Advice on changing Monaro Stereo

Advice on changing Monaro Stereo

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Discussion

BlueDevil

Original Poster:

414 posts

204 months

Sunday 12th July 2015
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As the title says. Looking for advice on changing the standard Monaro stereo. Currently looking at a Kenwood unit with Bluetooth and DAB. I have read Ferretts how to in the FAQ which explains a lot, but are there any pitfalls to look out for as I also want to retain the steering wheel controls.
Thanks

jameshsv

5,844 posts

160 months

Sunday 12th July 2015
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Give ferret a pm and he will advise wisely

ARAF

20,759 posts

223 months

Sunday 12th July 2015
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yes ^^^

Ferret has very nicely helped with lots of installs on Monaros. cool

007 VXR

64,187 posts

187 months

Sunday 12th July 2015
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ARAF said:
yes ^^^

Ferret has very nicely helped with lots of installs on Monaros. cool
Ferret did a great job on mine, and all controls work smile

Sohlman

590 posts

254 months

Sunday 12th July 2015
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You will need a single or double din fascia plate. I suggest a double din navigation unit such as supplied by the likes of alpine or pioneer.

You need a steering wheel control harness.

I had all mine fitted by a local stereo shop. Total cost was around £750 all in including fitting for a pioneer sat Nav Bluetooth unit, steering wheel and iPod control and JL coaxing front speakers. This was stage one and is a massive upgrade over the standard fishbowl sound.

Stage two involved taking the entire interior out and fitting Addison components up front, moving the coaxils to the rear side panels and fitting two hertz 250wrms 8" subs under the rear shelf along with fitting a 5 channel Genesis
Amplifier to power it all. Now it sounds epic.

A head unit upgrade will do wonders. Amping up and upgrading the speakers and fitting some good bass will just lift the entire experience up another level.

SturdyHSV

10,096 posts

167 months

Sunday 12th July 2015
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Alternatively wire in £35 of Chinese Bluetooth amp, it works fiiiiine and sounds fine for what it's for, providing a distraction on long journeys.

There's the engine for the rest of the time smile

KMud

2,924 posts

156 months

Sunday 12th July 2015
quotequote all
BlueDevil said:
As the title says. Looking for advice on changing the standard Monaro stereo. Currently looking at a Kenwood unit with Bluetooth and DAB. I have read Ferretts how to in the FAQ which explains a lot, but are there any pitfalls to look out for as I also want to retain the steering wheel controls.
Thanks
Are you doing the speakers too?

Most people use a PAC SWI to get the controls working, although someone pointed out a different unit in the last thread that may be easier. You can buy a connector to plug into the steering wheel controls socket, makes it tidy/removable. There are already ISO connectors so don't buy an adapter harness, it's not needed.

No real pitfalls, although getting the wires into the doors is a bit of a pig...as is access to the rear shelf if replacing the subs.

FWIW I did it on a budget and it's miles better smile

e: wonder if ferret has any metal brackets left...definitely get them if you can.

Edited by KMud on Sunday 12th July 20:01

BlueDevil

Original Poster:

414 posts

204 months

Sunday 12th July 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the responses guys I'll send Ferrett a PM. Stage 1 is the headunit and will move on to the speakers at a later date, just want I pod connection as a start

maccavvy

660 posts

164 months

Sunday 12th July 2015
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ive got the single din kenwood bt60u . simply as I had it from my last car.

Bluetooth, ipod, cd etc .
got a single din convertor from oz.

not got the wheel controls working yet though.but I find em awkwardl yplaced.

KMud

2,924 posts

156 months

Sunday 12th July 2015
quotequote all
BlueDevil said:
Thanks for the responses guys I'll send Ferrett a PM. Stage 1 is the headunit and will move on to the speakers at a later date, just want I pod connection as a start
Consider whether your head unit can deal with OE 2 ohm speakers, and also something better (typically 4 ohms+, although there are 2 ohm speakers that claim to be good).

Phillphill

284 posts

146 months

Sunday 12th July 2015
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Contemplated changing mine to allow for iPod music, any have photos of their stereo headunits?

KMud

2,924 posts

156 months

Sunday 12th July 2015
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wozzza

404 posts

131 months

Monday 13th July 2015
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KMud said:
Consider whether your head unit can deal with OE 2 ohm speakers, and also something better (typically 4 ohms+, although there are 2 ohm speakers that claim to be good).
I would imagine once impedance rise is taken into account the 2ohm speakers are quite a bit more than 2 ohm.

Someone with a bit more knowldege might chime in on that. However, from what I know impedance changes with frequency, as well as crossover, enclosure, heat etc etc.

Some brands actually sell 2ohm speakers as true 4ohm when fitted. Taking rise into account.

Phillphill

284 posts

146 months

Monday 13th July 2015
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Wow ok that looks good! Last time I fitted a head unit was 7 years ago and I just always thought it looked a bit halfords but that really has changed my
Mind!

Phillphill

284 posts

146 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
Wow ok that looks good! Last time I fitted a head unit was 7 years ago and I just always thought it looked a bit halfords but that really has changed my
Mind!

BlueDevil

Original Poster:

414 posts

204 months

Monday 13th July 2015
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KMud said:
What surround is that as it looks a perfect match. Like the gauges

KMud

2,924 posts

156 months

Monday 13th July 2015
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BlueDevil said:
What surround is that as it looks a perfect match. Like the gauges
The bezel is the Metra one (like this), but I had to sand and paint it to get it to match. Halfords satin black aerosol was a good match.

Sohlman

590 posts

254 months

Monday 13th July 2015
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Here is my pioneer with three images. Turned off, with Nav display and reverse camera.






Granby

2,473 posts

215 months

Monday 13th July 2015
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You can actually get ipod control on the standard headunit but its not cheap or very easy

I got a kit from Aus which i think was around £200, then you have to take the headunit out, take it apart and solder a load of wires onto the circuit boards at various points, took me a while but i did it and it worked first time smile




BlueDevil

Original Poster:

414 posts

204 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the pictures I have ordered a Pioneer today. Can I ask what else you ordered apart from the face plate