Head unit dilemma

[YoungBonne12]

I have an 02 ssei with the monsoon system. The mods I have to my sound system system are infinity 6.5 coax's up front, and - pdx 1.1000 powering to type r's via line out converter. I want to upgrade to an alpine 136bt head unit so I can have more control and don't have to use my cassette adaptor anymore, but my step dad and I have been arguing about it. He says by upgrading my head unit, I'll be downgrading in quality due to the "brilliance" of the stock Delco head unit. I'd just like some input from you guys. What do you recommend? I wanted this head unit because it allows me to keep steering wheel controls without much hassle, and it has 3 preouts if I ever want to add amps.

[repinS]

The stock head unit is good relative to other factory systems, but it's not THAT good. The Alpine unit you're looking at should be a healthy upgrade and allow you the control and flexibility you're looking for.

I wasn't happy with my Monsoon setup until I upgraded the 6.5's up front and the 6x9's out back. It's as far as I'm willing to go without adding subs or anything else. The Delphi TNR800 nav unit I put in added a smidge of clarity also.

[YoungBonne12]

repin: did you have any issues installing? or did you have it installed by a shop. im still debating on that portion of it also with the steering wheel controls and all

[swampthing]

If he doesn't want you to change the deck simply to keep it stock nothing is going to change his mind. Have you considered the sheer amount of work to install an aftermarket headunit in these cars? It involves lots of wiring and adapters to keep the various functions working plus a dermal inside the dash to even get it to physically fit inside. I'm not trying to discourage you but I just want you to have all the facts.

Now from an audio point of view the delco has the most garbage eq I have ever heard. I had to keep the midrange at minus 2 just to make it bearable, im a big fan of pioneer personally but I don't have much experience with their newer models mine has the older parametric eq which is extremely tuneable with plenty of features

[YoungBonne12]

It's not that he doesn't want me to get one, it is that he thinks its and SQ mistake and that ill be sorry I did it.

[swampthing]

I'm not a huge alpine fan but anything is an improvement over the stock deck. I have the Bose system when I changed the headunit I noticed a big difference in sound quality, which only improved with the speaker upgrades. You won't be sorry you did it but I suggest you read up a little on the work involved in installing it yourself.

[YoungBonne12]

I am pretty against installing it myself, given that I don't know much about head units, just speakers and amps, and the fact that I have to run extra wires for the remote to the monsoon and the wires to the steering wheel adaptor. I think I'm going to leave this install to the pro's

[swampthing]

Iirc you don't have to run the extra wires for the monsoon. The metra harness will provide a turn on signal, but I think you have to clip a different Wire then the instructions say to. I hope you find a good shop to take it to, back when I tried to find one they all said that since it was Bose that aftermarket was impossible

[YoungBonne12]

I have a really good shop around me, they just like to rob you on installation prices

[redzmonte]

My stock sterio sounded much better with a new deck. the stock Bose system is decent but aftermarket will almost allways sound better. Im running Kenwood deck, stock bose amp and stock bose speakers and 2 12" subs. sounds good but still want to replace the speakers. the deck is not hard to install if you have the right tools. there is a right up on it here, requires trimming the back of the dash (kind of a pain) any sterio shop including Best buy or whatever can install the HU, not that hard.

[sandrock]

Don't forget the steering wheel control adapter!

I'm not sure if the '02 and up have ribbon cables for the stereo or not, but those are a real pain, and you have to cut around in the area that cable sits. The chime module that has to be installed is also obnoxiously loud, so put a piece of duct tape with a few holes punched over the speaker in the module.

Keep in mind that if your car has HUD (not sure what you have, didn't look) you will lose the stereo display. Not a big issue for most people, but I had to throw that out there.

[00Beast]

02+ has wires, not the ribbon cable. However it has the same style Dock & Lock Connector, so it still requires the same amount of work to install.

[nbro3546]

you could go custom and run wires to the glove box and install the new unit in there. keeps that stock look but the old one wont work lol, alot of people do this for old muscle cars and i kinda like the idea

[YoungBonne12]

well this just in. my mom went and got everything quoted... $510!!!!! for an 180 head unit and install. they want 120 just for the wiring harness and another 85 for the steering wheel adaptor. it's OUTRAGEOUS. i plan on going to another audio store in my area and see what they have to say. i just cant fathom spending that much on a head unit.

[swampthing]

Those prices are just about correct as of 5+ years ago when I did mine with both adapters.

[YoungBonne12]

i can get the gm32 r wiring harness for 65 and the swi rc steering wheel adapt. for 52. that saves me 100 right there. but my question is would both of those adaptors work? and would it be hard to install the adaptors with wiring myself?

[swampthing]

Don't get the pac get the metra I hate my pac according to redzemonte the metra was completely plug and play. As far as the steering wheel adapter goes iirc the instructions specify the wrong wire to splice into. The old club had info on it I don't know if anybody has installed one over Here recently. I removed mine while chasing another problem and never reinstalled it so I am not sure on that one

[YoungBonne12]

http://www.metraonline.com/part/GMOS-09 would this be equivalent gmac09? just making sure before i make any decisions

[swampthing]

I believe it is called the gmos9 but I am not positive

[redzmonte]

GMOS-09 is for a factory bose-Monsoon/onstar car so that would be the correct one (thats what i used). PAC or Metra have a Steering wheel interface (ASWC).. OHH and dont forget the antenna adaptor... its a VW style one i got mine at Best buy.

My install post:
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... 12#p272513

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Metra-Electronics ... B000LUBR8S

Sound Electronix:
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_129 ... OS-09.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_228 ... -ASWC.html (most functions work auto but to get all steering wheel controls to work you need to use the instruction book to manually program them all)