getting a decent replacement head unit
Discussion
now before some wise arse mentions doing a search, I have done, have you tried searching the monaro forum recently? Its search and acquire skills are akin to an American missile.
I'm after a good replacement head unit that wont damage my current standard speakers but will offer potential to grow in the future. Preferably double din, I'm not bothered about TV or DVD functions but I'll look at anything. It MUST have RDbloodyS as where I am the BBC changes frequency every 100 yards.
I'd also like something that will work with the cars steering and speed controls too.
Now I'm not asking for the moon on a stick am I? I'd go single din at a push but the single din blanking plates are always as cheap looking as my ex in tights.
As ever all help greatfully received
Mike
I'm after a good replacement head unit that wont damage my current standard speakers but will offer potential to grow in the future. Preferably double din, I'm not bothered about TV or DVD functions but I'll look at anything. It MUST have RDbloodyS as where I am the BBC changes frequency every 100 yards.
I'd also like something that will work with the cars steering and speed controls too.
Now I'm not asking for the moon on a stick am I? I'd go single din at a push but the single din blanking plates are always as cheap looking as my ex in tights.
As ever all help greatfully received
Mike
cheers fella, does it fit nicely? I heard that the monaro is slightly larger than double din? Also was it a fairly painless swap? In the end I found an old thread and it seemed back in 2004 it was a fairly painful experience to do it... Does the JVC need a new cradle or can it use the existing one, also was the ISO conversion easy?
Cheers!
Cheers!
Kenwood Double DIN here. Needed a new surround as although the o/e hu is double din, most of the fascia is moulded plastic to help blend it in to the rest of the cosole.
Wheel control still works, although it's through an infra red transmitter remote set into the headlining. Some kits are available that connect directly via aux input but neither seem as responsive as the original set up.
Mine's got RDS, DVD, CD, Mp3 and Sat Nav with TMC function that's been a God send on my trips down the M6 recently.
No doubt serial modifier Swordfishcoupe (Steven) will be able to add more to the thread.
Wheel control still works, although it's through an infra red transmitter remote set into the headlining. Some kits are available that connect directly via aux input but neither seem as responsive as the original set up.
Mine's got RDS, DVD, CD, Mp3 and Sat Nav with TMC function that's been a God send on my trips down the M6 recently.
No doubt serial modifier Swordfishcoupe (Steven) will be able to add more to the thread.
OK Paul, if you insist - LOL
Yes, the biggest problem is the surround to enable you to pop a normal double din stereo into the hole in the dash. Raggymans was quite nice for the price but you have to buy one from ChimChim in the US on the GTO Forum (warning they are mind bendingly expensive but worth it).
I bought a Alpine/JVC adapter from the US for the steering wheel controls, as Paul commented it is a little delayed compared to the factory response but works great. Its just a little control box which needs a couple of connections to the wiring loom and then you teach it what button does what. Pretty each job and I would have thought Raggyman would have had it done by now (hint hint). I also have the JVC double din unit, very good except for the blocky font for the mp3 system/menus.
The dashboard hole is rather tight though for cabling and you have to be careful with cabling etc. I when OTT with felt etc around all the cabling to prevent any knocking on the airsystem behind it.
Cheers
Steven
Yes, the biggest problem is the surround to enable you to pop a normal double din stereo into the hole in the dash. Raggymans was quite nice for the price but you have to buy one from ChimChim in the US on the GTO Forum (warning they are mind bendingly expensive but worth it).
I bought a Alpine/JVC adapter from the US for the steering wheel controls, as Paul commented it is a little delayed compared to the factory response but works great. Its just a little control box which needs a couple of connections to the wiring loom and then you teach it what button does what. Pretty each job and I would have thought Raggyman would have had it done by now (hint hint). I also have the JVC double din unit, very good except for the blocky font for the mp3 system/menus.
The dashboard hole is rather tight though for cabling and you have to be careful with cabling etc. I when OTT with felt etc around all the cabling to prevent any knocking on the airsystem behind it.
Cheers
Steven
No problem, URL is www.ls2gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49324. Bascially you paypal him but as warned they are expensive but a near perfect match for our cars.
The first pictures of the product show it next to the single din commercial product, it shows the plastic texture differences nicely.
Sorry, I never took any pictures of the installation etc but some nice examples can be found on the above forum (the Americans like pulling stuff to bits).
Cheers
Steven
The first pictures of the product show it next to the single din commercial product, it shows the plastic texture differences nicely.
Sorry, I never took any pictures of the installation etc but some nice examples can be found on the above forum (the Americans like pulling stuff to bits).
Cheers
Steven
Edited by Swordfishcoupe on Saturday 14th October 14:56
I just fitted this last week and I am rather pleased with it
Had the Holden loom adaptor from Steve when I bought the car, so got my local audio firm to make up the ends to the Kenwood plugs and it was plug and play.
It has a whole host of features, but I bought it for the mp3 trickery, which uses a PC USB fly-lead. You then just plug your PC USB memory stick with your tunes on, into the lead, and with the software provided it creates playlists. You can then skip tracks, fast forward through them, or change play lists on the fly. I have it connected to a 8 Gigabyte memory stick, which gives me over 350 tunes. I am currently buidling a 12v PSU so that I can use a PC hard disk and connect it via USB and then I will have over 20,000 tunes to listen too from my home PC.
The best bit on this is the price. I went for the DPX-701 which has a colour display - I would advise against this unless you like bloody dolphins dancing all the time - it is a bit distracting to say the least. If you switch this off, then you also lose the clock, but I understand that the cheaper DPX-501 doesn't have the same display and its a lot cheaper - infact the double-din was cheaper than similarly specified single din units.
The cost? £179 for the 501 and £269 for the 701.
The stock speakers are quite good, with sufficient sized drivers and having a large enough enclosure to produce reasonable bass without the need for subwoofers (unless you're into hardcore or drum n' bass). These units give a noticeable headroom both dynanically and in terms of volume.
Had the Holden loom adaptor from Steve when I bought the car, so got my local audio firm to make up the ends to the Kenwood plugs and it was plug and play.
It has a whole host of features, but I bought it for the mp3 trickery, which uses a PC USB fly-lead. You then just plug your PC USB memory stick with your tunes on, into the lead, and with the software provided it creates playlists. You can then skip tracks, fast forward through them, or change play lists on the fly. I have it connected to a 8 Gigabyte memory stick, which gives me over 350 tunes. I am currently buidling a 12v PSU so that I can use a PC hard disk and connect it via USB and then I will have over 20,000 tunes to listen too from my home PC.
The best bit on this is the price. I went for the DPX-701 which has a colour display - I would advise against this unless you like bloody dolphins dancing all the time - it is a bit distracting to say the least. If you switch this off, then you also lose the clock, but I understand that the cheaper DPX-501 doesn't have the same display and its a lot cheaper - infact the double-din was cheaper than similarly specified single din units.
The cost? £179 for the 501 and £269 for the 701.
The stock speakers are quite good, with sufficient sized drivers and having a large enough enclosure to produce reasonable bass without the need for subwoofers (unless you're into hardcore or drum n' bass). These units give a noticeable headroom both dynanically and in terms of volume.
BigNige said:
Nobody's mentioned only listening to the roar of the V8 yet then?
No, has somebody brought it out on cd then?
Tbh, I don't have my player on much. Just on long trips. The drone can be a bit tiresome and my missus really does go on..
Edited by DevilYellowCV8 on Saturday 14th October 22:13
SS HSV that looks bloody good at the price! I paid 500 for a kenwood 10disc mp3 player a good few years back - is there no holden to iso loom available via the shops then? I know I need to read more but only just got up.
Also once you fitted it in, did you have to have any sort of blanking plate to fill the small gap? Any pics of the installation would be nice
Also once you fitted it in, did you have to have any sort of blanking plate to fill the small gap? Any pics of the installation would be nice
Hi Stig,
The amp in the boot is just cabled to the rear speakers. Its the only thing I left alone (sometimes I regret it though). If you turn up the gain a little on the amp it sounds so much better even with the stock stereo.
I used to think mine was the only soundproofed Monaro in the UK but after seeing the post the other day and spending £15K on it (I would have spend it on performance gains personally). My install was way less than £1K but did most of it as a DIY which is always a good saver. Mind you that was a 6L VXR so could be still the only CV8 soundproofed in the UK (LOL).
Yes, the stereo is not always used, the wortec mods are a really nice soundtrack at times.
Cheers
Steven
The amp in the boot is just cabled to the rear speakers. Its the only thing I left alone (sometimes I regret it though). If you turn up the gain a little on the amp it sounds so much better even with the stock stereo.
I used to think mine was the only soundproofed Monaro in the UK but after seeing the post the other day and spending £15K on it (I would have spend it on performance gains personally). My install was way less than £1K but did most of it as a DIY which is always a good saver. Mind you that was a 6L VXR so could be still the only CV8 soundproofed in the UK (LOL).
Yes, the stereo is not always used, the wortec mods are a really nice soundtrack at times.
Cheers
Steven
Edited by Swordfishcoupe on Sunday 15th October 20:27
stigcv8 said:
SS HSV that looks bloody good at the price! I paid 500 for a kenwood 10disc mp3 player a good few years back - is there no holden to iso loom available via the shops then? I know I need to read more but only just got up.
Also once you fitted it in, did you have to have any sort of blanking plate to fill the small gap? Any pics of the installation would be nice
Also once you fitted it in, did you have to have any sort of blanking plate to fill the small gap? Any pics of the installation would be nice
Hi Michael. Steve; the previous owner gave me the Holden loom end, which was a white plastic connector with flying leads on it. I left that part with my local audio dealer who then joined the two together and it was literally plugging the two connectors on to make it work. The surround appears to be a good fit, although I havent fitted the cage as it is a tight fit and the cage was catching on the sides. The unit is key-coded anyway so if some fool does take it it cannot be reset without the original receipt (so I was told). I will see if I can grab some pics when the car goes in this week for a few security upgrades (tracker, camera, and remote I/O etc), and they will be fitting it properly for me.
I was originally after a 10 disc changer (as most of my oldies are on CD) but my car audio chap explained that they have only really sold about ten boot changers in the last year since mp3 has taken off, so it was a no brainer
I have in the past spent silly money on car installs. I am very pleased with this considering its nothing more than stock with another head unit.Gassing Station | HSV & Monaro | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff