'04 LS Dual Din Stereo

U

unspokenZero

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I have been lurking on the forum for a while now and just joined as a member a little while back. I have an '04 V6 and my 6 disk changer just crapped the bed is taking 6 of my cd's with it. No big issue, I am looking for a new HU to replace that.

I see that alot of members here are running dual din set-ups and my question is what issues have you ran into with fitment to get the stock look?

This weekend I tore my radio out trying to retrieve my cd's but that didn't work out to well for me. I have a budget of about $350 to get the new HU the steering wheel controls and some of the extra stuff will come down the line but that is the start price. Does anyone know where I can find a good quality unit that won't break the bank? Also any suggestions on where to start? Of course I will be using all digital music from by iPod and Android.

I am looking to install the deck and stealth the iPod in the glove box also want to be able to hook up Aux input cable below the ashtray for the android or any other non-iPod device.

I already know some of the parts I need like the scoche connector to get my rear stock subs working, what are some other suggestions?
 
I assume that the dash opening is no different on a GEN I as a GEN II. I got this one in....

sony1.jpg


It was a challenge to fit (Crutchfield said it would not fit). I just had to take the glove box out so I could get my hand back there to massage the wires. I also had to file off a weld that was causing a problem. In the end I have steering wheel controls, bluetooth streaming audio from the phone, and it looks and works very nice.
 
agreed, i rarely ever touch the radio itself, I always use the wheel controls
 
and there isnt really any fitment issues with the more basic systems, when you start adding a lot of accessory's, it can get real tight behind the radio. a little stuffing and careful tucking goes a long way
 
1LoudLS said:
and there isnt really any fitment issues with the more basic systems, when you start adding a lot of accessory's, it can get real tight behind the radio. a little stuffing and careful tucking goes a long way
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Yeah, I had to put the steering wheel adaptor under and to the left of the center AC vents. If you pull the vents out there is a bunch of room basically in the "corner" between the dash bezel and the center vents. I am not sure how to better explain that.
 
Thanks alot guys I am looking at the pioneer products heavy. How do they sound with the factory system? I am not looking to upgrade the interior speakers for a min. if so I am going with a similar setup I had in a Civic a few years ago; infinity references in the doors and going with 6x9's from tang band. Since this is my only vehicle for a while the wife and I need something to carry groceries in.
 
Also I am going to need the steering wheel controls, I drive alot on the autobahn so two hands on the wheel are a must at 100+mph. Of course I have the wife to control the audio. :)
 
unspokenZero said:
Thanks alot guys I am looking at the pioneer products heavy. How do they sound with the factory system? I am not looking to upgrade the interior speakers for a min. if so I am going with a similar setup I had in a Civic a few years ago; infinity references in the doors and going with 6x9's from tang band. Since this is my only vehicle for a while the wife and I need something to carry groceries in.
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I'd say the pioneer was turned up to about 16 on this video. Not even sure how high it goes. I don't have any extra equipment and the most basic factory speakers

hard white lincoln ls - YouTube
 
My wife has double din pioneer touch screen unit. I have always had awesome luck and performance from pioneer except fot that unit. The interface is difficult and confising, and the bluetooth randomly forgets the phone, or doesnt work. If you do get one try one that has bluetooth built in. The deck I got her had to have a seperate unit for bluetooth. It sounds great, but we both hate it.
 
I have this kenwood unit. It does it all. I got it from best buy for 999.00 a few months ago. I think it was a steal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Head unit- Kenwood DNX6160 is an all-in-one navigation/DVD entertainment system with built-in Bluetooth technology that enables hand-free cell phone operation so that you can keep your hands on the steering wheel and concentrate on the road ahead. A high resolution WVGA 6.1" touchscreen provides crisp, clear images. And the DNX6160 delivers the fastest access to iPod/iPhone audio/video with high speed iPod/iPhone control.

hu lit.jpg


subs.jpg


IMG_0502.jpg
 
reaper76 said:
I have this kenwood unit. It does it all. I got it from best buy for 999.00 a few months ago. I think it was a steal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Head unit- Kenwood DNX6160 is an all-in-one navigation/DVD entertainment system with built-in Bluetooth technology that enables hand-free cell phone operation so that you can keep your hands on the steering wheel and concentrate on the road ahead. A high resolution WVGA 6.1" touchscreen provides crisp, clear images. And the DNX6160 delivers the fastest access to iPod/iPhone audio/video with high speed iPod/iPhone control.
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I think paying a grand for a head unit is just stupid, thats my opinion though. You can get great ones between 400-700 and that's still a lot for just a head unit I think. I'd rather put that money into the speakers. Almost every radio today has bluetooth and ipod ready.
 
jdmans101 said:
lol no need to use both hands for that!
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If you are going in a straight line no, however there are some turns and curves that I don't slow down on, you need both hands on the road for that man! Let me tell you all these guys that are talking about needed a suspension upgrade don't know what they are talking about. Germany has some of the craziest roads I have ever driven on and this car handles like it is on rails! You need two hands for that. It is all about the driver, if you over power the car into a turn of course you are going to have over/under steer. Learning a curve and testing what you can do, also a good entrance/exit is important.

Enough about driving. I am looking at the Pioneer AVH-P3300BT, it is in the correct price range however can I get some feedback on what people who own them think. What will I need aside from the harness, and scoche adapter to make this really enjoyable? Also can I format a HDD to FAT32 and throw it on a USB cable to have ALL of my music in my car? (of course I am going to put it in a case that can handle bumps and protect the HDD)
 
jdmans101 said:
I think paying a grand for a head unit is just stupid, thats my opinion though. You can get great ones between 400-700 and that's still a lot for just a head unit I think. I'd rather put that money into the speakers. Almost every radio today has bluetooth and ipod ready.
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I guess this guy didn't look at the price range that I put in the thread? Other people's kids. SMH

If you do your research right you will not pay too much for a head unit that has all the features you are looking for. Research is what keeps money in smart pockets. The companies charge $800+ because they know people will pay it. Just because it cost more doesn't mean it is of better quality. Look at BOSE for example I would not dare put that crap in my car. for what you pay for those speakers you could buy a whole system that blows that out of the water!
 
I suppose I should have included the fact that half of it was covered from a 500 best buy gift card that I earned from work!So out of pocket was 500 and tax. I forgot there is allot of judgmental people on this forum so I need to be more specific.I will apologize and say that I did miss the budget part of this thread. Besides is a grand for a fully featured Brand named Navigation unit really that bad? I say to each their own!
 
reaper76 said:
I suppose I should have included the fact that half of it was covered from a 500 best buy gift card that I earned from work!So out of pocket was 500 and tax. I forgot there is allot of judgmental people on this forum so I need to be more specific.I will apologize and say that I did miss the budget part of this thread. Besides is a grand for a fully featured Brand named Navigation unit really that bad? I say to each their own!
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No worries man. You know you can't be sensitive about what people reply to your post. This is the internet and free speech is fully accepted. Personally I cannot see myself spending more than $400 for a deck for my car, now home audio hell to the ya! But like you said to each his own. I would just like to get tunes in my ride again. German radio is terrible. I hear the same songs like 30 times a day and I can't take it anymore.

Check this unit out here all the features and $100 more than you paid with out of pocket. But this won't do me any good these come loaded with US maps, I will just add on the navigation model when I get back stateside. My navigation on my droid has gotten me everywhere I need to go.
 
unspokenZero said:
No worries man. You know you can't be sensitive about what people reply to your post. This is the internet and free speech is fully accepted. Personally I cannot see myself spending more than $400 for a deck for my car, now home audio hell to the ya! But like you said to each his own. I would just like to get tunes in my ride again. German radio is terrible. I hear the same songs like 30 times a day and I can't take it anymore.

Check this unit out here all the features and $100 more than you paid with out of pocket. But this won't do me any good these come loaded with US maps, I will just add on the navigation model when I get back stateside. My navigation on my droid has gotten me everywhere I need to go.
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Its a good thing I don't have any feelings or they might have gotten hurt Lmao!!! That pioneer is a nice unit. That site is actually a good place to shop because stuff is cheaper than in the store! Had I not received the gift card I would have shopped it out on that site. I'm going to get my DVD headrest from sonixelectronics this weekend as a matter of fact. Anywayways good luck on finding yourself a nice headunit.
 
reaper76 said:
I suppose I should have included the fact that half of it was covered from a 500 best buy gift card that I earned from work!So out of pocket was 500 and tax. I forgot there is allot of judgmental people on this forum so I need to be more specific.I will apologize and say that I did miss the budget part of this thread. Besides is a grand for a fully featured Brand named Navigation unit really that bad? I say to each their own!
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well I guess only putting 500 out of pocket makes sense! lol but I could never see myself spending a grand on a radio unless I had that much money to just blow, id rather put it into other things. But it is a top of the line radio and im sure its great, but for less you could have found one with all the same features. I really dont see the point in having gps in radios now though, if you have an iphone or android the gps on those things are better than most, I never touch the gps on my head unit because its just not up to par with my phone, plus tom toms and garmin gps's are so cheap now.
 
dont forget, he spent a grand a couple of years ago, of course now all the brands are quite a bit cheaper.


also if he paid $500 out of pocket, and the AVIC is $699, then the difference is $200, not $100 more. just saying
unspokenZero said:
all the features and $100 more than you paid with out of pocket.
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having spent under 600 for a AVIC, i will definitely spend the extra few hundred bucks on a premium brand, sure its a hell of a deal for all the stuff it can do, but doing a lot of stuff half assed isn't really a selling feature.

as far as using GPS on a phone,

(a i don't want any extra things out on my dash, it just looks too cluttered, and

(b i like it to be able to mute the radio during all spoken directions so none are missed

why buy a premium car and just put cheap sh!t in it? if everything you put on you car was the cheapest thing you could get, tires, shocks, brakes, oil, gas... it wouldn't take too long before a taurus would be an upgrade.
 
1LoudLS said:
dont forget, he spent a grand a couple of years ago, of course now all the brands are quite a bit cheaper.


also if he paid $500 out of pocket, and the AVIC is $699, then the difference is $200, not $100 more. just saying




having spent under 600 for a AVIC, i will definitely spend the extra few hundred bucks on a premium brand, sure its a hell of a deal for all the stuff it can do, but doing a lot of stuff half assed isn't really a selling feature.

as far as using GPS on a phone,

(a i don't want any extra things out on my dash, it just looks too cluttered, and

(b i like it to be able to mute the radio during all spoken directions so none are missed

why buy a premium car and just put cheap sh!t in it? if everything you put on you car was the cheapest thing you could get, tires, shocks, brakes, oil, gas... it wouldn't take too long before a taurus would be an upgrade.
Click to expand...

He said he spent that a few months ago. not years. Its a very nice radio but just overkill I think, but hell If I had a grand to spend on a radio I deff would lol. I think you get what you pay for but you don't have to spend a lot to get a good solid sounding quality radio with all the features. I agree with all the stuff on the dash because it looks like crap, I was just trying to say that a gps is not hard to get and you dont need an expensive radio to get it, it should be something standard in today's world and not only an option on the higher end models. I have bluetooth and whenever I use my google gps from my phone it mutes my radio and sends the directions to my car speakers, works great.
 
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