1996 i30t stock bose stereo going bad: what do you think of my options?

[nix54]

hello all, i inherited an i30 back in february from my dad and have been reading this forum for a couple months now. i decided to post because, per title, the bose head unit is going bad. display blinks in and out and is usually dim, and the cd player will skip or will not even play perfect cd's. apparently several people have this type of problem.

my first reaction to cd skippage was just to put up with it and hope it went away but it never did. so i went to circuit citys' "roadshop" to ask about just getting a headunit, with a total purchase of mounting kit, unit, and installation being just a little over $200. but then i was upsold - "well, since this is an aftermarket headunit, the stock speakers will sound like crap; replace those and you will probably want to replace the amp too". in the end, after an estimate of headunit, speakers, amp, rewiring/install, and then why the hell not, a few hundred worth of circuit city protection plans - the subtotal was an astonishing $1200+ .......but then they remembered a $90 discount (gee whiz, thanks guys)

all that for a cd player?

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after reading on nico, i've been given some more choices and definitely more knowledge

1. send out original head unit to be fixed or buy exact same used unit (but it's already pretty crappy)

2. buy any newer maxima/infiniti head unit (are these any good or will they still suck?)

3. get an aftermarket headunit + mounting kit (crutchfield.com does not list any researched units with my car, how do i know if it'll work?)

***i'd like a unit with an AUX input to plug in an mp3, i know aftermarkets have these, but do any OEM units compatible with my car have them?

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the guy at roadshop told me that a new after market unit will blow out my speakers - it gives out 52amps but mine only handle 30amps, is that true? also, since the two units were not made to work the best with each other, no matter what headunit or speaker i get, unless it is a tested configuration the sound will be crap

a lot that i've read about were referenced from these threads:zerothread?id=187774http://forums.nicoc ... ?id=158482

thanks

[maxhopper]

Hopefully one of the guys more knowledgable about the BOSE will step up and post.

I believe there is something you can connect in line to use the aftermarket head unit with the Bose amps and speakers. I know it's posted in this forum before, just a matter of finding it.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Using an aftermarket headunit won't necessarily blow your stock speakers, but it won't sound great through them, either. Bose is generally very aftermarket unfriendly. While there are workarounds, you'll find that the BEST solution is to entirely replace your stereo system (headunit, amp, speakers) just as the Circuit City installer told you.

However, there is a cheaper and simpler alternative, and I believe audtatious has been using it for a while. You just need a unit that will make your new headunit's signal bose-friendly. I'm not sure on the details, but hopefully he'll pop in and shed some light on the topic.

[maxhopper]

I found the converter that was discussed. This will enable you to use the aftermaket unit with the Bose system.

Then you get something like the PAC ROEM-NIS1 or ROEM-NIS2 for replacing the factory headunit in a Nissan. They are around $50

[nix54]

so are there any '96+ oem headunits that have an aux plug, and will i need the ROEM-NIS2 adapter to use it?

if i get an aftermarket unit i'd prefer something by pioneer or sony, but anything else would work. the problem is, i don't know of any units actually fit my car.

also, this may be unrelated, but my lighter socket & seat heaters don't work anymore
Modified by nix54 at 7:21 PM 12/10/2006

[96maxse]

Pretty much all of the headunits will fit your car with a kit. Cardomain.com has pretty well priced stuff. Bose systems run at a different level of some sort so it would be difficult to change speakers unless you by passed the bose amp. If you aren't installing yourself go to Best Buy b/c they are cheaper. Go with a pioneer head unit over sony.

[96maxse]

check your fuses for the seat heaters and lighter

[nix54]

thanks bro, i'm stuck with the oem head indefinitely, money just isn't there to revamp a 10+ yr old car. lighter fuse was blown, replaced and it worked, but seat heaters was ok....i think i broke the switches