Joined: Sat Apr 12 2008, 04:13AM
Location: chicago burbs
Posts: 28
I thought I'd post my solution to the problem of decent tunes while keeping the factory radio. I wanted to keep the factory AM radio in place but still be able to listen to my music without hiding an aftermarket head unit somewhere. After hours of google searching I cobbled this together. I installed an amp in the trunk and instead of connecting the rcas to a head unit I connected this for volume control which I mounted to the front of the metal buddy seat mount on top of the trans tunnel so I can easily reach it from the drivers seat but keep it hidden.
I wired all this under the buddy seat between the pass and drivers seat but I'm guessing you could put it under a bench or center console.
You're on your own for speakers but this works pretty well. I can now stream Pandora or mp3s that I have on the phone. I'll probably add a cheap EQ in the somewhere in the trunk but considering I spent less than the cost of a decent head unit I'm happy with the results thus far.
Joined: Sun Aug 16 2009, 02:14PM
Location: Woodland CA
Posts: 877
OK, I'm not very electronically gifted. It sounds like a great idea but I'm lost how it all hooks up. Any diagrams/pictures possible to help illustrate? Thanks.
Joined: Tue Oct 11 2005, 01:33AM
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 5893
I ended up finding radio that would fit, without any dash modifications. I ended up with a Panasonic, AM/FM/CD bluetooth, microphone and such for handsfree iphone link, USB. Was only $130.
I thought about the "amp in the trunk" idea, but didn't know about the neat stuff SuperDave has found. Plus with a convertible, hi-fi loses to wind noise etc. So I have an oldies CD that pretty well lives in the radio, I hate "modern" music. Most seems to be just noise. LOL
Joined: Sat Apr 12 2008, 04:13AM
Location: chicago burbs
Posts: 28
Never saw the Redondo...that's pretty swet but for the same price I got 4 Infiniti speakers, 300w amp and all the other doodads. I'm glad I didn't see that first.