Aftermarket stereo

[the sheriff]

I just picked up my new B7 last night and while the stereo is 'ok' - it's nothing compared to what I'm used to. I have no really been able to find out any information in regards to aftermart systems in the B7.

I've got the integrated bluetooth - I assume I would lose this feature??

[Saturnine]

You can put in what ever compents you want, anything will fit. The problem is making a new face plate, not many places sell plates for the newer audis..

[the sheriff]

but they are manufactured right? I have not even been able to find a wiring harness for the B7 yet.....

[Saturnine]

Oh.

I dunno about a wire harness..

[mksap11]

Originally posted by Saturnine
You can put in what ever compents you want, anything will fit. The problem is making a new face plate, not many places sell plates for the newer audis..

Isn't the B7 faceplate the same as the B6? Same RNS-E will fit either w/o modifications, IIRC

[RE5PECT]

i would suggest keeping the RNS-E...getting some new components and using the JL Audio Cleansweep.....its amazing...

[A4rce1]

oh yeah Alex in the house

[dan671]

if u have navi u wont need a new face plate

[the sheriff]

I don't have Navi - I have not been able to find a wire harness for the B7 anywhere online or in town. Also, the faceplate, does anyone have a pic of one?? I'm not willing to cheapen the entire look of the dash wwith some cheap looking plastic plate....

[nadroj81]

get the mmi nav and do aftermarket stereo with that.

i am going custom components/trunk when i got my b7 (with nav)

[gIzzE]

All the Audi head units have line outs, so why not hook the head unit up to a decent power amp and change the speakers, this keeps it all looking stock and is a huge upgrade, the head units are actually pretty good, it is the power amps and speakers that are terrible.

God, even replacing the component speakers up front makes a world of difference.

[the sheriff]

Originally posted by gIzzE
All the Audi head units have line outs, so why not hook the head unit up to a decent power amp and change the speakers, this keeps it all looking stock and is a huge upgrade, the head units are actually pretty good, it is the power amps and speakers that are terrible.

God, even replacing the component speakers up front makes a world of difference.

Do you know how many line-outs they have?? I've got two amps I would like to run actually.....plus an iPod......I think I'm screwed!

[RE5PECT]

honestly....just do the JL Audio Cleansweep.....its the best thing when you want to keep your stock head unit....but as far as the b7 harness, its the same as the b6...im 95% sure

[the sheriff]

Well, in my past experience, ever stock headunit I've ever come across sounds like crap. In my last Jetta, just switching out the headunit improved the sound twice as much.

I usually run a top end Alpine headunit with Focal 6.5 seperates up front and no rear....two Alpine amps and a couple 10's in the trunk.

[RE5PECT]

alright well....the JL audio cleansweep helps keep your oem head unit...and get the aftermarket sound, thats what so aswome about it......but yea go with alpine head unit, focal speakers but go with either a JL 450/4 or Audison 4 channel with audison class D amp to power the focal 11" sub...that would sound amazing....

[the sheriff]

I just have to find out what kind of plate is used to fit an Alpine headunit into the dash. It doesn't appear to be a true double-din from the 2 seconds I've looked at it.

That cleansweep is pretty cool, great idea, I'd love to see how it actually improves the sound though. It 'might' be a viable option.

[WCQuattro]

the cleansweep was designed for OEM headunits (like the Audi Bose) that create all sorts of equalization effects in order to correct the response of the speaker system, and to elliminate the use of volume dependent equalization effects.....it's been given a lot of great reviews, and is almost a must for people looking to utilize factory head units

the external volume control is the only thing that bugs me, but i guess it's just a matter of conditioning[:p]