BlueCTTDi
Veteran Member
Ok.. so as the topic suggests, I'm mulling over whether to make some changes to my stereo system.. so I'm hoping to pick some of your brains for opinions.
Current set-up:
Stock 2004 Monsoon double-din cd player w/stock monsoon amp.
Phatbox (20gb; connected through the cd changer port)
(I also have a sirius tuner which is set up to use the crappy FM modulator).
Here's where the decision gets slightly complicated (to me anyway..). In the Dakota I had before I bought my Golf in 04, I had a relatively sweet system in it - which I have all the components (in great condition) from..
Alternate set-up:
Eclipse 55040
2 sets of Boston 6.5 pro components (total of 4 6.5" 2-way speakers and 4 tweeters with external crossovers)
JL Audio 300W 4/2/1 amp
Eclipse 6-disc cd changer (compatible to the 55040)
Pros I see to switching the systems out :
(1) Duh, look at the components.. lol
(2) Would go from a double-din unit to a single-din unit, allowing me to install a triple gauge panel and get rid of the a-pillar pod and the dual gauge pod I currently have on the steering column.
Cons I see to switching the systems out :
(1) I'd lose the Phatbox capability (big), unless there is a way to somehow reflash the phatbox to work with a 4-5 year old Eclipse head unit (extremely doubtful).
(2) the amp is at least twice as big as the current monsoon unit, which means I may lose a crapload of space in the hatch unless someone knows of a way to get *really* creative with an amp install.
(3) Not sure I want to rip out every wire in the car myself, and Tweeter wants about $500 ( ) to re-install everything.
(4) No more OEM radio - I have an FIS cluster coming and it might have been cool to set up the cluster to show radio info. Not a huge deal, I suppose, since I don't have the cluster in yet and therefore am not used to having it there anyway.
Neutral items:
(1) Sirius would still have to use the crappy FM modulator, since I don't think the Eclipse has an aux input to directly wire into. (That being said, the amp might, but I'd have to dig it out of the box and check on that, and then I would have to try to rig something up so that I could switch the amp inputs from the driver's seat)
What I'm trying to decide is if it's worth the expense (or hours of work if I do it myself) to switch everything out and try to sell the stock monsoon, or if I should say F it and just sell the components I have and consider upgrading with newer stuff... The Monsoon isn't a bad unit at all, *especially* for a stock radio..
ARRGH.
Thoughts / Opinions / Stuff that I'm being oblivious about?
Even some comments on what some of your setups are might give me some more ideas about my own..
thanks
-mike
Current set-up:
Stock 2004 Monsoon double-din cd player w/stock monsoon amp.
Phatbox (20gb; connected through the cd changer port)
(I also have a sirius tuner which is set up to use the crappy FM modulator).
Here's where the decision gets slightly complicated (to me anyway..). In the Dakota I had before I bought my Golf in 04, I had a relatively sweet system in it - which I have all the components (in great condition) from..
Alternate set-up:
Eclipse 55040
2 sets of Boston 6.5 pro components (total of 4 6.5" 2-way speakers and 4 tweeters with external crossovers)
JL Audio 300W 4/2/1 amp
Eclipse 6-disc cd changer (compatible to the 55040)
Pros I see to switching the systems out :
(1) Duh, look at the components.. lol
(2) Would go from a double-din unit to a single-din unit, allowing me to install a triple gauge panel and get rid of the a-pillar pod and the dual gauge pod I currently have on the steering column.
Cons I see to switching the systems out :
(1) I'd lose the Phatbox capability (big), unless there is a way to somehow reflash the phatbox to work with a 4-5 year old Eclipse head unit (extremely doubtful).
(2) the amp is at least twice as big as the current monsoon unit, which means I may lose a crapload of space in the hatch unless someone knows of a way to get *really* creative with an amp install.
(3) Not sure I want to rip out every wire in the car myself, and Tweeter wants about $500 ( ) to re-install everything.
(4) No more OEM radio - I have an FIS cluster coming and it might have been cool to set up the cluster to show radio info. Not a huge deal, I suppose, since I don't have the cluster in yet and therefore am not used to having it there anyway.
Neutral items:
(1) Sirius would still have to use the crappy FM modulator, since I don't think the Eclipse has an aux input to directly wire into. (That being said, the amp might, but I'd have to dig it out of the box and check on that, and then I would have to try to rig something up so that I could switch the amp inputs from the driver's seat)
What I'm trying to decide is if it's worth the expense (or hours of work if I do it myself) to switch everything out and try to sell the stock monsoon, or if I should say F it and just sell the components I have and consider upgrading with newer stuff... The Monsoon isn't a bad unit at all, *especially* for a stock radio..
ARRGH.
Thoughts / Opinions / Stuff that I'm being oblivious about?
Even some comments on what some of your setups are might give me some more ideas about my own..
thanks
-mike
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