This is the last piece in the whole setup that I haven't changed. I've got 4 excelon xrp-50 in the cabin powered by JL 300/4, and 2JL 10W-0 subs powered by PPI PC1400. Even with all this, the sound is not nearly as close as where it needs to be.

I am leaning towards Sony or Kenwood Excelon (don't remember the model # at the moment) w/Mp3 player. I can have one of the local installers built a kit for it, since there's none available in the market as of now. However, in the new area in addition to the DIN size radio, I'd like to built in 2-3 gauges (most likely boost/vacuum, oil pressure, etc.).

Has NE1 done this, and if so any pics out there? Would it be a problem to route the wires for the gauges to the appropriate channels in the engine? Any other input would be greatly appreciated. TIA!

where you want it, changing the headuit won't help much. Your problem is probably speaker placement. Upgrade your front speakers to a quality set of components and place them in kick panels. That will be a very noticable upgrade.

I wasn't very clear about this. I meant the wires from the vdo gauges (boost, oil pressure gauge etc.) that I am thinking to implement along with the din size hu.

You have a valid point. Although, I've heard that if the signal from the HU is not clean/clear then the backend suffers. It might be just the case with the OEM bose hu.

It pi**es me off, because I've put almost 1.5K in the sound itself in the audi so far and it it's still bul***t. In my previous college car (VW), I had $35 hu, $50 eq, $60 speakers from radioshack and an old kenwood amp with 2 10'' kickers. That thing sounded 10 times better that what I've got now. Go figure ...

It's 2001.5 A4 with Bose unit. Let me finalize things and I'll let you know if I'll be parting from it or not.