Replace the MOST annoying part of the car

mjdavis · 10-28-2009, 04:13 PM

With all the rain in and around NYC for the past few weeks, I've been forced to drive with the windows up. Unfortunately, this significantly impacts my ability to hear the 3.6 symphony and had forced me to use the CDR23/MOST stereo system. Not the best. So, I've spent a lot of time looking for iPod/hard drive/anything other than CDR23 solutions, including searching the Rennlist forums. The main solutions seem to be the Dension Gateway 500 (lukewarm reviews), iTrip (not so much) and a complete system replacement (worth about a month's rent; hard to find something that a 18-year old wouldn't love in his Civic). I've noticed that most threads on this topic are from a few years ago, so I'm wondering (hoping) that there has been some breakthrough solution recently that is so obvious that nobody has felt it necessary to post a thread. Does the world's collective Porsche authority know of anything that actually works well?

Thanks all

roadsession · 10-28-2009, 05:11 PM

I am installing the AVIC U310BT. Comes with ipod integration, bluetooth and nav.
It was around $450 and another $150 for the kit from Eurospeed motors for installation.
I am hoping that the install makes it look like 'factory'.
I am told the only soln to the CDR23 is to replace the headunit.

mjdavis · 10-28-2009, 05:17 PM

Does your car have the MOST fiber-optic audio system?

SH || NC · 10-28-2009, 06:12 PM

If you really want to hear the 3.6, uprate your exhaust to PSE, Fister, and / or combine with an Evo intake. It really is a glorious combination.

jyoteen · 10-28-2009, 06:34 PM

wait, if getting the iphone/nav/bluetooth integration only costs $450 getting the AVIC, then I need it.

I hate the MOST system, but I heard that you'd have to replace the speakers and the amp too.

Don't want to spend a grand doing this. The car is noisy, so I don't need audiophile. I leave that to my house.

Surfer161 · 10-28-2009, 06:45 PM

The MOST annoying part of the car was the CENTER CONSOLE. That thing that rubs on my right leg all the time.

got rid if it, though.

mjdavis · 10-28-2009, 06:52 PM

Whitey, I already have the Fabspeed exhaust (which I love). The intake is definitely on the list though. What I'm learning (after a month of ownership) is that, while this car wasn't too expensive to buy upfront, it has a way of making me want to constantly spend money on it. From your website, I can see that your car has the same effect! Such is life.

Jyoteen, I'm with you, I don't need great sound quality in my car. Given how much time/money I spent getting great sound in my apartment, I would be really depressed if a car (with all it's comprimises in terms of space and materials) could even be modified to house a decent audio system. Loud? Sure. Good? Not in my limited experience. How hard can it be for the guys at Alpine to design a head unit that is MOST-compatible?

jyoteen · 10-28-2009, 06:55 PM

all I need is an iphone hookup. I can stream internet radio. That's it. LA radio stations are absolute crap. Hell, i can even live without navigation.

peavynation · 10-28-2009, 06:57 PM

Sorry for the newbie question, but can someone explain what the MOST system actually is? I see that term alot, but no breakdown of what it is.

(I'm wondering if by knowing, it'll help me figure out a buzz/decrease-volume that comes into the right speakers when I hit a bump, then hit another bump and it goes back to normal, even when it's "muted". I figure it's a loose connection or ground-shield lifting somewhere. I will start a new thread for that question, I don't want to hijack the OP's thread.)

mjdavis · 10-28-2009, 07:07 PM

MOST, as I understand it, is a audio system where the head unit (preamp), amplifier and speakers are connected with fiber-optics instead of copper wires. The same copper wires that are good enough for the highest-end home audio installations (let's not get into a discussion about audiophile cables...). In practice, it seems to limit your choices of aftermarket head units to approximately zero. Porsche, BMW and a few others chose to use this technology for some unknown reason. May have something to do with Navs or something.

Surfer, I already mentioned the console delete to my wife. She asked why I thought it was a good idea to spend money to remove something from the car. My answer sounded very convincing to me, apparently not so much to her.

PasPar2 · 10-28-2009, 07:25 PM

in my non most 02, I hooked up the aux input via a cable order from becker. maybe there is something like that for the most headunit?

worst case scenario you can get an fm modulator

Barn996 · 10-28-2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surfer161

The MOST annoying part of the car was the CENTER CONSOLE. That thing that rubs on my right leg all the time.

got rid if it, though.

Sometimes it's my passenger(sorry honey)...my wife gets annoyed when I drive too fast!

peavynation · 10-28-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjdavis

MOST, as I understand it, is a audio system where the head unit (preamp), amplifier and speakers are connected with fiber-optics instead of copper wires. The same copper wires that are good enough for the highest-end home audio installations (let's not get into a discussion about audiophile cables...). In practice, it seems to limit your choices of aftermarket head units to approximately zero. Porsche, BMW and a few others chose to use this technology for some unknown reason. May have something to do with Navs or something.

Surfer, I already mentioned the console delete to my wife. She asked why I thought it was a good idea to spend money to remove something from the car. My answer sounded very convincing to me, apparently not so much to her.

Cool, thanks mjdavis. I'm guessing my '01 is a non-most car. What's the easiest way to tell, take a look at the amp and see if it's got fiber running to it?

Marc Gelefsky · 10-28-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peavynation

Cool, thanks mjdavis. I'm guessing my '01 is a non-most car. What's the easiest way to tell, take a look at the amp and see if it's got fiber running to it?

Correct. Most is MY03 and up.

jasper · 10-29-2009, 12:00 AM

+1 most annoying features

1) centre console - GONE!

2) Crappy stereo - I'll get to upgrading it.

3) Complaining wife - keep her out of the car when out having fun.

cheers

10-28-2009, 04:13 PM	#1
mjdavis User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New York Posts: 15	Replace the MOST annoying part of the car With all the rain in and around NYC for the past few weeks, I've been forced to drive with the windows up. Unfortunately, this significantly impacts my ability to hear the 3.6 symphony and had forced me to use the CDR23/MOST stereo system. Not the best. So, I've spent a lot of time looking for iPod/hard drive/anything other than CDR23 solutions, including searching the Rennlist forums. The main solutions seem to be the Dension Gateway 500 (lukewarm reviews), iTrip (not so much) and a complete system replacement (worth about a month's rent; hard to find something that a 18-year old wouldn't love in his Civic). I've noticed that most threads on this topic are from a few years ago, so I'm wondering (hoping) that there has been some breakthrough solution recently that is so obvious that nobody has felt it necessary to post a thread. Does the world's collective Porsche authority know of anything that actually works well? Thanks all

10-28-2009, 06:12 PM	#4
SH \|\| NC Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Cary,NC Posts: 1,355	If you really want to hear the 3.6, uprate your exhaust to PSE, Fister, and / or combine with an Evo intake. It really is a glorious combination. __________________ 2004 SY GT3

10-28-2009, 06:57 PM	#9
peavynation Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 349	Sorry for the newbie question, but can someone explain what the MOST system actually is? I see that term alot, but no breakdown of what it is. (I'm wondering if by knowing, it'll help me figure out a buzz/decrease-volume that comes into the right speakers when I hit a bump, then hit another bump and it goes back to normal, even when it's "muted". I figure it's a loose connection or ground-shield lifting somewhere. I will start a new thread for that question, I don't want to hijack the OP's thread.) __________________ '01 996 C4, Ylw/Blk 6sp Areo '67 Mustang Fastback, 390FE S-code 4sp (now with TCI C6) Video '70 Mustang Mach1, 351C 4V M-code 4sp (now w/ worked 2V's & T5) '95 Toyota T-100 Pickup, V6, mild lift '05 Suzuki SV650S, (transformed into a ring on my fiance's finger) '03 Honda CRV '89 Nissan Stanza (yellow bumper as paint came off!! Awesome) '84 Toyota SR5 Pickup '78 Chevy Stepside 4x4 w/ 1ton trans/T-case/axles '75 IH Scout, Orange

10-29-2009, 12:00 AM	#15
jasper Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: north vancouver Posts: 657	+1 most annoying features 1) centre console - GONE! 2) Crappy stereo - I'll get to upgrading it. 3) Complaining wife - keep her out of the car when out having fun. cheers __________________ jasper 2002 - 996 - Silver - soon to be liteweight special 2002 - 996 - Seal Grey - No PSM! - gone too 1978 - 911 lightweight - pistons, carbs, suspension, brakes - gone now, but it was noisy and fast

10-28-2009, 05:11 PM	#2
roadsession User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MA - 996 C4 Mk2, E60 530xi, W202 C230 Posts: 182	I am installing the AVIC U310BT. Comes with ipod integration, bluetooth and nav. It was around $450 and another $150 for the kit from Eurospeed motors for installation. I am hoping that the install makes it look like 'factory'. I am told the only soln to the CDR23 is to replace the headunit.

10-28-2009, 05:17 PM	#3
mjdavis User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New York Posts: 15	Does your car have the MOST fiber-optic audio system?

10-28-2009, 06:34 PM	#5
jyoteen User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: los angeles Posts: 474	wait, if getting the iphone/nav/bluetooth integration only costs $450 getting the AVIC, then I need it. I hate the MOST system, but I heard that you'd have to replace the speakers and the amp too. Don't want to spend a grand doing this. The car is noisy, so I don't need audiophile. I leave that to my house.

10-28-2009, 06:45 PM	#6
Surfer161 User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Moorestown, NJ Posts: 80	The MOST annoying part of the car was the CENTER CONSOLE. That thing that rubs on my right leg all the time. got rid if it, though.

10-28-2009, 06:52 PM	#7
mjdavis User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New York Posts: 15	Whitey, I already have the Fabspeed exhaust (which I love). The intake is definitely on the list though. What I'm learning (after a month of ownership) is that, while this car wasn't too expensive to buy upfront, it has a way of making me want to constantly spend money on it. From your website, I can see that your car has the same effect! Such is life. Jyoteen, I'm with you, I don't need great sound quality in my car. Given how much time/money I spent getting great sound in my apartment, I would be really depressed if a car (with all it's comprimises in terms of space and materials) could even be modified to house a decent audio system. Loud? Sure. Good? Not in my limited experience. How hard can it be for the guys at Alpine to design a head unit that is MOST-compatible?

10-28-2009, 06:55 PM	#8
jyoteen User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: los angeles Posts: 474	all I need is an iphone hookup. I can stream internet radio. That's it. LA radio stations are absolute crap. Hell, i can even live without navigation.

10-28-2009, 07:07 PM	#10
mjdavis User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New York Posts: 15	MOST, as I understand it, is a audio system where the head unit (preamp), amplifier and speakers are connected with fiber-optics instead of copper wires. The same copper wires that are good enough for the highest-end home audio installations (let's not get into a discussion about audiophile cables...). In practice, it seems to limit your choices of aftermarket head units to approximately zero. Porsche, BMW and a few others chose to use this technology for some unknown reason. May have something to do with Navs or something. Surfer, I already mentioned the console delete to my wife. She asked why I thought it was a good idea to spend money to remove something from the car. My answer sounded very convincing to me, apparently not so much to her.

10-28-2009, 07:25 PM	#11
PasPar2 Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 348	in my non most 02, I hooked up the aux input via a cable order from becker. maybe there is something like that for the most headunit? worst case scenario you can get an fm modulator