kfergiez

One of the only shortcomings of my beloved Foz is the is lack of Aux input. We all know about the CD of silence, or the 07 Forester HU.

I'm not really keen on the CD of silence fix, and I can't find an 07 HU to save my life. So, I DID find an 08 HU from an Imprezza, will it plug and play?
I've got the undersea sub, and the 6 disc HU right now,
this is what I'm looking at: Imprezza 6 disk HU

dave5358

Almost certainly it will fit. The 6-disk changer has been a staple in the Subaru line-up for years. There is an extra cable that powers the under-seat sub, but the 6-disk changer I removed from my '06XT had the appropriate socket. No, I don't have it anymore - replaced with a JVC aftermarket head.

But why make this change? Frankly, Suby's 6-disc changers (even with the sub) and their 1-disc heads all have one thing in common - they don't sound so hot. So, if you are planning to change things, why not get an aftermarket head unit? Several companies make excellent double-DIN units. I bought my JVC KW-XR610 off of eBay for less than $100. The XR810 has Blue-tooth capability (otherwise identical).

Yes, an aftermarket head is a bit more trouble to install. Yes, you'll have to re-tool the under-seat sub connection. But the end result will sound a lot better. If you search around the forum, you may find that many other users have observed the poor sound quality from Suby's OEM head units.

kfergiez

Thread Starter

To be honest, I just wanted a stock radio that will plug and play with an aux input. But thanks, I'll look into that.
The only thing I don't like is how aftermarket HU's look so out of place. Since when are 100% of car interiors a
glossy black?

Aaron'z 2.5RS/WRX

I'd rather have a different color plastic in my dash than the POS stock HU...

With all the recent connectivity options, "AUX" input is already a thing of the past...

I can stream music off my phone, without taking out of my pocket, from my HU..

I never do that though, I've got a 16gig SD card in it with over 50 ALBUMS in high bitrate Mp3..

Jus sayin...

kfergiez

Thread Starter

What world do you live in where 'AUX' input is going by the wayside. It's still the single most universal way to play music from any device. Not mention better quality of sound rather than over BT. Albeit, my other car has an amazing BT system that I don't even have to pull my phone out of my pocket. If ANYTHING is a thing of the past, it's CDs which they still put in HUs for some bizarre reason.

Aaron'z 2.5RS/WRX

The world where I have a 16gig SD card behind the face of my HU, where I get 50+albums of high bitrate Mp3...

Or, like you said the BT connectivity of the same HU...

Or the USB connection that also charges most phones... (Pioneer DEH-80PRS)

It does 50 other cool things things that most people wouldn't even understand, but that's MY bag...

A few more reasons WHY the stock unit shouldn't be considered..

Please don't get me started on "sound quality" ..... as music today is so overly compressed, that MOST people don't even remember what ACTUAL sound quality IS... (age dependant, of course)

dave5358

Another user summed up nicely the other ways music is input to the system. Remember that AUX inputs are analog (which is why it's being used less and less). You are always better off in-putting the music in digital format and letting the head unit sort things.

kfergiez

Thread Starter

Well I guess I'm outnumbered in the whole, "I want a cheap simple solution for a simple
problem arena" in a car that is not my primary driver. Although Dave, I'm actually going
the route to get a double din. I'll put in some custom wiring to the top dash cubby area
so I can mount my phone in there.

If I wanted to spend $2000 on a system that would stack up to my preference in good
quality sounding music I would. But I just want something to work. That's all.

I'm an all or nothing sort of person. It would bother me to put in a good quality HU and
NOT upgrade speakers and amplifiers.

I don't really appreciate the level of arrogance in this thread either. It's like whenever I
go onto a home theater forum and an argument breaks out over audiophiles... "Well I'm a
TRUE audiophile and YOU aren't because you didn't buy a Denon amplifier." sort of B.S.
I'm not into a competition. I just want something that will get me by. Is that so bad?

dave5358

New head unit = $100-200 - THE #1 improvement.

2 new front door speakers = $100-120 (I used Polk Audio speakers but there are plenty of alternatives).

Rear speakers? Not worth the effort (or $$)

If you want to add a separate, powered sub-woofer that runs off your new head's low level outputs, add another $100-200.

There's labor on top of this, or do it yourself. None of the above upgrades are that difficult.

A double-DIN head unit should have plenty of power for your (or my) needs. The front speaker upgrade is a good idea.

I'm not a true audiophile. I rarely associate with true audiophiles (or maybe it's just that they won't associate with me). Sorry if I came across that way.

kfergiez

Thread Starter

edited

kfergiez

Thread Starter

I'd be interested to know what these things are....

Nope you didn't, you're just fine.

I'm just not really willing to drop that kind of cash on this system right now. I might later on, but it's not really a priority right now. Like I said, a good used stock HU would be fine by me, or a solid double-din. But maxing out a system just isn't in the cards and I don't want to waste a top of the line HU on stock speakers.

I do all of my own installing, and I put Polk's all around with a 4 channel amp, plus a mono amp with a 14" polk sub in my daily driver. I also put a Kenwood DNX6190HD HU with BT and NAV, so I'm very well aware of the whole digital input interface, but for my foz, it's just not worth it.

Wiscon_Mark

While its still something of the past, until they improve car apps for phones, music players, etc, CDs are still the single most convenient thing for the commuter, shopper, etc. The fact that I can start my car, put it in gear, start driving, and the CD player will automatically start playing right where I left it is hard to beat with Phones, DMPs, etc.

With a phone, I'll have to start Pandora, or load my music app, or something else, before I can even get the car moving. I don't like that.

MP3/WMA CDs are even better. MP3 DVDs are even better! USB is great for this, too, but I've run into way too many decks that have problems understanding large file trees.

__________________
2003 Forester X 5MT 245k miles
'95 Outback (SOLD)

ToNIX

Just get an aftermarket HU with AUX/USB and a Subaru aftermarket harness, it will be plug and play.

Basically, with the aftermarket HU in your hands, you match the colors of the wires with the ones on the aftermarket harness. When you install the aftermarket HU, you plug the Subaru radio harness (male, which you disconnected from the stock HU) in the aftermarket harness (female, connected to your aftermarket HU).

SUBARU Aftermarket Radio Wire Harness Stereo Connect Wiring SU-8901 | eBay

__________________
2008 Forester 2.5X 5MT Newport Blue

Aaron'z 2.5RS/WRX

You want a cheap solution for your car, I said aftermarket, WHY, because Subaru stereos SUCK... pretty simple... It not about being an "audiophile" it's about it being a POS...

You being an "all or nothing" guy has ZERO to do with us... nobody said lay down your gold card.... I'm speaking from experience, you and others are falling off the deep end... It's pretty amazing the difference a cheap HU can make when leaving the POS stocker behind...

Don't confuse arrogance with knowledge and experience please.. Nobody said anything about a competition... so I don't know where this comes from... I SAID, few understand the LACK of sound quality in everyday music these days...


And if your actually interested in the HU I mention, look it up... I could write a small novel, but it'd be all "audiophile" speak

kfergiez

Thread Starter

Wow. You're right. ZERO arrogance here. I guess those of us "falling off the deep end" go wallow in our ignorance in the shadow of your vast knowledge
and experience.

I'm done arguing.