986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners (http://986forum.com/forums/)
-   Boxster General Discussions (http://986forum.com/forums/boxster-general-discussions/)
-   -   Go back to stock head unit? (http://986forum.com/forums/boxster-general-discussions/72870-go-back-stock-head-unit.html)

ScottAZ 07-26-2018 07:33 AM

Go back to stock head unit?
 
The previous owner of my 02 put in a single DIN Sony head unit, presumably to gain Bluetooth connectivity. My car came with the Bose system and has the amp and CD changer in the frunk. The system sounds like complete garbage. The bass is distorted, there's a constant hiss and it just sounds flat.

I know very little about audio systems and their wiring. Is it safe to assume that the amp isn't being utilized with the aftermarket head unit? If so, I would be willing to forgo Bluetooth for better sound and would consider buying a replacement OEM head unit.

Any advice or suggestions? How can I determine if the amp is being utilized? Thanks!

particlewave 07-26-2018 09:08 AM

That hiss and distortion is the stock amp. Get rid of it, as it is weaker than the Sony HU built in amp, and sound will drastically improve. ;)

Unplug the connectors from the amp. If you get no sound after that, the stock amp is being used.

ScottAZ 07-26-2018 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by particlewave (Post 576071)
That hiss and distortion is the stock amp. Get rid of it, as it is weaker than the Sony HU built in amp, and sound will drastically improve. ;)

Unplug the connectors from the amp. If you get no sound after that, the stock amp is being used.

Interesting! So if I find out that the amp is actually still connected (and therefore the source of the issues), and I unplug it and get no sound, how to I reconnect things, avoiding the amp? Sorry if that's a stupid question. I'm pretty ignorant with car audio.

particlewave 07-26-2018 09:36 AM

If that's the case, take pictures of the wire connectors coming out of the amp and I'll write up some instructions for you.

ScottAZ 07-26-2018 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by particlewave (Post 576075)
If that's the case, take pictures of the wire connectors coming out of the amp and I'll write up some instructions for you.

Very kind, thank you sir! I'll get the car back tomorrow from the shop and will take a pic.

azlvr 07-26-2018 11:08 AM

I have a Sony HU along with alpine 150w a channel amp and high end speakers and sounds amazing.

ScottAZ 07-26-2018 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azlvr (Post 576080)
I have a Sony HU along with alpine 150w a channel amp and high end speakers and sounds amazing.

Did your car originally have the factory Bose system? If so, are you using the Bose sub?

azlvr 07-26-2018 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottAZ (Post 576082)
Did your car originally have the factory Bose system? If so, are you using the Bose sub?

No I didn’t have the Bose system but I have the 6 channel system.
I have hi quality 6.5 in speakers in doors that have lots of bass. I also don’t use the rear deck speakers.

ScottAZ 07-28-2018 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by particlewave (Post 576075)
If that's the case, take pictures of the wire connectors coming out of the amp and I'll write up some instructions for you.

Here is what I'm working with. The amp is connected (pulled one of the wire harnesses and the sound was killed). After messing around with the EQ, the sound isn't completely terrible. FM and Bluetooth have more distortion and hissing than using a direct aux connection. I think that can probably be blamed on an weak early Bluetooth receiver and a less than ideal FM antenna.

Still, do you think bypassing the amp will help? The Bose sub is rattly and sounds like a fart even with the bass turned down and there is some hissing no matter what I do. I wonder if it's worth going around the amp. Thanks for the help!

https://s8.postimg.cc/swtpdeusl/IMG_7689.jpg

https://s8.postimg.cc/6kvwjxvnp/IMG_7686.jpg

https://s8.postimg.cc/4t2xp39qt/IMG_7688.jpg

Cunningr 07-28-2018 08:49 AM

My opinion is to bypass the amp and disconnect the bose sub if its making that much noise.

Just a visual the bottom connector are the wires that go to your speakers.

ScottAZ 07-28-2018 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cunningr (Post 576212)
My opinion is to bypass the amp and disconnect the bose sub if its making that much noise.

Just a visual the bottom connector are the wires that go to your speakers.

Is bypassing the amp just a matter of moving wires around? Any guidance?

Cunningr 07-28-2018 09:11 AM

Well probably the easiest methid would be to run speaker wires from the speaker outputs on the head unit to where the connector is on the amp.

You could then just unplug the connector and go 2 or 3 inches back from the connector and splice into the wiring harness.

I am not familiar with the Bose wiring so might wait on Particle Wave to give some advice.


The other option would be run new speaker wires from hu to the speakers. The dash wings are easy enough. But getting into the door cavity is a pain.


I did a full upgrade:
Pioneer HU
Alpine pdx 9 amp
Hertz 3 way components 6.5 door, 3 inch mid and 1 inch tweeter dash.
Modified an old 996 cabriolet subwoofer box installed an 8” pioneer shallow mount sub driver. Had to stuff the box and use dynamat to clear some buzz in the box. Sounds really good now.
Cross over duties handled by the head unit.

Cunningr 07-28-2018 09:15 AM

so are the head units outs in use now to amp are the RCA connections? If not that could be some of your problem, the amp needs the lower power signal otherwise can inject noise.

particlewave 07-28-2018 09:43 AM

That Sony HU will definitely sound better on its own. I'll write up some directions for you tonight. It will involve splicing wires at the amp connector (no need to remove the stereo...all can be done in the front trunk).

ScottAZ 07-28-2018 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by particlewave (Post 576217)
That Sony HU will definitely sound better on its own. I'll write up some directions for you tonight. It will involve splicing wires at the amp connector (no need to remove the stereo...all can be done in the front trunk).

Awesome, thank you VERY much!

mgfranz 07-28-2018 12:54 PM

I had a similar problem with my E34 BMW, I bypassed the issue by wiring the factory amp to be fed by speaker wire signals, ignoring the HU pre-amp outputs and letting the amp take simple feeds from the speaker outs.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:08 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website