When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hi guys,
I just bought a nice '06 last week and there is one thing I don't like about it. The PO installed a cheesy Boss head unit, one with the LED light show, faux sound level bar graph thingy and doesn't even sound all that great. I'm looking around for a replacement, there is a nice Blaupunkt, a little pricey at just under $500 but it doesn't play CDs. Even though I mostly play music through my phone via Bluetooth I figure for that price I should at least have the option to play CDs. Any recommendations?
Hi guys,
I just bought a nice '06 last week and there is one thing I don't like about it. The PO installed a cheesy Boss head unit, one with the LED light show, faux sound level bar graph thingy and doesn't even sound all that great. I'm looking around for a replacement, there is a nice Blaupunkt, a little pricey at just under $500 but it doesn't play CDs. Even though I mostly play music through my phone via Bluetooth I figure for that price I should at least have the option to play CDs. Any recommendations?
Kenwood and Pioneer are popular here. Personally I prefer the UI and appearance of Sony head units, even if on paper they have fewer bells and whistles.
Apple Carplay / Android Auto are the ways to go for pre-recorded music and navigation.
If one wasn't installed already you might want to take this opportunity to add a back-up camera.
Highly recommend Pioneer units. I've had Pioneer and Sony in my C6 and the pioneer sounds better (?) and integration with iPhone is better too. I used to run kenwoods previously but havent tried it in the C6. I would avoid blaupunkt now that they're basically a higher end BOSS...
Thanks for that link, looking at a few of the posts, some good stuff there and I'll keep digging into it. Some of them recommend double DIN units and I'm not sure I want to go there yet, haven't ruled it out though and I can see the benefits.
Here is my problem, and it is totally a matter of personal preference, I just don't like the way pretty much all of the single DIN front panels look. I had the same issue with my C3 that I recently sold. I bought a RetroSound unit for that car it looked great but it crapped out after a short time. I could not find a replacement that I liked and ended up buying a Bluetooth/AUX power amp off of Amazon that actually worked pretty good. I'm still not even close to a decision but this unit has caught my eye: VDO Continental TR7412UB-OR
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
The C6 is designed for a double din unit, don't put a single din in there. Crutchfield has the ability to sort/filter by features so you find exactly what you want. Personally, I love my JVC with wireless AndroidAuto/Carplay, sound is much better than the factory head unit, and being able to run the full AndroidAuto interface with Google Maps on screen as well as Pandora, Spotify, etc with full Google Voice support is great. And the sound quality was a noticeable improvement over stock as well.
Why not just buy an OEM radio then retrofit Bluetooth/aux like you want?
Why? Because I did not think of it, that's why. And they are all over Ebay, DOH! I think this is now Plan A but a double DIN unit is still worth taking a good look at. Now I see what the original unit looked like, the little pocket under my current radio was throwing me, looks like it belongs there.
I have a Sony, Great sound quality with many options for sound enhancement. Good Luck with your choice. Whatever you choose will be far better than the stock GM radio. I also replaced most of the speakers with JL Audio, they are the Best in my opinion. Keep the factory amp.
Vote for pioneer… why not go OEM??? Sound is 100% better with aftermarket and options that you think you would not use… you cannot see life without em.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Dang Jim__H, I don't think I've ever seen a single DIN in a C6, previous owner must have been a real cheapskate. I wouldn't bother putting the stock head unit back in, it wasn't very good. Just do a double DIN good quality aftermarket unit.
I went with a Sony XAV-AX5000 primarily to get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Added a back up camera as well. Best system, probably not, but it does what I need.
Vote for pioneer… why not go OEM??? Sound is 100% better with aftermarket and options that you think you would not use… you cannot see life without em.
Blown,
Sorry to give ya bad news but you might wanna redo that double din. I had to do this myself 2x before it was right. Your center console stack isnt sitting right. You can see the console is interfering with the double din adapter. You have to move the HVAC stack a bit more down, move the double din a bit more down, and the console will snap in place perfectly.
Mark the double din adapter how much lower you have to drop it so you only have to do it once.
Sony XAV-712HD, I bought it in 2014. Still works great, HD radio, CD, DVD, Bluetooth, Navigation capable w/ optional unit. Plug in your iPhone. It;s an oldie but works great and is HD radio. I keep waiting for Sony to come out with a newer model that does everything and is HD but so far no go.
Sorry to give ya bad news but you might wanna redo that double din. I had to do this myself 2x before it was right. Your center console stack isnt sitting right. You can see the console is interfering with the double din adapter. You have to move the HVAC stack a bit more down, move the double din a bit more down, and the console will snap in place perfectly.
Mark the double din adapter how much lower you have to drop it so you only have to do it once.
This was my first pic after install and I seen it.... will post after pic.
Sorry to give ya bad news but you might wanna redo that double din. I had to do this myself 2x before it was right. Your center console stack isnt sitting right. You can see the console is interfering with the double din adapter. You have to move the HVAC stack a bit more down, move the double din a bit more down, and the console will snap in place perfectly.
Mark the double din adapter how much lower you have to drop it so you only have to do it once.
His adapter bezel is installed upside-down. The edge with radiused corners is supposed to be on top.
Radio head unit
Good Luck with your choice. Whatever you choose will be far better than the stock GM radio. I also replaced most of the speakers with JL Audio, they are the Best in my opinion. Keep the factory amp.
