Aftermarket Stereo's in 04 models
 

Hello all,

I'm considering trading in my 98 maxima for a 04 model.. I do not like the bose systems and I'm wondering if I can install an aftermarket stereo (alpine) with speakers... The reason why I ask this is because the entire front dash looks like a one piece thing that looks difficult to install aftermarket stereo's...

Thanks for your help

-Nick

No.

and why would u wanna man its a bose, its a luxury car, not a lil civic, iam sure there are some preouts for subs if you wanted, i say leave it stock

Im adding a subwoofer as soon as my amp and sub get in. as for everything else, hopefully i can run the stock headunit with the bass all the way down that way the 8s wont blow and i can have some decent highs.

Well Bose pretty much blows thats why I want to rip it all out.. if I didn't want a new car I would have a new awesome sounding system that no way matches bose...

I guess from some of the posts I can find some aftermarket panels or maybe the stereo installers have some?.. true or not?

It would really stink not being able to buy a 04 max because I cant install an aftermarket stereo..

As of right now there isn't any economical way to replace the head unit. If you wait long enough, something will be available, but I wouldn't expect it to be cheap or easy. The stereo is well integrated into everything.

I would replace the speakers/amps and keep the head unit, much easier and less of a hassle.

Personally I wouldn't replace anything, but that is just me.

if you find a quality install place, then they will be able to fabricate somethng for you...it will be expensive, because they will usually send away for it...

i got a quote for $4000 complete for a kenwood touch screen DVD in dash...the installer would have installed it where the small storage compartment is, in front of the stick...all stock stereo would have still worked...
it would have looked something like this: as seen at some murano dude

http://home.comcast.net/~car_pics/images/0012.jpg

i was worried about the screen hitting the stick and being so low...

this is a murano guy who moved his stock screen down to the bottom of the center control center, and installed a DVD screen where our stock screen is...here is his link: (be careful you will cringe at how hacked up his car looks in stages)

http://crazy murano dude

http://www.marx-technik.de/Murano_NAVI/DSC00154.JPG

however, the murano does not have the 04 max single piece, computer tower looking, cover...

so to answer your question, yes aftermarket head unit is possible, but the price will be ridiculous until someone mass produces a face plate for our 'computer tower'

If they even do that... Some might think that there isn't that big of a demand for them, me being one. Most people that would want to swap out all the stereo components would be the younger generation (like me) and I don't think alot of the younger gen will own a Maxima so the demand will probably be slim to none.

Personally, the only thing I would change about the headunit is the screen, if it was a touch-screen with a PC running Windows that could play DVD's, Mp3's, and control the AC. :D The headunit it has now looks better than any other headunit you could put there, IMO.

I think the Bose sound great, really clear and loud, not enough bass for me, but that can be solved with a few subs and amps. I have heard better, but if that is what I really wanted, I wouldn't have been able to afford the car. Personally, I wouldn't let something like not being to install an aftermarket headunit from buying a car that I like.

quicksilver: you better watch out, the hi-fi sound police are going to rage on you...i am with you on the look, the sound, and deciding on a car because of its stereo.

as far as demand on a faceplate: hopefully nissan will do the same with the sentras and altimas...

i said it before, but i will say it again...the stereo in my friend's $55,000 escalade doesn't come close to the stereo in the 04 maxima...this is not an excuse for nissan, but you shouldn't depend on a stock stereo to actually be great.

lol, yeah I can hear them coming, they are going to come tell you that Bose = crap.

I agree that the demand for aftermarket stereo equipment won't be in high demand for the Max since its demographic is older.

I didn't get the bose system because I knew that I would be putting all eclipse speakers and amps in the car. However, I was very impressed with the stock system. I still plan on adding my amp with to 8" subs but I'll leave the stock speakers alone and I don't care about changing the stock head unit, I think it's nice.

Something else to condisder when changing the head unit is the fact that you'll loose your audio controls on the stearing wheel. This may not concern some people but I personally use them.

Damn, I guess I cut out the part where I said I HAVE heard better, but I am not willing to spend thousands on a stereo system that will only ruin my hearing.

I let a girl borrow my car yesterday for her to take to cheerleading practice :D (I'ma sucker for the female gender :rolleyes: ) and when she came back, she was like, "When did you get bass put in?" I was like, "I don't have bass, it's stock." She didn't believe me and had to look in the trunk. Heh, needless to say she was :eek: Now, all the other cheerleaders want to borrow my car :cool:

What's the old saying, "Gas, Grass, or ***... No one rides for free!!!" Damn, I need that bumper sticker :D

LOL :D

It's only sold as "Bose" but it definitely ain't made by them.

I don't doubt that the speakers are made by Bose. They are using the same strange setup in my 04 Max that my 89 Grand Prix had, 1 amp per speaker.

Yopu can actually just run your amp(s) and speakers off of the stock headunit. Decent line levels, and a line driver..you will be fine. I did this in my car due to the fact that I did not want to lose my touchscreen Navi.

BTW...No highs, no lows, it must be BLose

-_Don

Yes, the only way to do it easilly or cheaply is to use line-out converters. Unfortunately you suffer by having the same EQ settings as the factory HU. You also lose a lot of dash space that could be used for better things such as a dedicated center channel. Nissan is just one of numerous car makers to go this route on new cars. Navigation, Heat, A/C, etc all integrated into one unit. If you are good with electronics you could probably seperate out the heat and A/C. Then control them with more traditional sliders and potentiometers.

There is something to be said for tayloring the vehicles sound system so that it provides the stage, depth, clarity, etc that we want.