I talked to some people about upgrading from the bose amp and speakers, and i'm told that I have to change the whole head unit because it doesn't put out any power.

I forgot to mention to them that we have pioneer head units, not bose. Would it be possible and has anyone replaced the amp and speakers and kepted the HU?

 

Whoever you're talking to should be avoided at all costs - especially if you're considering them for an install - because they don't have a fawking clue what they're talking about. period.

 

I kept the factory head unit after getting an aftermarket amp, subs, & speakers, and I'm still happy with it. Only reason I'll probably get an aftermarket HU is for more features, not b/c I wasn't happy with the SQ on the stock HU. Then again, I'm not an audiophile like some of these freaks, it doesn't take much to make my ears happy.

 

I'm just tired of the weakness of the stock system. Ever since getting the basslink and XM added, I have to keep the basslink on the low end 'cuz it overpowers the stock speakers, and considering it's like 100w or less, it's REALLY weak.

 

Biggest deterent from going to an aftermarket H/U for me was the design of the faceplate, plus the fact that there are no aftermarket single/dougle din faceplates that one could purchase fuw an install (not even thru Crutchfield). Not been that impressed with some of the 'custom' stuff I've seen interspersed in here, but this is all a matter of personal choice. With what I've done I can keep the asthetics of the factory H/U while enjoying far superior sound to what it provided via the Bose electronics.

 

of course aftermarket headunits will sound much better than the stock. but one can do a lot to make the stock headunit sound good......you'll need to cough up money for the amps and speakers, though. use the cablelink harness from linkmeup.com....plugs straight into the stock head unit. then connect your aftermarket amp that powers the aftermarket speakers. a lot of folks here have kept the stock hu and are quite pleased with the results. i, for one, am. mcdan, i think, still has the stock hu. not sure. silverknight used to have the setup...but i believe changed to aftermarket. you just need to try it out....but you can produce decent sound with the stock hu!

 

Hey IcyCL,

I checked out the linkmeup.com page. Do you know if one can use just the cablelink harness or do you have to use the PowerDriver as well. Thanks

Otis

 

in my set up i'm just using the cable link harness ( use the part for the acura 98 and up). at first i purchased both the power driver and the cable link. but since the amp i'm using had a strong enough gain (for me), i returned the power driver. basically what the power driver does is it jacks up the signal power from the head unit...hence the name power driver. note that if the hu produces a bad/dirty signal, the power drivers' output will be bad as well. without the power driver and using the jl3/400, i am quite pleased with the sound my set up produces. i do not have the navi so i cannot speak for setups with the navi. but the guy i spoke with at linkmeup says the wires are one for one so he said it should work also with navi setups. haven't tried it with a navi so i really don't know. also, if you get the cablelink harness, you'll need to buy rca barrel connectors (female on both sides) available at radio shack to connect the rca cables (to be purchased separately from the cable link harness) to your aftermarket amp.

 

Much obliged Icy. I was hoping that would be your reply. Now I do not have to modify the wiring setup at all. And if unhappy with the performance of my new amp /old HU setup from a power perspective I have that answer as well. Thank you very much!!

 

Icy... you have a good memory... Must run with those with the sweet tafetta cls's!

I do have the stock headunit with aftermarket equipment.



This device seems like it might save a lot of trouble. Doesn't seem like it like it does anything too different than spicing rca's onto the factory wires (that your aftermarket equipment will do anyway), but that splicing process introduces the potential for many problems if it isn't done right. Just depends on if that's worth $99.


But you can make the stock headunit sound pretty good.

 

$99 bucks? Is that for both the cable link harness and the power driver or just the power driver? And where do you get it?

 

You can find more info at http://www.linkmeup.com

Looks like they have a 2 and 4 channel version.

 

thanks for the response, guys.

i checked around and got different results. Several places (volume stores like CC and bestbuy) tell me it's not possible or it's really complex and they are reluctant to attempt it.

I checked with tweeter and they told me that's it's very possible and gave me a price quote with equipment i picked out. check it out:

8 guage amp kit - $30
RCA's - $40
2LOCB - $160
MRVF340 Alpine Amp - $400
Boston Acoustic RC620 Components for front - $300
Boston Acoustic FX93 6x9's for rear - $140
Amp Install - $65
Front install - $75
Rear install - $35
Wiring and Install - $60


So the total is almost $1400 which is pricey. I probably own't do this considering i don't know the fate of my car.

i want to get some more price quotes from individual stores also.
For the guys that have done this, what was the total cost for equip and install?

 

4 gauge monster kit (14ft) = $70
5ft 8 gauge monster power and ground cable = free from a budy from CC
JL Audio 3/400 = $330 from ebay (2 years and still going strong)
MTX 4250D mono amp = $289 (discounted by buddy of mine from CC ...used to be $389 2 years ago.
Boston Pro Components = $350 from Myer Emco
Alpine 6 X 9 = $99
12 inch MTX 8000 series sub in a Q logic box = $289
power block splitter = $20
link me up cablelink = $50
labor = free done by myself ( took about 1.5 days to do everything)

total= $1497

it's higher than what your's would cost but i have the sub inlcuded.

my stuff ain't high end but i am pleased with the results.

 

I started to tell you about this product in my response to your first PM to me, but my message got kinda wordy so I deleted the reference. Might I suggest that you take a look at the following thread:

http://www.acura-cl.com/forums/searc...der=descending

In here I explain my experience with the LOCB, the reasons the LOCB is not/NOT the right item for our cars, and the logic/rationale behind going with the LOCPREA. You will also get a sense of how the overwhelming majority of people on this subject disagreee with me on this approach, but at least you can read it and decide for yourself. Would hate to see you spend the money on the LOCB's and not be satisfied, and have to try to figure out exactly where the problem is that you're going to experience when I can tell you before you get started. Also, the LOCPREA is about 1/2 price of the LOCB. If you want, I can get you the name of the SOUNDGATE techie I spoke with if you need to verify. I originally wondered why you were going with 2 LOC's, but then I recall you don't want to use an EQ, thereby necessitating the need for 2.

 

So, the SOUNDGATE LOCPREA, does how exactly does it get connected. Does it take the HU speakers wires as input and provides RCAs as output? Or am I totally off?

 

exactly right - takes your choice of front or rear L/R +/- feeds from the factory H/U as inputs on one side of the matchbox sized unit and provides female RCAs on the other side which allows you to run RCA cables to your EQ or Amp.

 

What kind of RCA cable should get use with LOCPREA? Does it make sence to use think expensive RCAs, or just regular gold plated will be fine?