Stereo head unit replace
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,161
Likes: 257
From: Virginia
Stereo head unit replace
If there is a section for audio I appologize but I didn't see that area. My cd player stopped playing cd's and I was thinking about putting in an aftermarket head unit. I have done alot of researching on here and it seems like alot of ppl are having sound quality issues after the swap. I can take my factory head unit to an audio place nearby and prob have it fixed, for a steep price im sure, but I wanted to get some feedback first. Who all has put in an aftermarket head unit and had BETTER sound quality than factory? I know the Bose system is picky and the speakers are made to go with the factory unit but Ive never seen head unit cause audio to be worse. Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
If correctly done it should be an upgrade, not a downgrade.
To replace just the head unit leaving the rest of the system in place you will need an adapter to provide the required interface. This is due to the way the factory system was designed.
The 2 most common adapters are:
1) Metra XSVI-2004
2) Pac Audio ROEM-VET1
Replacing the head unit should be just plug-and-play by using either one. Both have setup adjustments to customize sound/levels. After tweaking them to your liking, they shouldn't require further touching.
To replace just the head unit leaving the rest of the system in place you will need an adapter to provide the required interface. This is due to the way the factory system was designed.
The 2 most common adapters are:
1) Metra XSVI-2004
2) Pac Audio ROEM-VET1
Replacing the head unit should be just plug-and-play by using either one. Both have setup adjustments to customize sound/levels. After tweaking them to your liking, they shouldn't require further touching.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,161
Likes: 257
From: Virginia
If correctly done it should be an upgrade, not a downgrade.
To replace just the head unit leaving the rest of the system in place you will need an adapter to provide the required interface. This is due to the way the factory system was designed.
The 2 most common adapters are:
1) Metra XSVI-2004
2) Pac Audio ROEM-VET1
Replacing the head unit should be just plug-and-play by using either one. Both have setup adjustments to customize sound/levels. After tweaking them to your liking, they shouldn't require further touching.
To replace just the head unit leaving the rest of the system in place you will need an adapter to provide the required interface. This is due to the way the factory system was designed.
The 2 most common adapters are:
1) Metra XSVI-2004
2) Pac Audio ROEM-VET1
Replacing the head unit should be just plug-and-play by using either one. Both have setup adjustments to customize sound/levels. After tweaking them to your liking, they shouldn't require further touching.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,161
Likes: 257
From: Virginia
Thanks. Ive done alot of reading on here about it. Ive decided that if I end up doing it then I will go with PAC interface adapter. Other than the adapter all I need is the head unit and mounting bracket. The Pac seems to be the adapter that ppl have had more luck with.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 127
Likes: 8
From: Cream Ridge NJ
Double check, I believe when I bought my PAC for my 2000. A couple ads I saw showed 97-03 and 04 was different. Just hate to hear u have the wrong one after your dash is all apart. BTW Dennis at doubledmods is a really nice guy and loaded with tons a knowledge I bought my PAC before I knew of him. Check him out he has good prices and the right stuff and he supports the site.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,161
Likes: 257
From: Virginia
Double check, I believe when I bought my PAC for my 2000. A couple ads I saw showed 97-03 and 04 was different. Just hate to hear u have the wrong one after your dash is all apart. BTW Dennis at doubledmods is a really nice guy and loaded with tons a knowledge I bought my PAC before I knew of him. Check him out he has good prices and the right stuff and he supports the site.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
Both, PAC and METRA, work on 97-04.
The only thing is that using the PAC requires bringing switched power to the new head unit.
For the 97-03 models (and you have a 2003) in the passenger's foot well behind the toe kick panel and to the left of the BCM are three wires that are blunt cut and taped over:
1) Black is ground
2) Yellow is switched power via fuse #11
3) Orange is hot at all times via fuse #7
These wires are not present in the 04 C5, therefore power has to be provided from a different source.
The only thing is that using the PAC requires bringing switched power to the new head unit.
For the 97-03 models (and you have a 2003) in the passenger's foot well behind the toe kick panel and to the left of the BCM are three wires that are blunt cut and taped over:
1) Black is ground
2) Yellow is switched power via fuse #11
3) Orange is hot at all times via fuse #7
These wires are not present in the 04 C5, therefore power has to be provided from a different source.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,161
Likes: 257
From: Virginia
Both, PAC and METRA, work on 97-04.
The only thing is that using the PAC requires bringing switched power to the new head unit.
For the 97-03 models (and you have a 2003) in the passenger's foot well behind the toe kick panel and to the left of the BCM are three wires that are blunt cut and taped over:
1) Black is ground
2) Yellow is switched power via fuse #11
3) Orange is hot at all times via fuse #7
These wires are not present in the 04 C5, therefore power has to be provided from a different source.
The only thing is that using the PAC requires bringing switched power to the new head unit.
For the 97-03 models (and you have a 2003) in the passenger's foot well behind the toe kick panel and to the left of the BCM are three wires that are blunt cut and taped over:
1) Black is ground
2) Yellow is switched power via fuse #11
3) Orange is hot at all times via fuse #7
These wires are not present in the 04 C5, therefore power has to be provided from a different source.
Ok. So which wire do you tap into for power, yellow or orange? Or does it not matter which one?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
The Red wire from the new radio harness must be connected to a switched ignition source in the vehicle because the factory radio connector does not have a switched ignition source.
Therefore, you should connect it to the above mentioned Yellow wire in the footwell because it is the one that supplies switched power out of those 3 wires.
By the way, the Blue/White from the new radio harness needs to be connected to the BLUE on the Pac harness. If this is not done, the Bose amps for the door subwoofers will not turn on and the system will sound real bad.
Therefore, you should connect it to the above mentioned Yellow wire in the footwell because it is the one that supplies switched power out of those 3 wires.
By the way, the Blue/White from the new radio harness needs to be connected to the BLUE on the Pac harness. If this is not done, the Bose amps for the door subwoofers will not turn on and the system will sound real bad.
Last edited by GCG; Jan 30, 2016 at 09:57 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 127
Likes: 8
From: Cream Ridge NJ
Just a tip here, when iput my new radio in and amp and sub. When I hooked up my iPhone to listen to music, the subs in the door were over based. It sounded horible. For weeks I couldn't figure out the issue till one day at work I was thinking and wham it hit me. The bass boost was on in my music settings on my iPhone. I turned it off and it sounds great. BTW I connected my red wire from the PAC to the yellow. There is a great pic post from doubledmods on here of the whole install. I'm not too good at finding stuff on here, but I'll try.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 127
Likes: 8
From: Cream Ridge NJ
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,245
Likes: 25
From: Blue Ridge Georgia
I took all of the stock stereo and trashed it. New Kenwood head unit, Pioneer speakers in doors and rear and one of the new small powers subs from Kenwood. All new speaker wires and it sounds kick ***. Bluetooth for my phone, mounted the mic on top of the drivers A pillar and I have a 60 GB iPod in the console. That's a lot of music on the road.
Last edited by Paul 75 L82; Feb 3, 2016 at 08:34 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,161
Likes: 257
From: Virginia
I took all of the stock stereo and trashed it. New Kenwood head unit, Pioneer speakers in doors and rear and one of the new small powers subs from Kenwood. All new speaker wires and it sounds kick ***. Bluetooth for my phone, mounted the mic on top of the drivers A pillar and I have a 60 GB iPod in the console. That's a lot of music on the road.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,161
Likes: 257
From: Virginia
How do you like that Kenwood head unit? I had planned on ordering that exact one within a day or two.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,583
Likes: 5
From: Coast to Coast
I just installed it a couple of weeks ago and have only used the bluetooth and Pandora. The sound quality is very crisp and clear. I should have gone with better speakers. I can over power the speakers I installed.