Thinking of replacing my Bose head unit with an aftermarket deck

[Landshark]

I'm thinking of replacing my Bose head unit with an aftermarket deck and was wondering if there was any advice/tips I should be aware of.

1. Will replacing my stock deck with an aftermarket one cause any electrical issues? (i.e with the car or the audio)

2. Are aftermarket decks compatible with the stock Bose speakers and amplifier?

3. Are there any special converters or wiring harnesses needed to properly complete this job? If so, please specify.

4. Are there any other special tools required? If so, please specify.

5. Any decks you guys recommend? (Looking for Double Din, touchscreen, with bluetooth phone and audio support)

6. I'd like to keep any new install looking as "stock" as possible. Any advice?

Thanks in advance!


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[hgtuner08]

Check this thread for installation pics and several suggestions.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...arket-Nav-Unit

1) I've had an aftermarket deck for three years no electrical problems, in general if you do properly install on an aftermarket deck there should be no problems.

2)Yes and no, depends on your specific setup and headunit. Speakers shouldn't be a problem but depending on what you want to do you will probably have to bypass the stock amp

3)you need a double din installation kit but that's it besides basic tools. Any wiring adapter needed will be provided with your head unit then you just splice

4)Nope

5)I have personally had a good experience with my pioneer double din (AVH series) and it meets you requirements. If you can grab an alpine I would, but my last experience with alpine was a decade ago. I heard alpine decks got worse and then better...I dunno do some research on crutchfield.com

6)Look at the pics in the other thread and you can see what most double dins look like installed, the other option is RNS-E from audi

[coowhip]

For all intensive purposes, please use the search function. For as old as these cars are, everything has been addressed numerous times. Takes some research and a lot of reading. I advise the google method "Audi a4 b6 xxx xxx xxx" Then you can search usually by certain forums from there.

I know you are new here so I'm just trying to help you so you don't get beat on for not searching in the future.

[Landshark]

Hgtuner08 - Thanks for the info, much appreciated!


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[Landshark]

Coowhip - Thanks for the notice. I did run a few google searches, as well as a few in specific forums, before I posted this thread. Although informative, none of the aforementioned threads were able to provide specific answers to all six of my questions. As a result, I decided to start a new thread. Either way... If I pissed anybody off, my sincere apologies.


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[coowhip]

I understand where you are coming from. Each question has a few of it's own thread, but maybe not my the search criteria you put in. Either way, now you know. There is a thread for "questions you thought were to dumb to ask" if you are not sure about starting a new thread. This is usually a good route for something that may have been covered a few times. I think more people are inclined to help in that thread instead of a new one. Good luck and welcome to the 'Zine.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...-to-ask/page92

[Landshark]

I understand where you are coming from. Each question has a few of it's own thread, but maybe not my the search criteria you put in. Either way, now you know. There is a thread for "questions you thought were to dumb to ask" if you are not sure about starting a new thread. This is usually a good route for something that may have been covered a few times. I think more people are inclined to help in that thread instead of a new one. Good luck and welcome to the 'Zine.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...-to-ask/page92

coowhip - Much appreciated brother. I'll make sure to check that out prior to posting a new thread on a topic that's already received attention on the forum. Newbie mistake.

Lastly, thanks for the warm welcome!

[Charles.waite]

2) No. Bose stuff has a lower impendance and will be all weird with an aftermarket HU. You really should replaec the speakers and amp though. Almost anything is better that the stock paper cone speakers and the godawful bose amp. Not to mention the Bose amp applies all sorts of strange EQ stuff to "fake" the decent sound output it puts out. Coupling that with an aftermarket HU will make it sounds like poo I think.

6) OEM look =/= aftermarket HU. You can get sort of close, but an aftermarket HU will never look as "right" as an OEM unit...

I totally get wanting the cooler features of modern Head units. If you're only after sound quality though, you're best bet is to keep the stock HU, and patch in a good 5 channel amp to bypass the stock Bose amp, and replace all the speakers with high quality units. Polk db6501s are a very popular choice around here.

[Matt Devo]

2) No. Bose stuff has a lower impendance and will be all weird with an aftermarket HU. You really should replaec the speakers and amp though. Almost anything is better that the stock paper cone speakers and the godawful bose amp. Not to mention the Bose amp applies all sorts of strange EQ stuff to "fake" the decent sound output it puts out. Coupling that with an aftermarket HU will make it sounds like poo I think.

this is incorrect. The lower impedance of the Bose speakers only affects the amp driving them, which is still the same even if you replace the HU. The only thing you are changing is the (line level) output signal from the HU to the Bose amp. I agree that the Bose amp and speakers are not fantastic, but there's no impedance-related issues with replacing the stock HU with an aftermarket one.

replacing the Bose amp with an aftermarket 5-ch one (like the Alpine PDX-5 or PDX9) would provide significant benefits as well, even without replacing the speakers, but if the OP still has the stock Symphony II HU, that is the weakest link, not the Bose amp or speakers. A SII+ or RNS-E with an aftermarket amp would be an ideal start if aiming to keep an OEM look/feel.

[Landshark]

2) No. Bose stuff has a lower impendance and will be all weird with an aftermarket HU. You really should replaec the speakers and amp though. Almost anything is better that the stock paper cone speakers and the godawful bose amp. Not to mention the Bose amp applies all sorts of strange EQ stuff to "fake" the decent sound output it puts out. Coupling that with an aftermarket HU will make it sounds like poo I think.

6) OEM look =/= aftermarket HU. You can get sort of close, but an aftermarket HU will never look as "right" as an OEM unit...

I totally get wanting the cooler features of modern Head units. If you're only after sound quality though, you're best bet is to keep the stock HU, and patch in a good 5 channel amp to bypass the stock Bose amp, and replace all the speakers with high quality units. Polk db6501s are a very popular choice around here.

Honestly, I'm mostly after adding bluetooth (phone and music streaming) capabilities. Is there any way I can add this functionality to the existing unit?

[Charles.waite]

this is incorrect. The lower impedance of the Bose speakers only affects the amp driving them, which is still the same even if you replace the HU. The only thing you are changing is the (line level) output signal from the HU to the Bose amp. I agree that the Bose amp and speakers are not fantastic, but there's no impedance-related issues with replacing the stock HU with an aftermarket one.

replacing the Bose amp with an aftermarket 5-ch one (like the Alpine PDX-5 or PDX9) would provide significant benefits as well, even without replacing the speakers, but if the OP still has the stock Symphony II HU, that is the weakest link, not the Bose amp or speakers. A SII+ or RNS-E with an aftermarket amp would be an ideal start if aiming to keep an OEM look/feel.

Ahh, good catch. I was forgetting you simply feed a line output to the amp. Thanks for the correction Matt.

[Landshark]

this is incorrect. The lower impedance of the Bose speakers only affects the amp driving them, which is still the same even if you replace the HU. The only thing you are changing is the (line level) output signal from the HU to the Bose amp. I agree that the Bose amp and speakers are not fantastic, but there's no impedance-related issues with replacing the stock HU with an aftermarket one.

replacing the Bose amp with an aftermarket 5-ch one (like the Alpine PDX-5 or PDX9) would provide significant benefits as well, even without replacing the speakers, but if the OP still has the stock Symphony II HU, that is the weakest link, not the Bose amp or speakers.

So go for a HU and amp replacement?

[Charles.waite]

Honestly, I'm mostly after adding bluetooth (phone and music streaming) capabilities. Is there any way I can add this functionality to the existing unit?

Yea absolutely there is. Check out this: http://enfigcarstereo.com/DENSION_GBL3AU2.html

Enfig has some other good options as well. I have a trunk mounted ipod adapter from Dice and its awesome. No bluetooth or anything but I wouldn't use that anyway.

Browse around Enfig's site. Worst case give them a call, they're super helpful on the phone.

[Matt Devo]

Honestly, I'm mostly after adding bluetooth (phone and music streaming) capabilities. Is there any way I can add this functionality to the existing unit?

yes.

for the stock Symphony II/Concert HUs: http://enfigcarstereo.com/DENSION_GBL3AU2.html

for RNS-E/SII+: http://enfigcarstereo.com/DENSION_GBL3AI2.html

[Charles.waite]

yes.

for the stock Symphony II/Concert HUs: http://enfigcarstereo.com/DENSION_GBL3AU2.html

for RNS-E/SII+: http://enfigcarstereo.com/DENSION_GBL3AI2.html

Hah! Totally beat you to it!

[Matt Devo]

So go for a HU and amp replacement?

the two are orders of magnitude apart in terms of cost and effort. I'd start with the SII+ and BT stuff, see how you feel, and replace the amp after if you're still not happy. The SII+ is a pretty big improvement in SQ over the stock SII.

Hah! Totally beat you to it!

but I linked to the one he'll need after upgrading his HU ;-)

[Charles.waite]

S2+ is a worthwhile upgrade. I am pretty happy with the slightly better SQ of the S2+. The larger screen and better interface helps too.

Also an FYI, the stereo headunits for our Audis are all the same. There are no differences between a "Bose" unit and a regular one, aside from a coding switch that needs to be done, but its super easy if you have VagCom. The actual difference between bose and non-bose is the amp, speakers, and wiring. I just see sometimes people selling a head unit as bose or non-bose when they're the same thing. Don't pay a premium for a Bose-headunit thinking its better than a non-bose.

[K04-B6]

I've replaced mine with a double din. Came with usb / iphone/ aux adapters and DVD player which i had to by pass for it to work. Im still running the stock speakers off the stock amp and I also added an amp for my sub that i just dropped into the stock sub hole in the trunk. Sound is amazing and no electrical problems

[Rocs]

S2+ is a worthwhile upgrade. I am pretty happy with the slightly better SQ of the S2+. The larger screen and better interface helps too.

Also an FYI, the stereo headunits for our Audis are all the same. There are no differences between a "Bose" unit and a regular one, aside from a coding switch that needs to be done, but its super easy if you have VagCom. The actual difference between bose and non-bose is the amp, speakers, and wiring. I just see sometimes people selling a head unit as bose or non-bose when they're the same thing. Don't pay a premium for a Bose-headunit thinking its better than a non-bose.

+1 on this. I love my Symphony 2+


I am about to list a Symphony 2+ in the classified sections. I am going to include the AUX input jack the wiring for the DIY ipod mod. PM me if interested or you can see it in classifieds in a week or 2 when i get back from this business trip

[SJorge3442]

Im using stock speakers/amp/wiring on my AppRadio 2 and for some reason it sounds really good. Mind you, I'm an audiophile, so I was expecting this to sound like crap. The Appradio 2 actually rattled a few things loose in the door. I need to pop the door cards off next week to see whats loose.

[hgtuner08]

FWIW you can link your phone to a stock headunit now, there are multiple bluetooth modules that integrate into car stereos. You might have to use the DICE line-in integration kit. Look around on CNET and you can get some reviews for things like that. Anybody out there have opinions on good aftermarket speakers? Its two 5.25'' and two 6.75'' right? What did you guys do with the 10'' subwoofer in the back? Just take it out or what because I have a dedicated subwoofer (JL12w7) in the back. Good amps? Sorry to thread jack

[Charles.waite]

I believe the door speakers are all 6.5".

[K04-B6]

FWIW you can link your phone to a stock headunit now, there are multiple bluetooth modules that integrate into car stereos. You might have to use the DICE line-in integration kit. Look around on CNET and you can get some reviews for things like that. Anybody out there have opinions on good aftermarket speakers? Its two 5.25'' and two 6.75'' right? What did you guys do with the 10'' subwoofer in the back? Just take it out or what because I have a dedicated subwoofer (JL12w7) in the back. Good amps? Sorry to thread jack

I believe that the stock sub is 8 inch. I just replaced mine, threw a 10 inch in there, doesn't fit that well but I shimmed it abit with some foam padding and connected an amp to it.sounds great and no issues.

[hgtuner08]

do you get a lot of rattling with the sub in the back? Its located in the rear deck right?

[Charles.waite]

^^ He can't hear the rattling over all that BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASS!

[K04-B6]

do you get a lot of rattling with the sub in the back? Its located in the rear deck right?

No i don't any rattling and the sound is good! Yup its in the rear deck

[Stig's_Cousin]

I have this Grom Audio adapter.

http://www.gromaudio.com/store/usb_a...interface.html

I got it because it advertised that it works with Android phones over USB. I have had some pretty disappointing results, but I think I had some bad USB cables (both of my factory HTC cables have died...). The USB port works well with USB sticks and they make a specific iPod/iPhone connector, but I never bought it.

I was about to give up on this thing, but I went ahead and got the bluetooth adapter, and have had much better results. It mostly connects on its own, and will play any audio your phone puts out, including videos. I originally had it running through the factory SII, but it swapped right over when I put in the SII+ (absolutely worth the upgrade)

If I had to go back and do it again. I probably wouldn't have bought this one, but I just wanted to put it out there as an option.

[biglip]

you will notice the little stock subs will pound after you replace the stock deck