I'm still researching the right upgrade to my 1998 E320 audio system. I'm leaning towards replacing all the speakers first - starting with the trunk shelf pair, then the doors- then the electronics (amplifiers).

If I replace (or install) new amplifiers later, I would like to get a line level feed from the head unit, not pick off the existing speaker lines. Can this be done in car systems (in home systems this is standard, of course.)

The radio S/N is T1099522. I don't have a model number. Is this a Becker, Alpine or other?

This may seem a strange question but is there actually a separate amplifier in this car or is it just part of the head electronics? Mattk said earlier that any amplifier might be Bose (I hope not!) IIRC, someone here also said that a Bose amplifier will not drive replacement speakers. Why not? Is it contoured (bass boosted) so much that any decent speaker would be over driven at LF?

The 6 CD player in the trunk may well be an Alpine (but it stays anyway.)

All answers and comments gratefully received.

Cheers,

Roger