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I have a 05 Z51 package and I'm looking to replace my factory stereo with a double din.
Wondering if anyone has replaced their factory stereo and what else would be required, assuming it's not just plug and play.
Looking at the Kenwood excelon series.
Hoping for some guidance here
Was told I'll need a Metra 95-3304 dask kit and also a antenna adapter.
You need 2 things to connect an after market head unit. 1: Wiring interface. Most popular one for C6 is the Pac Audio RP5-GM11. This works with all C6 Corvettes. Follow the same directions for Bose and non-Bose systems. Solder or use crimp style connectors to connect the Pac wiring harness to your new head unit. 2: Face plate bezel. Metra 95-3304 is the correct model for C6
Optional equipment. 1: Cameras. I bought a $17 Pyle camera from Amazon. Works great. No need for an expensive camera, imo. 2: SiriusXm tuner SXV300v1 . This connects to your new head unit if you want SiriusXM.
Edit: just checked that thread, and I guess the pictures are not holding up well thanks to Photobucket. Also check the "How-To" section of the forum. They have pictures and instructions also.
Last edited by TorchRedFred; Sep 25, 2019 at 04:36 PM.
Installed a Kenwood Excelon DDX9906XR in my 2009 earlier this year, along with front and rear cameras.
IMO Crutchfield is your friend. I purchased everything but the cameras through them. Their advice and tech support is top-notch. The $25 pre-wired harness makes installation a breeze.
Installed a Kenwood Excelon DDX9906XR in my 2009 earlier this year, along with front and rear cameras.
IMO Crutchfield is your friend. I purchased everything but the cameras through them. Their advice and tech support is top-notch. The $25 pre-wired harness makes installation a breeze.
Good advise. When I installed my Kenwood 4 years ago a forum vendor (DD Mods no longer in business) had a pre-wired kit we used. Now Crutchfield seems to be the go to source. They also furnish directions and can answer most questions virtually any time you contact them. Good luck and take your time. It will be worth the effort.
I installed a Kenwood Excelon DNX696S earlier this summer with front and rear cameras and a XM svx300 receiver. Bought all items from Crutchfield’s. Excellent technical support throughout and I used their pre-wired harness service. I am quite happy with the installed radio. Excelon DNX696S installed
I just purchased a pioneer unit, wiring harness and install kit. Once done I will let u all know. Love the support on here to help with all problems. Really helping me out and I appreciate it all.
I installed a Kenwood Excelon DNX696S earlier this summer with front and rear cameras and a XM svx300 receiver. Bought all items from Crutchfield’s. Excellent technical support throughout and I used their pre-wired harness service. I am quite happy with the installed radio.
I did the same but installed the Excelon 994, an almost 2 year old model with all the features of their latest and greatest 996 except wireless Carplay and Android Auto, you have Carplay and AA but you connect the phone via USB which was fine for me. And at a little over $600, a BIG saving over the 996 which was around $1300 at the time. Unit is great, front and rear cameras and XM works fine and before you think of changing out speakers and amp listen to it first with the stock stuff, the sound is, IMO 60%-70% better then the OEM head unit. Good luck on your choice...and I also agree about Crutchfield, the best if you have questions.
And one other thing, I absolutely LOVE the Garmin navigation, I use it more than Android Auto. And it comes with 2 years of INRIX traffic which, in my opinion is the best out there, spot on ALL the time.
I have a 05 Z51 package and I'm looking to replace my factory stereo with a double din.
Wondering if anyone has replaced their factory stereo and what else would be required, assuming it's not just plug and play.
Looking at the Kenwood excelon series.
Hoping for some guidance here
Was told I'll need a Metra 95-3304 dask kit and also a antenna adapter.
I just had a Kenwood DNX994S installed this week. I got front and rear cameras installed, also. I got one that plays CDs and DVDs - not because I care about either of those but because you can tilt the screen - I drove the car 2 miles and found that titling the screen just slightly up (the bottom moved out) COMPLETELY eliminates glare from the sun coming the windows, absolutely worth the extra $$$
I also did not get a Sirius/XM interface because the system has Apple Car Play and I just stream Sirius to the radio through Apple Car Play. APC uses your phone data plan but I have unlimited so, whatever. If they do something that makes streaming using the Sirius XM app not sensible (no more unlimited) then I'll get a Sirius interface.
Last edited by gnawbone; Sep 29, 2019 at 03:50 PM.
Reason: left out a word
You need 2 things to connect an after market head unit. 1: Wiring interface. Most popular one for C6 is the Pac Audio RP5-GM11. This works with all C6 Corvettes. Follow the same directions for Bose and non-Bose systems. Solder or use crimp style connectors to connect the Pac wiring harness to your new head unit. 2: Face plate bezel. Metra 95-3304 is the correct model for C6
Optional equipment. 1: Cameras. I bought a $17 Pyle camera from Amazon. Works great. No need for an expensive camera, imo. 2: SiriusXm tuner SXV300v1 . This connects to your new head unit if you want SiriusXM.
Edit: just checked that thread, and I guess the pictures are not holding up well thanks to Photobucket. Also check the "How-To" section of the forum. They have pictures and instructions also.
I did the same but installed the Excelon 994, an almost 2 year old model with all the features of their latest and greatest 996 except wireless Carplay and Android Auto, you have Carplay and AA but you connect the phone via USB which was fine for me. And at a little over $600, a BIG saving over the 996 which was around $1300 at the time. Unit is great, front and rear cameras and XM works fine and before you think of changing out speakers and amp listen to it first with the stock stuff, the sound is, IMO 60%-70% better then the OEM head unit. Good luck on your choice...and I also agree about Crutchfield, the best if you have questions.
And one other thing, I absolutely LOVE the Garmin navigation, I use it more than Android Auto. And it comes with 2 years of INRIX traffic which, in my opinion is the best out there, spot on ALL the time.
"before you think of changing out speakers and amp listen to it first with the stock stuff, the sound is, IMO 60%-70% better then the OEM head unit".
This is what the stereo shop told me to do before considering getting new speakers to first listen to factory speakers as I maybe satisfied with just the headunit change.
Is the built in Garmin navigation the same as a stand alone Garmin GPS you attach to the inside of your windshield? Is one more accurate than the other or any differences at all between the two in performance?
Is the built in Garmin navigation the same as a stand alone Garmin GPS you attach to the inside of your windshield?
Is one more accurate than the other or any differences at all between the two in performance?
They pretty much operate the same and are both very accurate.
The built-in Garmin nav in Kenwood HU obviously quiets the music when it makes an announcement such as "turn left in 500 feet" ... The stand-alone Garmin nav certainly can't do that.
The stand-alone Garmin comes with free map updates for life ... The Kenwood / Garmin nav costs $70 for map updates (but these updates can be purchased on eBay for about $30).
Obviously, having the Garmin nav built into the Kenwood HU is much cleaner than having a stand-alone Garmin located somewhere in the car (with a power wire laying around and pushed into the cigarette lighter plug-in).
"before you think of changing out speakers and amp listen to it first with the stock stuff, the sound is, IMO 60%-70% better then the OEM head unit".
This is what the stereo shop told me to do before considering getting new speakers to first listen to factory speakers as I maybe satisfied with just the headunit change.
Is the built in Garmin navigation the same as a stand alone Garmin GPS you attach to the inside of your windshield? Is one more accurate than the other or any differences at all between the two in performance?
The only experience I have with a stand alone Garmin is the 3.5" Zumo that I had on my previous Harley and still have as a back up to the built in GPS on my current Harley so I'm really no expert on that comparison. The Kenwood screen has all kinds of information on it as I'm navigating, the best being that INRIX traffic subscription they give you for 2 years, included with purchase of the HU. It is spot on, even if your not navigating a route it tells you of a delay on the road your on and offers a re-route. I also warns you of school zones as you approach them. The screen also shows arrival time, current time, speed limit of the road your on and that display changes to red if you exceed that limit, tells you what intersection your approaching whether navigating or not, has auto zoom and a couple of other little things that I find kinda cool but can't recall currently, as I said I like it more then the Android Auto app. As Turbo said, you gotta pay for the map upgrade but I'll gladly pay the $70 for that upgrade. I can, if you want take a picture of the screen next time I'm out and about, I'll put in a route and show you the screen display.
One other thing, you can split the navigation screen and share it with the audio source screen so you'll have the radio display on one half of the screen and the navigation map on the other.
The only experience I have with a stand alone Garmin is the 3.5" Zumo that I had on my previous Harley and still have as a back up to the built in GPS on my current Harley so I'm really no expert on that comparison. The Kenwood screen has all kinds of information on it as I'm navigating, the best being that INRIX traffic subscription they give you for 2 years, included with purchase of the HU. It is spot on, even if your not navigating a route it tells you of a delay on the road your on and offers a re-route. I also warns you of school zones as you approach them. The screen also shows arrival time, current time, speed limit of the road your on and that display changes to red if you exceed that limit, tells you what intersection your approaching whether navigating or not, has auto zoom and a couple of other little things that I find kinda cool but can't recall currently, as I said I like it more then the Android Auto app. As Turbo said, you gotta pay for the map upgrade but I'll gladly pay the $70 for that upgrade. I can, if you want take a picture of the screen next time I'm out and about, I'll put in a route and show you the screen display.
One other thing, you can split the navigation screen and share it with the audio source screen so you'll have the radio display on one half of the screen and the navigation map on the other.
Would love to see those pics and that INRIX application. I have never heard of it. What I don't like about my Garmin stand alone windshield unit is that the traffic alerts aren't always on. The reception is only good in certain areas.
I do get free lifetime alerts on both the Garimin and Tom Tom windshield GPS units.
Stereo
Good advise. When I installed my Kenwood 4 years ago a forum vendor (DD Mods no longer in business) had a pre-wired kit we used. Now Crutchfield seems to be the go to source. They also furnish directions and can answer most questions virtually any time you contact them. Good luck and take your time. It will be worth the effort.
