I just bought a box from my friend, 3 10's, JL W6's, it's somewhere in the 2,000 watt range (a lot more then i was lookin for, but i got a real good deal!) I'm gonna get like a 800-1000 watt amp, but the trouble is finding a head unit, where can i find a nice headunit that's compatible with the6 cd changer in the dash, cause i don't know jack about systems!!! Please help, i'm lookin to spend around 300-400$ for the head unit...

 

Well, you are better off leaving the deck alone... to change the deck your gonna need to make a new dash trim piece anyway. You can leave the deck in there... add an amp for the subs, one that has high level inputs and wire it BEFORE the stock amp. If you wire it after the amp (ie: at the rear speakers) you will get feed back because the speakers will act as a microphone and send a signal to the amp. Over time you can add another amp or 2 for new aftermarket front and rear mids and highs to complete the system, and I know you will be happy with the result.

 

Simply, you can't. If the stock head unit goes, so does the in dash changer.

But you don't need to get rid of the stock unit to hook up your new amp and subs.

Two ways, to do this:

1. Use line output converter hooked to rear speaker leads to get 'amp ready' signal for your new amp

2. Splice line level outputs from factory system before they enter factory amp in trunk. Put RCA plugs on wires, plug into new amplifier.

Both ways will work well, #1 probably being easier but probably won't sound quite as good as #2.

Now you have the factory system with bass. It sounds good this way, though it may not win any sound competitions, its good enough for most.

 

option 1 dosent work well because like I said before, you get feed back... like when you close a door you will hear it in the subs... or when you hit bumps in the road, you will hear them. Use the line output converter BEFORE the factory amp to get the best results.

option 2 does not send signifigant sound into the amp, so noise is introduced... go with the way I mentioned, putting the line output converter or high level inputs on the amp before the stock amp.

not to put mcdanjw down, im just trying to help out from experience.

 

i also have a CL-S w/ Navi. i'll be running 2 amps and subs along with aftermarket componet speakers. i also dont know weather if i should go with an aftermarket HU or keep the factory. how much of a sound difference will i get if i keep the factory over an aftermarket HU? i'm trying to look for the best sound quality.
thanks

 

I honestly think you will be more than satisfied with the sound of the factory deck hooked to aftermarket equipment. I am and I am a long time car audio enthusiast.

Here's the best way to think about it in my opinion:

It won't cost you a dime to try it with the factory deck first. If you don't think it sounds a good as you expected, then replace it.

That makes more sense than spending $500+ on a new deck without at least trying the factory one first.

It is made by Pioneer... they make decent stuff.

 

The factory head unit blows, and I'm not trying to be a smartass.
I have an Alpine 7998, which sounds so much better it's almost ridiculous. Cost $850.00 list. Pricey, but worth every penny and I would put it up against any unit in that pricerange.
You could easily better the stock unit for as little as $300.00.
If you guys are investing that kind of money in the rest of your system and not replacing the head unit, you are missing out on quite a bit.
By the way, any serious mobile audio shop can make a nice face plate. Tweeter did a nice job on mine.

 

I agree that you won't win any IASCA competitions with the stock unit, but for the majority of folks, it will be sufficient.

Do you have any pics of what yours looks like with the custom plate?

 

i agree with mcdan...plus you get that stock look too, which, unless you go to someone who can make a custom outfit for you, would look better than an aftermarket hu. any good brand hu will sound better than the stock hu because of stronger and cleaner signal. but that doesn't mean you can't get good sound out the stock hu while changing the other stuff like the speakers and amp. plus you keep the 6 in dash cd changer if you keep it stock. the only other hu, i think, that offers 6 in dash changer is nakamichi and they've had some problems as far as quality is concerned (for the 6 in dash player). that's the reason why, i believe, streetz has stopped using that particular product.

 

hey, i got one more question. i have a factory Navigation system and i was wondering if an aftermarket HU will have any conflicts with the navi.