Boxster Rear Speaker Kit - Not Working, Help!

[juniinc]

Glad that u got her back working. What u should've ordered is really M490 6 CH amp with your PNP kit.

I would check your polarity. something is not right , probably PNP adapter terminal I'm thinking.

please don't take this in a wrong way, after all that hassle + $$ your system isn't even working? My personal opinion is any leading 3 1/2" round speaker will sound 100 times better than a PNP kit . Perhaps this handsome INFINITY,,,

[mrkwats]

Glad that u got her back working. What u should've ordered is really M490 6 CH amp with your PNP kit.

I would check your polarity. something is not right , probably PNP adapter terminal I'm thinking.

please don't take this in a wrong way, after all that hassle + $$ your system isn't even working? My personal opinion is any leading 3 1/2" round speaker will sound 100 times better than a PNP kit . Perhaps this handsome INFINITY,,,

OK, cheers. Actually, my system is all working. From what I understand, the stock door base speakers are very quiet indeed (can anyone confirm this?). My new amp (same as blown one) actually is a Becker 6 Channel amp. I just need to connect the new PNP rear speakers to it and look forward to sound behind me...

[Cassiebox]

Glad that u got her back working. What u should've ordered is really M490 6 CH amp with your PNP kit.

I would check your polarity. something is not right , probably PNP adapter terminal I'm thinking.

please don't take this in a wrong way, after all that hassle + $ your system isn't even working? My personal opinion is any leading 3 1/2" round speaker will sound 100 times better than a PNP kit . Perhaps this handsome INFINITY,,,

OK, cheers. Actually, my system is all working. From what I understand, the stock door base speakers are very quiet indeed (can anyone confirm this?). My new amp (same as blown one) actually is a Becker 6 Channel amp. I just need to connect the new PNP rear speakers to it and look forward to sound behind me...

stock door bass speakers are very quiet. They're only 5.25" which is severly undersized for trying to get low end - especially when only powered by 40W. I'm not 100% about the most system, but I know in pre '03 MY, the doors are driven off a combined signal of the front and rear channels from the h/u. Therefore if you fade to either all front or all rear - you'll get next to nothing out of the doors. To get the most possible from the stock door speakers, it's best to set the fade to the middle.

[mrkwats]

With a MY03 onwards 986 with the fibre MOST system, the base door speakers are powered from the head unit (seems to be based from my experience), and not the 6 channel amp. (When my amp was blown I was actually getting low-freq output to the door speakers only). Now I have a full working system, I can also confirm that the fade has no effect on the door speakers, but I have found that by fading the fronts (setting the front to rear fade to 4) I get the best out of the relatively quiet door speakers, as I can crank the volume up a little more, as the fronts are not as loud with them faded slightly. Also, I have tested the PNP rear speaker kit with my new amp (wires loosely connected to back of amp), and all is fine. I'm so pleased, so just need to hardwire everything in now and tackle the cable routing through the firewall! Thanks to all those who have helped. I'll let you all know how I get on.

[mrkwats]

Great news, I now have a fully working sound system, including the PNP Rear Speakers! A worthy installation too! Knowing that the Boxster's sound system is well below par (Porsche should honestly be ashamed of themselves), I am relatively impressed with the addition of these new rear speakers. (With the front/windscreen soundstage emphasis now balanced to the rear, the overall acoustics are much much better). I fade the fronts to setting 4 (as they are too loud compared to the base door and rear speakers, this seems to work just great). I might now look at upgrading the stock front speakers, we'll see...

Followed Harvey's PNP instructions pretty much to the letter, all went according to plan, took my time and no real dramas. Notable points:

- did not disconnect battery

- did not disconnnect amp

- did not remove radio head unit

- ensured that radio was fully powered down (even if it is off, it is still powered-up as you see radio button illumination and a yellow/amber light can also be seen in the amp). If you wait for a few mins after opening door/bonnet the radio automatically shuts down proper, and you hear amp relay switching off

- was very careful with sidetrim (given side airbag sensors are supposedly nearby and battery still connected), and simply tucked cable down side, not through main trunking where it might have got complicated and more of a need to remove carpet/trim, upset sensors etc)

- did not move battery, as firewall grommet (which amp wiring harness passes through) was easily accessible

Thanks for everyone's help (inc Harvey Peck), and if anyone is considering a Rear Speaker upgrade with a similar config (i.e. CDR23, MOST system and DSP M490/Becker 660 amp) then I'll be more than happy to provide any advice. (Those amps are very susceptible to spiking, so I was extremely careful, hence not disconnecting battery and amp, and always ensuring all was powered down...)

Happy New Year to all.

[harvey]

Just like to add that as far as the infinity speakers go... You're going to be very disappointed, we've tested those and pretty much every

3 1/2" speaker available and have yet to fine one with better all around sound than the ones we use...

Not doing a sales pitch here, just passing on what I know

You won't find me hawking our stuff on any forums but if you ever need install help w/ our stuff or even OEM don't hesitate to write

Cheers to all and a Very Happy New Year as well

Edited January 1, 2008 by harvey

[juniinc]

hahahah LOL. Is PNP kit 2-way paper cone or full range with no tweeter? I'm also wondering what u -guys were feeding those 3-1/2's.

All depends on what's feeding them and also if 3-1/2 r properly croosedover passively - would make a big difference.

Just like to add that as far as the infinity speakers go... You're going to be very disappointed, we've tested those and pretty much every

3 1/2" speaker available and have yet to fine one with better all around sound than the ones we use...

Not doing a sales pitch here, just passing on what I know

Cheers to all and a Very Happy New Year as well

[KevinH90]

You won't find me hawking our stuff on any forums but if you ever need install help w/ our stuff or even OEM don't hesitate to write

Cheers to all and a Very Happy New Year as well

If Harvey said he put in the best speaker available for this application, I think you can trust him and save your money.

I'm in the process of adding a 6-channel amp to my car. Even though I bought my PNP kit over a year and a half ago, Harvey sent me the add on cable and instructions at no extra charge.

Too bad he doesn't actually make the Becker radios or the cars themselves for that matter. I contacted Becker about the peeling buttons and sticky knobs on my CDR-220, and I'll be funding the repair of what is obviously a defective product.

[goldengun]

(Those amps are very susceptible to spiking, so I was extremely careful, hence not disconnecting battery and amp, and always ensuring all was powered down...)

sorry to hassle you again, but i'm going to install my PNP speaker kit over the next 2 days (it just arrived today)... should i leave the battery connected as you did ? i have the Porsche Sound Pack so i think the same becker amp, and want to make sure i don't damage it accidentally...

Thanks in advance!

[goldengun]

Since most becker amplifier uses a speaker level input(poor quality). U'll have to get a RCA conversion adapter to convert to a pre - amp level.

she'll sound so much better,,,

yeah but as i understand it, the becker amp is connected to the head-unit via MOST fibre-optics... so i can't swap the becker for a regular amp (unless there are other amps that take fibre-optic inputs ?)

[mrkwats]

(Those amps are very susceptible to spiking, so I was extremely careful, hence not disconnecting battery and amp, and always ensuring all was powered down...)

sorry to hassle you again, but i'm going to install my PNP speaker kit over the next 2 days (it just arrived today)... should i leave the battery connected as you did ? i have the Porsche Sound Pack so i think the same becker amp, and want to make sure i don't damage it accidentally...

Thanks in advance!

From my own experience, I would leave the battery connected, but I did this:

ensured that radio was fully powered down (even if it is off, it is still powered-up as you see radio button illumination and a yellow/amber light can also be seen in the amp). With both doors closed (obviously bonnet/trunk open), ff you wait for a few mins after opening/closing door/bonnet the radio automatically shuts down proper, and you hear amp relay switching off.

[goldengun]

70% complete as of today.... decided ro run the harness through the centre console instead of the door sill... (couldnt get the wiring to pop up in the footwell)

just need to connect it up to the amp tomorrow/tues and i should be up & running....

relatively easy install, but getting the door bins out of the storage box was a real pain !!!

[goldengun]

Hi - need some help... i connected the speakers and can hear sound from it. However, i don't see a fader option in my pcm... does that sound strange ? I would have expected to be able to control the front/rear fade now that the rear speakers are connected....

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

[Nick_USA]

Hi - need some help... i connected the speakers and can hear sound from it. However, i don't see a fader option in my pcm... does that sound strange ? I would have expected to be able to control the front/rear fade now that the rear speakers are connected....

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

Answered here:

PCM Link

but in summary you need someone with either a PST2 or PIWIS to re-code the PCM MMI functions.