Need advice for selecting a Stereo

I still miss the MP3 player I had in the 328. With so little space in these cars, it is nice to be able to get 170 songs on 1 CD.
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I just picked up the base Sony CD player to have installed in the Mondial. Just need a basic radio (I don't need to set off car alarms with the radio, I'm getting old I guess). Can't remember the model number, but it was around $110.

 

My suggestion is find a good to high-end stereo store and tell them what you want and why. I'm sure they will have more options than you can shake a stick at. It all depends how basic or how elaborate you want to get. You could spend from a couple hundred to several thousand dollars.

 

170 songs is that all, go this route and have 35,000 songs. This is going in the Mondial Z:

http://www.ssiamerica.com/products/neo35/

 

...it has an adaptor to fit the remote into a DIN space and a voice module to tell you what is playing!

 

I'd let a reputable car audio store (one that works with high end cars) do the job, and go for an alpine mp3, excelent quality at an afordable price

 

I left installation of it to my mechanic. He's got the full wiring diagram for the car and I wanted him to make sure there wasn't any evidence of previous hack jobs in there. Piece of mind in my book.

 

If you can just do the instal yourself. I installed My calrion Unit into my testarossa myself complete with hard wire of the Val One into the wiring harness of the stereo.

Unless your talking really elaborate work installing a stereo is actualy pretty easy.
You'll need wire strippers / crimpers
Soldering gun (Optional )
The harness, chassis etc that comes with your stereo
Male female connectors appropriatre to the gauge of wire your using

Just follow the exsisting wiring of the current head unit ( Constant, ground, ingition, light etc.) I used the crimpers to get my connection on the Solder them for extra secureness.

Replace your speakers also. I don't know about 328s but my TRs ferrari speakers were poor at best. Replaced wit 6 1/2" with built in tweeters into the exsisting ferrari boxes. No one can tell that I changed anything.

Becareful about your car going to best buy or places like that. Up here, people bring their cars in ( neons, cavaliers, ricers etc, let alone Fcar ) for equipment. Then while there, the installers check out your address from your reg and come back usually stealing the stuff. Has happened to 3 friends of mine, a nearly a fourth. ( had piece of mind to change all the installled bolts, screws etc to four diffierent head types, so the guys couldn't get anything out in a hurry.)

Anyway, doing it your self will let you sleep better at night and the unwanted attention away from your house.

Plus If I can do it, anyone can.

 

I hear ya! The dealership were I just bought my 328 installed a new single CD player just like I wanted but the thing is the only bright AL piece on the dash & looks like ass. Please give me advice on the best w/ a black faceplate. Thanks.

 

Put this in my Dino.

McIntosh MX-406

Doesn't play mp2's, but looks great, no chrome, and sound is spectacular, considering I can only fit 4" speakers in the doors.

Not cheap, but a great unit.
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Now, I know the Mac is a great unit...But it looks like ass. As well, if you want some really cool ingenuity and massive amounts of storage space, look at Kenwood. They have a system called the Keg. It is a storage unit that holds 10,000 songs. Plus, you dont even need a CD anymore. It is formated to hook up to your computer and then you just download the songs. Plus, it lets you categorize, name, etc....Furthermore, it allows you to hook up a RTA (Real Time analysis) to the system to fine tune it. Next, look into Alpine. They have done some great things with the MP3 as well. Just not as ingenious as the Kenwood Keg. But similar in quality.
BTW, go to you local stereo shop if you do not have the wherewithal to install the system on your own. Ask questions of the person who intends on doing the install to see if they are some young newbie or an expert. I Hope this helps.

 

Dunno if it looks like "ass" exactly.
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I think it must have been a mispelling. The McIntosh stuff looks like "class" to me.

 

A high end shop will have no trouble doing the work.....the place I go to regularly does work on Ferrari, Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, etc.

You will want to go with a quality head unit. No need to spend mega bucks here, and you'll probably want to go with features and refinement over all out Sound Quality. I personally like Alpine, but Pioneer, Sony, also make good units.

I would recommend a high end set of 6.5" components (separate tweeter & mid-woofer). CDT, Focal, DLS, Dynaudio, Morel all make excellent components (just a matter of taste, although in a loud Ferrari, the ultra high end will be wasted, IMHO)...figure between $500-1000 for the speakers alone.
I would personally recommend the CDT HD series, and the Focal Polykevlar series...save the other 3 for a luxury car.

Get a high end 2 channel amplifier (you'll probably need ~300 watts). You can't expect to do those speakers justice unless you give them a good amplifier.

Put Dynamat Extreme sound deadener in the doors (or an equivalent like Cascade, or the one from Rockford Fosgate). This will help provide a more sealed enclosure for the speakers.....you'll hear less vibrations, and will improve the power handling/bass response as well.

This is what I think is a minimum and should sound good. It should get loud enough to compete with the engine when necessary.

If you want to add some small subs, there a few things you can do. When you're ready for that, let us know!

 

the Mac looks vintage, great fit for the Dino, but I think that Pioneer looks
out of place in the 328.

 

I wasnt trying to be mean in Ass. It is a great head unit...Just out of date in looks and style and function. The read out is very dated. But it fits nicely in an old vintage car. So, I appologize for the comments, but it was an honest opinion.

 

Dm_stuff
that deck looks great. It is hard to find a quality radio like that anymore. I personally love the display on the McIntosh.

 

http://www.avic-n1.com/

 

Wanted something modern in function, that looked more or less correct in the car.

Didn't hurt that I have a friend in the biz who sold me this "slightly used" radio at less than half price. He had installed it in a hummer, or some such beast, owner didn't like it, ahd it ripped out a couple of weeks later. I happened to walk in looking for a radio just as all this transpired.

I think it looks pretty good in the car, very low key, and, considering I can almost hear it over the tranny and engine noise, it works very well.

DM.

 

These are awesome! The navi is really first rate, better than most if not all of the OEM systems (touch screen is the most intuitive interface, I don't understand this fascination with the mouse wheel controller). The audio performance is quite good for a HU with an integrated amp. Plus it has some neat toys like the G force meter, etc.

I think this HU is perfect for the Maranello.

 

Sony makes several with an all black face plate with an active display. Tips down to reveal the CD/mp3 slot and the controls. I am going to put one in my 380SL as so much of this new stuff is just gaudy and ugly. 348 has that cover so no worries in the F-car.

This one shows red control buttons - there is one with blue out there as well but I cannot find it right now.

Cheers
Kevin
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JVC also make a flat panel stereo that is around 150 bucks.

 

You know you could use an iPod with a radio transmitter.