Head Unit Replacement

I currently have a 2006 RTS and I am trading for a 2007 RTS. For the 2006 I paid the money for XM but I am rethinking the $455 price tag for the dealer installed option.

Is there a head unit replacement or add on that can get me XM and a way to plug in my iPod? I have read numerous threads on the Spec USA interface but was unsure if there was a head unit replacement that could do both XM and my iPod.

Thanks for your help...

Check out the "dice" site.. Im ready to get the Ipod/HD radio as XM music is great..but, the customer service stinks!



http://www.diceelectronics.com

Does this allow me to get XM radio or just the HD signal?

How much are we talking for this unit?

Does this allow me to get XM radio or just the HD signal?

How much are we talking for this unit?
http://www.diceelectronics.com/ipod_integration.htm

read thru the site you can find the price... the link shows you can add whatever you want

I'm not aware of any AUX adapters that will do both XM and iPod. Do you want the XM functionality built into the HU? If so, there are many options that will do what you want. I would first start at Crutchfield.com and you should find a few HUs that will do what you want. There are Single or Double DIN options for the RL. I guess the only thing you need to decide on is price. Good luck. :cool:

I would like XM built in to the HU. Does the aftermarket HU replace the entire stock Honda HU or just slide in the hole underneath the stock one? I would like to get digital XM, digital iPod connection and possibly change out the door speakers.

Possible Options

1) Keep stock HU, get Honda XM unit and then Spec USA iPod connector.
2) Get new HU with XM integrated. Spec USA iPod connector.
3) Get new HU with both XM and iPod?

With the aftermarket HU, do I lose the steering wheel controls of the HU?


This gets harder all the time...:)

you need to give us a budget, it would be much more easier for us to recommend something

also, most head units does not have a built in xm receiver, you'll probably need an external receiver; most brand has their own receiver

regarding ipod connection, alpine units have direct cable connection. their units are suppose to have very fast control interface

this one is a good unit, i had the predecessor and it served me well

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-1T3fm00n6hj/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=300&I=500CDA9887

if you don't care for all the bells & whistles, the model below this one is $100.00 less

the optional direct connection ipod cable is $30.00 and the xm receiver is $70.00

I went through a similar process (wanting XM but not sure about the Honda unit) and decided to go with a HU replacement with an XM tuner. That lead me to replace the sub since the stock unit sub is powered by the Honda HU and no aftermarket HU has a built in sub amp. Finally the wimpy door speakers had to go. They were actuall the first things I replaced and made a HUGE difference. There are excellent walk-thrus with pictures on this forum.

I went for a sub with a built in amp cause I though that might be simple to install, but once I looked at the instructions, I decided I needed some help. I had a pro install the sub since that needed a heavy guage wire directly from the battery through the firewall all the way to the sub. I did everything else. The steering wheel adapter works great.

I installed the XM antenna INSIDE just next to the light sensor by running the wire through the sensor hole in the center front of the dash. (The sensor pops out easily.)

I don't like Apple, so I have a Zune that I can play through an AUX cable plugged into the back of my HU. I do this occasionally, but most of the time, I listen to XM Deep Tracks. I can also plug the AUX cable into my Garmin if I really need to hear her instructions.

I have attached pictures. You can see the AUX cable above the HU. I think I may move this to the tray below the HU. The sub control is shown in a different picture as well as the XM antenna.

I bought everything from Crutchfield. They give you significant extras for free.

Sorry I haven't had time to check the forum lately.

Anyway, I talked to a local install shop and got a quote. I am pretty sure I can't do this by myself.

Someone also asked about budget. I would like to get this done with $600 for starters. Then eventually replace the door speakers and subwoofer.

The local guy spec'd out the following.

Alpine 9883 with XM radio, link for the ipod and steering wheel functions for $569 installed. He told me the iPod will be controlled directly from the HU. The question I need to ask him does it power the stock subwoofer. Someone mentioned it would not.

Is this a fair price?

On the speaker side, my son recommends Memphis...

Thanks for all the help....

Bob

Thats not a bad price, is that installed price before or after tax? That head unit is just OK, you should consider a 9885 or a 9887 model, better display and controls.

What I would recommend is getting the components yourself and then have the shop install them.

Here's a list form crutchfield:
Alpine 9885 - $299.00
XM Receiver - $70.00
Ipod Cable (Alpine KCE-422i)-$30.00
Steering Wheel Interface (127SWIJACK)-$70.00
_______________
$469.00 + Tax

Remember, these components can be had for much less on Ebay, but you give up the manufacture's warranty.

9883:
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2006/500/h500CDA9883-f_d.jpeg

9885:
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2006/500/h500CDA9885-f_dg.jpeg

In the future, you can just get a 4 channel amp; 2 channels for the front speakers/components and the other 2 for a sub, the rears can run off the head unit.

That is installed without tax. They have lifetime warranty on labor. If a component is out of warranty and fails, I only pay the part cost.

I will ask them for a price on the 9885.

The thing that concerns me is how I get the stock sub woofer to work with the new HU. Everything I read on the forum says it won't work without the factory HU.

Thanks

You simply add a bridgeable two channel amp with a crossover and high level inputs or a LOC. Your installer can figure this out rather easily.

or you can add about $200.00 for an inexpensive amp, box & sub

or do as shovelhd suggested

here's an interesting amp if you're planning on powering the stock sub:

http://www.autotoys.com/x/catalog/SUPER_SMALL_2_CHANNEL_AMPLIFIER_p_4593.html

Why would you trade a 2006 for a 2007 that has almost nothing new?

45,000 miles on my old one and it only took $5000 to trade. But I needed tires by the fall which would cost around $800. With the $3500 cash back I went shopping and they made me an offer.

I bought my original one in April of 05.

I recently purchased and installed this :

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_9953_Kenwood+DPX502+-DPX-502-.html

My iPod plugs into the USB port (so does my sansa or a generic thumb drive with .mp3s on it, pretty cool)

after trying to find a unit that combined Navi, backup camera etc. I gave up. Decided to use a portable navi instead.
I bought the nuvi 650 Navigation unit, proclips for mounting and dropped the dream of having a BU camera. I am a recent convert from a Silverado so backing up the Ridge is a cakewalk. Another benefit is that we use the minivan for traveling and can move the navi into this for our roadtrips. In all this system rocks. It breaks down like this:

New speakers (db651s, 2 pair 198 shipped)),
amp (4 x 75, already owned, but around $250)
headunit ($244, described above)
XM tuner and "smart interface" (ebay - 70 bucks...got lucky on this on)
navi, the garmin 650 ($308 shipped!, super bargain)
proclips ($70 BUCKS...still trying to rationalize this)
various wires, connectors and patch cables for placing the amp under the passenger seat, etc ($150 bucks, yes 150 bucks...don't skimp here)everything totals up under one grand.
It took one afternoon installing, it is a very clean installation, invisble, except for the shiny plack plastic DPX502 poking out.

I didn't take pictures, but can describe very well how to run wires etc. and I paid 5 bucks for the crutchfield vehicle specific guide for tearing apart the dash, etc. It was some help, but you have to just use your head and do it.

I went through a similar process (wanting XM but not sure about the Honda unit) and decided to go with a HU replacement with an XM tuner. That lead me to replace the sub since the stock unit sub is powered by the Honda HU and no aftermarket HU has a built in sub amp. Finally the wimpy door speakers had to go. They were actuall the first things I replaced and made a HUGE difference. There are excellent walk-thrus with pictures on this forum.

I went for a sub with a built in amp cause I though that might be simple to install, but once I looked at the instructions, I decided I needed some help. I had a pro install the sub since that needed a heavy guage wire directly from the battery through the firewall all the way to the sub. I did everything else. The steering wheel adapter works great.

I installed the XM antenna INSIDE just next to the light sensor by running the wire through the sensor hole in the center front of the dash. (The sensor pops out easily.)

I don't like Apple, so I have a Zune that I can play through an AUX cable plugged into the back of my HU. I do this occasionally, but most of the time, I listen to XM Deep Tracks. I can also plug the AUX cable into my Garmin if I really need to hear her instructions.

I have attached pictures. You can see the AUX cable above the HU. I think I may move this to the tray below the HU. The sub control is shown in a different picture as well as the XM antenna.

I bought everything from Crutchfield. They give you significant extras for free.

Maxbeagleton, how is your reception with the XM antenna on the dash there?? Really curious. I's like to do the same thing.