Basic iPod (yes, I searched) and other Questions

[bmitchener]

First off, this is my first post so go easy on me. :)

I just purchased a 2008 Boxster w/ 6-sp, PASM, Bose, loaded. The car is being shipped and I take delivery next week (can't wait!).

I diligently searched the forum and many other Porsche forums and have not found the info I am looking for yet. All posts I have read discuss full iPod integration and control with the factory unit. I would simply like to connect my iPod from an Aux Out to either the charge port on the bottom of iPod or to 3.5mm on top. I have a separate cig lighter adaptor to charge it if necessary. I do not need the Dension Gateway 500 unit or any other interface/control type units. I prefer to set the iPod in the dash and use the iPod itself to control - I take it in and out of the car all the time. Does anyone know if the separate Dension cable (for sale for $49 at Bumper Plugs) or any other brand Aux Out-type cable will work by itself without the Gateway 500 box and all the MOST optical connection crap? I'd even disconnect the 6-disc changer and use that port if necessary as I will never bother with the changer. I have the CDR24 w/ Bose and 6-disc in boot.

I also searched floor mat posts and could not find photos of the Lloyds mats or other mats in an actual 987 Boxster. I'l like to swap out my factory sand beige floor mats with black factory mats or Lloyds mats with contrast embroidery. Does anyone know if the Lloyds mats have the same velcro connection to keep them in place? Do they look stock? Any photos!!??

Thanks in advance for all your advice! :D

B

[Lawdevil]

I am not an expert but I am getting ready to install the Dension unit. There is no "aux" input in a 2008 and earlier Boxster radio. The system works on fiber optics and something like the Dension is necessary to get a direct signal from an Ipod or sat radio into the system. The only other alternative is a FM modulator. One choice is one like the Canada Drive Safe one (which is described in a long thread on Planet Porsche) and seems to be pretty good as far as such modulators go. The other choice is a wired FM Modulator that inserts between the antenna cable and the radio. That is what I am presently doing for sat radio and it is OK - not great.

mike

[bmitchener]

I am not an expert but I am getting ready to install the Dension unit. There is no "aux" input in a 2008 and earlier Boxster radio. The system works on fiber optics and something like the Dension is necessary to get a direct signal from an Ipod or sat radio into the system. The only other alternative is a FM modulator. One choice is one like the Canada Drive Safe one (which is described in a long thread on Planet Porsche) and seems to be pretty good as far as such modulators go. The other choice is a wired FM Modulator that inserts between the antenna cable and the radio. That is what I am presently doing for sat radio and it is OK - not great.

mike

Thanks for your comments. I meant to say in my post that I am not a fan of FM modulators so I probably won't go that route. I was really hoping there some way for a simple 1 cable hook up, even if just a simple 3.5mm jack... but so far sounds like no dice. Bummer.

[Jay H]

I think the most popular option on the new 2009 Boxsters will be the $95 auxillary input on the dash...

I'd love to see a shot of the back of the stock radio to see what that changer input looks like... There HAS to be some sort of cable around to just ad an auxillary in... I would think this current CD changer in these new cars have an analog left and right audio input from the changer unless it's now digital connection...

Llyods products are pretty good, so I bet that they will fit quite good in the 987. I ordered Lloyds rubber mats for my 986 and they were cut perfect.

BTW, outstanding Boxster in a classic color combo!

Jay

08 987

90 911

84 911

[berty987]

I think the most popular option on the new 2009 Boxsters will be the $95 auxillary input on the dash...

I'd love to see a shot of the back of the stock radio to see what that changer input looks like... There HAS to be some sort of cable around to just ad an auxillary in... I would think this current CD changer in these new cars have an analog left and right audio input from the changer unless it's now digital connection...

Llyods products are pretty good, so I bet that they will fit quite good in the 987. I ordered Lloyds rubber mats for my 986 and they were cut perfect.

BTW, outstanding Boxster in a classic color combo!

Jay

08 987

90 911

84 911

Only the earlier boxsters (986 models) have the ability for an AUX interface. The later models use MOST fibre optics so you either buy the porsche aux interface which is useless as the sound level is very low or buy a dension unit. Ther is NO wiring on the back of the head unit of a 987 for an aux input. FM modulator for those that want a cheap option or Dension for those that want something better. No alternatives i'm afraid , its been researched many times and i've even looked at the wiring diagrams its a definite no go.

[renzop]

Before you spend any money, can I suggest that you try driving the car for a few weeks without any sound system. I really like my music and have many gigs of MP3s on various sources. However in the Boxster with the top down I have no desire to listen to music. The car is very involving and I love hearing the birds, the planes, other cars and the symphony in flat six. We are bombarded by electronic entertainment 24x7. The Boxster is my peace cocoon and a great escape.

[berty987]

Porsche make a tequipment rubber mat for LHD vehicles. They use the same fixing as the carpet mats and are more durable. Here they are fitted to my 987S.

[bmitchener]

I think the most popular option on the new 2009 Boxsters will be the $95 auxillary input on the dash...

I'd love to see a shot of the back of the stock radio to see what that changer input looks like... There HAS to be some sort of cable around to just ad an auxillary in... I would think this current CD changer in these new cars have an analog left and right audio input from the changer unless it's now digital connection...

Llyods products are pretty good, so I bet that they will fit quite good in the 987. I ordered Lloyds rubber mats for my 986 and they were cut perfect.

BTW, outstanding Boxster in a classic color combo!

Jay

08 987

90 911

84 911

Only the earlier boxsters (986 models) have the ability for an AUX interface. The later models use MOST fibre optics so you either buy the porsche aux interface which is useless as the sound level is very low or buy a dension unit. Ther is NO wiring on the back of the head unit of a 987 for an aux input. FM modulator for those that want a cheap option or Dension for those that want something better. No alternatives i'm afraid , its been researched many times and i've even looked at the wiring diagrams its a definite no go.

Thank you very much, Jay. This is the definitive answer I was looking for and that I pretty much assumed based on my research the last few days. I'll probably end up with the Dension (used to have an icelink in my Audi and except for a couple of interface glitches it sounded great). I hate to spend the money on it but I know for road trips I'll want my iPod.

[bmitchener]

Porsche make a tequipment rubber mat for LHD vehicles. They use the same fixing as the carpet mats and are more durable. Here they are fitted to my 987S.

Thanks. These looks great but I am really looking for a plush black carpeted mat with contrast Porsche logo stitching. Looks like the Lloyds mats are nice but I have yet to see a photo of one IN a Boxster and also curious how they stay in place (velcro, etc.)

[bmitchener]

Before you spend any money, can I suggest that you try driving the car for a few weeks without any sound system. I really like my music and have many gigs of MP3s on various sources. However in the Boxster with the top down I have no desire to listen to music. The car is very involving and I love hearing the birds, the planes, other cars and the symphony in flat six. We are bombarded by electronic entertainment 24x7. The Boxster is my peace cocoon and a great escape.

Good point and thanks for the comment!! I agree with all of what you said based on my experience with other roadsters and also my few test drives in the Boxsters. Love the sound of the engine when you really rev it. However... I have a couple of long-ish raod trips coming up and I know I'll need some tunes to distract and keep me awake. And, unlike some other comments I have read, I really love the sound of the Bose system in the Boxster and think my digital music hooked up to it will would great.

Thanks again!

[Jay H]

And, unlike some other comments I have read, I really love the sound of the Bose system in the Boxster and think my digital music hooked up to it will would great.

I'll state first that none of these stock systems (Bose or Sound Package Plus) are audiophile sound systems. I've got a modest "reference" system at home, have been a professional musician since a kid an have done enough audio engineering to get my way around a mixing console easy enough. I'm pretty picky when it comes to audio. However, for the price that we pay (keeping in mind how Porsche charges for most options), it's not a bad set up.

I've got the Sound Package Plus on my new Boxster. Right when I bought the car, the sound systems was not that great. However, these speakers need a decent break in period as well and the more that I crank on the system, the more I notice it's starting to warm up a bit. I still think new amps need a burn in period as well. I tied into the system last night with some good '80's synth pop and got her up to max volume on the head unit without clipping the amp or bottoming the drivers. Someone thought out the system a bit and didn't just toss junk in the car while meeting the price point.

There is decent power in both systems if you eq it right. It does need some frequency adjustments that we just can't do with the two shelving bands we are stuck with on the '24 head unit, but I can run the system with loudness on to round out the system while driving, or if that's too much low end, +2 on the base contour and flat on the treble seems like a good set up for me. A pair of 8" drivers in the doors on the Sound Package Plus system makes for some nice tight base and you can move some air. I find the Bose sub pretty tubby, but it does produce base and both systems drop pretty low in frequency response.

I have the stock audio systems in both my 1984 911 and my 1990 911. My '90 had the "upgraded" audio system with power amp and rear deck speakers (4" plates). Man, we've got it good with the stock systems in the Boxsters. I can't believe Porsche charged so much for the system in my '90. No headroom, horrid frequency response and just poor components. Bad. I won't go into how bad the stock system is on the '84 (single cone drivers in the doors and rear deck - geez, couldn't have Porsche sprung for a driver with at least a wizzer cone for some top end?).

Again, if you really wanted an audiophile system in a car, a Boxster is probably not the best place to spend your money due to the loud noise floor.

Berty, thanks for the pics of the rubber mats. I was wonder what those look like "in person". Those are my list before winter.

Best,

Jay

08 987

Edited August 11, 2009 by Jay H

[Jay H]

Only the earlier boxsters (986 models) have the ability for an AUX interface. The later models use MOST fibre optics so you either buy the porsche aux interface which is useless as the sound level is very low or buy a dension unit. Ther is NO wiring on the back of the head unit of a 987 for an aux input. FM modulator for those that want a cheap option or Dension for those that want something better. No alternatives i'm afraid , its been researched many times and i've even looked at the wiring diagrams its a definite no go.

Thank you very much, Jay. This is the definitive answer I was looking for and that I pretty much assumed based on my research the last few days. I'll probably end up with the Dension (used to have an icelink in my Audi and except for a couple of interface glitches it sounded great). I hate to spend the money on it but I know for road trips I'll want my iPod.

I can't take credit for the answer on the head unit aux in. Thanks to Berty for that info.

[lithium1330]

Not sure if this is too late, but a couple weeks back I installed the Alpine DPR-RDS1 with my '08 S with Bose. It uses FM modulator (via the antenna plug, not OTA). Because CDR-24 supports RDS, the album, artist and song name are also displayed (scrolling) on the radio and the information LCD. I noticed RDS didn't work with an older ipod (w/ 20G mcirodrive) and simply says ATTACHED. RDS does works with newer ipods. The unit also charges early ipods/iphones, with the exception of the 3GS.

The audio is excellent, there is no feedback/echo as it completely overpowers anything in the one of the 4 preset frequencies. Where I live, 88.7 is used at night by one of the radio stations (with strong, stereo signal). The Alpine unit completely over-powers the OTA station. You cannot hear the other station when you pause the ipod or switching between songs - even if you have the radio turned up loud. I really like it. I use the iPod to control the ... well, the ipod. If you simply need something for trips or, in my case, when the SO is in the car and wants to listen to his/her songs, I would go with the Alpine unit. The Alpine unit ($99 on Amazon w/ free S&H), antenna adapter ($15 on ebay).

Here is a short video clip of the old ipod working with the Bose. Ignore the audio quality - my camera is like 6 yrs old.

Alpine DPR-RDS1 with older an iPod

Edited September 26, 2009 by lithium1330