Inexpensive 996 audio upgrade to current technology

[rddurrett]

Just finished (January 2014) an audio upgrade to a '99 C4 Cab. Thought I would document it for future reference.

Inexpensive 996 audio upgrade.docx

[slaskowski]

Thanks for posting the details of the upgrade!

[jjb7]

Speakers? the stock speakers are 22 Watts (Nokia). The ampflifier will blow these. That is what happenned to mine. I am now removing the amplifier and going to fix the wiring. Good luck.

[GromitInWA]

I've ordered a Kenwood KDC-BT958HD head unit and the Metra 70-1787 harness. I've also ordered a variety of antenna converters. I have a 2002 with Bose. I am planning to use the phone plugs on the harness to connect to the pre-amp outputs of the receiver and run everything through the Bose amplifier, leaving the speakers alone. For now, I just want to focus on the head unit upgrade rather than mucking about with amps and speakers.

I have three questions:

1. Does this seem like a viable approach?
2. I'm not overly concerned about alarming the radio (although it would be nice) but I want to make sure that alarm functionality is retained especially given that it is a convertible. I've read somewhere about fashioning some kind of block to attach to the new head unit that will push the alarm wire. Does this seem reasonable or should I just forget about the alarm?
3. The head unit comes with an external microphone for telephony. Where would be a good location to install this in a convertible?

[rddurrett]

Hopefully the preamp metra cables won't create noise like mine did. If so, you could try to substitute insulated wire for the bare ground wire part of the cables.

I don't have an alarm but I have seen other discussions about it on this forum.

I placed the mic on top of the steering column in the middle. You could remove the instrument panel (again--see forum discussion on how to do it) and place it behind the mic screen on the left side as an alternative. Good luck!

[GromitInWA]

Thanks! I'll report back.