Upgrade to stereo / Sat Nav system

Shane Hodges · Dec 1, 2003

Despite the request for baby seats below, I'm looking to replace the stereo and put in a Sat Nav system - has anyone done this recently ?

What I am looking for is some natty solutions as to where to put the CD changer (anyone fitted one in the glove box or out of site anywhere else other than under the front ?)

I'm also looking for some advice on the rear speakers - any high quality 6"x4"'s out there or do you need to enlarge the holes / go for 4" diameters ?

If anyone could let me know whether they have had trouble fitting 6.5" speakers in the door it would also be much appreciated.

Thanks

Guest · Dec 2, 2003

I'm no expert on stereos, but the owner before me put a separate amplifier into the spare wheel (where the compressor normally stows) and stashed the compressor in the glove box. Bizarre - but it works!

Jonathan

tim court · Dec 2, 2003

Don't really know the interior of a 993 but a Kenwood 6CD changer fitted like it was made for the glovebox of my old 944S2 - like a glove I suppose.....

Even had a nice hole for the cable in exactly the right place.....

Shane Hodges · Dec 5, 2003

Thanks for the info. I planned on putting the amp in the spare wheel Jonathan and now know where I can store the compressor if I can't get a CD changer to fit in the glove box !

I'll have a look at the Kenwood CD changer too - thanks Tim.

I'll post this on the general info board to see what some non-993 people have to say.

Guest · Dec 11, 2003

Hi Shane

In my 993, I had the entire audio system replaced (the standard speakers in a 993 that does not have the 10 speaker sound pack are terrible - old cardboard Nokia speakers). The front's are the main speakers to go for - I have a set of Boston Accoustic RC-61's in there (6"), powered by an amp which we located in the front spare wheel (a special board mounted in the wheel so the amp sits in there), and it means it's easy to get power from the battery. The compressor sits behind the seats as not a lot goes there anyway.

My CD (12 disc) changer has been in two places - my old car saw it on the right hand side (ie parallel with the head light) which also allowed the carpet to be stretched over it. The current one has it mounted to the front flap (ie that runs across the front of the car), so I can still access the spare wheel. It works well.

Rear speakers - I got a set of Kenwood ones, cost about £100, but do a good job of handling the head unit (not through the amp) as these are very much rear fill speakers in the 993.

Hope this helps. Andy

Shane Hodges · Jan 4, 2004

Many thanks for all this info Andy.

I had been toying with the idea of not even wiring up the rear speakers and simply going for some knockout component speakers at the front (not too sure where the cross overs will go but that is a problem I can overcome when I see how big they are.)

However, having listened to the stereo with just front speakers, the sound isn't quite right - I will keep the rears as "fill" as you have done and also run them off the head unit rather than the amp.

Car goes in for a quick check in a fornight (has been a bit fidgety on the road over the last few months - tyres are fine) so I plan on discussing stereo-fitters with the OPC then.

Regards,

Guest · Jan 6, 2004

Shane

Easy on the split locations - if you ever have a chnace to see a 993 with factory speaker upgrade (10 speakers), open the door bins and you'll see a small shelf just behind the door handle which houses the splits. When I had mine installed in both my 993's (previous and current), it was here they were located. You can hardly see them as they tuck away deep in the door bin and thus are located direvtly between the inner door handle and the door itself. Hope this helps. Andy

Shane Hodges · Jan 7, 2004

Extremely useful information again Andy - many thanks.

I might go showroom hunting for a factory stereo upgraded car to see what you mean.

jcosh · Jan 7, 2004

Shane

I am also currently looking to upgrade the sound system in my 993.

I currently have a Sony CD changer in the spare wheel, mounted to the underside of the carpet. This works fine. However, I am thinking about a new Alpine head unit which can read MP3 files and play CD's. The upside is that you can store more music than you will ever get from a CD changer and free up the space. Also, good Alpine head units are fairly powerful (60 watts, I think), so unless you need more power output it could also negate the need for an amp.

I am still trying to get good advice about speakers, but want to replace the front and rears.

I am also after a good/recommended fitter in the Gatwick area. Any ideas?

Jonathan.

Guest · Jan 8, 2004

Jonathan

All will be fine with a 60watt head unit, but remember that the sound going through an amp is not just about volume but also quality. Amps as you know are big - for a reason. They can handle far better outputs and types of music. Any car with an amp (a decent one) is always going to sound better than running it off the head unit. Secondly, the quality comes in from the amp taking the signal from the x volt output - my Alpine head unit is a MOS Fet Final unit with 60w per channel x 4, but I have a 4 volt output for the amp, which provides a far better and clearer signal to the amp. Ergo, a decent amp with a far cleaner signal will always provide a better signal. If you like music, always go the amp route, and in the 993, the fronts are all that need doing.

Trying to get good advice is easy - it;s determining what the answer is that is hard. All I can say is that my Boston Accoustics 61's in the front of mine (with splits and tweeters, using the existing speaker grills to look good) sound fantastic and are a well known and highly regarded speaker that work in the 993. The rear's are Kenwood and are perfect for fill with some decent bass.

All in all, replaceing speakers and the head unit with new stuff plus an amp on the fronts will give you the best option. To be honest, I would never now go without an amp - the sound is way much better than the head unti could ever do.
Andy

James Shunt · Jan 8, 2004

Jonathan

My 993 has an Alpine head unit (with MP3-compatible CD-R reader) and changer plus 4 Infinity speakers all fitted last June by the previous owner. Together they sound pretty good. I haven't had time to hunt around to see how the specialist installed all the bits. While looking to buy last Oct/Nov/Dec I've seen changers mounted in the well of the spare wheel (ie under the carpet) though mine is mounted on top - I'm not sure if it would fit beneath and although it takes up luggage space, it's easier to get at to change CDs. My Alpine changer doesn't read MP3 CDs, however, only audio CDs.

I'm sure you know this but bear in mind that compression (depending on the bit rate you rip at) will mean the quality of recording of MP3 CDs is not quite up to the level of audio CDs - the convenience of having lots of tracks on one CD-R could be a false economy if you're spending a grand on a top-notch system to get good sound.

The fitter the previous owner used was in West London (I think). I can look up which tonight if you need a name, and also the type of Alpine I've got if it helps.

James

Guest · Jan 9, 2004

Shane - I've got Focal spkrs up front using the oem mounts with Kenwoods out back as fillers (all routed thru my amp in the front under the bonnet) - it works very well and sounds great. No Maurice, not as good as the engine but sometimes (like waiting in the 3 hour queue to get into Goodwood) you need such things [8D]

Shane Hodges · Jan 15, 2004

Another recommendation for Kenwood's in the back - thanks Surj.

A minor disaster has struck though. Before Christmas, on questioning when a postcode search would be available for the Alpine 1-Din Sat Nav system, the Alpine technician "suggested" that I should wait until the New Year as "there might be some software updates".

A formal email to Alpine last week has led to a "not sure when comment" - slightly annoying really, but I'll let you know what develops.

Maurice - traffic jams in the West Country on Bank Holiday weekends are also the perfect time to listen to some quality hi-fi in the comfort of your own quality motor !

C V Read · Jan 16, 2004

shame about the alpine - its suposed to be very good and at least fits in the car without looking like an add-on. I got desperate for ways to avoid the usual a303 sunday evening joy as well and ended up going for separate Nav and sound - the end result was:

vdo ms 5000 nav - good because you get a map screen and can tell where its trying to take you, bad because you have a screen on a mount in th emiddle of the dash

JVC 505 head unit that plays MP3s (so no need to use boot space with a changer) through focal speakers in the front and pioneer replacements in the back, which all fit in the normal holes. The focals are abit harsh but very good with a bit of volume - the poineers are OK (much better than the deteriorated nokias that cme out) but you'd have to sit in the back to really know...

Power and quality are pretty good for such a noisy car & if the headunit has enough oomph I didn't see much need for an amp (unless you go subwoofer route or enjoy recreational events with the Staines Massiv...).

I tried the alpine and it sounded great but looked a bit disco and required a permanent live connection to the battery for its power - my battery has enough drain as it is so the alpine went in a different car (definitely no need for an amp with that though).

I found auto audio in London (was wood lane, now moved) very good on 993s.