03 Bose and new Nav (Kenwood, Pioneer, Eclipse)

Greetings, I�m considering the Eclipse 6600, Pioneer AVIC Z1, and the Kenwood 6019 for my 03 996 Cab with Bose. The most important things to me are to pickup IPOD integration, get a good navigation system, and hopefully improve the sound and am/fm tuner section over the stock head unit. I�ve heard everything from �you can�t swap out the head unit on a MOST car�, to �you can but you�ll degrade the sound because you loose the Bose factory calibration�, to �You can, and any after market head unit will be better sounding than the factory Bose�. My intention at this point is to just replace the head unit and leave the speakers as is. I would very much appreciate input as to merits of the three head units being considered and the issue of what happens to the overall sound quality. I'm not much of a Bose fan as I really view them more as a marketing company as opposed to a technology / sound company, but I must admit the sound is pretty decent. Here is what I know about the units (I think) The Kenwood uses Garmond navigation, and uses a newer ground based antenna system coupled with GPS Satellite signals. It uses flash memory for the navigation. It has a relatively large 6.95�screen. The Elipse supposedly is a bit more musical than the Kenwood or Pioneer, but in a cab I doubt I�d notice it. Is has a DVD based navigation, and a 6.5� screen. The pioneer has a hard drive based navigation, and can also store music on the drive. It has a 7� screen. The all have IPOD integration, so I�m assuming that is a non-issue. They are all close enough in price to render price a non-issue. Thanks for your input.

I had the Kenwood 6019, nav, and sirius installed early this summer, and have been very happy with it. but this is all in a 2000 cab - no "Most" car.

You can take the old system out with no problem. I have one of the eclipse AVN units. You will have a problem trying to wire your new head to the bose amp. It uses a special wire in the harness. You should also go ahead and get a new amp, and wire it as all normal systems are set up. If youre putting all that money in the rest of the system, why not get new (better) speakers too. ? . After all, the speakers are the most important part of any audio system.

I don't mind replacing the speakers, I just don't have a feeling for where the Bose fall on the sound scale. Are the Boston Z an upgrade over the Bose?

kmayer, hi - can you update me on this project please? Have you replaced your head unit yet, and were there any MOST integration issues? I'm very interested in doing the same with an Eclipse AVN 6000 (that may be an Australian only model) and have asked Fujitsu/Eclipse for their advice as to whether it's possible. Naturally, I've heard nothing from them; I've probably put their tech support into a flat spin. "MOST?" "Porsche?" "What's this guy on about?" David Grainger

I have the Boston Acoustics Pro speakers. They are a very good quality product and sound really smooth. A great bargan for the money. DG, no problem removing the stock stereo and replacing with aftermarket. No effect with the most system.

David, I have not yet replaced the head unit. From what I gather thouugh, it should not be a problem. I don't drive my 996 much in the winter, so I decided to hold off until spring to do the job.

Okay so it's spring even if there is still snow falling. What's the status? This project of yours falls on my ears at the right time. I will be putting in the Z2, adding the JL 500/5 amp, removing the factory head and amps but leaving the speakers for now. For me it's not so much cost but that I am perfectly happy with the sound as it is. However I will be using the 500/5 in the event that I do upgrade later on. The problem that I have been getting is a lot like what you say here, "...it won't work well if at all with those stock speakers...". What I would like to know if where to set the speakers once hooked up? What ohm does the stock speakers run at? My car is a 2003 High End Bose system. So kmayer....it's time for you to step up and teach us something. I have yet to locate the Z2 at a decent price but will be doing this in the next month if not sooner.

Could you explain what you mean by 'special wire in the harness'? I've never heard that before.

It's an optical connection (MOST) between CDR23 head unit and bose amp. New head unit would require alernate means of amplification.

Thanks. I had assumed he was referring to the 2002 (Bose) amplifier, which was conventiional line level analog, copper wire based system. Unfortunately, it looks like MOST is here to stay at Porsche, at least thru 2011.

Guys, Wish I could step up to the plate and share what I've learned, but to be honest I ended up sinking big bucks into my truck nav + sound system instead. What I did learn in that sad experience is that the Alpine Blackbird sucks. I mean really, really sucks. I�m in the process of seeing how the dealer handles my dissatisfaction, and then once that�s squared away will move on to the 996. Thank God I didn�t have them do that car first or I�d really be up a creek.