aftermarket amps and speakers with stock nav headunit

[scott_fx]

Hello, i just picked up an 03 Cayenne S with navi. i'm impressed with everything about this car except for the horrible bose system. I want to add a modest 2 way bi-amped system with sub. I know this isn't optimal to keep the stock head unit but I like the integration with the rest of the vehicle and the oem looks. so... has anyone ripped out the bose speakers and amps and replaced them with superior components? if so, what components/interfaces do i need? thanks in advance, scott

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[skier]

Search is your friend....

[stikystikyricky]

In my 05 cs I had installers replace the head unit with an after market double din nav. Also put in a 4channel amp to bypass the bose amp and also a sub amp. Sounds awesome! I kept all the bose speakers.
As far as changing out the speakers I would assume you would need to swap out the bose amp. If I am correct bose runs their speakers at a really odd ohm load. Like 1 ohm or so. Almost all after market speakers are 4ohm. Also once you do swap out the amp, the bose amp uses a fiber optic cable to power the stock amp. So you may have to swap out your head unit to intergrate into it.

[christx997]

wow! thats one hell of a setup on the 955 turbo s. 1st time i saw the door panels redone on a cayenne model. nice job guys.

[JBONDOx]

I have done a few, definately fun and everything can be hidden under the factory grills. I would suggest that you invest in a EQ/Time delay unit such as the Audison BIT ONE or Rockford 360.2

Personally I would keep everything intact and just replace the front speakers and add the sub.

My preference would be

Hertz Audio Space 8 midbass and 1" Space tweeter in the door off the Audison LRX5.1k with a Hertz Mille 10" sub in the rear left corner.

Everything can be hidden behind the factory panels but the sub will need a new grill, you keep the factory compartment cover, that way nothing is cut up or holes drilled.

Also the above system is a complete drop in, again nothing being cut.

Factory Head unit out to the Bit1 then out to the rest of the system from there.

I know for a fact that this would sound phenomenal also! (remove mic input to Bose amp)

http://www.northolmstedperformance.c...he1&Itemid=208

[scott_fx]

thanks for the replies. Now that i have some product to search for it'll make things easier. as far as components; thanks for the suggestions, but i plan on going with seas 7" g18rnx/p (may upgrade to the 8" but have the 7" laying around). Vifa D26NC55 tweet and a 12" tcsounds tc-9 sub. to power it i'll go with two 150wrms x2 butler hybrid tube amps and a Zapco Reference 500.1 amp for the sub.

i'm not sure about processing yet but I'll look into the audison or maybe the rf piece. JBL and Alpine are supposed to have decent units as well.

off to research the bit1, thanks for the replies guys

[JBONDOx]

Maybe find a dealer around to listen to some of the Hertz gear, the space8 and tweet are on a whole new level of what you mentioned (I am familiar with everything you posted) The bit1 is a dealer installed piece and I can pretty much guarantee that the manu won't go out of their way for a non dealer tech support. I have probably4 hours of time in just tuning a single vehicle with one, but out of the box it surpassed the 360 in sound quality. The 360 is a great piece but the bit1 is just that much better. Look for a dealer, I usually do not make recommendations for audio equipment, but I would state my whole reputation on the gear I mentioned... of course if properly installed. Good luck with the find if you need to find a dealer let me know, I know they do not list dealers in the USA but I have a list on my other PC

www.hertzaudiovideo.com
home site
audison

[scott_fx]

I'm def up to find/demo new gear. I'll stick with the amps and sub since i'm 100% happy with them. I will take you up on your offer to locate a dealer in the los angeles area though.

wait... in your original post, are you saying that you are running the hertz mid/tweet off the factory amps?

[JBONDOx]

Originally Posted by scott_fx

I'm def up to find/demo new gear. I'll stick with the amps and sub since i'm 100% happy with them. I will take you up on your offer to locate a dealer in the los angeles area though.

wait... in your original post, are you saying that you are running the hertz mid/tweet off the factory amps?

No, most of the Cayenne's I do the signal is generated from the factory PCM head unit (18hz to 20k hz) then fed to the processor. you can retain the MOST amp for the rears and the rear fill in the D pillars. I will email the manu for the dealer in the LA area that has a display with the gear.

[scott_fx]

thank you, that would be awesome

[JBONDOx]

I do not know the reputation of these shops but here is a list that should have them on display

Audio Matrix
1644 W Carson St Suite #A
Torrance, CA 90501

Auto Essentials
595 Thousand Oaks Blvd Ste B
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Soundman
23046 Soledad Canyon Rd
Santa Clarita, CA 91350

[scott_fx]

I finally got a chance to check out one of the shops and the guy seemed knowledgeable enough. didn't get a bad impression from him besides the fact that he was trying to push capacitors.

i got a quote for $2,060 for the bit one, my existing components (3 amps, sub, and front 2-way components) installed, tuned, and a little dynamatt in the doors. Including Audison rca's. 4 gauge power and ground, 16 gauge speaker wire.

this actually sounds like a decent price to me. the 12" sub is going to be installed in a part fiberglass part mdf box to go where the jl audio box usually goes. the amps will be mounted in an amp rack where the bose sub is right now.

The demo vehicle they had looked pretty good. there were a few areas in there fiberglass work that weren't 100% perfect, but i'm very picky with that stuff and they aren't really doing any real fiberglass panels for me anyways. The vinyl work they did looked smooth and tight.

my question is, does that seem like a reasonable price? and what is the difference between the two versions of the bit-one? i'm pretty sure he was quoting me the cheaper of the two (his asking price was $700

thanks in advance

[JBONDOx]

There is only one bit1

I think that is a very good price.

Caps are alright, but there comes a time that they too become a load on the system and become counter productive. I had 2 Audison amps on a stock base model Cayenne w/o any caps and no ill effect on the vehicles electrical system.

Which shop did you end up going too?

Please provide some feedback after the install also. I think Audison/Hertz would like to know what consumers think of their experience dealing with the shops and equipment out there

[ONE234]

i must be tone deaf....because i thought the bose system in my car was fantastic?
so i was supprised to hear in the first post that you found it horrible?, is it working ok, or are you a hi-fi nut?

[JBONDOx]

To each is there own, and it could be possible that your starting to experience some hearing deficiencies.

The Bose system lacks impact, volume, and tonal accuracy, once you start turning it up the EQ curve starts kicking in and lowering the 60-400hz freq response killing the low end, and the upper mid range is pretty bad.

Maybe you should head out and hit up a few local shops in your area and listen to some vehicles with an audio system in it. If you find one professionally integrated, the install will look factory and sound fantastic.