new stereo

[tomgaz]

I just purchased a new receiver with blue tooth navigation and a dvd player. I was wondering if anyone else has a 2 din stereo and how does it fit.

[Lonestar]

Re: new stereo

If you do a search on stereo or radio you will pull up many threads. Spend a little time looking through these threads and you will see what others have done and how.

[cursorofold]

Re: new stereo

I used the following, and the results are great. It looks very good.

• Kenwood DNX5160
• Kenwood KNA-RCDV330
• Scosche LN1329B (faceplate to make a double-din unit fit correctly)
• Scosche FDK13B
• PAC SWI-JACK (for the steering wheel radio buttons)

I managed to get it working with all the speakers and the subwoofer.

Downsides:

1. When the radio powers up and enables the subwoofer amp, there is a thump from the sub. It sounds roughly like a quart sized jug of milk fell over in the trunk.
2. The steering wheel buttons work with the SWI-JACK, but it is sluggish. I don't use them all that often anyway, but if you use the steering wheel buttons a lot, this may be an issue.
3. The factory radio stays on after the key is turned off and removed. I am not sure how it does this, but the aftermarket radio does not. This is not at all important to me.
4. The factory radio knows when to dim based on turning the lights on. I am not sure how, because apparently there is no dash light signal going to the factory radio. The Kenwood can use the GPS to switch from day to night mode so this is a reasonable workaround.

Overall, I am very pleased with the new system. Before this, when I traveled in the T-Bird, I had a Garmin unit on the dash plugged into 12V power, and an FM transmitter to allow me to play my MP3 player into the radio. This removes a lot of clutter from the car on trips.

I ran the USB cable to the glove box. It is possible to plug a USB jump drive (geek stick) with MP3 files on it into this cable and play music from it. The USB stick has all my MP3s and a few videos.

The GPS antenna is inside the dash just below the top center vents. It has no trouble getting a signal through the dash and the window, so it is completely hidden. I really like a Garmin GPS. I have looked at others, and I really like the Garmin unit.

I spent around 12 hours doing the job myself, mainly because I didn't know how to get into the dash. I needed a really small nut driver (5/32") to remove the factory radio from its mounting bracket, and I lost a lot of time getting the correct tool.

[PaulD]

Re: new stereo

I installed a Kenwood DNX6960, new speakers, and other stuff similar to above. You can eliminate the subwolfer thump by wiring a voltage reducer in line to the sub amp. The thump is created by a 12v signal to the amp to "turn on". The amp was built to receive 5v so you fix than by reducing that 12V to 5V with a Radio Shack 7805 voltage regulator.

[DaiUyTed]

Re: new stereo

If you do a search on stereo or radio you will pull up many threads. Spend a little time looking through these threads and you will see what others have done and how.

I hope this is a simple question with a simple answer:
I have searched the many loosely-connected threads here on car audio, and the more I read, the more I'm confused.
I would like to plug my Sansa MP3 player into my stock '05 Deluxe Bird's stereo. Keeping the controls accessible via the steering wheel would be nice. I don't want to lose the CD changer. I do not anticipate adding XM/Sirius.
Presumably, I can get the proper connecting wire on eBay, plug it into the back of the radio someplace, and I'm set.
I don't know about single/double DIN. I'm not interested in upgrading the radio, stereo, its speakers, amps, etc.
Just wanna plug in my Sansa and hear my tunes.
Any advice? Would this do it?
Has anyone done it? Do I have to remove the radio to plug the assembly into the back?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390223865704&viewitem= &sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT
Thanks!

[tomgaz]

Re: new stereo

what size sub is in our cars? And where is it? Please don,t tell me to do a search?

[texasbird]

Re: new stereo

I believe I read somewhere that it is 6x9" in the rear shelf area.

[redbirdsal]

Re: new stereo

Maybe this will help get you started:

http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forums/showpost.php?p=95208&postcount=137

[Vintage Merlot]

Re: new stereo

How much trouble is it to do a search for "sub woofer"? You will find several hundred posts.

[007Cruiser]

Re: new stereo

You will find several hundred posts.

That's probably why he doesn't want to search.

[tomgaz]

Re: new stereo

exactly why go through hundreds of posts when someone might have the answer.