PCCM+ vs Aftermarket unit

While I have resisted the urge to install a double DIN unit in my C4S to keep things original I now recognize the benefits of Apple car play and a better sounding system. I love the OEM look of the PCCM+ as compared to the jukebox/pinball machine look of some aftermarket options. However, I've been told that the technology running behind the scenes in the Porsche unit is poor compared to what is available in aftermarket Alpine, Kenwood, etc units for less cost. Has anyone cross shopped these units recently? I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to aftermarket infotainment units. Thoughts appreciated - including thoughts to keep as is. Thanks!

I went with the PCCM+ about 6 months. I have enjoyed that decision everyday and never looked back. Stick with OEM. It's worth it.

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Integration is the most defining factor why Porsche owners would pay the high price for these units and only put Porsche Classic Radio products back into their cars. I've seen this first hand selling two 911 cars. I dealt with many email and inquires. Most Porsche buyers want an unmolested car that is as close to factory stock as possible. Therefore, when it comes to the Porsche classic radios, people respect the fact that the owner didn't hack up the factory wiring harnesses nor remove the original factory components. It keeps the design close to the original PCM units while offering modern functionality.

You can still install an aftermarket product without molesting anything, and keeping the original wiring so going back to stock is a straight forward procedure. I don’t see any reason going for the PCCM over an aftermarket product beside the aesthetics. iv’e installed a pioneer double DIN with Apple car play, before Porsche came out with the PCCM. i’m very happy with it, but eventually it will be replaced with a PCCM for the same reason I’ve mentioned. Aesthetics 😁. It will just have to wait until I will finish some more important projects.

So there are a few different options on the aftermarket and this one in particular even has an OE look to it. For about 25% of the cost this head unit from ATOTO offers some things the PCCM+ does not. This is a full Android Auto head unit, meaning it is essentially a tablet mounted in your dash. You can order it with a SIM card and have full LTE internet available on it. Also any app available on the google play store can be install as well as Android mirror and Carplay. So for instance you can put Sirius XM directly on the head unit, Torque which is an OBD scanner tool, customize the startup interface, has a GPS receiver built in.....so you get the idea. Way more features than the PCCM+, however 95% of everyone won't use any of that. So if you want plug and play with an OE look go for the PCCM+. If you want a decent look, but something more you can tinker with go with an aftermarket unit. This one in particular has a pretty good following and support. The quality is also very good for a chinese branded unit. Last note is don't kid yourself and think the build quality of the PCCM unit is superior as they all come from the same factories in China. The one from Porsche just has a dealer network to support it. That is mostly what you are paying for.

I put in a pioneer sph-10bt, which is a single din unit that has a phone holder instead of a CD drive so you can clip your phone in right there. It felt like the best of both worlds, I really just want to use my phone for music/navigation and it also lets me keep the AC unit up top so I can do the lower console delete.

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I've had PCCM+ installed in my MOST based Targa for nearly a year and have zero regrets. It's a Porsche Classic part that looks like it belongs. In my humble opinion, while many (not all) aftermarket radios can outperform the PCCM+ in certain ways, even with skilled installation, they just can't quite get there in presentation to look like they belong. This was #1 priority for me...but it's not for everyone, and I totally get and respect that. I'm running the stock amp and speakers and it sounds as good or slightly better than the stock radio it replaced...which is fine with me. You are paying Porsche pricing, and if that's not a deterrent at the outset, and you go in understanding the PCCM+ feature limitations (no back-up camera or wireless carplay/android auto) and determine they aren't limitations for you and/or deal breakers, than I'd expect very few would regret the decision.

I think this get's missed with respect to aesthetics but I think the reason that the PCCM+ unit works so well in the 996 interior is because it has *****. That's my take at least. Most head units from that era had ***** and they fit well into the overall interior and provide great usability. Most modern head units are all touch screen and feature small buttons which are not easy to use. I agree with the cartoonish look of some UIs, however, if you intend to live in the CarPlay or AndroidAuto interface it shouldn't be much of an issue. The below Sony unit is the closest I found to being passable in a 996 for aftermarket options. What kills it for me is that it's for CarPlay only. I do like the **** for volume and a very simple look. It also has a reverse camera capability which I think was a big miss for PCCM. I have some people try to retrofit something but haven't seen a finished product.

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I agree on the ***** part, but for me the biggest advantage of the PCCM (from aesthetics point of view) is that it fits to the intended space without any adapters or additional frame.

When I say "integration" within the Porsche system, I'm not speaking of just esthetics or even the factory bezel design with ***** and buttons. I'm speaking about the ability of the Porsche classic radio to interconnect with the original factory system. This is more important for MOST base cars moving forward. Older analog cars (pre-2003) work better with aftermarket than newer systems, IMHO. Bear with me here as I try to explain what I've experienced first hand with post-2003 cars. Factory head units like the PCM2, PCM3, or PCCM+ radios, use the MOST network to transport MPEG bit streams to the amplifiers. True digital audio transport is lost if you move to an aftermarket radio on MOST based cars. You may not care as long as the audio sounds good, but people need to know the drawbacks before they dive into such a project. The majority of aftermarket radios provide ANALOG pre-amp outputs via old RCA connectors. Of course, those outputs are not compatible with factory systems that use fiber optics to transport digital bit streams. Therefore, you must use an analog-to-MOST (fiber optic) conversion box. You lose the fader control. Stereo balance is still maintained, but fader control is gone. The MOST conversion boxes are also known to produce 60 Hz ground loop hum/whine in many cases as people have reported. Buyer beware. Again, if you have an older Porsche, aftermarket radios with proper wire harnesses are a clear winner if you didn't want to pay the price for Porsche classic radios. The new Porsche PCCM+ systems are not perfect. That's already well known and I'm sure they're working a little harder with the next version to minimize some of the problems with the first run. While many speak about the lack of functions (e.g. wireless carplay), Porsche dropped the ball in one clear area that we've seen so far. That is, if you have an analog car with the "HiFi" optioned system, you'll find the PCCM+ will not work. This is because the Hi-Fi systems were designed to take a pre-amp line level feed from the YELLOW connection of the head unit (e.g. CDR-220) to feed the amplifiers. Now, the PCCM+ will output SPEAKER LEVEL analog audio for cars that didn't have frunk amps, but it still doesn't provide the right output for the Hi-Fi systems that were pre-MOST. Those people have had to purchase a HI/LO adapter that attenuates the speaker level output of the PCCM+ to a LINE LEVEL via the yellow plug. Lots have been written on Rennlist. Owners with MOST have had little or no problems installing their systems. Some have hurdles (DSP amps) that have to be corrected via the Porsche technical article that was released.

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Came here to post this, leaving satisfied.

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Quaz, which ATOTO is that? Does that have built in Navigation or do you have to use your phone? Thanks.

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Dave, Which SONY is that? I like that it has a volume **** !

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I'm not the poster, though it's similar/on the lines of the Sony XAV V10BT.

It's : https://www.sony.com/lr/electronics/...ers/xav-ax1000

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I certainly lack the depth of knowledge that b3 has and understand the MOST challenges that he lays out. However, I would add that it is not that hard to add RCA cables and hard wire the speakers to an aftermarket amp on a MOST equipped car, albeit tedious and time consuming. If you're a DYI'er and want to put in the effort it's doable in a clean, hidden manner without harming or splicing any original wiring but I'm sure it would be quite costly to pay an installer to do it. If you're upgrading your speakers then it's not that much additional work to pull wire and might be necessary if you're adding powerful amps. It can be done in a completely, 100% reversible manner if that's a future consideration. Even though my car is pre-MOST, I added upgraded speaker wires because of the size of the amps added. I've got a Kenwood DNN992 HU that I'm happy with but after Porsche came out with the PCCM I thought about changing over for the oem look. Unfortunately, the PCM doesn't have the RCA outputs so it's not happening.

Yes, but the Atoto head units all have 10% THD versus less than 1% from name-brand head units. This means your music will be distorted at higher volumes. :-( Otherwise, compelling.

The Optic cable is so expensive that there is not much difference between aftermarket and PCCM for my 2004 with Bose. Or am i missing something?

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I experienced this problem and it was fixed using a Porsche adapter cable, see here: https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...l#post18788093 So definitely not a dealbreaker anymore. This transformed my PCCM+ from borderline unusable to working great.

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This �� no reason to go that route unless you re. Purist or doing it for looks as the functionality and capability is well below anything modern. I just did the install in my 03 996 turbo with a new kenwood unit alongside rear and front cameras. Get the adapters from berg I�ll fix and zero cutting. I had to move a pin or two around but otherwise is totally stock. Note that once I put in the new head unit my Bose system came alive. It sounds fantastic compared to before and the wireless CarPlay etc etc etc is nice. I want to say it took me 2 hrs if very careful on stall and routing wires for cameras but all in I was out 725$ for the head unit and 2 Kenwood cameras with multiple angles as well as a secaine most fiber adapter. Can save money if you go with cheap cameras. Good luck with your decision !