Audio Upgrade

Yes, I ditched the Porsche amp, speakers and headunit. I opted for a Pioneer double din headunit with DVD player, USB and bluetooth. The new amp runs the 4 front speakers in the car plus the sub and the headunit runs the 2 rear speakers. Sounds amazing! I sold all my old Porsche kit on eBay, which pretty much covered the cost of the new kit. I know some people prefer the authenticity of the Porsche kit, but for my use I feel it was certainly an upgrade worth doing! Cheers, Neil.

I believe you have PCM2.0. There were two amplifier options, made by Harman and Bose. Both only have fibre optic inputs, which makes upgrading difficult. Also, some of the speakers are 2 ohm impedance, and if you have Bose the subwoofer is 1 ohm, iirc. PCMs with optical outputs don't have conventional line outputs you can use either. My advice would be to live with it, or replace the whole lot.

I currently have a 996 C4S which has the Porsche Sound System Upgrade already which includes extra speakers and an amplifier. The sound is generally pretty good, is this system designed by Porsche themselves? Has anyone upgraded the sound system with new speakers, new amplifiers or a DSP? Not sure if it is worth the money for the difference it would make? thanks

Thanks for the advice, that all makes sense. My system is not the Bose, it must be the Harman one then. Is there anywhere I can find out the system spec “as is”? I know on the Bose website it shows the system breakdown for all their auto systems. Maybe I could contact Harman? I just want to see what power amp I have and what the speakers and sub is etc... thanks

The Harman system doesn't have a sub. If you have one, it may be a Bose system. Check the options sticker under the front lid or in the Maintenance booklet. 490=Harman, 680=Bose. I have the wiring diagrams if you need them, but they don't show impedances. The only real way to tell is to remove the speakers and look at the stickers on them. The dash and rear speakers are easy to remove (2 torx screws) but the door speakers need to door card removing to access them.

I had a look under the bonnet, but the spec sticker is faded, so I am unable to read it! I have a spec sheet being sent to me from Porsche Germany on its way though after the 50th anniversary clinic from Saturday, so that should tell me the number. My CD changer is still playing up and not recognising all the CD's in the changer every time I load it, so I might get a replacement changer off ebay, they seem to go for around £100. They are £500 for a replacement unit from Porsche! How easy is it to remove and install a new CD changer? thanks

You should also have the options sticer in the front of the maintenance booklet (service stamp book). To change the CDC you have to remove the plastic panel around it - just held on with screws - and the CDC is screwed to a bracket. There are two plugs to remove, and the changer comes out. Simple job.

Thanks for all your help Richard, you certainly know your stuff! My maintenance manual has “Replacement” stamped on it, so does not have the spec on anywhere that I can see. I thought if you had the Bose system though it would have Bose badges on the speakers? Thanks for the CD changer advice too. I went out to try it at lunchtime and it recognised all 6 discs now, this could be a one off though, I will try it with new discs later! thanks

Drop me an email with your VIN, and I'll look up the car's options for you.

My VIN is: VIN No: 9945601980. thanks!

Not quite right, but I managed to figure it out: WP0ZZZ99Z4S601980 MI NUMBERS - DESCRIPTION I029 - Standard chassis I211 - Licence plate holder version 3 I241 I415 - 18-inch Turbo-Look II wheel I985 IXSC - Porsche Crest embossed in headrest IXX1 - Floor mats, logo, leather border M061 - Version for Great Britain M071 - EU country version M130 - Control and indications in English lettering M197 - Stronger battery M219 - Differential M249 - Tiptronic transmission M271 - Door mirror -aspherical- driver's side - electrically adjustable and heatable M273 - Door mirrors - electrically adjustable and heatable M274 - Vanity mirror illuminated M288 - Headlamp washer M335 - Automatic seat belt, 3-point - rear M339 - All-wheel drive M424 - CD compartment M425 - Rear window wiper M432 - Steering wheel with Tiptronic control M436 - 3-spoke airbag steering wheel M437 - Comfort seat, left - electrically adjustable M438 - Comfort seat, right - electrically adjustable M440 - Manual antenna, 4 loudspeakers --- MY 2002– MY 2003 --- antenna diversity M441 - Radio preparation M446 - Concave wheel center - with full-colour Porsche Crest M466 - Rear foglamp, right M476 - Porsche Stability Management (PSM) M490 - -MY 01 sound system - MY 02 sound system Harmann M492 - Headlamps for left-hand traffic M534 - Theft security system M536 - Alarm siren and tilt sensor M538 - Seating position control - for comfort seat, right M562 - Airbag, driver's side and front passenger's side M563 - Side airbag M566 - Front fog lights, white M567 - Windscreen tinted, upper part - darker coloured M571 - Activated charcoal filter M573 - Air conditioner M581 - Center console, front M601 - Litronic headlights M602 - Raised stop lamp M620 - Electronic accelerator M635 - Parking assistent M650 - Electrical sliding roof M651 - Electric window opener M657 - Power assisted steering M659 - On-board computer M661 - Stricter emission-control concept M665 - PCM2 basic module including radio M666 - PCM2 telephone (GSM) M670 - PCM2 navigation M685 - Rear seats, split M692 - CD autochanger "Porsche " M936 - Seat covers, rear, leather M981 - Leather equipment without seat covers M983 - Seat covers, front, leather

thanks for all the information! so at least I know now it is not a BOSE now! At least it is UK spec, but the climate control says mauell rather than manual when you change it! Just a little simple question for you now and then I will leave you to enjoy your weekend, the drivers window seems to catch on the rubber strip as it go's up and down and can make an annoying squeak. what is the easiest way to solve this? Once again, thanks for your help to this new Porsche owner ;-)

They ALL say "Manuell" (German) no matter what market the cars were supplied to. If the window doesn't drop fully (10mm or so) when you pull the handle, and the noise is quite loud and inside the door, it may be that the window regulator (cable mechanism) is on the way out. Very common, I'm afraid. If it is just a squeak from the rubber seal, then I would give the window a good clean, and clean the inside of the seal with paper towel when the window is fully down. Then apply a bit of silicone lubricant on the paper towel and wipe it along the inside edge of the seal. Don't overdo it, or the windows will streak..

I recently replaced my Bose setup with a Pioneer Avic F950DAB head unit and two amps to replace the Bose amp. The speakers and sub are still the same, but the sound is much improved with the new amps. The reason for two amps is the impedance mentioned above, I have 1 amp for the speakers with a 2ohm impedance, and a seperate amp for the sub with the 1ohm impedance. If your car is a coupe then you should have two subs, one in the passenger footwell and one behind the rear seat. These can be run in series creating 2ohm impedance, this would negate the need for a second amp. Mine is a cab so only has one amp. I would recommend changing the head unit and amp(s) before changing speakers as well, the difference in sound quality is very noticeable. If you still want more you could always do the speakers later.

Welcome Pete! Sounds like a good plan to me. Richard doesn't have a sub anyway, so would only need one amp.

Just to hijack the thread slightly, which version is the satnav classed as?

M665 and M675 are the option codes for PCM2, but I think yours will be M662 Chris, as you have PCM1. If you want me to do a code lookup for your car, drop me an email with the VIN. I can email the results back in PDF format.

Richard you have mail. On a side note ive got the bose speakers in lieu of the cuppy holes in the door, does that mean i have the full kit even tho its not listed under the bonnet?

Your car is Model Year 2002 has the M680 Analogue Bose system. They only fitted the Bose analog option in MY2002, and it is a strange system which amplifies the speaker outputs from the PCM (not the line outputs like the M490 Harman amp).

Does that make life difficult if i want to try that ipod cable?

No, it doesn't make it any more difficult. You'll have to check, but I think devices like this: http://www.solisto.de/en/solisto.iaux-3g-becker use the CD Changer inputs. If I understand it correctly, you just unplug the CDC, and plug this cable in. Sure, you lose the CDC, but who needs one if you have an iPod connected. With the simple cable you have to use the iPod/Phone to control the music. If you get one of the more expensive interfaces, I believe you can control it from the PCM, but like most of these devices, the controls are a bit quirky.

So the PCM 1 is a becker unit? Do that company sell a thing that will enable the controls as well? I'd really like to get the song details and stuff like that on the pcm screen but im not sure if thats possible. this is what i wondering would work. http://www.solisto.de/en/solisto.extra

Yes, the PCM1 head unit is made by Becker, but the navigation drive is made by Siemens. The Solisto Extra works by simulating a CD changer. It is similar to the NAV-TV unit I have on my PCM2.1. Basically, you select CD2 for Playlists, CD3 for Artists, CD4 for Albums, and CD4 for Genres. Then I select the required Playlist/Album etc with the rotary knob, and press CD1 to play it. Like I say, it is quirky, but it shows the artist/track/ playlist etc, on the PCM display. Once you get the hang of it, it isn't too bad.

I might treat myself to it then. It seems to be reasonablely priced at around £100.

Taka a look at the user guide on the Solisto site, as I just did, and you will see that it works differently to mine. It seems you have to make playlists numbered CD1, CD2, etc to select them using the CDC controls. But at £100 you can't go too far wrong.