Installing Pioneer AppRadio 3 and 8 channel Helix P-DSP

[stunt]

I have a '02 4.6is with DSP and no nav.

I just ordered the Janus-Design double bin bezel and mounting kit from Germany. After doing a lot of reading, this seems to be the best one out there. It sure wasn't cheap, so it better be!

Being that I have the DSP system, I have to replace the stock amps. I'm planning to get the Helix P-DSP which features 6 inputs (which will match up nicely with the 6 line level outputs on the AppRadio3), and 8 line level outputs.

Since the X5 has 11 speakers and the Helix only has 8 channels, I'm wondering what will be the best compromise as far as how to connect those 11 speakers to the 8 channels of the Helix.

I was thinking the following:

ch1/2 - front left/right door tweeter
ch3/4 - front left/right dash midrange
ch5/6 - front left/right door midbass
ch7 - rear left midrange and midbass (w/ passive xover)
ch8 - rear right midrange and midbass (w/ passive xover)

I'd then run the sub line level directly to the sub amp.

What do you guys think?

I figure a 6 channel amp plus a 3 channel amp would be the most cost effective way to get 9 amplified channels. Of course the 3 channel amp should have significantly more power on the sub channel.

Here's link to the Helix P-DSP:

Helix P-DSP Programmable 8-channel digital signal processor at Crutchfield.com


For now I was going to keep the stock speakers (including sub) and see how well they will sound. First speaker upgrade, if needed, will likely be to mod the oem sub box to fit a single 8" driver.

The phone I'm integrating with the AppRadio3 is a Motorola RAZR MAXX, btw.