Just got an early Christmas present from my dad for the 355. He sent me a new Alpine Bluetooth / Sirrius xm unit a CDE-HD149BT. So great news to get started on this upgrade replacing the much older silver alpine unit. What would you all recommend I add as far as amps (if any) and speakers to avoid taxing my alternator but still having good sound. I'd like to keep a fairly stock appearance with the door speakers without custom bass boom boxes. I had a similar alpine USB corded unit in my previous 328 with one amp in the trunk and it sounded ok but was dwarfed by the cabin noise much of the time. Thanks for any suggestions. Looking forward to the Bluetooth. Robb Image Unavailable, Please Login
Robb I think I have the exact unit. I ran a USB thru the center console and stubbed out a pig tail to power my iphone. But honestly, I have only used the stereo a couple times for I'd rather listen to the car. IIRC, Alpine was making an under dash power amp for these units but it was no ready when I bought mine.
Get ready to be inundated with responses on this. And to be honest. I need to learn also. I have an old set up that's junk. My amp is badass though! lol I have pic somewhere I can't find it now...
Watson, Did you install an amp? Did you install the Sirrius xm tuner? Would you do anything differently now that you have lived with it for a while? Robb
The PO of my car had a complete Alpine system installed a year before I purchased it. I have replaced the head unit with something I like better but the rest of the install works very well. He used Alpine model SPR-17S 6.5" component speaker system. The tweeters are behind the AC vents, the crossovers are tucked under the dash on each side and the speakers fit in the doors. I have not taken the panels off to see if they had to do any mods to get them in but the install in my car looks totally stock. They used an Alpine pdx-4.100 amp that is in the trunk on the front wall. They ran the ipod wire under the console and it sits at the back of it. They had custom made two subwoofer boxes that go on the deck behind the seats. They are just black felt boxes and I have them out of the car as I dont like the way they look. They plug in simply with the pig tails coming out from under the glove box and occasionally I will put one of them in on the passengers side. The audio out of the new speakers and tweeters with the amp and head unit I have is very good. It looks like the speakers have been replaced with this model: Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. and the amp with this model: http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/pdx-f4/
No XM or Sirrius. Mine was a basic install. Wanted decent sound. I rarely listen to the radio when I drive the car. But my wife and daughter do like to hear something other than the exhaust & engine sounds. I did run the bluetooth speaker for the phone and it works well. I put in two amps, one for the speakers and one for a trunk based subwoofer. My only tweak might be to cut away the carpeting and install standard speaker grills. But I am not there yet. This was not a full on audio install. This was done to sound OK and not be intrusive on the interior or trunk. Is it 100% way awesome???? No. But it sounds pretty good and the remote volume controller for the sub tucked in the ashtray works pretty good Amps & sub in the trunk: Image Unavailable, Please Login
