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Old 11-01-2008, 06:55 AM   #1
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I agree, it sounds like a new head unit would be a good start, then maybe a speaker upgrade.
You'll find that there are a lot of good head units designed to not only connect to, but fully operate your iPod for the $200-300 price range you would consider.

Go to www.cartoys.com and/or www.crutchfield.com and you find all kinds of information. Alpine even makes a head unit that doesn't have a CD in it anymore and only uses the radio or iPod.

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Old 11-01-2008, 07:14 AM   #2
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I started with a speaker upgrade and then added a six channel amp from a 996. Here's my upgrade path:

1. Added rear speaker - I used the Harvey/PNP kit that you can find on eBay.
2. Replaced dash speakers with Infinity Kappas
3. Found a six-channel amp on eBay and replaced the stock 4-channel amp
4. Swapped the CDR-220 for a Traffic Pro. I don't think this made much of change in the sound quality since the Traffic Pro is very similar to the CDR-220. The reason I made this change was that the Traffic Pros were on sale and the net cost was relatively low after I resold the CDR-220. My CDR-220 was having cosmetic issues due to peeling buttons.

Mike - Here is a good tutorial on installing the rear speakers: http://www.pelicanparts.com//techarticles/box_rear_speakers/box_rear_speakers.htm
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Old 11-21-2008, 12:54 PM   #3
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I busted my old HU (Alpine CDA-9847) so I've recently been looking at what to replace it with. It's an easier process now that I've already made 1 pass at upgrading the stereo in my Boxster. I'm going to leave the MB Quart 6.5' woffers that I added to the doors a couple years ago, as well as the Harvey rear kit. I'll pull the Kenwood components out of the dash and replace them with Polk 401 coax. I looked at HUs and was targeting being under $200 for a good one, which is do-able. I'm probably going to get the Sony CDX-GT821IP (~$160) but another good option is the one right below it: CDX-GT620IP. Both have a real iPod connector that allows you to plug it in and leave it while it's recharged by the car and you control it via the HU. You can also just plug it into the standard Aux input on the front of the HU. Both come with the iPod cable. The main thing that makes me like the 820 better is that the display is bigger (3-line) which will make scrolling through the iPod easier. I should mention that I also looked for HUs where I could change the illumination colors. I hate bright lights in my dash so some of the standard HU colors aren't to my liking.
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Old 11-21-2008, 02:31 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CA_Boxster
I busted my old HU (Alpine CDA-9847) so I've recently been looking at what to replace it with. It's an easier process now that I've already made 1 pass at upgrading the stereo in my Boxster. I'm going to leave the MB Quart 6.5' woffers that I added to the doors a couple years ago, as well as the Harvey rear kit. I'll pull the Kenwood components out of the dash and replace them with Polk 401 coax. I looked at HUs and was targeting being under $200 for a good one, which is do-able. I'm probably going to get the Sony CDX-GT821IP (~$160) but another good option is the one right below it: CDX-GT620IP. Both have a real iPod connector that allows you to plug it in and leave it while it's recharged by the car and you control it via the HU. You can also just plug it into the standard Aux input on the front of the HU. Both come with the iPod cable. The main thing that makes me like the 820 better is that the display is bigger (3-line) which will make scrolling through the iPod easier. I should mention that I also looked for HUs where I could change the illumination colors. I hate bright lights in my dash so some of the standard HU colors aren't to my liking.
I totally agree with you on the head unit color. I didn't see any with adjustable color on the bestbuy circuitcity websites, but if you go to crutchfield and other stereo specific stores, I found models that allow you to adjust the display through a multitude of colors - which would not only allow you to not make it too bright, but would permit you to find a shade that would probably do a good job of looking OEM In terms of matching the dash lighting.. my 2000 has that orangey color to it and I don't really want a bright blue/green/red HU that clashes. call me anal, but I like it all to "flow" and look OEM.

funny thing about my rear speakers. I flipped my seats forward and I can see that on the passenger side, there is a plastic plate that the speakers are bolted into - from looking at the online photos of the rear speaker kits - I swear the car must have an older ersio nof that..the plastic has markings on it, and appears molded to fit into the cubby. but then on the drives side, whoever installed it used a piece of wood. literally, it is wood colored, and it is cut to the dimensions of the rear speaker kit... i am not the original owner...so I have to assume the original owner must have either had "part" of the kit, or maybe broke the piece and had to custom fab half of it... unsure... i may want to paint black - now it's bugging me that there is this wood thign in there.


i don't have speaker grills covering the opening..i think i'll just get some grill material and fab up some grills to cover it up and then you can't see it anyway.

i DO have the OEM 4 channel amp in the front trunk. Can you just pull that amp out and wire in a better more pwoerful amp? or will it not work with the factory head unit?

or what about getting a nwer more powerful HU and then somehow try to use that factory amp to run the rear speakers? use the HU to run the front four speakers and the OEM amp to run teh rears? or would that not work?
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Old 11-21-2008, 06:43 PM   #5
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Search this site on Avic D3!

Pickup a double din DVD / Nav / ipod / XM, etc., system and you'll never regret it! I put JL audio subs in the door first and that made a nice difference. I then replaced the head unit with an Avic D3 (new models are better) and a cheap amp and my stereo setup is really cool. I spent like $500 on the head unit, $75 on the amp and got some free subs from a generous neighbor. The dash speakers are decent enough for now...

You can change the color of the buttons on the Pioneer systems. I like blue best.

My 9 year old loves going for a ride. We connect the iPod video to the Avic D3 and play rock videos like Blink 182, +44, Box Car Racer and Angels and Airwaves (all derivations of Blink 182 members)...

Go with the DVD / Nav systems and you'll never regret it!

-Steve
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Old 11-22-2008, 09:15 AM   #6
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DVD/Nav

"Go with the DVD / Nav systems and you'll never regret it!"

I agree with the above, as long as you have the money. Last year I got a nav unit which I loved, but I hate having to run the power plugs to it. So I just finished having a Kenwood double din DVD/nav unit installed and the system looks and sounds great. An added bonus with many of the later-generation head units is the bluetooth phone capability, kinda fun to have your whole car be a 1000 watt cell phone.

Now, as soon as the car gets back from the shop, I will be able to enjoy it. My aftermarket headers burned a hole in the coolant line, and I was spraying coolant all over the place.

Ed

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