[s-cars] Need to replace my radio - Advice Needed

[Kevin Day]

On Thu, Apr 14, 2005 at 06:30:31PM -0400, Djdawson2 at aol.com wrote:
> You can't just pull the headunit, and install a new one.  If you were 
> to use Kevin's approach, you  would not 
> be able to simply use the speaker outputs from the new head unit (as  one 
> might expect), because the Bose system puts the amplifier element of the  
> system at the speaker.  
> Likewise, the low level signal going from the Bose  headunit 
> to the amps is not setup to plug into the preamp outputs of the  normally 
> configured replacement headunit.  You would have to understand the  
> wiring outputs 
> of the Bose headunit (what wires go to what amps), cut them and  install RCA 
> ends on them.

Sure, you need some sort of wiring adaptor.  Just like on every other
car.  It is even a relatively standard ISO wiring harness.  
This is a simple job for anyone who can read a wiring diagram and
operate a wire crimper.  No cutting of the factory harnesses is
required.  

> Next item to consider is the high failure rate of the Bose amps.  Go  through 
> all that trouble to replace the headunit while maintaining the Bose  
> amps/speakers, and then an amp fails.  Now what?  Considering those  i
> things, and the 
> cost of good "normal" audio components, and I'd say do a clean  sweep.

There are good reasons to junk the Bose stuff (sound quality comes to mind).  
But there's a significant cost associated with that, well beyond just 
replacing a head unit. 

It depends on what you're after.  But my original point still stands.
You can replace the head unit with a new one.  It is not substantially
more difficult than in any other make of car, modulo the fact that you
(presumably) can't order a wiring harness from Crutchfield.

-Kevin