993 stereo installer in Los Angeles
 

Hello all, I just joined in anticipation of my 993tt purchase that will hopefully be completed next weekend. Deposit is down and ppi is pending, hopefully everything checks out!

I have a question about the stereo. I want to upgrade the head unit, and keep the old one, just in case I want to show the car later on.

Are there any head units that swap in with out having to redo the wiring?

More importantly any one know a good installer in the los Angeles area?

David

Seriously? Your first post on a 993TT is about stereo replacement?

Tried search function?

These cars require no special skill to work on - and replacing a head unit is easy. Any decent shop will have people that can do it blindfolded.

Wow, and I thought these blogs were a community of people helping each other. Guess I was wrong. Thanks for the insight.

Thank you DC. Much appreciated

Community works two ways....."hi folks, just bought a XXX, here are some pics-whatdya think? I'm sure excited to be getting this car and getting to know her". For a car like that, it struck me as odd that your post #1 pertained to stereo.

What also helps community is that new posters can help themselves by first doing searches and seeing if some of the info may have been covered.

Hey db.

What DC said above is pretty true. Any reputable shop can set you up. I think I went to Al & Ed's on La Cienega in West Hollywood for mine. I chose an Alpine head unit that mated with my iPod, and my iPod lives in my glovebox. I control it via the Alpine head unit. No special wiring required.

Good luck with the 993TT, and don't forget to post some pics if/when you get it.

Thanks everyone for getting back to me. I'll get some pictures posted as soon as I have her! Ed, I don't think I need to defend myself, but I thought I could put the post up and get responses over time, i actually did multiple searches before I posted and none directly answered my question of installers in LA, I've had multiple other questions that were answered by searching and I'm just really excited to a have a reason to join this community. Thanks again!

dbolour.... Welcome to the madness. Once you get behind the wheel the stereo may not be that big of a concern. It is either a CDR 210 (CD version) or a CR 210 (cassette version). A lot of 993 owners switch to CDR 220. It is a newer Porsche (Becker) radio that is compatible with iPods.

The search function on this site is pretty good. You can get lost in it.

When you get the 993tt start a new posting with lots of photos and all the details.

Becker USA has an adapter that will plug into the original equipment harness that will preserve the wiring harness.

Welcome to the forum.

Haas Entertainment. Founder started out working on Porsches, but does other cars (had them install alarm and Bluetooth on my MB).

Haasentertainment.com

Any stereo shop will stock a wiring harness adapter...it should be no more than 15 bucks.

Jaime Rawlings, PORSCHETUNES@aol.com, (626) 372.0744, is very good if you want someone in Los Angles. Jaime used to be part owner of Paris Audio, and current owner of Rawlings Audio.

Lots of experience with Porsches.

Depends on what you are doing. If you are only swapping out the Head Unit, yes, it is easy DIY. If you are installing amps and speakers, that is a bit more of an undertaking. Not terribly difficult though. No one will be as careful with your car as you will be.
I went with Jaime to get top quality amp (Lunar) and speakers (Oz Audio Matrix Elite Components) and just had his installer put everything in.

Give Sal a call at 310 Kreations (Gardena) to discuss your needs. You'll probably like what you hear: http://www.yelp.com/biz/310-kreation...t_by=date_desc

Car Audio Innovations is supposed to be the best P-car guy in CA, but he's up in the Sacto area:
http://www.caraudioinnovations.com/

To Ed's point, you do need to do a proper intro for your car. We have very little protocol, but that's part of it :)

Rod Birch, Car Audio Innovations, installed my alarm and stereo on my former 911SC.
Viper Alarm
Alpine CD HU, Linear Power Amp, Boston Acoustics Pro components and JL Audio Subwoofer, that system ROCKED!

Rod used to do installation tours and in the late 90s did several trips to So Cal. Yes, Rod is great, loves to work and Porsches. I suspect his business does not allow him to do the tours anymore, so you will probably have to do a road trip to use him, but he does very good work.

Rod is pretty keen on Focals for Porsches, and many Rennlisters have either purchased equipment from him, and or had him install in their cars.

in short, I would also recommend Rod.

HAAS in Culver city is also very good, they do the installs for Beverly Hills Porsche, so they do a lot of high end installs. They also do a lot of home theater work. I took the 993 there, as they said they had a special cable to make the CDR210 work with an iPod. I spent 3 hours there, and then they figured out the cable wouldn't work. They didn't charge me anything, and my experience there is that they were very very meticulous. I saw loads of high end cars there getting systems installed, so they are experienced with high priced machinery.

One thing I learned, is that installers have their favorite brands that THEY like. It may be because they have a higher profit margin, or a multitude of other reasons. Keep in mind, once you get into high end stuff, it is ALL very good, much like expensive wines.

good luck!