CD quality car input for free?

Replacing the head unit would be relatively expensive and would yield poor results since I have the Bose system. Aftermarket equipment and OEM Bose systems don't play well together so I would really have to overhaul the whole thing; speakers, suboofer, amps, and head unit, which would cost way too much as of now, especially considering how the next generation or two of alpine systems will finally have a perfected, or at least much improved interface for plugging into the ipod.

I take it nobody has tried this?

Yes.

If it works, I get a line level input in a nice-sounding Bose system without spending a dime. If I mess up and break something, I still have plenty of options. It's possible to ebay an OEM head unit for around $100 and there are always junkyards I could go to for spare parts. Worse comes to worse, I could still just overhaul the whole system with an Alpine and then update the head unit whenever they fix their half-assed iPod implementation. Seeing as the cost of such an overhaul would be the same as if I just decided to do it in the first place, I've really got nothing to lose except for time. Replacing just the head unit is simply not an option option as the Bose speakers tend to sound like crap without the bose head unit's built in EQ. Installing a new head unit alone into the Bose system would also require more soldering than my idea possibly could because of the special wiring harnesses Bose uses. Going back to the factory system would be a huge pain in the butt.

Thanks for the suggestion though. As for wiring diagrams: that's why I'm posting here. If someone could get their hands on one, this whole thing becomes much simpler.

But that would sound like ### unless I replace the factory bose amps, speakers, and sub as well. If it's gonna sound crappy, then I'd rather just use an iTrip or tape adapter. I also don't see any point in buying a head now when the next generation should be far more iPod compatible.

Originally posted by DrewT

Sometimes you can replace the HU with an aftermaket one that has line-out's for the front, rear, and sub channels, and then solder some connectors onto you're factory harness and get it to work. "Premium" sound systems are just a pain in the ###!

-Drew

Now there's an option. Do you think its possible to emulate the sound processing of the Bose unit on an aftemarket unit? I've been hearing that the Bose units sound good mainly as a result of heavy EQing and crossover frequencies being set perfectly and that I would lose all of that if I upgraded the head unit and just be left with bad speakers.

Its been a no-go on the schematic so far but I haven't looked that hard just yet. I seem to be having some decent luck tinkering with an old tape player that I have. If they look anything alike on the inside, it should be a piece of cake.