First thing I tend to notice about a car once I've sat inside of it, is the stereo. First thing I realized I didn't like about my new GXP was the Monsoon system. I have to say out of just about any "premium" sound systems I've heard, this ranks very near the bottom. I told myself I was going to leave this car alone and just enjoy driving it, but I can't live with the stock stereo.

On the shelf in my closet I have waiting...

Source Equipment
Alpine IVA-D310 Touchscreen DVD headunit
Alpine PXA-H701 DTS/x-over
Alpine KCA-420i iPod adapter (was using this in my old GTP, and its killing me not having it in the GXP

Amps
Xtant x1001 - subwoofer amp
Xtant x604 - front stage
Xtant x603 - rear fill and cabin subwoofer

Front Stage
Focal Poly-K 6.5" comps (mid in door)
Focal 4k3211 4" mids (kicks along with tweeters)
Focal 5WS 5" subwoofer (originally to be used in the console of the GTP, might use in the passenger footwell area near console/firewall)

Rear Fill
Focal 690CA 6x9s

Subwoofer
Focal KX 38 SPL 15" sub (sealed, approx 1.5 cubes)

And because I'm a nerd, here'* a quick PS flowchart




The only part of my plan thats flawed is the amping and x-overs used for the front stage. I will probably decide to run the fronts active, in which case I'll have to use my old Kenwood KEC-600 x-over and add amplify an extra pair of channels.

Let me know what you think
Now I just have to get off my *** and get to work.

our most extensive 00+ install was TaylorD

you might what to check his setup


but it looks solid no less

Looks good to me. You gunna put speakers in stock locations or are yo going with something custom? BTW www.ikesound.com has some real nice mb quarts at a really good price right now, you might wanna check them out too.

I love quarts, I have a pair of QSDs in my 95 SHO. I currenty own all the Focal gear listed, so its very unlikely that I'll be changing my speakers out in favor of something else for a good while. It'* taken me about 3 years to finally lock down this design after nearly a dozen different variations in the GTP (not counting the SLE and SHO). I did a lot of listening and researching and like what the equipment I picked out provides to the music I enjoy listening to. I will likely fiberglass the kickpanels and the 5" sub enclosure, finishing them with color matched textured paint. I prefer stealth installs to be honest... I think they demonstrate a great deal of skill and planning but in the case of these big beautiful polished Xtants, they have to be shown.

My original design of making modular amp mounts might still work its way in. Imagine using a key to secure a platform holding the amp, with all the connections being slip fit where as no screws are used. It provided a challenge in the GTP due to the smaller trunk in comparaison to the GXP, so I might try to resurect the plans.

looks like a good setup to me. You're right, the premium sound in the Bonneville isn't so premium. I've found it sounds real odd because the woofer is so low in the door, and the tweeter is so high in the door. On the aurora the woofer is atleast a little under the door handle and the tweeter is in the same position, so the distance between the two is about a foot.

On a different note, I am interested to know any side effects you experience from putting in an Aftermarket head unit. I started a thread about this earlier, and we never got real life answers. I know they make custom wiring harnesses for head units, but I am wondering about secondary features, such as Station Display on the HUD, and Driver specific Presets. I anticipate that these features will be lost, but i am eagerly curious.

Please post your results!!! (thanks in advance)

Well I earn my paycheck primarily as an installer. I've done several 00+ Bonnies and LeSabres. As you probably know, the radio uses an edge connector (Lock & Dock is what manufactures refer to it as) as well as uses a vw/european antenna connector. The Metra part GMOS-05 is the only interface I've used so far, but I'd be surprised if anybody could build one any better. That unit will retain OnStar, create a switched ignition power lead, play door-chime through the driver'* speaker and mantain the integrity of the Class-2 Databus. As you mentioned, HUD radio information and Identification presets are lost. Steering wheel controls can be retained with seperate modules. Some are hardwired and designed for specific units (ie Alpine, Pioneer) and others like the PAC SWI-X are universal learning units that can copy functions from an aftermarket deck'* infrared wireless remote to the button of your choice on the steering wheel. If installed properly, either solution works well.

I've decided to try and build my system around my stock headunit--for now. I am just too curious if the reason why an aftermarket cd player sounds better is just because it has more power output? I plan to tap into the speaker leads in each driver footwell and splicing into it for my amp input, then run new speaker wire into the doors. By doing this you will still retain the chime (when the ignition is on) and onstar as well. It should sound pretty decent. I'm going to use the cigarette lighter'* positive wire as my remote-turn-on lead. on the 00+ Bonneville it'* only on with the ignition, and 10 minutes after ignition shut off. This way, even with ignition shut off your amp will still have power for 10 minutes so you can hear the chime for headlights left-on, etc. should be a pretty slick setup once all is said and done!

Blackice,
where can I get a metra Gmos-05? Might need one in the future

I think circuit city sold them... I remember I had to sell a few....