Well, I have spent the last 6 hours here at work reading about car stereo stuff.. (shhhh.. dont tell the boss), and here is what I have figured on.

I want to get a little more punch out of the stereo system, but I dont want to spend an arm and a leg (for now). My key goals are the following.

1. Be able to control the stereo using the factory dash mounted controls.
2. Have an AUX setting and input into the system that will allow for a portable MP3 Player or Satellite radio.
3. Louder in the cabin with top down
4. A bit more bass

To get all of these functions, What I have learned from my research is that I can do this to accomplish my goals for a relatively low price.

1. Keep the stock head unit
2. Get the PIE Auxiliary Converter Price: $49.95
3. Add some rear speakers. Price: $200 dollars
4. Add a subwoofer to the trunk. I have one from my other car.

I have never kept a stock head unit, so I cant figure out what kinds of wiring things I need to buy to accomplish this goal. I usually change out the head units. My question is..

1. what extra wiring things do I need to buy to connect the rear speakers? ( I assume that the head unit is capable of driving them? )
2. what do I need to use to connect the stock head unit to the subwoofer? I have an amp and sub, but does the stock head unit have Pre-outs to connect them?

Has anyone done this? how does it sound?

 

Did you look at Lucid's site? He has most all the answers for installation.
I did add XM with a Blitzsafe adapter. Works great. Can still use all the original controls.
I also upgraded front speakers and added rears, all from Lucid.
Big improvement. Might not be quite enough for you. But was easy to do.
TW

 

You HAVE to change the front speakers, they are crap! I upgraded them to Kenwood componets, installed a sub and a four channel amp and it now sounds great! [I kept the stock head unit, no need to change it!]
-Steve

 

Try the electronics forums...
Hey Mod, toss it over to electronics forum. Probably a better response from them.

I got an Alpine HU, new front speakers, Lucid's rear speaker setup, but replaced rear speaker w/ blau's and SWI-X controller to use the dash controller.
There are other setups you can do by keeping your stock HU. Others just added an amp and ran new speakers, added rear speakers and some even a sub in the spare tire unit for all less than $300, I think.

I would ask the guys in the electronics forum. That's where I got my idea for my current setup. BTW, no amp nor sub needed, I hear and feel plenty of bass in my new setup even w/ top down.

LT

 

I have a JL Audio Stealthbox with a JL Audio amp. Well worth the money. My first sub ever, by the way.

I have Lucid rear speakers, and these are great.

I have upgraded door speakers, also well worth it.

Finally I have no amp for the four main speakers (L/R F/R), but I have a "60 watt x 4" Alpine head powering them. This also has the correct output for the amp. It has a better "mute" function than the '01 stock head. I get enough undistorted sound for most situations.

To keep the stock controls, I have a PAC unit. I have almost no regrets. If I have any regrets, it is that I didn't also get an amp for the front/rear left/right speakers.

 

http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.p...&highlight=bose

Read about the bose spare tire sub I added. Good mod for a steatly install.