1995 993 Radio Replacement Opinions/Options
11-01-2022, 01:33 PM
#1
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1995 993 Radio Replacement Opinions/Options
Hello Rennlisters,
I am about to pull the trigger on a replacement for the existing radio (an older aftermarket Alpine) in my 1995 993. Right now I am leaning towards the Blaupunkt SQR 46 DAB (along with BergvillFX's harness). My main reason for the replacement is to get Bluetooth capability (for phone and streaming) as well as to obtain a more "period correct" look. But before I pull the trigger I wanted to see if there are any other options I am missing? I have definitely done a fair amount of searching both on here as well as elsewhere on the web but wanted to ask the question regardless.
Additionally, if I get the SQR 46 and BergvillFX's harness, how hard of a job is it for someone with minimal technical skills? Or would be it better to just go to a really good local car audio installer and let them do it? If I do that I suspect I may want to upgrade the speakers as well. I'm open to any advice there as well.
Thank you in advance! I really appreciate it!
-Neal
I am about to pull the trigger on a replacement for the existing radio (an older aftermarket Alpine) in my 1995 993. Right now I am leaning towards the Blaupunkt SQR 46 DAB (along with BergvillFX's harness). My main reason for the replacement is to get Bluetooth capability (for phone and streaming) as well as to obtain a more "period correct" look. But before I pull the trigger I wanted to see if there are any other options I am missing? I have definitely done a fair amount of searching both on here as well as elsewhere on the web but wanted to ask the question regardless.
Additionally, if I get the SQR 46 and BergvillFX's harness, how hard of a job is it for someone with minimal technical skills? Or would be it better to just go to a really good local car audio installer and let them do it? If I do that I suspect I may want to upgrade the speakers as well. I'm open to any advice there as well.
Thank you in advance! I really appreciate it!
-Neal
Last edited by 993Av8R; 11-01-2022 at 01:40 PM.
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ToreB (11-01-2022)
11-01-2022, 01:41 PM
#2
The Blaupunkt unit is a good one. I went with the Continental unit on Tore's website. Has the same capabilities that you mentioned.
-Scott
-Scott
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ToreB (11-01-2022)
11-01-2022, 02:42 PM
#3
Rennlist Member
Do you have the standard radio or the one with the Hi Fi option? The Blaupunkt is a nice radio and will do what you are asking. Tore can supply everything for your car including the correct harness. Very easy install with Tore's instructions!
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HelpMeHelpU (05-22-2023)
11-01-2022, 03:31 PM
#4
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Hi Neal,
If I was to replace the head the SQR 46 DAB is a good one.
It is a little underpowered at 50 Watts max per channel or probably about 15 Watts RMS
It does have preamp outputs if you wish to add a power amp under the seat to replace the underpowered Nokia amp. if you have the Premium Sound Package.
More power adds to the clarity of the sound and voice intelligibility over the engine symphony our cars make.
Also if you replace either the premium sound boxes in the doors or the non-premium door speakers with almost any aftermarket speaker set it will improve the sound quality quite a bit.
Here is my page that discusses sound for our cars:
https://993servicerepair.blogspot.co...or-993-in.html
I would install the unit and then if you find the sound inadequate swap out the speakers as it is easy to do and not very expensive. Then if you would like to upgrade beyond this I would consider a two-channel amp of 75 to 150 Watts RMS per channel and power the door speakers with it leaving the rear deck speakers powered by the amp internal to the head as the rear speakers don't really add very much due to the acoustic limitations of them being mounted in the rear deck.
Finally if after adjusting the bass controls in the head you find the bass quality inadequate one can consider adding a $60 signal processor next to the power amp under the seat for bass harmonic recovery to smooth out the bass sound. This is discussed on the page I reference above.
Andy
If I was to replace the head the SQR 46 DAB is a good one.
It is a little underpowered at 50 Watts max per channel or probably about 15 Watts RMS
It does have preamp outputs if you wish to add a power amp under the seat to replace the underpowered Nokia amp. if you have the Premium Sound Package.
More power adds to the clarity of the sound and voice intelligibility over the engine symphony our cars make.
Also if you replace either the premium sound boxes in the doors or the non-premium door speakers with almost any aftermarket speaker set it will improve the sound quality quite a bit.
Here is my page that discusses sound for our cars:
https://993servicerepair.blogspot.co...or-993-in.html
I would install the unit and then if you find the sound inadequate swap out the speakers as it is easy to do and not very expensive. Then if you would like to upgrade beyond this I would consider a two-channel amp of 75 to 150 Watts RMS per channel and power the door speakers with it leaving the rear deck speakers powered by the amp internal to the head as the rear speakers don't really add very much due to the acoustic limitations of them being mounted in the rear deck.
Finally if after adjusting the bass controls in the head you find the bass quality inadequate one can consider adding a $60 signal processor next to the power amp under the seat for bass harmonic recovery to smooth out the bass sound. This is discussed on the page I reference above.
Andy
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11-01-2022, 08:45 PM
#6
Just wanted to add that the Alpine might be the stock option, and you may want to check the model number if you don't know for sure. A fairly hideous Alpine labeled CD player was an option that year, even though it will certainly look like a later non-oem upgrade if you just saw it now. Mine came with it and I changed to the Blaupunkt for the same reasons you mentioned, but I made sure to keep the Alpine and all parts to return to stock if ever desired.
This post shows the Alpine that was an option:
https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...l#post15165354
This post shows the Alpine that was an option:
https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...l#post15165354
11-02-2022, 02:41 AM
#7
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Thread Starter
Just wanted to add that the Alpine might be the stock option, and you may want to check the model number if you don't know for sure. A fairly hideous Alpine labeled CD player was an option that year, even though it will certainly look like a later non-oem upgrade if you just saw it now. Mine came with it and I changed to the Blaupunkt for the same reasons you mentioned, but I made sure to keep the Alpine and all parts to return to stock if ever desired.
This post shows the Alpine that was an option:
https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...l#post15165354
This post shows the Alpine that was an option:
https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...l#post15165354
-Neal
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Dinosaur33 (11-02-2022)
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11-02-2022, 02:43 AM
#8
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Thread Starter
I have the standard radio. If this is the case, it sounds like it is a fairly easy "plug and play" presuming I order Tore's harness and don't want to change the speakers? Thank you!
-Neal
11-02-2022, 02:44 AM
#9
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Thread Starter
-Neal
11-02-2022, 02:46 AM
#10
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Thread Starter
Hi Neal,
If I was to replace the head the SQR 46 DAB is a good one.
It is a little underpowered at 50 Watts max per channel or probably about 15 Watts RMS
It does have preamp outputs if you wish to add a power amp under the seat to replace the underpowered Nokia amp. if you have the Premium Sound Package.
More power adds to the clarity of the sound and voice intelligibility over the engine symphony our cars make.
Also if you replace either the premium sound boxes in the doors or the non-premium door speakers with almost any aftermarket speaker set it will improve the sound quality quite a bit.
Here is my page that discusses sound for our cars:
https://993servicerepair.blogspot.co...or-993-in.html
I would install the unit and then if you find the sound inadequate swap out the speakers as it is easy to do and not very expensive. Then if you would like to upgrade beyond this I would consider a two-channel amp of 75 to 150 Watts RMS per channel and power the door speakers with it leaving the rear deck speakers powered by the amp internal to the head as the rear speakers don't really add very much due to the acoustic limitations of them being mounted in the rear deck.
Finally if after adjusting the bass controls in the head you find the bass quality inadequate one can consider adding a $60 signal processor next to the power amp under the seat for bass harmonic recovery to smooth out the bass sound. This is discussed on the page I reference above.
Andy
If I was to replace the head the SQR 46 DAB is a good one.
It is a little underpowered at 50 Watts max per channel or probably about 15 Watts RMS
It does have preamp outputs if you wish to add a power amp under the seat to replace the underpowered Nokia amp. if you have the Premium Sound Package.
More power adds to the clarity of the sound and voice intelligibility over the engine symphony our cars make.
Also if you replace either the premium sound boxes in the doors or the non-premium door speakers with almost any aftermarket speaker set it will improve the sound quality quite a bit.
Here is my page that discusses sound for our cars:
https://993servicerepair.blogspot.co...or-993-in.html
I would install the unit and then if you find the sound inadequate swap out the speakers as it is easy to do and not very expensive. Then if you would like to upgrade beyond this I would consider a two-channel amp of 75 to 150 Watts RMS per channel and power the door speakers with it leaving the rear deck speakers powered by the amp internal to the head as the rear speakers don't really add very much due to the acoustic limitations of them being mounted in the rear deck.
Finally if after adjusting the bass controls in the head you find the bass quality inadequate one can consider adding a $60 signal processor next to the power amp under the seat for bass harmonic recovery to smooth out the bass sound. This is discussed on the page I reference above.
Andy
-Neal
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JSF (11-03-2022)
11-02-2022, 08:42 AM
#11
Rennlist Member
Stayed with Alpine brand
My 95 HiFi option system came with 7807 Alpine and when CD player went down I installed an Alpine 172BT for the modern tech, restored all the OEM speakers and could not be happier with the sound. Left Nokia amp.
I wanted to retain Alpine as the branded radio for the car……
I may repair the CD player in the 7807 someday, but having BT and XM radio was the goal…
I wanted to retain Alpine as the branded radio for the car……
I may repair the CD player in the 7807 someday, but having BT and XM radio was the goal…
11-02-2022, 10:41 AM
#12
-Scott
11-02-2022, 11:38 AM
#13
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Hi Folks,
I just looked over the Continental radio product line:
https://productimageserver.com/liter...re/94436BR.pdf
It seems their heads do not offer line-level outputs to attach a power amplifier.
Using a speaker-to-line level /impedance adapter to attach a power amp to almost any head that does not allow for a direct power amp connection introduces a lot of noise and distortion to the sound from the speakers.
For this reason, if one has any notion to add a power amp sometime in the future these are not the head units to consider.
Andy
I just looked over the Continental radio product line:
https://productimageserver.com/liter...re/94436BR.pdf
It seems their heads do not offer line-level outputs to attach a power amplifier.
Using a speaker-to-line level /impedance adapter to attach a power amp to almost any head that does not allow for a direct power amp connection introduces a lot of noise and distortion to the sound from the speakers.
For this reason, if one has any notion to add a power amp sometime in the future these are not the head units to consider.
Andy
Last edited by pp000830; 11-02-2022 at 04:09 PM.
11-02-2022, 01:43 PM
#14
Rennlist Member
I've been running a 7412 for several years ... connected through a Rockford Fosgate 4 channel power amp ... MB Quartz speakers, w/ no noticeable distortion. I added this head unit to an existing system that had Alpine head unit with line out and felt the new unit produced better sound ... and gave me Bluetooth and handsfree phone.
I don't disagree that there may be a better unit (less or no distortion) to connect with but with our cars do you really think you need audiophile type sound?
Just my 2 cents ...
I don't disagree that there may be a better unit (less or no distortion) to connect with but with our cars do you really think you need audiophile type sound?
Just my 2 cents ...
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