A client from Westminster, Maryland, came to Westminster Speed and Sound, looking to upgrade the sound system in his 2005 Porsche Boxster. We work on many Porsches here at our shop, so we know this vehicle well. One of our staff went out to the vehicle with the client so he could sit in it, listen to the stock stereo system, and ask the client what he liked and disliked with the current setup. In typical fashion, the client didn’t like anything about the stock system other than how well it blended visually with the interior.
When we explained to him that we could improve his sound system while keeping the interior looking factory-equipped, he was thrilled. As he mentioned things he would like improved, we offered suggestions that have been popular with previous Porsche clients.
Now it was time to spend time in our state-of-the-art soundroom, where we let the client audition the products that we thought would suit him best. To give our clients an opportunity to hear how good an upgraded car audio system can sound, we try to always have two to three vehicles on hand with upgraded systems. In this instance, we sat the client in our 2009 335i, and you can CLICK HERE to see the build.
Once the consultation was finished and we had a good idea for the best solution for the client, we gave him a proposal, which he liked, so we set a time for him to drop off his vehicle.
Pioneer NEX Radio
Right from the beginning of the conversation, we knew the client was going to want a new stereo system in the dash, so we chose the Pioneer AVH-4200NEX unit for multiple reasons. First, it gave him Bluetooth for hands-free calling and wireless music streaming, plus a big, beautiful touchscreen display for the backup camera. He also gained Apple CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto, so any popular smartphone could be integrated with the vehicle and give the client voice control over many popular functions, including calls, texting, navigation, reminders and music.
Our expert installers were able to hide the Bluetooth microphone completely, yet make it work perfectly for the client. We flushed a USB port into a convenient location so the client can easily plug in his iPhone or other portable media. As you can see in the pictures, the finished install in the dash looks like Porsche shipped it that way from the factory.
Backup Camera For Backing Safety
The client opted for a backup camera to eliminate blind spots when backing up, and it may seem weird to need a backup camera on a convertible. If you have driven a Boxster or a 911 Cabrio, though, you know that the rearward vision can be a little challenging at times. Our team flushed the camera into the bumper above the license plate and designed a quick-release connection for the camera, since the bumper has to come off for service at times on this vehicle. The camera we chose for this vehicle has a resolution better than most factory systems and includes parking lines to help with depth perception.
Audison Front Speakers
At this point, it was time to turn our attention to the sound quality of the stereo system. We chose the Audison AVK6 component system, which includes a 6.5” woofer and a 1.1” tweeter. We mounted the woofer in the factory location in the door in one of our custom-machined composite speaker brackets. We mounted the tweeters securely higher up in the door and aimed toward the passengers to improve the sound staging of the music. We decided to run these speakers in an active format, meaning each speaker has its own dedicated amplifier channel. This gave us the capability to dramatically improve sound quality, as well as how the music stages, giving the client a more realistic sound.
Hertz Amplifier Powers System
When it came time to choose an amplifier, we went to Hertz, using their HDP4 model, giving us more than 600 watts of clean power. The high-quality crossover network in the amp allowed us to pick the best crossover frequencies for the speakers. As you can see in the pictures, we hid the amplifier completely underneath of a factory panel in the front trunk, keeping all the storage space intact.
Storage Shelves For Parts
One of our favorite, yet simple, pictures of this build is our storage shelves. Any time we work on a vehicle, we place removed trim panels and other items on these shelves to keep them from getting damaged or lost. Way too many shops just leave parts scattered all over the floor and, in our opinion, that is asking for trouble.
Tuning For Maximum Audio Quality
Finally, it was time to tune the stereo system. We were able to use the digital delay settings in the Pioneer unit to get the sound to stage nicely across the dash. When you couple these settings with the active crossover network in the Hertz amp, you get a scaled-down version of a DSP processor that is so common in our audio builds.
Client Marveled At His Porsche Boxster Audio Upgrades
When the client came to pick up his vehicle, he was blown away by the fit and finish of our work, and marveled at how everything looked factory-equipped. When we turned it on for the first time, he knew he’d made the right decision. It was going to make him want to take the long way home a lot more often.
If you would like to upgrade the audio system in your vehicle and have been looking for someone you can trust with your European vehicle, we invite you to contact us HERE at Westminster Speed and Sound in Westminster, Maryland. Let us show you why we are Maryland’s most award-winning retailer.
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