Replaced my Command with an Alpine head unit
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Bowie, Md
2006 CLS500 with 55 AMG motor, 2008 Infiniti G35, 2000 Plymouth Grand Voyager
Replaced my Command with an Alpine head unit
Hi guys. I replaced my command today with the alpine INA-W900. I also bought the Alpine Imprint processor which totally expanded my sound tuning options, and also gives me the ability to connect a PC with a mic for an auto tuning feature. I now have the ability to connect my iPhone via Bluetooth or USB cable.
I used a Kicker IX 500.4 digital amp to power the OEM speakers. The center channel speaker was also saved and connected. I took out the bracket that holds the OEM DVD drive to make room for the AMP. All wires to the speakers can be reached right after the strip of fuses. After testing all wires I made a list so you can identify each speaker by the wire color.
Front right door: *brown and black
Front left door: green and brown/green
Rear left door: pink and brown/pink
Rear right door: white and brown and white
Center channel speaker: blue and brown/white
These wires were identified, cut, and ran directly into the AMP. I didn't need to run any RCAs throughout the car, but just a single AI-Net cable to the imprint processor in the rear of the vehicle, then connected RCAs from that unit to my amps.
hope this info helps anyone that's willing to do this. If you are willing to invest the money then believe me, the sound is incredible. I had no idea that my factory speakers could perform this way.
Here are a few pics of the new toys:
I used a Kicker IX 500.4 digital amp to power the OEM speakers. The center channel speaker was also saved and connected. I took out the bracket that holds the OEM DVD drive to make room for the AMP. All wires to the speakers can be reached right after the strip of fuses. After testing all wires I made a list so you can identify each speaker by the wire color.
Front right door: *brown and black
Front left door: green and brown/green
Rear left door: pink and brown/pink
Rear right door: white and brown and white
Center channel speaker: blue and brown/white
These wires were identified, cut, and ran directly into the AMP. I didn't need to run any RCAs throughout the car, but just a single AI-Net cable to the imprint processor in the rear of the vehicle, then connected RCAs from that unit to my amps.
hope this info helps anyone that's willing to do this. If you are willing to invest the money then believe me, the sound is incredible. I had no idea that my factory speakers could perform this way.
Here are a few pics of the new toys:
Last edited by khelawanb; Jul 1, 2010 at 11:43 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,371
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From: Bowie, Md
2006 CLS500 with 55 AMG motor, 2008 Infiniti G35, 2000 Plymouth Grand Voyager
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,784
Likes: 84
From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
I also replaced the OE head unit on a CLK using an Alpine non-NAV deck and PAC converters to retain steering wheel controls. The install was very smooth.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,371
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From: Bowie, Md
2006 CLS500 with 55 AMG motor, 2008 Infiniti G35, 2000 Plymouth Grand Voyager
Thanks Mike! And everyone else 
Esleeper, I didn't have any trouble from any of the factory wiring. I basically used the 12V wire from the cigarette lighter wiring to power up the Alpine Unit, then I found the factory speaker wiring to the left in the trunk near the row of fuses. I started cutting and testing each wire to determine which speaker it lead to. I tried to make it easy for the next person by documenting the wire color above. There is no more Nav or audio display in the spedometer area, so I left it to display the outside temp.
Absolutelydriven.com has regular meets in the Md Va area, so I'll let you know when I'm going to the next meet if you guys want to hear the new set up.
Esleeper, I didn't have any trouble from any of the factory wiring. I basically used the 12V wire from the cigarette lighter wiring to power up the Alpine Unit, then I found the factory speaker wiring to the left in the trunk near the row of fuses. I started cutting and testing each wire to determine which speaker it lead to. I tried to make it easy for the next person by documenting the wire color above. There is no more Nav or audio display in the spedometer area, so I left it to display the outside temp.
Absolutelydriven.com has regular meets in the Md Va area, so I'll let you know when I'm going to the next meet if you guys want to hear the new set up.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 0
From: Bowie, Md
2006 CLS500 with 55 AMG motor, 2008 Infiniti G35, 2000 Plymouth Grand Voyager
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 0
From: Bowie, Md
2006 CLS500 with 55 AMG motor, 2008 Infiniti G35, 2000 Plymouth Grand Voyager
Install looks super clean.
Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 218
Likes: 1
From: Arlington, TX
CLS55
This looks great! I'm thinking of doing something like this in the near future after seeing yours. Is the head unit powerful enough to power all the factory speakers or would I need to get a separate amp?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 0
From: Bowie, Md
2006 CLS500 with 55 AMG motor, 2008 Infiniti G35, 2000 Plymouth Grand Voyager
Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 218
Likes: 1
From: Arlington, TX
CLS55
Hi guys. I replaced my command today with the alpine INA-W900. I also bought the Alpine Imprint processor which totally expanded my sound tuning options, and also gives me the ability to connect a PC with a mic for an auto tuning feature. I now have the ability to connect my iPhone via Bluetooth or USB cable.
I used a Kicker IX 500.4 digital amp to power the OEM speakers. The center channel speaker was also saved and connected. I took out the bracket that holds the OEM DVD drive to make room for the AMP. All wires to the speakers can be reached right after the strip of fuses. After testing all wires I made a list so you can identify each speaker by the wire color.
Front right door: *brown and black
Front left door: green and brown/green
Rear left door: pink and brown/pink
Rear right door: white and brown and white
Center channel speaker: blue and brown/white
These wires were identified, cut, and ran directly into the AMP. I didn't need to run any RCAs throughout the car, but just a single AI-Net cable to the imprint processor in the rear of the vehicle, then connected RCAs from that unit to my amps.
hope this info helps anyone that's willing to do this. If you are willing to invest the money then believe me, the sound is incredible. I had no idea that my factory speakers could perform this way.
Here are a few pics of the new toys:
I used a Kicker IX 500.4 digital amp to power the OEM speakers. The center channel speaker was also saved and connected. I took out the bracket that holds the OEM DVD drive to make room for the AMP. All wires to the speakers can be reached right after the strip of fuses. After testing all wires I made a list so you can identify each speaker by the wire color.
Front right door: *brown and black
Front left door: green and brown/green
Rear left door: pink and brown/pink
Rear right door: white and brown and white
Center channel speaker: blue and brown/white
These wires were identified, cut, and ran directly into the AMP. I didn't need to run any RCAs throughout the car, but just a single AI-Net cable to the imprint processor in the rear of the vehicle, then connected RCAs from that unit to my amps.
hope this info helps anyone that's willing to do this. If you are willing to invest the money then believe me, the sound is incredible. I had no idea that my factory speakers could perform this way.
Here are a few pics of the new toys:
Which wires are positive and which are negative in that list of speaker wire? Also, what ohm are the factory speaKers and sub? I'm a noob at car audio install so please bare with me.
Last edited by BenzCLS06; Aug 2, 2010 at 11:51 PM.
