Head unit replacement

[TomTom]

So following up on my previous thread: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=23417

I've decided to go all out on a 2 dim all in one head unit (sat nav included). So I'm after some suggestions at a reasonable price ($1K-$1.7K), been looking at some Pioneer & Kenwood units at the moment. Obviously I want to keep the wheel controls, I'm not sure how these are wired...

http://www.alpine.com.au/showProduct.php?pid=214
http://www.pioneer.com.au/au/products/25/page.html
http://au.kenwood.com/Car_Entertainment ... n_Systems/

Ryda seems to have decent prices : http://www.ryda.com.au/Car-DVD-TV-Audio ... e-s/18.htm

Should probably try and source a facia to fit as well. Suggestions plz,

[Kody.B]

I'm very happy with my Pioneer but it was at a much lower price point and only has satnav through the appmode.
I'd recommend Pioneer or Alpine though, as I was recommended both by people on here.

Allow $350-$450 for a facia kit ($350 s/h) and as you have the Mac system, you'll need to wire instead of using an Aerpro harness

[garbo41610]

Don't discount blaupunkt. They have hit the market back hard with some pretty decent alternatives. However, alpine is a pretty bullet proof option.

[TomTom]

I'm very happy with my Pioneer but it was at a much lower price point and only has satnav through the appmode.
I'd recommend Pioneer or Alpine though, as I was recommended both by people on here.

Allow $350-$450 for a facia kit ($350 s/h) and as you have the Mac system, you'll need to wire instead of using an Aerpro harness

I've certainly heard great from Alpine. I've had a good experience with the higher end of Pioneer and Kenwood with my previous system. Didn't expect the facia to cost that much, where did you get yours?

I'm assuming the headunits that appear to be double din are all the same dimensions. The last thing I want to do is spend this much on a head unit that doesn't fit the new facia.

Those appmode head units just mirror the phone screen correct? Why don't the Aerpro harness' work?

[TomTom]

A mobile digital tv receiver, YES PLEASE!
http://www.alpine.com.au/showItem.php?item_id=61

[Idug]

How about a Clarion NX702a.., recently had one installed here in NZ and pleased with it so far.., still going through the getting familiar with it stage.
Got the headunit here in NZ for $1600NZ, from Wavetech, not sure what it would cost in Oz..., another one worth considering?...

[Kody.B]

I'm very happy with my Pioneer but it was at a much lower price point and only has satnav through the appmode.
I'd recommend Pioneer or Alpine though, as I was recommended both by people on here.

Allow $350-$450 for a facia kit ($350 s/h) and as you have the Mac system, you'll need to wire instead of using an Aerpro harness

I've certainly heard great from Alpine. I've had a good experience with the higher end of Pioneer and Kenwood with my previous system. Didn't expect the facia to cost that much, where did you get yours?

I'm assuming the headunits that appear to be double din are all the same dimensions. The last thing I want to do is spend this much on a head unit that doesn't fit the new facia.

Those appmode head units just mirror the phone screen correct? Why don't the Aerpro harness' work?

I got my facia kit through a forum member, they come up for sale sometimes. The reason it is so expensive is it replaces the climate control unit as the HU and Climate Control are one peace.

I'm not sure about the dimensions, but a lot of guys are running different HU's through the facia kit. My Pioneer HU is 6.5" and there is another which is 7". I've seen both in the facia kit.

The appmode mirrors the screen, but everything is controlled through the headunit. I plug my phone in, and control everything through the HU like a proper satellite navigation system.

I am not sure why the Aerpro harnesses don't work to be honest, it was just something that I came across when researching mine. Perhaps, with the Mac being a "premium" audio system and not a factory system per se, there may not be an Aerpro harness to suit it.

[mihai]

The aerpro harness' do work for the McIntosh headunits, however there will be no speaker output if not used with an amp.

This is because the subaru plug is the same, however it does not have the speaker wires going from the back of the headunit. So, you will wire up all the wires from the aerpro harness to the headunit harness, everything will seem in order, but the headunit will only receive power and provide power to the antenna.

[TomTom]

The aerpro harness' do work for the McIntosh headunits, however there will be no speaker output if not used with an amp.

This is because the subaru plug is the same, however it does not have the speaker wires going from the back of the headunit. So, you will wire up all the wires from the aerpro harness to the headunit harness, everything will seem in order, but the headunit will only receive power and provide power to the antenna.

So would I run into an issue with just replacing the stock head unit with something a bit more beefy like a Alpine or Pioneer nav/head unit? Or would direct wiring and soldering be fine?

I'm not sure what the setup is like in the GT's I know they're running a fair few speakers + sub, is there a factory amp. I've read that some head units run minified amp's within the head units. I don't have my car at the moment so can't check my manual on the setup. I obviously don't want to lose any power.

[mihai]

If you just change the headunit and leave everything else as is you will have no sound output.

The McIntosh equipped Liberty's have a factory amp under the passenger seat. This connects to the stock headunit via a proprietary cable, not your standard RCA's.

You essentially have 2 options.

Option 1: Install said beefy headunit. Re-wire front left + right and rear left + right speakers to headunit. Disconnect sub and centre speaker. Although there are 4 speakers in each front door, there is only 1 pair of wires feeding them from inside the cabin. This 1 pair then splits off to each speaker are capacitors handle the frequency filtering. One of the other members did this option and he said that wiring it like this and leaving the sub and centre disconnected sounded better than the system as a whole with the stock headunit.

Option 2: Install said beefy headunit. Replace factory amp with aftermarket 5ch amp. Alpine PDX5 is a good replacement as it can handle all the channels and fits perfectly under the passenger seat.

Both options are good, option 1 is cheaper as you don't require an amp.

[rooby]

If you just change the headunit and leave everything else as is you will have no sound output.

The McIntosh equipped Liberty's have a factory amp under the passenger seat. This connects to the stock headunit via a proprietary cable, not your standard RCA's.

You essentially have 2 options.

Option 1: Install said beefy headunit. Re-wire front left + right and rear left + right speakers to headunit. Disconnect sub and centre speaker. Although there are 4 speakers in each front door, there is only 1 pair of wires feeding them from inside the cabin. This 1 pair then splits off to each speaker are capacitors handle the frequency filtering. One of the other members did this option and he said that wiring it like this and leaving the sub and centre disconnected sounded better than the system as a whole with the stock headunit.

Option 2: Install said beefy headunit. Replace factory amp with aftermarket 5ch amp. Alpine PDX5 is a good replacement as it can handle all the channels and fits perfectly under the passenger seat.

Both options are good, option 1 is cheaper as you don't require an amp.

If it was me I would save a bit more money and do option 2.
Although I think the pdx5 has been replaced with the pdx v9.

[TomTom]

If you just change the headunit and leave everything else as is you will have no sound output.

The McIntosh equipped Liberty's have a factory amp under the passenger seat. This connects to the stock headunit via a proprietary cable, not your standard RCA's.

You essentially have 2 options.

Option 1: Install said beefy headunit. Re-wire front left + right and rear left + right speakers to headunit. Disconnect sub and centre speaker. Although there are 4 speakers in each front door, there is only 1 pair of wires feeding them from inside the cabin. This 1 pair then splits off to each speaker are capacitors handle the frequency filtering. One of the other members did this option and he said that wiring it like this and leaving the sub and centre disconnected sounded better than the system as a whole with the stock headunit.

Option 2: Install said beefy headunit. Replace factory amp with aftermarket 5ch amp. Alpine PDX5 is a good replacement as it can handle all the channels and fits perfectly under the passenger seat.

Both options are good, option 1 is cheaper as you don't require an amp.

If it was me I would save a bit more money and do option 2.
Although I think the pdx5 has been replaced with the pdx v9.

Yeah I'm thinking option 2, I'll have to take a good look at everything and figure out a plan of attack. Appreciate the info Michael.

[TomTom]

Alright, so next pay day I intend to buy and install. So time to plan!

Facia: http://www.avojdm.com/product_info.php? ... cts_id=105
Headunit - Alpine - INE-W947Ei http://www.alpine.com.au/showItem.php?item_id=320 - There are some great features on this one, but they're so damn overpriced!
Amplifier: ALPINE PDX-V9

$528.25 - http://www.ryda.com.au/Alpine-PDX-V9-16 ... /pdxv9.htm
$1,799.00 - http://www.carboncarsystems.com.au/alpi ... this-.html
http://www.streetsoundvision.com.au/specials/ at $1,899

I'll check out JBHifi, any place that i can buy the amp and headunit together would probably give a decent discount.

[DownUnder]

Alright, so next pay day I intend to buy and install. So time to plan!

Facia: http://www.avojdm.com/product_info.php? ... cts_id=105
Headunit - Alpine - INE-W947Ei http://www.alpine.com.au/showItem.php?item_id=320 - There are some great features on this one, but they're so damn overpriced!
Amplifier: ALPINE PDX-V9

$528.25 - http://www.ryda.com.au/Alpine-PDX-V9-16 ... /pdxv9.htm
$1,799.00 - http://www.carboncarsystems.com.au/alpi ... this-.html
http://www.streetsoundvision.com.au/specials/ at $1,899

I'll check out JBHifi, any place that i can buy the amp and headunit together would probably give a decent discount.

Don't forget to check http://www.elite-electronics.com.au/ rock bottom prices. Stuff is from the US though so no GPS headunits. Your other stuff might be cheap through there though.

[TomTom]

Purchased a INE-S920Ei on clearance via JBHifi for $1400, cheapest I could find and last one in stock. Time to get the Fascia and amp sourcing the cheapest and nicest looking fascia.