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1999-2004 Porsche 911 Carrera

How to upgrade the stereo system in your 911

Porsche 911 Carrera coupe

In brief: This Crutchfield Research Garage article gives you an overview of your 911's stock stereo system and your aftermarket upgrade options. We'll tell you all about:

Then, use our vehicle selector to find the gear that will fit your Porsche.

Overview of the Porsche 911

There are no insignificant Porsches, really, but the "996" edition of the Porsche 911 was a real milestone car. As the first-ever 911 model with a water-cooled engine, this car was a game-changer. Now that we're approaching two decades of water-cooled 911's, it seems like no big deal, but at the time, it was a very, very big deal indeed.

To Porsche purists, some of whom still only begrudgingly acknowledge the water-cooled, front-engine 924 and 928 models, a "real" Porsche is air-cooled and rear-engined and that is all. To those people, a water-cooled 911 was about as appealing as a jagerschnitzel/Jaegermeister smoothie.

Most everyone else liked it just fine, though, and this all-new 911 proved to be a big factor in Porsche's subsequent growth and success. Well, this car and a certain SUV, but we've already kicked one hornet's nest, so we'll stop now. Like all of the (many, many) 996 variants, the 911 Carrera is everything a Porsche should be, and perhaps more importantly, everything a 21st century Porsche needed to be. If you don't think your audio system is all that it could be, we'll help you tune it up.

porsche 911 carrera radio

The factory receiver (this one, anyway) is reasonably easy to remove and replace (Crutchfield Research Photo)

The factory stereo system

There were plenty of variations on the stock stereo over the years, but even the newest and best of them is well into its teenage years by now. If your 911 is a "daily driver" with some miles on it, you might as well replace the wheezy old stereo with something that will let you enjoy your music the way you want to. You should be out having fun in a car like that, and a nice stereo can add a lot to a blast down a country road.

We're going to write about what we know here, but we're confident that the basics will apply throughout the rather extensive 996 range. We haven't researched the factory navigation receiver, so we're not going to get into that subject. If you know something we don't, feel free to share your experiences in the comments section below. And if you've given your 911 a thorough audio upgrade, please send some pics and info to our Custom Car Showroom.

porsche 911 carrera radio din tools

The DIN tools needed to remove the radio are included with your Crutchfield stereo purchase (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Removing the factory radio

Removing the factory single-DIN receiver is a disarmingly simple task, considering how complex these cars can be. All you need to do is insert the DIN tools (included with your order) into the slots on the lower edges of the radio. Push the tools in until you hear a "click," then turn the tools inward, pull the radio out, and remove it completely.

Connect the receiver wiring adapter to the new receiver following the included instructions, then remove the metal sleeve from the receiver, slide the sleeve into the dash opening, and secure it with the tabs. Hold the new receiver near the dash, connect the wiring harness adapter to the factory harness, plug in the antenna adapter, then slide the receiver into the sleeve and test to make sure it's working.

Detailed stereo and speaker removal instructions

MasterSheet image
With step-by-step disassembly instructions and plenty of up-close, detailed photos, our exclusive Crutchfield MasterSheet™ takes the guesswork out of removing the factory stereo and speakers. It's free with your Crutchfield order, or you can purchase one separately for just $9.99.

Stereo installation notes

There are a couple of things worth knowing, though. First, the wiring harness does not have an accessory power connection, so you'll need to connect your new stereo to the car's accessory power. Also, if you want to retain the factory amp, note that the wiring harness in this package connects to your new receiver's front and rear preamp outputs. If you've chosen a receiver without those outputs, our installation package will include the line converter you'll need to retain use of the amp. If you have questions, a Crutchfield Advisor will be happy to help you.

Tools needed: DIN Tools

Read our Car Stereo Buying Guide for shopping tips and advice.

Shop for car stereos that fit your Porsche 911 Carrera

porsche 911 carrera cabriolet door speakers

Not all 911's have door speakers, but this cabriolet does (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Removing the factory speakers

The 911 speaker array varied quite a bit, but broadly speaking, you'll find speakers in the dash, doors (sometimes), and rear side panels. They're all pretty easy to deal with, so it's a good project for the DIY-er.

porsche 911 dash corner speakers

You can replace the stock dash speakers with a variety of 4" aftermarket models (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Dash corner speakers

These 5" speakers are easy to remove – they're right under the grilles – and a variety of 4" aftermarket models will fit here. There aren't any mounting brackets available, so you'll need to use universal backstraps (or hot glue or silicone) to secure them in the cavities, but that's not as challenging as it might sound.

Torx T-20 right-angle driver, Phillips screwdriver

porsche 911 door speakers

You'll need to remove the door panels to replace these speakers (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Door speakers

If you (or the previous owner) checked the right boxes on the vast Porsche options sheet, you'll find a set of 5-1/4" speakers in the doors.

To remove them, start at the lower edge of the sail panel and use a panel tool to release the retaining clips. Lift the panel up, disconnect the harness (driver's side only) and remove the panel.

Next, starting at the top edge, pry up and then out on the door's pull handle cover to release those retaining clips and remove the cover. That'll expose two Torx T-30 screws, which you'll need to remove before removing the Phillips screw behind the door release handle.

Open the door storage pocket and remove one Phillips screw, then pry out the "Airbag" emblem and remove the exposed 5/32" hex screw. Pry out the courtesy light assembly, disconnect the harness and remove it.

Almost home…. Pry out the sides and bottom of the door panel to release nine retaining clips, then pull out the bottom of the panel. Lift up the panel, disconnect the harness and door relase cable to remove the door panel. Remove the four Torx T-10 screws securing the speaker and grille to the enclosure, then disconnect the harness and remove the speaker and grille.

Replacing the 1- or 2-ohm factory speakers with higher-impedance aftermarket models will result in lower volume levels, so keep that in mind while you're shopping.

In some cars, these speakers are woofers that only receive bass signals from the stock amp. To get full-range sound from your new speakers, you'll have to bypass the amp by splicing input and output wires together. Our tech support team can help you with the details.

Tools needed: Panel tool, Phillips screwdriver, Torx T10 & T30 drivers, 5/32" hex driver, small flat blade screwdriver

porsche 911 carrera coupe rear side speakers

In 8-speaker 911's like this one, you'll find 4" speakers in the rear side panels (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Rear seat side panel

The rear seat side panel speakers vary a bit. In 8-speaker cars, which we'll discuss here, there are 4" speakers on either side. The 10-speaker system wedges two speakers into these spaces, but we have not had a chance to see exactly how. We can't imagine that the speaker removal process is much harder, but we're also not entirely sure what to tell you to put in their place. If you have some knowledge, please share it in the comments section below.

Replacing the 4" speakers isn't hard, and all the details can be found in your Crutchfield MasterSheet. There's no mounting bracket available, so you'll need to use our universal backstraps to help secure the new speakers.

Tools needed: Torx T-20 driver, #1 Phillips screwdriver

Read our Car Speakers Buying Guide for more information.

Shop for speakers that fit your Porsche 911 Carrera

porsche 911 rear seat

It's probably not the ideal spot for a big subwoofer box, but a powered subwoofer can work nicely (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Bass in your 911

After consulting with our German friend, Herr Doktor Obvious, we can report that there's not a ton of room for a sub box behind the 911's rear seats. The available area in the coupe, for example, measures 37" W x 8" H x 8" D, and the convertible just isn't worth talking about in this context. A compact powered sub might work, though, so there's one option.

Another is the JL Audio Stealthbox® that's designed specifically for the 911 coupe. This custom sealed enclosure contains two 13TW5-3 subwoofers and mounts firmly behind the rear seats on the cargo shelf. If there's a stock subwoofer in the car already, that'll have to go. If not, the Stealthbox slides right in.

Learn more about building a bass system in our Car Subwoofer Buying Guide.

Shop for vehicle-specific subwoofers for your Porsche 911 Carrera

GoPro HERO7 Silver camera

An action camera is a fantastic track day accessory for your Porsche

Other options for your 911

Here are some other cool things you can add to your 911.

Roll camera(s)

The 911 is not the easiest vehicle to see out of when you're backing up in a crowded parking lot. We offer a wide variety of rear view cameras that will make that a lot easier. You can go for a camera that mounts to your license plate and works with your new aftermarket nav receiver, or choose one that mounts onto your rear view mirror.

If you enjoy taking your car to the racetrack, an action camera or a dash camera is a great way to record your hottest laps and analyze your performance. And on the way home, they're very handy for recording the behavior of other, decidedly less-talented motorists.

Add an amplifier

Replacing the factory radio will make a big difference in the performance of your new aftermarket speakers. To further improve the sound quality, consider installing a 4-channel amplifier. Talk to one of our advisors to get some ideas for how to build your car's system. Learn more about adding amps to your system in our Car Amplifier Buying Guide.

Car security systems

Installing a security system in your 911 isn't easy (security systems rarely are), but even though most car thieves can't drive a stick, it's definitely a good idea. Our Crutchfield Advisors can help figure out what you need to get the job done, but we usually recommend taking your car and new gear to a professional installer.

Let's get started!

Ready to shop? Use our vehicle selector to find the gear that will fit your car or truck. If you have questions, give us a shout via phone, chat, or email

Please share your thoughts below.

  • Anthony

    Posted on 6/5/2023

    I highly recommend the pre-wired harness that Crutchfield offers. My single-din Kenwood was plug and play. 2000 996 Cabriolet with door speakers and factory amp.

  • allan from memphis

    Posted on 2/10/2022

    What options do you have for 996 Carreras with a factory Bose System?

    Commenter image

    Jon Paul from Crutchfield

    on 2/11/2022

    Allan, When you enter your vehicle's info into our Outfit My Car tool, you'll see which stereos fit your car, plus the correct harness. If you have any questions, our advisors are available via phone or chat.
  • Greg from Truckee, CA

    Posted on 8/13/2021

    Thanks for the writeup, Jon. I just took apart my 2004 911 C4S. It had a tweeter and mid in the dash, a woofer in the door, and a tweeter and a mid in the rear panel. All six of the non-tweeters were labeled with "4 [Ohm]" on the back. I'm replacing everything including the amp, head unit and speakers. Would you recommend a woofer replacement for the door? The screw holes are 5-5/8" diagonal apart, the depth of the speaker (and the plastic box) is from 2-5/8" to 2-3/4", and the radius of the inner hole for the magnet is 4-1/4". Do you know of any speakers that'd fit there without resorting to the strap or cutting the stock plastic box? Thanks!

    Commenter image

    Jon Paul from Crutchfield

    on 8/16/2021

    Greg, Thanks for the kind words. With questions like yours, though, it's always better to have a conversation with a real live human. Give us a call and talk to one of our advisors. We can help you choose the right gear and give you the right advice on how to install it.
  • PATRICK CURRIE from MADISON

    Posted on 7/5/2020

    I have a single - DIN Alpine on order and will be replacing the existing Becker CDR-220. I would like to know two things in preparation for the install: a) what is the multiple CD holder in the initial picture above called? and b) how do I remove it and get my self some much-needed storage space in the dash?

    Commenter image

    Jon Paul from Crutchfield

    on 7/6/2020

    Patrick, That's worth a conversation. If you bought your gear from Crutchfield, you can call Tech Support for free help troubleshooting your system. If you purchased your equipment elsewhere, you can still get expert Crutchfield Tech Support - 90 days-worth for only $30. Check out our tech support page for details.
  • matt from Phoenix

    Posted on 8/30/2019

    I have a 996 (2002) and the stereo is now making high volume popping or crackling noises generally when hitting small bumps in the road. These noised come through at high volume even when the volume is low. Was wondering if needed to replace the head unit etc. and options?

    Commenter image

    Jon Paul from Crutchfield

    on 9/2/2019

    Matt, Maybe but not necessarily. With questions like that, it's always better to have a conversation with a real live human. Give us a call and talk to one of our advisors. We can help you choose the right gear and give you the right advice on how to install it.
  • Rickey from Colleyville

    Posted on 6/6/2019

    My 996 (2003) has the factory Becker cdr23 stereo with the Bose amp and speakers. Been trying to find a way to merely replace the head unit for now but it appears this is almost impossible as it is Fiber. Have found a couple wiring adapters kits that will connect thru the Fiber but these kits are near 600.00. I'm not sure what else can be done.

  • John Stumpff from Bessemer, AL

    Posted on 5/29/2019

    What options do you have for 996 Carreras with a factory Bose System? My Bose amp evidently has died. The head unit is fully functional but, no sound any more. I have changed the fuses - no joy there. Thanks!

    Commenter image

    Jon Paul from Crutchfield

    on 5/30/2019

    John, We have some ideas about that. I've sent your question to our sales team, and they'll be contacting you via email soon. For immediate help, you can contact them via phone or chat.
  • Dale Moses from Stokesdale, NC

    Posted on 4/26/2019

    The Porsche 996 10 speaker system uses two speakers at the dash corners and rear side panel locations. The separate tweeters are 30 mm diameter.

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