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So for the past year of owning my C5, I have been listening to my old CD's from my high school and college years. While it's fun, the nostalgia is beginning to wear off and I would like to listen to music on my phone. I'm looking at replacing the existing stereo with a double din unit and also replace the center console trim to fit. It seems like Crutchfield has all of the components that I need to perform the swap. I may also swap out the speakers in the future, but I will probably not do a full custom build with huge subwoofers and amplifiers and such.
My question is, what head units have you guys been running and what do you think about them? I'll spend $500.00 to $600.00 if I have to, but if there is a head unit that is in the $200.00 to $400.00 range that people have had some good experience with, I would be open to looking in that direction as well. (After all....the stock speakers in this car are only going to do so well).
Another route would be to keep your existing console cover and install one of the new single din floating units. Or you could go my route and keep the cover and install a Pioneer SPH-10BT and use the included clamp to hold your phone and have it provide Nav, music, and radio control. Nothing worse than trying to figure out where to put your phone. It’s cost $150 plus associated cables. Maybe do you speaker upgrade sooner too.
There's new DD size units that don't have CD/DVD players and have a depth under 3".
If you use your phone for NAV for $300.00 you can get AM/FM Sirrius, Bluetooth and USB
I just put in this Alpine.
Got tired of the OS and how bright my Kenwood was at night
Last edited by StrangelovesM6Vert; Oct 23, 2020 at 05:54 AM.
I highly recommend the alpine iLC-W650. It doesn't take CD's, but if that's not an issue, it's in my mind hands down the best DD unit out there. It's not terribly expensive -- only $330 or so on amazon. https://www.crutchfield.com/p_700650...p-Package.html
This thing is really ingenious.. it's TINY and super light.. the screen is the same size as my old DD, but the depth is insanely shallow.... You can also buy a 450watt (50 watts rms per channel) amp that literally attaches to the back of the unit.. so, no wires to run (I'm using the amp to drive the my audiofrog speakers in front and hertz speakers in the back... it's not earth shattering, but a VERY noticeable improvement over the head unit's stock 25 watts per channel, which itself wasn't that bad to begin with. ). has android auto and apple car play... if you're not familiar with those, once you plug your phone in, a car-friendly screen from your phone is shown on the head unit, and you get a good portion of your apps -- wayz, google maps, pandora, spotify, amazon music. OEMs aren't even bothering updating nav these days, just incorporating android auto and carplay.
here's a size match up, old vs. new: Old pioneer head unit on the left, Alpine on the right Same.. New alpine unit on the right-- depth is just about 2.5" Installed. Alpine unit with 450watt proprietary amp strapped to the back.
[QUOTE=JMG2;1602387378]I highly recommend the alpine iLC-W650. It doesn't take CD's, but if that's not an issue, it's in my mind hands down the best DD unit out there. It's not terribly expensive -- only $330 or so on amazon. https://www.crutchfield.com/p_700650...p-Package.html
This thing is really ingenious.. it's TINY and super light.. the screen is the same size as my old DD, but the depth is insanely shallow.... You can also buy a 450watt (50 watts rms per channel) amp that literally attaches to the back of the unit.. so, no wires to run (I'm using the amp to drive the my audiofrog speakers in front and hertz speakers in the back... it's not earth shattering, but a VERY noticeable improvement over the head unit's stock 25 watts per channel, which itself wasn't that bad to begin with. ). has android auto and apple car play... if you're not familiar with those, once you plug your phone in, a car-friendly screen from your phone is shown on the head unit, and you get a good portion of your apps -- wayz, google maps, pandora, spotify, amazon music. OEMs aren't even bothering updating nav these days, just incorporating android auto and carplay.
here's a size match up, old vs. new: Old pioneer head unit on the left, Alpine on the right Same.. New alpine unit on the right-- depth is just about 2.5" Installed. Alpine unit with 450watt proprietary amp strapped to the back. [/QUOTE
Just needs some right angle brackets to mount it.
Last edited by StrangelovesM6Vert; Oct 23, 2020 at 02:31 PM.
Lots of good options depending on what you want and how much you have to spend.
I'll just throw this out there, if you can solder for 5 bucks you can add a 3.5mm aux jack to your existing head unit and connect your phone thru that. I did this mod and it works great.
Last edited by Old School; Oct 23, 2020 at 12:41 PM.
Lots of good options depending on what you want and how much you have to spend.
I'll just throw this out there, if you can solder for 5 bucks you can add a 3.5mm aux jack to your existing head unit and connect your phone thru that. I did this mod and it works great.
I did that before made it clip in
Last edited by StrangelovesM6Vert; Oct 23, 2020 at 12:44 PM.
So for the past year of owning my C5, I have been listening to my old CD's from my high school and college years. While it's fun, the nostalgia is beginning to wear off and I would like to listen to music on my phone. I'm looking at replacing the existing stereo with a double din unit and also replace the center console trim to fit. It seems like Crutchfield has all of the components that I need to perform the swap. I may also swap out the speakers in the future, but I will probably not do a full custom build with huge subwoofers and amplifiers and such.
My question is, what head units have you guys been running and what do you think about them? I'll spend $500.00 to $600.00 if I have to, but if there is a head unit that is in the $200.00 to $400.00 range that people have had some good experience with, I would be open to looking in that direction as well. (After all....the stock speakers in this car are only going to do so well).
Let me know what you guys think! Thanks.
So glad you asked that question! Will be reading each response with much interest. Might sound silly, but that’s been probably my biggest concern about getting another C5. We loved the car, but my wife and I love to cruise and listen to our library of old tunes on an iPod or our iPhones.
Hated having to carry so many CD’s back in our C5 days. But we were told back then that the audio system couldn’t be converted. Just an aux in jack would have been nice, but that didn’t arrive on the C6 until 2008. Really addicted now to the Bluetooth feature on our other vehicles. Sadly it took GM until the C7 to make that feature available for music.
So glad you asked that question! Will be reading each response with much interest. Might sound silly, but that’s been probably my biggest concern about getting another C5. We loved the car, but my wife and I love to cruise and listen to our library of old tunes on an iPod or our iPhones.
Hated having to carry so many CD’s back in our C5 days. But we were told back then that the audio system couldn’t be converted. Just an aux in jack would have been nice, but that didn’t arrive on the C6 until 2008. Really addicted now to the Bluetooth feature on our other vehicles. Sadly it took GM until the C7 to make that feature available for music.
The good news is adding in a decent head unit is not a big deal. Biggest deal is taking the center console bezel out, but that's just about being careful and slow.
Beyond that, there's zero reason you can't replace the crappy head unit. it's not tied into other systems, and for now you can even keep the stock speakers, just make sure to get the oem-pac1 interface.
if you REALLY want to go super easy, back in the day PAC (pacific audio components) also made a simple adapter that plugged into the same plug that GM connected the 12-cd changer to ... it terminates under the passenger's feet in the utility well. Super easy, plug and play, gave you an aux input to the stock headunit.
Though.. I'm all for replacing the stock unit.. it's really kinda.. meh.
Another stupid cheap and easy alternative is a Bluetooth receiver/ radio transmitter. It is fairly small and plugs into either of your 12V plugs. It pairs with your phone, and then broadcasts the audio on an open radio frequency that you can pick up on your stock head unit. They're around $10.00 on amazon.
Another stupid cheap and easy alternative is a Bluetooth receiver/ radio transmitter. It is fairly small and plugs into either of your 12V plugs. It pairs with your phone, and then broadcasts the audio on an open radio frequency that you can pick up on your stock head unit. They're around $10.00 on amazon.
I remember using something that sounds like that quite some time ago. Seems like it only worked on a few select frequencies, and in our area, those were all in use by broadcasting stations. If I recall, I experienced a lot of interference. Have they improved as of late? Sure would be an easy solution, but now it seems almost impossible to find an open frequency. BTW, not looking for any super high end sound quality. Just something pretty basic for us easy listeners 😂
Bought a Kenwood Excelon DMX706S. While it has good power and functions great, the dimming it terrible. Also, when used with the Metra Axxess xsvi-2004, it does the turn off boot up when using RAP.
So for the past year of owning my C5, I have been listening to my old CD's from my high school and college years. While it's fun, the nostalgia is beginning to wear off and I would like to listen to music on my phone. I'm looking at replacing the existing stereo with a double din unit and also replace the center console trim to fit. It seems like Crutchfield has all of the components that I need to perform the swap. I may also swap out the speakers in the future, but I will probably not do a full custom build with huge subwoofers and amplifiers and such.
My question is, what head units have you guys been running and what do you think about them? I'll spend $500.00 to $600.00 if I have to, but if there is a head unit that is in the $200.00 to $400.00 range that people have had some good experience with, I would be open to looking in that direction as well. (After all....the stock speakers in this car are only going to do so well).
Let me know what you guys think! Thanks.
Don't buy the Metra bezel from Crutchfield, it's much cheaper online.
Don't buy the Metra bezel from Crutchfield, it's much cheaper online.
unless there's a stock issue at amazon, don't by anything at crutchfield.. they're ok to get decent advice and to get you going, but their prices are higher than just about anywhere.
I highly recommend the alpine iLC-W650. It doesn't take CD's, but if that's not an issue, it's in my mind hands down the best DD unit out there. It's not terribly expensive.
I'm very intrigued by this unit also. If I don't go with that 1.5 DIN android that fits the stock bezel this might be my go to option. Have you played any MP4's or any video files with it yet? That's one of the things I'd really like to have is the option to play video files while driving so the wife can watch movies or whatever while on a long trips.
unless there's a stock issue at amazon, don't by anything at crutchfield.. they're ok to get decent advice and to get you going, but their prices are higher than just about anywhere.
The extra money you spend is to keep those people at Crutchfield employed. If you spend your money elsewhere, we lose those nice folks who answer the phone to talk to you about your project and have the knowledge of the product line.
Last edited by Will_M1911; Oct 26, 2020 at 04:02 PM.
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Stereo Head Unit Recommendations
