Anyone done Head-Unit-Less System?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 12,408
Likes: 1,750
From: DFW TX
Ideally there'd be a super-clean 'dock', drop in the phone & go. I've been thinking that's the future of car stereo for a long time, but it's yet to come to fruition.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 12,408
Likes: 1,750
From: DFW TX
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 3,929
From: Philadelphia PA (Birthplace of the USA, UNESCO World Heritage City)
I was thinking of doing something like this but slightly different:
- Keep stock head unit but add aux adapter
- Slide stock head unit further back in cavity in order to place a small Android tablet in front of it.
- Use plastic panel sheet (like what you have) as a nice/flush surround for the small tablet. The aux and USB power hookups to the small tablet will be hidden behind the plastic panel.
- Extend the length of the power/volume **** on the stock head unit since it's now farther back, and will stick out through the plastic panel like in your photo.
Is that doable with the amount of space that's in the cavity? Not sure how much farther back the stock head unit can slide in the cavity. Maybe you're not sure since you never had a stock head unit in the first place, but maybe others can answer on that part of the question.
I'm looking to do this because by the time you buy a new double-din console, new double din head unit, and either an adapter for the stock/amp speakers (which I'm reading requires a lot of labor to get tuned right) or replacing the speakers, cost will be way too much.
- Keep stock head unit but add aux adapter
- Slide stock head unit further back in cavity in order to place a small Android tablet in front of it.
- Use plastic panel sheet (like what you have) as a nice/flush surround for the small tablet. The aux and USB power hookups to the small tablet will be hidden behind the plastic panel.
- Extend the length of the power/volume **** on the stock head unit since it's now farther back, and will stick out through the plastic panel like in your photo.
Is that doable with the amount of space that's in the cavity? Not sure how much farther back the stock head unit can slide in the cavity. Maybe you're not sure since you never had a stock head unit in the first place, but maybe others can answer on that part of the question.
I'm looking to do this because by the time you buy a new double-din console, new double din head unit, and either an adapter for the stock/amp speakers (which I'm reading requires a lot of labor to get tuned right) or replacing the speakers, cost will be way too much.
Last edited by ArmchairArchitect; Jan 24, 2020 at 11:55 AM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 12,408
Likes: 1,750
From: DFW TX
I was thinking of doing something like this but slightly different:
- Keep stock head unit but add aux adapter
- Slide stock head unit further back in cavity in order to place a small Android tablet in front of it.
- Use plastic panel sheet (like what you have) as a nice/flush surround for the small tablet. The aux and USB power hookups to the small tablet will be hidden behind the plastic panel.
- Extend the length of the power/volume **** on the stock head unit since it's now farther back, and will stick out through the plastic panel like in your photo.
Is that doable with the amount of space that's in the cavity? Not sure how much farther back the stock head unit can slide in the cavity. Maybe you're not sure since you never had a stock head unit in the first place, but maybe others can answer on that part of the question.
I'm looking to do this because by the time you buy a new double-din console, new double din head unit, and either an adapter for the stock/amp speakers (which I'm reading requires a lot of labor to get tuned right) or replacing the speakers, cost will be way too much.
- Keep stock head unit but add aux adapter
- Slide stock head unit further back in cavity in order to place a small Android tablet in front of it.
- Use plastic panel sheet (like what you have) as a nice/flush surround for the small tablet. The aux and USB power hookups to the small tablet will be hidden behind the plastic panel.
- Extend the length of the power/volume **** on the stock head unit since it's now farther back, and will stick out through the plastic panel like in your photo.
Is that doable with the amount of space that's in the cavity? Not sure how much farther back the stock head unit can slide in the cavity. Maybe you're not sure since you never had a stock head unit in the first place, but maybe others can answer on that part of the question.
I'm looking to do this because by the time you buy a new double-din console, new double din head unit, and either an adapter for the stock/amp speakers (which I'm reading requires a lot of labor to get tuned right) or replacing the speakers, cost will be way too much.
You might be able to mount the plastic panel in front of (instead of behind) the stock console. Trimmed up nicely it should still look acceptable. That would buy 1/2-3/4" or so.
good luck!
Racer
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 437
Likes: 182
From: Renton WA
I asked this Q a while back, got minimum response. Decided to do it myself!
No head unit at all?
Use the phone as the HU
Blank the stock space, install a nice phone mount and a Bluetooth adapter.
Install quality amps/speakers (already have nice Alpine units in there)
https://imgur.com/a/BTNFd#LjOEn1W
Anyone tried?
No head unit at all?
Use the phone as the HU
Blank the stock space, install a nice phone mount and a Bluetooth adapter.
Install quality amps/speakers (already have nice Alpine units in there)
https://imgur.com/a/BTNFd#LjOEn1W
Anyone tried?
Love your set up!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 12,408
Likes: 1,750
From: DFW TX
I had on old 1990 Lincoln Town Car that was not worth doing a whole stereo on. I used an iPod directly connected to an amp with wires to all the speakers. It was loud and awesome! I am not the best handy person in the world so I've been contemplating what to do on my C5 and I think a "headless" unit would be great. I've seen it work, it just takes planning.
Love your set up!
Love your set up!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 3,917
From: Cincinnati, OH
Very cool project for the price. I didn't know there was a "radio app" for phones lol. I usually have Pandora on or I would get a Sirius XM subscription. I also don't use CD's anymore and anytime I am listening to music it's mostly background noise on a cruise or I find myself clicking through stations to FIND music to jam to (50% success rate and is annoying).
My only hangup would be the mounting method. Pandora on my Iphone does not "switch" to landscape, however Google Maps looks much better in landscape mode. Hmmmm
If I were to do this I would get the smallest 4 channel amp possible to power the 4 speakers to also aid in putting it in the small C5 cabin. I don't HATE the stock stereo so somewhat hard to justify doing all this speaker upgrade. I put more time and money into performance stuff for autocross etc. BUT, if the speakers popped, or HU broke this would be a viable option.
My only hangup would be the mounting method. Pandora on my Iphone does not "switch" to landscape, however Google Maps looks much better in landscape mode. Hmmmm
If I were to do this I would get the smallest 4 channel amp possible to power the 4 speakers to also aid in putting it in the small C5 cabin. I don't HATE the stock stereo so somewhat hard to justify doing all this speaker upgrade. I put more time and money into performance stuff for autocross etc. BUT, if the speakers popped, or HU broke this would be a viable option.
