Thread: Looking at a new head unit, speakers and fancy stuff. Ideas or suggestions?

So I've got a decent enough aftermarket head unit, it's just not as fancy as I want.



The rear 6x9s have already been switched out with Pioneer TS-6969s, because free, and the doors are still completely stock.

No fancy amps or extra speakers anywhere, so I have a pretty clean slate to start with.



I'm wanting a double DIN touchscreen, with the same features mine has now, but with Bluetooth and maybe some other stuff.

Basically, my current one has: DVD player, Navigation system video feed in (HDMI), AUX in on the front, AUX video in (yellow, red, white RCA plugs), reverse video in (yellow RCA), USB in, and mine has a built in 40w 4 channel amp, one channel to each speaker, along with sub-out and line out left/right.

The reason I want a different one, this one's screen extends and flips up, hiding my DIC and center vent. Not user friendly during hot or cold months.



I'm going to get new door speakers and subs, with corresponding amps. Maybe add some extra stuff as well, not sure yet.

Any ideas, cool ways of mounting stuff, product/equipment suggestions, etc.

Might just go all out with this upgrade, if I can find some nicer interior pieces. Lol
Any suggestions are welcome, including sarcastic ones.

Looking at your pic.. Have you given any thought to inverting your dash kit so the radio is below the storage pocket. Thus making your radio lower in the dash and then not blocking the vents or the DIC.

I've tried that, the dash kit only fits one way, with the same mounting points as the original radio. I could have put the HVAC controls above the radio, but it hit the shifter when opening.

I think I found the head unit I want, 7 inch touch screen with everything I already have, and Bluetooth.

Boss audio isn't too bad of a brand, is it?

Double din ftw



I would go with a well known brand like pioneer,alpine,kenwood etc you tend to get what you pay for when you go the Jensen/boss etc route

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True, this Boss one is only 129 bucks. Lol

I've got a few ideas already for some subtle but still big changes. LEDs in some interesting places, some fancy switches here and there...

And of course upgrading the wiring and charging system, CS144 FTW!

There's probably a handful of the pioneer avh series of double din for around the price or maybe more that would be way better then a Boss brand


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Yup, I'm definitely going Pioneer. Lol

On another note, the Audiovox had unit i have now has started to reset the time itself. I'll set it correctly, and within minutes it's exactly one hour behind.

It's not a terribly big deal, but it is annoying.

Do it, I had 3 of them in the GP over the years couldn't have been any happier with them.


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Get you some Polk Audio components for the front doors and 6x9's for the rear deck, assuming that is the correct size for the 04+ cars. They should be a 100 watts RMS per speaker so get a 4 channel 400 watt RMS amp to feed them. I like my single 12" sub but sometimes it leaves me wanting more. Get a good sub, box and amp combo and you should be good. I am running Kenwood for my sub and amp... Not the best but not garbage either.

The pioneers i've got in the back aren't bad, if I do upgrade the rears it will be with some high end stuff.

I'm going no less than 2x12", I also have a 400w Peavey Black Widow from my old guitar amp... That's gonna be loud enough as it is. lol

mhmmmmm stock gps lol That's what im running. Alpine amp on highs with Stillwater Mids n tweets up front. Bonus points if anyone knows what Stillwater is. Sundown audio saz-2500/2 sa 15's. xs power d3400 for starting batt and xp3000 in rear all with a dual run of 0 awg from front to rear. little vid. sucks but gives a idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATQ9j_C1zmQ

I can't get it to load on the 1KBs internet I have out here, but it reads like a nice setup, upgraded everythings, dual 15's and plenty of amps...

I don't want to say I'll go that big with the subs, because I've got one 12" speaker already, once the plan is finalized it will go in it's own custom enclosure with two sister subs on either side. And no, it's not a subwoofer.

I'm always a fan of balanced systems... If all I can hear is the bass, it's just a subwoofer in the car as far as I'm concerned. I want full, well rounded sound, and I've had this Black Widow sitting in a box for far too long. lol

Just realized this stereo does not have a "shuffle" function for usb drives... Another reason to get a new one. Lol

I've been eyeballing the Pioneer AVH-X5700BHS... Seems to have everything I am looking for in a head unit for a decent price. Check it out... For what it is worth, I have a Pioneer 4 channel amp running my components and 6x9s, 100 watts RMS per channel and the speakers are 100 watts RMS each. My Kenwood sub is 300 watts RMS and the Kenwood amp feeding it is 300 watts RMS on a 4 ohm load. It is capable of 500 watts RMS on a 2 ohm load should I want more. This will not win a stereo competition at all, but it kicks ass for what it is and I have plenty of trunk space left.

I've been looking at the Kenwood DDX773BH, almost exactly the same, if not a little more extra bells and whistles...and a very similar price.

I don't think it has MirrorLink on it like the Pioneer does. I am liking that feature so that I can have navigation for free instead of spending more money on a stereo for it. I am thinking Torque may be able to be displayed on the head unit also. In other words, the phone can stay out of sight. Otherwise, that Kenwood is decent. I have been looking for the last 6 weeks, even at the cheap eBay China junk.

See, that's why I posted this thread. Lol I would have never figured that out.

Well the Pioneer 5800 model just came out. 22w RMS, officially equaling the Kenwood. Exact same price for both on Amazon too. Lol

Now to decide on what speakers to go with. I kinda want to put some in the rear doors as well... And figure out the diffused LED rings for every single speaker.

I'm thinking leave the rear 6x9's under the stock covers and put the LEDs under the covers as well, and the front door speakers I want to do a different style of "grille" to show off a little bit of the new hardware, and try to find a LED ring to either go inside the grille pointed at the speaker, or around the outside in a diffused ring, make it subtle.

It just sucks that 04+ doesn't have as many lights on the inside as the previous gen. Less to customize the colors with.

Lights I can't say much on... I swapped all of the interior lights to LEDs, so nothing fancy there.

Speaker recommendations... The best I can say is go to a store and just listen to them. I have used Polk Audio, Kenwood, Pioneer, Kicker and Infinity over the years in various cars. I like Polk Audio and Kenwood for interior speakers. I have never bought an expensive set of Focals or any other $800 set and I most likely never will, so I can't give an opinion on "high end speakers". You can snag Polk components and 6x9s on eBay for $100 each. Add another $100 if you want to do something with the rear doors.

Back to head units... There are so many choices out there. I guess you need to decide what you want out of it and how much phone integration you want. Do you want iPod control, satellite, HD radio, back up cam, rear DVD? Navigation units are overpriced in my opinion. I guess the sky is the limit as is your pockets. The only issue I have with Pioneer is that you have to buy one from an authorized reseller or they will not honor their warranty. That is on their fine print on their website. Don't know if Kenwood or others do the same thing.

My problem is I'm liking both the Kenwood and the Pioneer... And I can't decide which. Lol