Boxster addicts. You even have a sidekick. Is your other car a Pontiac Aztec? This could be a blockbuster TV series. We could call it...

Knurling Bad.

I have done lots and lots of research on this. Bose system = a complete pain + $$$.
It has been well talked about online

I went with the iSimple Tranzit Blu and love it. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth and send the signal to your stock system. Cost less than 100$, easy self install within an hour.

If I were a partier, I would want to party with you! :cheers:

These two posts right next to each other are showing me a pattern. :)

Now to go look at that harness, and do some reading about how to make the Bose work with it.

Bose is just satellite amps and speakers... I have a soldering gun if I need one.:D

Have a look at the CDE-111RM. Comes with built-in 4X50W and the back-lighting is virtually identical to Porsche's.

Alpine it is ;) remember, the world's first in-car CD player (25+ year loyal customer here!)

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1470181085.jpg

I just dropped a Kenwood KDC-BT365 unit ($179 CDN) in my '99, The installer had to bypass the amp though but it still has a ton of juice. I also put in new dash speakers and installed rears as well. Sounds awesome. The unit has bluetooth, CD and USB connections and a removable faceplate. I thought it was good value.

I think I will be going with one of these... a CDE 152.

No, it does not match the color of anything else in the car, but it DOES match the color scheme of my fake Diablo. The plan is to pull this out of the Porsche when the time comes to sell it, and cram it into the other car. It has all of the things I would actually use, and none of the stuff I don't need anyway.

Dxterity, I don't know why your installer had to skip on the attaching it to the (I presume Bose) amplifier... but I am only assuming that your radio has an on/off trigger lead for an amplifier(s) ?

Nine8Six...I bought one of those harnesses off of eBay this evening...Thanks for the lead! (pun intended)

http://www.pacificstereo.com/media/c...52_agl_1_1.png

That's great. Let us know how the harness went. I think my installer used electric tape to hold all of those clipped wires. Saw it lately, 2" wide ball of tape! Bugger... works.

Adds to the stuff I have the breath in; that hot electric tap fumes, trowing out from dash vents. Sound is completely different after 5 min, feels LIVE loll

Back to your question RE decent unit... just found out FLAC works at Alpine these days. Worth looking into if you are looking for true output. Mind you MP3 digital sounds if 'okay' but if I had to do it all again I'd go for a unit model listed there:

Alpine (list of FLAC supported units)

ps: careful of those old speakers with that extra bass freq, they're old man ;) bose or not

None of the music or radio I listen to requires any bass response below 50hz. :D

Enjoy! Go Go Alpine Go
 

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Speaking of Breaking Bad
 

Funny thing is I work with a lady whose husband bought one of the meth lab RV props from Breaking Bad. They rent it out for parties. We not rented, it sits in their driveway.

Clarification
 

The eBay item/harness posted above is for the BOSE M490 AMP. This will NOT work if you have the BOSE M680 (MOST) system. If equipped with the latest, you need to buy and rig a "analog-to-optical adapter" in the 12vdc.

And Alpine makes the best car head units - period.

Thank you :D

I just found this out this morning.

However, I don't think my problem involves either of the aformentioned issues.

The harness I received only has "regular" line out for the front speakers.

My radio, near as I can tell, does NOT use line-level outs to the amp, at least according to the pin-out on the yellow plug...only ONE wire coming out, and that is the "amp turn on" wire.

It appears as though the car uses all "regular" level outs from the radio...so I have to cut the fugging connector and splice 8 wires...which is ok, as Im pretty good with a soldering iron.