Stereo Fun...suggestions?

[Quattro4Now]

So I bought a used 04 A4 back in December and the former owner apparently spent a lot of money "fixin' up" the sound system. The head unit was replaced with a Kenwood Excelon unit that was DOA. The trunk had a 100 lbs sub box. After wrestling the thing out through the back seat, I found two aftermarket amps, a capacitor, and aftermarket CD changer stuffed in where the factory one once fit nicely when the door would actually shut. The car used to be outfitted with the factory Bose system. I decided that I would start by sending the dead head unit to Kenwood for repair since that was only going to cost about $80 plus shipping. The head unit came back today and I plug everything up. Not surprisingly, almost all the speakers were blown. I only have one speaker in the back door and the two tweeters working. The head unit is also horribly difficult to navigate. Based on all this I have decided to just start from scratch. I am assuming that the factory speakers have been changed out, although I haven't removed any of the panels yet to verify. About the only good thing I can say about the overhaul is that he did a pretty decent job of running the wires (at least I don't see anything obvious yet).

It has been a while since I rewired and completely changed out a car's audio system (high school - 1994). I'm not into competition sound systems, but I do enjoy good quality music and I am not above cranking it a little when a good song comes on. If you were starting from scratch and building a complete audio system, what would you get? I'm considering this for the head unit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=230738446393

I don't even know what size speakers the car has (or even should have for that matter). I am also not certain if either of the two aftermarket amps or CD changer even work. I'm guessing one of them does or I wouldn't be getting any sound out of the one speaker. Regardless...I'm starting over. Any help is appreciated.

Kevin

[skian]

I would put a pair of these in the front and back.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108609C...cs.html?tp=106
With some minor modding you should be able to fit the tweeters in the stock location without changing the stock look.

[Chadl]

So I bought a used 04 A4 back in December and the former owner apparently spent a lot of money "fixin' up" the sound system. The head unit was replaced with a Kenwood Excelon unit that was DOA. The trunk had a 100 lbs sub box. After wrestling the thing out through the back seat, I found two aftermarket amps, a capacitor, and aftermarket CD changer stuffed in where the factory one once fit nicely when the door would actually shut. The car used to be outfitted with the factory Bose system. I decided that I would start by sending the dead head unit to Kenwood for repair since that was only going to cost about $80 plus shipping. The head unit came back today and I plug everything up. Not surprisingly, almost all the speakers were blown. I only have one speaker in the back door and the two tweeters working. The head unit is also horribly difficult to navigate. Based on all this I have decided to just start from scratch. I am assuming that the factory speakers have been changed out, although I haven't removed any of the panels yet to verify. About the only good thing I can say about the overhaul is that he did a pretty decent job of running the wires (at least I don't see anything obvious yet).

It has been a while since I rewired and completely changed out a car's audio system (high school - 1994). I'm not into competition sound systems, but I do enjoy good quality music and I am not above cranking it a little when a good song comes on. If you were starting from scratch and building a complete audio system, what would you get? I'm considering this for the head unit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=230738446393

I don't even know what size speakers the car has (or even should have for that matter). I am also not certain if either of the two aftermarket amps or CD changer even work. I'm guessing one of them does or I wouldn't be getting any sound out of the one speaker. Regardless...I'm starting over. Any help is appreciated.

Kevin

Hi Kevin, sorry to hear about your new founded problems. The RSNE unit you're looking at appears to be aftermarket, some claim they have problems with a few of the functions, and speaker whine. May want to stick to an OEM unit, there are a few in the classifieds section. Speakers, you'll want to run 6.5'' in all four doors, they just barely fit. I'm running CK5s from Massive Audio, and they're very clear, but you pay for it. I'd definatley recommend using the aftermarket amplifier for the door speakers, to more thoroughly tune. As well as eliminate the bass that is produced through the stock bose amp, which tends to break down the aftermarket speakers quickly, or you may choose to run bass blockers/resistors with the stock amp. PM me info as well on your current radio if you're interested in selling, I'm in the market to replace my stock. =]

[Chadl]

I would put a pair of these in the front and back.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108609C...cs.html?tp=106
With some minor modding you should be able to fit the tweeters in the stock location without changing the stock look.

Good point as well, be cautious when installing aftermarket tweeters in stock location. Mine fit snug after using a little force, and not the extra tension has made my speaker grilles crack in numerous places. If you have the money, I'd get these, but the crossovers are huge, about 8x4, so you'd have to mount them out of doors. http://www.woofersetc.com/p-9225-pc2...nt-system.aspx

[kwimberly]

Yeah, fuck that eBay seller for the deceptive advertising.

[Chadl]

Yeah, fuck that eBay seller for the deceptive advertising.

Tell us how you really feel

[alpinestar180]

A little bit of cutting is mandatory to get aftermarket speakers to fit, but I'm glad i did it. I'm running Alpine Reference components all around. I like them, but only because i got a good deal on them (i think i paid around $200 a set). I would not Pay the ridiculous msrp of $399. My one regret is that i wish i kept the stock look and got a genuine RNS-E, but it was out of my price range. and as far as bass management, If you are looking into replacing the absurd sub box you had look into this:

http://www.a4mods.com/index.php?page...tml&category=4

I built one and i'm very happy with it.
I hid my amp under the trunk deck. you hardly notice it.

Anyway, good luck and sorry about your "fix'ed up" stereo.

[Quattro4Now]

Thanks for the input, guys! I use my car for work and I travel extensively. Trunk space is at a premium, so I'd rather keep everything fitting as close to the stock locations as possible. So if I can put 6.5" speakers in all the doors and mount the tweeters in the dash, what will in the trunk deck? Anyone mounting free air subs back there? Would they sound good?

[Autobahn5]

I would put a pair of these in the front and back.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108609C...cs.html?tp=106
With some minor modding you should be able to fit the tweeters in the stock location without changing the stock look.

Does this improve the sound quality with the factory HU?

[Charles.waite]

That ebay "RNS-E" is likely a Dynavin unit. They have their perks, but the general consensus is they suck. For can find a real RNS-E for $800 or so, I wouldn't get a RNS-E clone, it looks like the real thing, but you'll probably just be disappointed.

[msharifi]

So I bought a used 04 A4 back in December and the former owner apparently spent a lot of money "fixin' up" the sound system. The head unit was replaced with a Kenwood Excelon unit that was DOA. The trunk had a 100 lbs sub box. After wrestling the thing out through the back seat, I found two aftermarket amps, a capacitor, and aftermarket CD changer stuffed in where the factory one once fit nicely when the door would actually shut. The car used to be outfitted with the factory Bose system. I decided that I would start by sending the dead head unit to Kenwood for repair since that was only going to cost about $80 plus shipping. The head unit came back today and I plug everything up. Not surprisingly, almost all the speakers were blown. I only have one speaker in the back door and the two tweeters working. The head unit is also horribly difficult to navigate. Based on all this I have decided to just start from scratch. I am assuming that the factory speakers have been changed out, although I haven't removed any of the panels yet to verify. About the only good thing I can say about the overhaul is that he did a pretty decent job of running the wires (at least I don't see anything obvious yet).

It has been a while since I rewired and completely changed out a car's audio system (high school - 1994). I'm not into competition sound systems, but I do enjoy good quality music and I am not above cranking it a little when a good song comes on. If you were starting from scratch and building a complete audio system, what would you get? I'm considering this for the head unit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=230738446393

I don't even know what size speakers the car has (or even should have for that matter). I am also not certain if either of the two aftermarket amps or CD changer even work. I'm guessing one of them does or I wouldn't be getting any sound out of the one speaker. Regardless...I'm starting over. Any help is appreciated.

Kevin

Dont buy the clone version of RNS-E please get the real RNS-E the new ones 2009 and up have LED screen which is higher res and you can play up to 32GB SDHC.

[boy412]

I'd look for a used (or reman'd) Syphony HU and add a decent multi-channel amp (like an Alpine PDX-5). Crutchfield is a good source for the speakers...like skian posted.

[zerothahero00]

For all ur non-OEM needs: www.sonicelectronix.com just a suggestion. Good prices and A+ service with my experiences with them.

[Matt Devo]

my setup, which is pretty hard to beat for the price:

- RNS-E with pre-out adapter
- BlackBerry A2DP bluetooth gateway connected to aux-in
- Alpine PDX-5 amp
- Polk DB-6501 components (F)
- peerless 6.5" midbass woofers (R)
- Image Dynamics IDQ10-D4 sub
- Los Labs corner sub box

[Quattro4Now]

Has anyone put free air subs in the back window? I am seriously considering going that route to save trunk space.

[iamshayan]

OEM RNS-E < everything

[OneBadAudi]

Piece of advise, Do not go OVERBOARD like i myself did..All i simply wanted was a sub for a little more bass, little did i realize i would go in over my head and replace everything. HU, speakers, 2 amps, 2 batteries, sub Etc..Stick with something simple. RNS-E is the shizznit. If anything i would say, replace your HU with either an RNS-E or something comparable and the speakers (if stock bose are not installed). Otherwise keep the speakers and go with a HU change out. You will save yourself from never being happy like i am because i think i have a audiophile problem

Good luck

[alpinestar180]

Has anyone put free air subs in the back window? I am seriously considering going that route to save trunk space.

Fitment is a pain given the shape and placement of the deck hole. Free air subs are not ideal in a car situation anyway. I looked into it for a while and decided against it. like i mentioned before I'd look into the a4mods cubby sub box. you can make it pretty small if you do it right. it wont take up much trunk space because it sits off to the side in the cubby rather than in the main trunk area. If you get a reasonably small amp you can put it out of the way where it wont take up much space.

[alpinestar180]

OEM RNS-E < everything

may i ask why?

are you unhappy with the sound quality?

[diagnosticator]

Do you want navigation or just a great sounding stock system? If you don't want Navi/RNS-E, you can upgrade with a B7 Symphony II + HU, and a SAT receiver/tuner, with an amp configured the same as the OEM Bose layout. I am running Infinity Kappas in the front doors, stock speakers in the rear doors. The Symphony II+ sounds a lot better than earlier HUs, and will play CDs burned with MP3 files. If you drive as much as you said, SAT is worth the cost. Whatever you decide, clip the wire to the nasty center fill speaker in the dash.

[viceprp]

My setup:

Stock tweeters, 3" infinity kappa pro F (all treble), 6.5" Polk Pro R, 12" memphis w/ 500.1 TMA (JL). This thing hits hard and I can still hear the lyrics and integrity of the music still. I have several settings on my Pioneer deck that I can change for every type of music so if I listen to rock, the treble is high and lyrics come in crystal clear. But when I run to the gym with some Dubstep then the bass hits so hard that your heart feel like it will slip into cardiac arrest.

[BUSAfREAkA4]

may i ask why?

are you unhappy with the sound quality?

I think he ment RNS-E > everything... if not, I'm asking the same question as you. Everyone on here seems to swear by the RNS-E

[mitch_gach]

I just put in Pioneer App Radio with a 2point5 spec iPhone 4S dock in the ashtray. Looks very sick. Almost like an iPad in the dash. For the price you can't beat it. It runs off the iPhone and has nav and many apps integrated. Make sure to bypass the parking break though so you can watch video and use app while driving......safely lol. Disregard this post if you don't have an iPhone.