What’s the best stereo for a 355?

I have a pimped out eclipse 12 disc cd, with two additional speakers and sub. It's awesome but the only time I ever turn it on is when doing a long stint on the highway and I have to just stay in line. It came with the car, otherwise I would never bother to put that much into it.

 

The engine

 

Agreed... definitely

 

Or one that works!!!!!!!

 

Indeed!

I (reputedly) have an excellent stereo system in my F355, inside the front bay there is a 10 disk changer, and an amp that weights in around 50 pounds with #4 guage wires hooking it to the battery.

In the 2.8 years of ownership and 20,000 driven miles, it has been on twice.

Now the stereo in the SUV is on constantly.

 

mitch, with all your technical know how, you let them put 50 lbs of fat in the trunk! haha. surely you could reengineer it for lighter weight

 

left window down, right window down = stereo

 

I've thought about ripping it out several times, and just running the speakers on the stereo/radio itself. However, after partially removing it, it was clear that a new bottom carpet molding would be needed to remove it and leave the compartment in good visible shape. for now it persists.

 

"In the 2.8 years of ownership and 20,000 driven miles, it has been on twice."

I have a theory that most Ferraris with CD changers, hifi upgrades, etc. have been ordered that way by first time Ferrari buyers. They soon learn that it's far more entertaining to drive with windows cranked down and all that stuff turned OFF!

My guess is that subsequent F-cars don't get ordered that way...

 

I can only state that it arrived in the car I bought. As the third owner, I had little choice.

 

I don't believe a pimped out system belongs in a Ferrari but something better than stock is appropriate. I put in an Alpine head unit with XM sat radio and 6 disc changer. The changer fits in the factory location and the XM receiver is hidden out of site near the battery. The XM antenna sits on top of the dash behind the console so I can't see it from behind the wheel. The head unit is rated at 4x26 RMS and I had it bi-wired for additional power. I did not want to add the weight and complexity of an amp so I picked a head unit with the highest possible output. Near maximum volume (with the top off on the highway) I do get some distortion, though I am not sure if its the amp or the stock speakers that are failing. I may upgrade the speakers at some point. Another nice feature is that the Alpine unit had green lighting that matches the car.

I live in Plano if you ever want to take a look/listen.

 

I agree about the engine sounding good and all but lets get real, part of enjoying a nice drive are the tunes. I can't imagine a few hour drive with no stereo especially if you are alone.

 

Enough of the "engine is the sound of music" already.When the roof is down the engine sounds great, but when the roof is up it sounds subdued, here in the UK its always up. In my 355 spider i have a big install which is as follows....A kenwood KDC-M7024 headset (the trick opening type) remote on the wheel, Kenwood 10 disk changer, x2 large Pheonix Gold 4 channel amps, x2 6/12in Alpine mid woofers, x4 Alpine tweeters, x4 Alpine crossovers, x2 JBL 8in subs (designed to work in small volumes of air) all instal is finnished of useing Gold junction boxes and fuses. i have 1800w of music power which sound awsome, and the sound especially the bass when the roof is down is not lost, which is a problem usually associated with open top cars. But here is the trick thing ,when i want to hear the engine noise........i turn it of!! ..how about that. Oh and forget about the extra weight, i am 19 stone so the car runs heavy anyways, and besides from what i have seen i run rings around the average Ferrari driver anyway.LOL!

 

Wow thats a lot of speakers...Where did you fit the subwoofers in? I hope not behind the seats, otherwise they may have been drilling very near your fuel tank. I'm sure it sounds wicked dude!!!!
Ade

 

Ade, yes behind the seats, but you dont have to drill anything. There in a custum made/shaped box on the rear shelf. The box does not interfere with the roof mechanism, it was expensive to have it done but it was worth it.

 

chaa - Did you use translucent materials on this one like you did on your other ride?

 

How ya doing wax? No the subs are in MDF and fiberglass box, coverd in the same black carpet as the cars. In my other car the speakers in the perspex were light mids and not heavy 8in subs.With these JBL subs they have to be in an heavy sealed box. Oh and the perspex thing was done in a GTS, my 55 is a spider.

 

I'm a man-about-town, thanks. That's right - your perspex setup = sharp. Enjoy it to it's fullest (not fullest volume, mind you - want to be able to hear the kids...)

 

Yes, the engine sounds great in town, but on the highway, top down, in 6th gear you don't hear it and good tunes are a must for a long ride.

Chaa - Can you post a pix of your box or give more info on it?

 

FL 355, its basicly down to the kind of sub you use that dictates the size of the box, the speakers i use is the 8in JL 8w3 and rated at 300w which works in 0.5 qubic feet of air which is a small amount, i use two. To give you some idea of space/liters, the area behind the seat on the shelf in a 355 spider when the roof is folded down is around 2.5 quic feet. As long as you are or have a good fabricater the box fits snugly and is discreet if coverd in black material.I will post pics of the instal, it will make the purist cringe.

 

Cool, yes please post pics as I'm very interested how it looks

 

Since you are dealing with cramped quarters, I would suggest getting a deck that will play MP3's> You can store about 6 or 7 albums on one cd. If you have an MP3 changer you can just about cross the country and not hear the same song twice.

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