jamusa

I have a 2003 E55.....I want to upgrade to a Pioneer/Kenwood HU.with NAV and Bluetooth.
Should I install the radio with an after amp and wire it to the existing speakers,or should I install an interface that converts to fiber optics,allowing me to use all my existing speakers.
I understand that addind an amp i will receive more watts making it louder,but maybe not clearer and I will not be able to use all my speakers.....while with the fiber optics set up I might not necessarily be louber but I will still maintain my clarity.
Can someone who has been faced with this decision chime in and let me know their experience.
r

forcefed4door

I used the interface. There is much more base now with aftermarket radio, and the speakers sound great. No need for a new amp.

jamusa

What HU and model did you use? The interface that you used....did it allow you to transfer analog to fiber optics and accommodate all stock speakers including the stock center speaker.In your openion,would you say you had more volume(wattage)clarity and bass from the stock speakers?
I am about to pull the trigger on going with or without amp and new HU.

carguyshu

you're looking at a major pain in the *** rewiring the entire car. what you want to get is the opti1. do a search on google for the opti1 and you'll find tons of info about it.

forcefed4door

Yup this is what I have. Makes all speakers work, and will be all around louder with better clarity over the stock stereo. I used a Kenwood excelon. But wish I had gone with one of those new w211 android radios

jamusa

After doing some extensive checking....I decided to go with replacing the HU with a Pioneer AVIC7100,with am/fm pandora,Nav,CD,Sat radio,telephone.....the whole works backed up by a Kenwood 700 series 5 channel amp and a back up camera.
The speakers were hard wire to the radio and it sounds great.The HK radio was the weak link;the OEM radio and amp was not adequet enough to keep up with the speakers.