simple radio/head unit options

[vdubpower]

89 carrera with a hifi package....the porsche cd2 is just not getting it done for me...i managed to remove it.......so where are the pre outs for the speakers.....i saw a power cable, antenna caple and harness...i dont understand how the speakers are connected?

i want something simple that is plug and play and has a BT connection so i can use phone safer...

any options you guys like...i was thinking of just buying from crutchfield as they supposingly supply the right connections....with out having to solder or do fancy wiring

thanks

[Lake Guy]

I've been plowing through the net for a good head unit with period correct looks, proper wiring, proper outputs for upgraded stereo, etc. I couldn't find what i wanted. I'd have bought a Blaupunkt if they were available. The Conti's look good but they're built for tractors and trucks and don't have the outputs for amps and such. I ended up where i started which was a quality Alpine head unit with unfortunately too many lights - why do they do that?? I'm going to install it and then paint over the lights with plasticdip or similar. I know that sounds harsh and crazy but i've done worse and made it work well in the end. If it works out i'll sell my modified versions to all the Pelican's out there and retire.

[vdubpower]

yeah i agree...so i had a fancy high end kenwood purchased 2002 ish and had it in my system i the 500sel for past 14 yrs , i think it cost like 400 bucks .....it finally went kaput and i purchased a 150$ kenwood which was middle/high end and was so cheap and had all the crazy functions...way too many EQ settings for me to even understand....its great and was a easy swap as i already have the kenwood wiring....

contis are tires arent they....didnt know there was a radio brand too, lol

[Franks89-911]

I have the 89 with hifi package. Speaker wires go from amplifier under passenger seat, then from there up to dash, and then out to speakers. The wiring connections were found below the dash in the middle against the wall to the frunk. There were I think red/yellow, white/black, etc. The 4 connectors are small and round.

I took pictures a while ago but can't find them now. sorry!

Crutchfield sells these "Metra" brand plugs that mate to the car's wiring so you only have to connect those round connectors to the car's existing wiring, and the other end you can butt splice to the new stereo wiring harness.

Put simply, the car doesn't need to be rewired. It took me forever to figure that out though. Look under the carpet under the dash in the center for the 4 little colored round connectors.

You may have issues with the tweeters in the door and crossovers. Instead of removing the door panels, I elected to put new wires in the front and just replace bottom speakers. The tweeters are nonfunctional on my car now.

As far as head units, cant be of too much help there, I did get a Kenwood Bluetooth HD radio refurb for about 180 on Crutchfield, but it's too shiny - not the matte black plastic that would be more period correct. Some folks on here have bought a "Continental" head unit in matte black, some have even gone so far as to buy "Porsche" stickers from some dude named Bergvill (sp?) in Norway to go over the Continental logo. Kinda wish I had done all that in retrospect. My Bluetooth phone is pretty useless in a Targa and the antenna isn't great so the HD recep isn't great either.

[vdubpower]

thanks for your post, ill fiddle around with it tomorrow and read about the metra wires and how to splice and dice..

i was going thru my records on the car and itseems previous owner did change the front door 5.25 inch speakers to diamond audio M55 series but whats weird is that it has JLaudio covers...rear4 by 6 are pioneers apparently. ...not sure what the tweeters are
i think it has crossovers but no idea where they are placed, havent found them

hey to remove the grills or get to the speakers do door cars have to come off, or the lower storage area?

[Franks89-911]

Originally Posted by vdubpower

hey to remove the grills or get to the speakers do door cars have to come off, or the lower storage area?

I was able to remove and replace the original bottom grilles and speakers without removing door panel or door cubby. The grille unscrewed counterclockwise, and the speaker was held on by 4 screws that I could unscrew without touching the door. Not easy but doable.

The original stereo crossover is probably behind the door panel so if you ever wanted to r&r the tweeters, the door panel would have to come off.

[Derek911]

The Blaupunkt 440 Toronto looks good in the dash and has all the bells and whistles. Plus pre amp outs for expansion. A lot of people are running that head unit. Some people aren't concerned about their stereo, but I need to have the option of listening to good music. You can only listen to your engine but for so long. I'm running it with alpine speakers and a Rockford Fosgate amp.
I don't have a picture of my radio, but I found some on goolge for an example.

https://www.google.com/search?q=blaupunkt+toronto+porsche+964&rlz=1C9BKJA_enUS732US732&oq=posche+964+blaupunkt+&aqs=chrome.3.69i57j0l3.9879j0j4&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgrc=vr2Fx7MdkxkafM:

[Tremelune]

I've installed the venerable Pioneer DEH-80PRS in several cars, and it's about as good as it gets for quality audio that isn't obnoxious-looking. Its most important feature for me is that every light on it goes out after you stop touching it for a few seconds.

My next install will likely use no head unit at all. I will plug an iPod into a miniDSP unit and control it with either voice (requires an internet connection), or a hidden bluetooth controller such as this one. It seems to allow for a remote volume knob as well.

It's worth noting that the danger in using your phone while driving has little to do with your hands being tied up and a lot to do with the distraction it provides.

[A horse with no name]

Hi...For music I use my iPhone; I have the stock radio that runs through an aftermarket amp. It is installed under the trunk and mounted to the right front inner fender well...I just unplug the radio imput and replace it with a long RCA cable to the iPhone; it is then running directly through the amp.

To control the volume, and or to change tracts, I use a Satechi Bluetooth Remote controller.. It works great! ($34.00)

Satechi Bluetooth Remote

[Franks89-911]

This thread is informative on the Continental radio install

For those who have installed the Continental Radio....a wiring question

[tdw28210]

Quick heads up for the community. I did this install today in my '87 coupe. Took a couple hours because I didn't read the instructions. Should have, 'cuz I haven't done this since high school.

I was on the prowl to replace the Alpine head unit circa 1992. It had become possessed and would randomly turn on, off, up and down at the worst possible times. Figured it was bad contacts in the faceplate.

Enter the Kenwood KDCBT265U CD. This thing is $80 at Amazon and looks surprisingly decent. It is simple white on black display. No blues, reds or blotchy greens like the old Alpine had. Plus this thing controls Sirius, iHeart, Pandora, plays CD's with regular and MP3 files. And most importantly, it has Bluetooth phone and audio streaming. Extra bonus: it has a front side USB that charges my Samsung S7.

All in all, I am really pleased. And for $80, if it burns out in 2 years, I will just buy another one. I need to get a black USB still, but other than that. I am ready for the next road trip.

[vdubpower]

how difficult was the wiring or just plug and play....i purchased a pioneer sans a cd player....essentially a digital media player...right now i have the stock set up in my 1989 with hi fi factory option...all my speakers endup in a little amp under the seat and then gets sent back to the porsche cd 2 headunit which is just old....Im trying to figure out how to get this thing connected...

[tdw28210]

Originally Posted by vdubpower

how difficult was the wiring or just plug and play....i purchased a pioneer sans a cd player....essentially a digital media player...right now i have the stock set up in my 1989 with hi fi factory option...all my speakers endup in a little amp under the seat and then gets sent back to the porsche cd 2 headunit which is just old....Im trying to figure out how to get this thing connected...

So I am not that familiar with the stock set-up in '89. but I am guessing it is what is called single DIN mount radio. Not a dual pole mount. So the toughest part might be getting the head unit out of the dash. These should be a surround plate on the front of the radio. Pop that off first (maybe use a small screw driver). Once that trim piece is off you need to slide the 2 keys you likely got with your new head unit and see if they will allow the head unit to free up from the DIN cage. If not that, yo may have 2 U-shaped pins that go into each side of the cage and pop it out.

However you get it out, you really just need to match the wires up one-by-one. I don't think you need to concern yourself with the wires and amp under the seat. My radio had a couple junction boxes behind the head unit. I took several photos and then started unscrewing each connection on at a time and screwing the same color wire from the loom that came with the new unit. Should be fairly easy. Just pay attention to the colored wires (white, purple green) that have black-striped versions. Those look similar, but they need to be matched. Good luck and hope this helps.

[garment]

Will the antenna stay down when your are on non-tuner inputs such as bluetooth and USB? This is a per peeve of mine...

Originally Posted by tdw28210

Quick heads up for the community. I did this install today in my '87 coupe. Took a couple hours because I didn't read the instructions. Should have, 'cuz I haven't done this since high school.

I was on the prowl to replace the Alpine head unit circa 1992. It had become possessed and would randomly turn on, off, up and down at the worst possible times. Figured it was bad contacts in the faceplate.

Enter the Kenwood KDCBT265U CD. This thing is $80 at Amazon and looks surprisingly decent. It is simple white on black display. No blues, reds or blotchy greens like the old Alpine had. Plus this thing controls Sirius, iHeart, Pandora, plays CD's with regular and MP3 files. And most importantly, it has Bluetooth phone and audio streaming. Extra bonus: it has a front side USB that charges my Samsung S7.

All in all, I am really pleased. And for $80, if it burns out in 2 years, I will just buy another one. I need to get a black USB still, but other than that. I am ready for the next road trip.

[tdw28210]

Originally Posted by garment

Will the antenna stay down when your are on non-tuner inputs such as bluetooth and USB? This is a per peeve of mine...

No antenna on my car, so not sure.

[adias]

I got the Blaupunkt Toronto 420 BT CD with front/rear Blaupunkt speakers. Sounds good, BT works well, style-wose fits and looks good.