Time for a stereo upgrade

[Locobob]

Well I've managed to pull apart just about my entire interior - getting ready to do a carbon fiber (American Hydrocarbon) refinishing job. So I got to thinking that maybe it's a good time to update my stereo. There is nothing really wrong with it but it would sure be nice to have a touch screen, bluetooth etc. etc. At first I started looking at doing a complete system replacement - head unit, amps, speakers.... but things got pricey and complicated really fast. Now I'm thinking that maybe all I want is a new head unit + adapter. I upgraded my Bose amps years ago (100w rear, 75w front) and honestly I think it still sounds pretty good.

Any ideas or suggestions from the audiophiles???

I think I'd prefer a unit without Nav... rather have a separate GPS up in the windshield area.

Could I install a new head unit, keep the Bose amps and speakers and also install a separate sub? Not sure where I would put it... don't really care for those big boxes eating up the cargo space.

[Locobob]

Also thinking I should do some Dynamat like stuff - at least around the transmission tunnel - kinda noisy..... But I really, really hate adding weight to the car, does anyone make a lightweight sound dampener? Is Dynamat Extreme lighter/better than the original?

[scottfab]

Here is a thread on such stuff.
http://zr1.net/forum/showthread.php?t=19384&referrerid=1886

[Locobob]

Hi Scott, yeah I've been reading through the old threads here and gathering info. Hib's article is interesting but I want to do a touchscreen double din so that kit isn't going to work. The two head units I am currently looking at are the Kenwood DDX470 and the Pioneer AVH3500BHS. Looks like Crutchfield has the necessary adapters to interface with the Bose amps.

[Jagdpanzer]

Bob,
Got all my stuff from Double D Mods http://www.doubledmods.com/ when I did my Pioneer Nav install a couple of years back. Talked to Dennis there who was very helpful with getting the right adapter and installation information for conneting to the Bose speakers. The system has worked perfectly from day one. Dennis hangs out in the Audio section of Corvette forum.

[Locobob]

Thanks Phil, I just got off the phone with Dennis and he talked me through the whole thing. Pulled the trigger on a Kenwood 470 and a Pac adapter, hopefully this will go fairly smoothly.

[GOLDCYLON]

Order the metra installkit, you just throw away the pocket real cheap on Amazon. D

[scottfab]

Hi Scott, yeah I've been reading through the old threads here and gathering info. Hib's article is interesting but I want to do a touchscreen double din so that kit isn't going to work. The two head units I am currently looking at are the Kenwood DDX470 and the Pioneer AVH3500BHS. Looks like Crutchfield has the necessary adapters to interface with the Bose amps.

Bob, did you notice the sub design on one of the posts? I thought it was nicely done.
Let me know if you run into any snags. I can't imagine there being much to the "adapters". Perhaps a few 10cent components. Bose uses a differential drive design is all.
I still need to get over to your side of the river to see your new monster.

[Locobob]

I think I'm going to go ahead and run the wires for a amp/sub, that way I don't have to tear things apart again if I decide to do it.

[FU]

Did you find any lightweight sound deadener Robert ?

[Locobob]

Did you find any lightweight sound deadener Robert ?

Yes I have a pre-cut kit coming from Double D Mods, haven't seen it yet but sounds like it's a foil backed closed cell foam. I've been doing some research on this topic and it looks like a lot of people mistakenly use products like dynamat where it really isn't appropriate. Dynamat is more of a vibration dampener than a sound absorber, it's best used to increase the mass of thin sheet metal and other items that are prone to vibration where as for sound absorption you want something more like foam.

I received the stereo and adapter today, working on getting the connections figured out.

[Locobob]

Working on wiring up the stereo h/u to the pac oem-1 bose adapter, does anyone have this adapter? Do I need to connect the amp power control wire to the adapter for the bose amps or is this just for a separate amp? What about the mute wire for the phone... where does that go?

Also the supplied brackets are making me scratch my head - just a pair of L shaped brackets that don't look like they fit anywhere in particular... maybe I need the Metra install kit Daryll mentioned? Anyone have a pic?

[Locobob]

While I'm tearing everything apart I'm doing a few other projects as well... got a serious case of "while I'm there".

Here is the switch panel I made. It's going to be on/off for radar detector, on/off for gps hardwire, and the third switch is TBD.

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp270/locobob68/ZR-1/IMG_0303.jpg (http://s418.photobucket.com/user/locobob68/media/ZR-1/IMG_0303.jpg.html)

I'm also considering adding aftermarket seat heaters, they feel so nice on your lower back, almost like getting a massage. Anyhow I have 94+ base seats in my car so I have this unused 2 pin connector under my seats - I think it was for the lumbar and/or side bolsters. It just has a red and a black wire so I'm guessing it is just power and ground??? Can anyone confirm, I don't have the FSM electrical supplement.

http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp270/locobob68/ZR-1/IMG_0313.jpg (http://s418.photobucket.com/user/locobob68/media/ZR-1/IMG_0313.jpg.html)