Standard to Monsoon on a 98 NB

[888]

So how hard is it to make this change and upgrade to a Monsoon? On GM products, the Monsoon amp comes with the HU so swapping out the HU gives you the power, on my Passat, the amp is in the trunk. On the NB, I assume the amp is split off somewhere remote from the OEM Monsoon HU, which isn't too big of a deal.

What I'm wondering about is whether the default factory wiring harness has everything for both versions or there are different harnesses for standard and Monsoon units. I would think it would be easier to make a single harness for all applications but you never know.

Anyone know for sure?

I'd rather have an OEM looking radio, usually keeps the windows unbroken and the dash untrashed.

TIA

Joe

[sean_fabanich]

i dont know if the wire harness in the dash is the same for either...but id assume not....

considering the monsoon system has speakers that the regular system does not...therefore the wires arent run for those speakers...

sorry i cant be more help

[888]

Originally Posted by sean_fabanich

i dont know if the wire harness in the dash is the same for either...but id assume not....

considering the monsoon system has speakers that the regular system does not...therefore the wires arent run for those speakers...

sorry i cant be more help

Aha, I didn't know about the additional speakers. I'm still hoping they installed one harness for all options and just plugged in what that particular car needed (including speakers). I've got a Bentley manual on the way, I'll try to figure it out from that. I don't want to change main harnesses, that's never been fun on a VW, I'd never want to try it on a NB.

[sean_fabanich]

one other thing you may want to check is the speaker impedance of the speakers in the monsoon system...i beleive its not a 4 ohm system...so youd have to replace all the speakers in the car that you presently have...and then add the dash speaker that arent in the regular system. sounds like a lot of work and probably a decent bit of money to do all that..

the new kenwoods radios have a pretty nice look to them...very symmetrical with mostly blue lighting...one red triangle...and a white screen. thats what i decided to add to mine...

monsoon systems are nice for sound...but you can probably spend less on an aftermarket radio with a detachable faceplate and an aftermarket security system. for 200 bucks you can get a kenwood that has customizable time correction which really helps with the sound staging issues the beetle has...being that the rear speakers are so close to the front seat and the front speakers and tweeters are so far apart.

one thing ive been considering doing is adding a pair of 5 1/4 or 4 inch speakers to the dash...those plates easily can be removed and i could run them in parralel with the front door speakers...i was considering just cutting the factory plates...but someone on here suggested just buying those dash plates from a wrecked nb with the monsoon...

just some options for ya...good luck which ever way you go.

[timdrivesbeetle]

I have a non-monsoon system and I just got done cutting holes in the dash and adding 4" speakers......... it was very easy and I'm pleased with how it looks.