Nothing definitive, but I went over the issues with a top installer (he does all the custom work for the local Porsche and MB dealers).

I want to keep the head unit because of the integration and what looks like a nightmarish amount of custom work to fit anything in the curvy console. The good news is that he thinks that is doable.

He guessed that the quaility of the unit will be fine since it is made by Panasonic. He has used Panasonic factory heads before and said that many are superior to most of the Alpine line.

The next question is the dynamic equalization (changes by volume level) that yano referred to yesterday. The installer said that he can get inside the head unit and grab the preamp signal before the equalization takes place (like folks have on the infamous Bose system). That means that I can use the factory volume control which, in turn, means that I can hide my Zapco SX-SL in the glovebox rather than building it into the console (so that the volume control would be accessible).

So, my '05 will look entirely factory. The only customization will be preparing the doors for speakers, removing the factory sub to allow a sub in the trunk to directly play in the cabin, making a space for the 3" dome mids in front and running wires.

Here is what I have in my '99:

Head: Nakamichi MB-100
Line Driver, EQ, active crossover : Zapco SX-SL
Cabin Amp: ADS PH15 6 channel x 50
Sub Amp: Zapco Studio 300x
Front and rear speakers: ADS 336is components
Sub ADS r12

Here is what I'll do in the '05:

Head: Factory
Line Driver, EQ, active crossover : Zapco SX-SL
Cabin Amps: Zapco Studio 300x for front mid-bass, Zapco Studio 150X for front mid/high
Sub Amp: Zapco Studio 300x
Front speakers: DLS Iridium 6.3 (6.5" three-way)
Rear speakers: None or just two more mid-bass
Sub: ADS r12

 

How did you choose your speakers? Do you have a cost estimate?