Need to upgrade my 911stereo system

Any ideas on what to install in my 1982 911SC. Thinking of a mid to high end system

I've been very happy with mine.

http://www.caraudioinnovations.com/

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Jack Olsen
1973 911 T (3.6) sunroof coupe
jackolsen@mediaone.net

Ditto to Jack's suggestion...

Nick
with two 8" subs in the back. Sounds great! without the boom boom boom.

Nick

I am in the same boat you are, the 10 year old Kenwood in my SC doesn't play CDs any more.

Kenwood just came out with a CD player that will play MP3 files written to CDs. If you have access to a CD writer, you can fit about 10 hours of music on a single CD. Check out:

http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S-uEvUA6PBqfg/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=3&g=300&I=113z919&o=&a=

Aiwa has a similar model that is less money, but much uglier. Unfortunately I think both would look out of place in a 911 dash. Too much digital crap and blue/green/red lights.

I will probably hold out a couple months and see what some of the other manufacturers come out with.

Tom

I replaced the old Blaupunkt in my 88 Carrera with an Alpine CD and 5.25" Bostons in the doors. Was thinking of upgrading the 6X4M rear speakers, but the car is so noisy I really think it is a waste of money to put a lot into a stereo system. Listen to the engine instead ...


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John

Last summer, I built a 700 watt system in my 911SC. If I had it to do again, there are a few things I would do differently.

Here are my recommendations for a mid to high end system for your 911. For headunit, I would pick any of the Alpine 79-- series, my choice would be the 7941. You can get one off ebay for around $250. For an amplifier, I would pick an A/D/S/ 4x 75, again used, for around $250. This is a four channel amp, bridge the back two to power a subwoofer, the front two will power 6 1/2 inch component speakers in your doors. For speakers, I would pick an audiobahn 10 inch subwoofer, their top of the line unit with a 100+ ounce magnet for around $200. You could go with the 12 inch if space allows. For front speakers, the 6 1/2 inch models from Boston, MB Quart, or Rockford Fosgate are all good, make sure you listen before you choose one. Around $450 new. You will need a crossover, Kicker makes an excellent unit for around $80.

This system ends up around $1200, give or take, and it will sound like you paid a lot more. If you want to spend a little more, upgrade to an Alpine 7909 head unit - this is considered the finest cd player ever produced for a car. They sold for $1500 new, are out of production, but can occasionally be found on ebay for around $500. The next upgrade from here would be a seperate amp for the subwoofer, I would pick Phoenix Gold. Finally, you could go to MB Quart Q front speakers, I have these and highly recommend them.

Going the other way, you could pare down the cost of the $1200 system by substituting a bazooka tube for the subwoofer, this will save about $100 and lots of labor on constructing a subwoofer box. You could also save about $100 by downgrading the front speakers to a 5 1/2. All of the recommendations above assume you are willing to do a fair amount of installing yourself, having all of the stuff mentioned above profesionally installed could easily double the figures quoted.

I totaly immersed myself in this stuff last summer, and might be able to answer some of the questions you might have, feel free to email me.


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Roger Shadel
78 911SC



[This message has been edited by Serge (edited 02-07-2001).]

I'm actually going to be doing a stereo in my 78 SC once the engine rebuild is done. The Audiobahn Aluminum series subs are INCREDIBLE especially for the price. As for head units, Eclipse or Alpine. Fronts I would stick with MB Quartz or Boston (big bucks for either of these) and unless you want to go BIG BASS just stick to a 4 channel amp to run everything.

If you want to keep it simple but have a deffinte noticible sound quality and quantity increace for pocket change (compared to other suggestions) I pulled the apline component (tweet and mid base) fronts (they sounded VERY good) from my 78 SC and a small amplifier to drive them. I also ahve an alpine head unit for tapes with the optional control for a CD changer. I can sell all these CHEAP and it will without a question be upgraded. Let me know, roseneck@cyberbeach.net. I can probably let the whole thing go for like $150 and its all in excellent shape.

btw, those speakers will fit in the stock locations in your doors and you will have to make a small hole in the door pannel for the tweeter.

Adam Roseneck
(sorry didn't mean to give you a pitch when you asked for advice, just though I might try and help)

When I put a new system in my SC, I was originally going to put in a a Pioner or Kenwood as I've had both in other vehicles and was happy with both systems. I am not a weany about keeping everything "perfectly" original but try to stay close Anyway I couldn't bring myself to put a Japanese stereo into my Porsche, regardless of their great quality. I went with a high-end Blaupunkt with CD player and I am pleased with the setup.....(I enjoy my music but am not an audiophile)

Bill Carcot
1979 911SC
Diablo Region, P.C.A.

It seems to me that once upon a time Z-Box offered a hi-end fiberglass bass box... Other than particle board and 8 inch's or custum builds, Cliff Designs (or something close...E-Mail me...) Offers a fiberglass encassing that takes the place of the rear seats (they sit on top of it) as well as the floor room back there (can still put seat all the way back...). Anyhow they can take 10's and sounds real nice to me..... As far as Amps go I would recomend Arc Audio (related to the origins of Zapco). Speakers would be either MB Quart or Rainbow ( a new German brand that is up to par). I kept the head unit (Alpine) that came with the car, I can't stand the "new" colorfull look they all seem to go after... Any how, after a lot of work/research I can turn the tunes up to the point of not hearring anything else...

Have fun,
Jean-Paul

You have another option for adding some bottom end to a Porsche. Instead of taking up any of the rear space you can build a custom enclosure for the front passenger side of the vehicle. Just remove the wooden floorboard and create an angled enclosure that will house a 10” or 8” sub. The only other thing you have to modify it the floor matt. The results are very impressive and if done right it looks very clean. I am working on an enclosure right now with and ADS 10”. The other very important thing to consider is that you are driving a sports car with most of the weight in the rear because of the engine location. Adding additional weight behind you is not something that I recommend.

As for door speakers you have a lot of good options but as other people have noted the Boston Pro Series 6 ˝” are the way to go. If you can angle the tweeters so they are in a crossfire configuration you will achieve much better imaging. The current door configuration in a Porsche fires the components directly at each other. This causes some serious problems when listening to music because it pulls too much to one side instead of re-creating a proper sound stage.

The important thing to remember is that the 911 is a small car so keep it simple. A set of component speakers and an 9” or 10”sub is plenty. If you choose the right component that’s all you need. As for amplifiers I would recommend going with a used ADS or Nakamichi product. There are plenty on the web for sale at very reasonable costs.

The head unit is very subjective so have fun with this. I’m a huge fan of MP3 because of the amount of music you can stuff onto a single CD, nothing like 140 songs on one compact disk. The sound quality isn’t as good as pure CD but it can come very close. Most people can’t tell the difference, so you be the judge.

Have fun and happy motoring.

Jean Paul-

Yes! I have been searching high and low for a Z box rear seat enclosure for the 911, and finally gave up. If you know of where they are still available, I would love to hear about it.

Thanks

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Roger Shadel
78 911SC

Ok, maybe I could use some help on this topic.

I went and bought and installed what I thought to be a pretty decent system. It is comprised of the following:

Head Unit: Clarion Pro-Audio
Amp: Rockford Fosgate 4 channel x 40
Front Speakers: Boston 5 1/2 with component tweeters.
Rear Speakers: Boston 6 x 9

Now, don't get me wrong, it sounds pretty good. But something is missing. Maybe it is a sub. I don't want booming bass, just solid, hard hitting, clean lows. Something to "fill in" the sound a bit.

I don't really want to spend more money, but feel I need to do something. What is all of this talk about bridging the amp for a sub? Is that the ticket for me? Or, do I need another amp and a subwoofer? I assume that needs another set of pre-amp outputs from my head unit. Not sure if it has 3 pre-amp outs. How would a $200 Bazooka tube sound? I like the idea of that since it would be easy to remove at the track.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

JA


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John
73 911S

John-

Bridging two channels of your amp, and going to an 8 inch (I assume, for $200) Bazooka, will improve your sound IMMENSELY. The key is that the sound must be crossed over, that is, the Bazooka should only get the lows (low pass), and the fronts should only get the highs (high pass). For your rear fill speakers, you will need to use deck power.

Adding a subwoofer and crossover is the most dramatic, cost effective thing a person can do to improve the sound. Check your amplifier, it may have built in low and high pass outputs.

Roger Shadel

Serge,

I got my enclosure from www.clifdesigns.com .
The draw backs are price ($700), fit quality-needed some cuts/fixes in the fiberglass-, limits choice of woofers due to depth clerance, does not come carpeted. The upside is a very "factory" look large enclosure that holds 2 10's and sounds as full as one could ever want.
I can e-mail pictures to you if you want.
Jean-Paul

Since all of you guys have upgraded your systems is there anyone who has a 78-80 SC orig blaupunkt system or black speaker grilles they don't want anymore? e-mail me w/ prices and condition. Thanks.

Regards,
Carl Bauer
carlman100@hotmail.com

in my SC, I have:Clarion Pro Audio head, 4" Polks in the doors, 5 1/4's in the rear. 75Wx4 with built High pass X-over keep the mids and highs nice and clean. I went to the Caraudioinovations site and looked at their enclosure. Then I made my own. 2 10" pioneer woofers driven by a 200W no name amp with a built in Lowpass X-over. Sounds great and was a great bang for the buck. I have an amp under each front seat. All items, except for the Polk Audio Speakers, were bought used from friends. I have less than $500 invested. If you want to keep it simple, you can get the something like what sony has with 4 channels for the mid/highs and a 5th channel for the subs. All in one amp.

Kemo 78SC

Ok, sorry for the dumb audio questions...

Is "cross-over" and "bridge" something I buy or something I do? In other words, how is it physically accomplished? Is it a wiring "technique" or a piece of electronic equipment?

Sorry for all the tangent questions. Is there a source for good information on the details of how to best integrate this sub into my system?

Thanks a lot...

JA

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John
73 911S

A cross over is a box that is usually bought but can also be made using resistors. It filters out highs or lows depending on the resistor and set up. Some of these are complicated an expensive because they actually direct the highs to the tweeters and the mid-bass to be mids... Sometimes there is even a channel for the lows on really decked out systems. When dealing with built in crossovers, all it means is that you flick a switch on your amp or CD player and only the lows will be sent you your SUB. This is useful for anyone not wanting to spend a fortune on equilizers.

The term "bridging" is used when you take two channels on the amplifier and "bridge" them to send sound to one speaker (usually SUB). This is accomplished by taking the positive output from channel #1 and the negative output from #2 and sending them to you speakers respective + and - inputs.

If you have any questions or suggestions for 911 stereos, please let me know because I'm going to be doing a basic but competition level stereo in my '78. My primary concern is keeping the weight down and the Sound quality Up. Hope this information helped you out.

Adam Roseneck
roseneck@cyberbeach.net

Hi,

What do you wan't a hi fi for ?????

The music is in the back !!!!


Steve