So I'm looking to upgrade parts of the factory system but keep other parts. I have the factory navi and would like to keep it as I rarely use navi to begin with and it's suitable for my taste. I rather spend the extra $ on picking up other quality components. I also want to keep the factory bluetooth as I've never had the problems that others complain about. Mine seems to work just fine.

Other than that, I'm trying to gauge how much it would cost to do the rest of the system up. I'm on the fence about getting a DD as I personally think it cheapens the look of the interior. On the other hand, I'd hate to spend a bunch of cash on new speakers, amp(s), sound deadening, quality install only to have the HU crap out on me. So for this thread sake I'd like to spec up replacing most aspects of the Bose system.

The kicker is the type of music I listen to. I listen to almost everything. From Alternative to jazz to classical to rap and I'm guessing my taste will cause the system to be quite expensive. Bass is cheap but it's hard to find a quality system that doesn't make your ears hurt after 10 minutes because it's **** quality. I don't have an audiophile ear but if I'm listening to something more focused on vocals or an instrumental, I'd like to be hearing the right notes rather than just bass.

 

You seem to have done some research yourself.
Yes, stock HUs crap out, so if you choose to upgrade other parts first, have money ready to replace the HU just in case.

Dead on with speakers - bass is cheap. Rap will sound fine with a $500 1500watt setup, but your jazz and classical will suck.

Okay, on to what you don't know.

I'm pretty sure you can't keep your factory bluetooth and put an aftermarket headunit in there. The microphone, you might be able to rewire. I'll go over the wiring diagrams and check for the '06 to make sure though.

If there's a way to keep stock bluetooth, the Pioneer 4200DVD is a great choice, otherwise the Pioneer 3200BT is a great way to go.

 

Yeah I've read through a bunch of different threads but made this one to get specific help with what I'm looking for. Hopefully there will be a way to keep the factory bluetooth as I like the look of it and don't want an unsightly mic poking out from somewhere.

Do you know if there is a way to still have the factory navi lower the volume when giving directions? I remember reading somewhere this would be possible but you would need some sort of extra accessory to make this work

Ironically I was looking at the 4200DVD as it seems to be good bang for buck. The only thing that was holding me back on that unit was its ability to play higher quality audio. I've recently started listening to FLAC audio and while it may seem as complete overkill for a car, it sure would be nice to have. I mean, why spend a bunch of cash on a nice system then play crap quality music through it? I suppose I could just for some 320 kpbs and call it a day but I rather go for superb quality. I didn't read anywhere in the specs what its ability is.

Any recommendations on the rest of the components? I'd like to stay away from Boston acoustics and Pioneer as in my experience, they are more focused on the strictly bassy crowd. I've heard some good things about the Infinity Kappas but open to suggestions.

In terms of a sub, I was thinking an 8 or 10 and I'd like something that can hug to the sides of the trunk as I want all the trunk space and am not looking for stealth rather than show install. I'd be open to a 12 too but 1 would suffice. I drive too fast as it is, I don't need the cops to hear me before they see me.

 

If price is of little or no concern I love my Focal 165 A1's, a good friend of mine has the VR 165's, phenominal. I shopped for a while for a component set and after I heard the A1's, the $300 pricetag didn't bother me so much. Twice that for the VR's, yea I wasn't going that extreme. Maybe there are better options for our cars, I don't see a whole lot of Focal components in many peoples install wish lists though. Maybe they know something I don't. Just my $0.02

 

Thanks for the input. I saw a lot of people praise Focal but I didn't know if it was just high priced hype or worth the extra coin.

What sort of music do you listen to? How do you listen to your music in your car? (ie ipod, AUX, CD)

 

I listen to a wide range of music, rock, classic rock, alternative, metal, 80's, unplugged/acoustic, easy listening, that sort of stuff. Rarely ever rap or R&B, some techno/trance and I use an iPhone. Focal's perform well for me, given those wide genres of music. I don't think you would be disappointed, I'm not. But then again I had no in-car comparison, except to the Bose, but a metal can and kite string make a better speaker than those. If you can find a dealer near you, and they have them in a wall, listen to them compared to other brands in the wall. For me there were more naunces in the music I could hear than the set of JL and Eclipse components I was considering for $100 less. Granted they won't sound quite that way in your cars acoustic environment, but as a strictly side-by-side comparison, my money went with the Focal. Also time has shown they can take some punishment, more often than not I have the music up far too loud and they hold up just fine. Have had them for almost 2 years of heavy abuse, those and my Type-R 12's and they still sound as good as when I bought them, that or my hearing may suck a$$ now, which is entirely possible.

 

Most aftermarket headunits have a mute wire (pioneer included), that you can use to mute the audio that will work with the factory nav's trigger wire. The problem is you still need to provide an amplified speaker to be able to hear the directions.

Pretty much NO headunit will play FLAC. However, ones that will play iPod have a very, very good chance of playing apple's lossless compression from it.

For a sedan, your only real box for what you describe is the 4080 one. It can hold a 10 or 12, but few 12s will work with the volume of the box, so a quality 10, like the JL 10w6v2 (10w6 doesn't fit) is a great way to go (what I did).

I went with BA Pro60SE's for my fronts, I'll let you know in a few days when I get back to the states and install them as to how they sound. I had Kappas in my last car and was quite happy with them, but their mids were a little lacking for my taste.

 

So what exactly is your set up? All around Focals and 2 Type R's?

What do you mean about the amplified speaker?

I realized after searching some that no current HU will play FLAC. I've read about some different workouts that may be able to get you close but Apple's loseless just isn't the same.

The 4080 is what I was looking for but I checked out their website. $375 for some MDF and carpet? lol I'll have to get a friend to make me one because that's a rip off.

Let me know how those sound.

Anyone else with any recommendations?

 

Yes, Focal 165 A1's for the front, and 165 CA1's for the rears. Fronts and rears powered by an Alpine MRP-F300 and two Type R 12" subs powered by a Kenwood Excelon X1200M.

 

What would you guys recommend for components that come with tweeters that will fit the stock location of the G? I dont want to cut out the stock tweeters and would like something that just fits right in there.

Looking at Focals, Boston Acoustics, Rainbow Audio, what do you guys recommend. Im looking for a real quality set.

 

^Nobody can ever answer my question LOL

 

I can only recommend what I have, the Focal's. They are drop in tweeter locations, no mods needed (I think most any component tweet will fit in there with no issues actually). The speaker will need at least a 3/4" spacer though, the aftermarket baskets and magnets are way more deeper than those Bose disks. They aren't at all hard to make, but needed for your window to clear the speaker when it's rolled down. Fitment on my car was a cinche, no issues in that regard. I am not trying to sell you on Focal, I have no basis for them against Rainbow or Boston. I didn't have the luxury of a side-by-side comparison of those brands. As stated before, the A1's have accepted the punishment I have dished them for over a year now of daily hard use with no issues. Good luck in your decision.

 

Which set of Focals do you have? Right now i have precision PPI components mounted in a coax fashion because the tweeters were too large to fit in the stock tweeter location. I also have Kappas in the back. Was thinking about switching to Focals up front, and the PPIs in the back. Should be pretty quality sounding.

 

interested to see what u choose to run op

 

You can pit Sony Xplods in there if you dont slap the power to them. I've yet to hear about amp options in this thread. You can't simpily put speakers ( high end speakers) in a car and call it a day. The amp and choice of amp is the most important part of the install. Grab a good 4 channel such as the JL 300/4. Zapco makes great stuff as well as Eclipse. Im a huge JL fan so thats whats in my car. Pick you amps and headunit then go for speakers.



( i wouldn't hit a dog in the *** with sony)