Head Unit Question

[utopia]

I was going to go in and get my whole audio re-done but I wanted to keep a "stock" interior look. How much of a waste would it be to not get a headunit?

Or is there one that would match good with interior lighting/install wouldn't look out of place?

[clos561]

jsut get one with blue lighting

[Hirudin]

Word is: the audio quality from the stock HU is just fine, but if you want more features (say, pretty menus or bluetooth or whatever) you'll obviously have to get a new deck.

Also, you should know that you'll loose the trip computer functionality by removing the stock head unit.

[EngulfinFlames]

Personally I'm going with the Kenwood DDX 6019

[Rally Ninja]

If your worried. Just keep the stock unit and get the JL Clean Sweep.
http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_cleansweep_pages.php?page_id=79

I think Rockford has a unit that hooks to your stock unit as well.

[utopia]

If your worried. Just keep the stock unit and get the JL Clean Sweep.
http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_cleansweep_pages.php?page_id=79

I think Rockford has a unit that hooks to your stock unit as well.

that's awesome you're a lifesaver! i didn't really want to buy a new head unit and loose the trip computer and other functionality! by reading this i'm assuming it will basically just be like getting the quality of a new headunit just through my old one??

you wouldn't happen to know that Rockford link would you?

[Rally Ninja]

lifesaver huh? you just made my ego bigger lol.

And yes....
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products/product_categories.asp?cat_id=1
RF 3Sixty I guess its called. 2 versions of it.

[utopia]

lifesaver huh? you just made my ego bigger lol.

And yes....
http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products/product_categories.asp?cat_id=1
RF 3Sixty I guess its called. 2 versions of it.

oh boy...any preference? i heard the 3Sixty 1 had more features but the JL had nicer sound

[Rally Ninja]

I haven't had any experience with either so I can't tell you. Go with what you can find cheaper? lol

[goose8651]

Since someone brought it up on here, what is all about the trip computer? I tried surfing on the mazda website, but I could not find anything on it.

[guy_incognito]

Since someone brought it up on here, what is all about the trip computer? I tried surfing on the mazda website, but I could not find anything on it.

Just the typical information such as instantaneous MPG, cumulative MPG, miles left in tank, avg MPH. This is a standard feature on the GT version, but can be unlocked on the sport version.

[ZooMIN3]

Just the typical information such as instantaneous MPG, cumulative MPG, miles left in tank, avg MPH. This is a standard feature on the GT version, but can be unlocked on the sport version.

it hasn't been unlocked on 08 Sports yet, and it isn't accurate IMO.. lol

[fourthmeal]

snip

[Haltech]

This issue has been covered fully before, because it is so darn hard to find information on proven paths to take, I created a thread with this issue directly, and a few others have contributed greatly to it as well and made it a wonderfully useful thread. Feel free to link up to the pages I have on my signature dealing with all these issues. I've run an RF 3sixty.2 for a while now connected to the stock head unit with zero problems.

Also I just wanted you to know that currently there are better processors then the 3sixty.2 out there now, but that wasn't the case when I did my system initially. Currently, there is an Alpine 650-something and there is also a magical JBL MS-8 processor that should be available SOON. These two make my 3sixty.2 look bad...LOL.

If you have questions about this stuff, feel free to post but don't PM me (it doesn't help those following your post!) I will try my best to answer just about anything regarding audio in a car.

Hey fourth, whats the pricing on those other two units compared to the 3Sixty2's? More or Less $$?

[fourthmeal]

snip

[utopia]

less from what I've seen. Plus you don't need to bluetooth a signal to a laptop or a PDA. I wish I'd waited, but I only regret buying the RF 3sixty.2 because I'm a sound-tweaking fool, and I'd love the new Alpine or JBL piece's features more.

So glad this stuff is an option! I really wasn't looking forward to getting a head unit! Would the dice ipod integration unit work with these devices? Which DSP would you go with now? I read all the specs and stuff but to be truely honest, it just gibberish. I'm trying to get into the audio scene now

http://www.diceelectronics.com/Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=DETEST01&Product_Code=i-Mazda-R&Category_Code=DICE_IPOD_MAZDA

[fourthmeal]

snip

[cornflaykes]

The MS-8 was supposed to be out a while ago. Who knows when it will be out. Amazing unit saw it in Biggs BMW at SEMA.

The Alpine is just as good.

[Abaddon]

The MS-8 was supposed to be out a while ago. Who knows when it will be out. Amazing unit saw it in Biggs BMW at SEMA.

The Alpine is just as good.

The JBL unit completely trumps the Alpine unit.. IF you know what you're doing with your tuning.

It does all the automatic features of the H650, but it gives you full control over everything if and when you need to bring your installation to the next level. This is where the alpine unit is weak. The MS-8 also has a much better microphone system and automatic features as well. As well as being able to go 4 way active....

It will be out relatively soon, maybe 2nd quarter 08. They have the final product finished, and are doing all the promotional material right now.

[superrober1]

Can I have two radios in my car? Like the factory stereo for cd and other for mp3 AND my iPod? I just spent $300 in speakers and tweeters and sounds exactly the same as before, I´m almost crying here !

[fourthmeal]

snip

[utopia]

Did you sound deaden the car fully?

That is the primary reason it probably sounds just like it did before if you haven't done a proper deadening job.

he means dynomat. not sure if you picked that up. but it's a fabric you get installed between the exterior and interior to block out road noise and keep in the muuussiicccc (alright)

[Abaddon]

he means dynomat. not sure if you picked that up. but it's a fabric you get installed between the exterior and interior to block out road noise and keep in the muuussiicccc (alright)

actually.. its a rubber / butyl / Aluminum composite material.

Not fabric.


And there are MANY other manufacturers. Dynamat is just ONE. And its one of the more expensive ones.

[fourthmeal]

snip

[utopia]

actually.. its a rubber / butyl / Aluminum composite material.

Not fabric.


And there are MANY other manufacturers. Dynamat is just ONE. And its one of the more expensive ones.

happens to be one of the most well-known ones as well, that's why i mentioned it because people are most likely to know that. and i don't know much about audio at all to be honest so what it's made out of is beyond me!

[thayayballa]

does the jl clean sweep work with after market head units? my headunit has only 2v preamps and it looks like the JL makes 8v.

thanks

[fourthmeal]

snip

[superrober1]

Hehe. I´m an idiot: I spected my speakers to sound great without an amplifier !. Now I have an MB Quart component in the front, a Crossfire in the back and a Jl A4300 amp.

It sounds great but I still can´t get better sound than my older sony stereo in my previous car. I can hear some distortion with lower frecuencies. The guy that installed them told me its because the factory unit doesnt have enough power. Would it be a big difference if I get 8V with the cleansweep from whatever the unit has??

[fourthmeal]

snip

[fourthmeal]

snip

[jonathan4740]

hey fourth... sounds like you have quite a collection of knowledge here, what is your background? i am interested in upgrading the bose system in my 3, and i am happy to hear that it is a decent enough hu to not have to replace- i really like the look of the stock system and didn't want to give up the extras.

it sounds to me like my second move is going to be sound deadening. i kinda knew i would have to do this, but it is much more exciting to spend money on speakers and amps than some sticky rubber mat... just out of curiosity, are your issues with dynamat limited to the cost, or do you feel it is inferior in some other way?

thanks for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us.

[timv]

I just bought the r-eq the standard one to be installed in my speed3. It has the non-bose unit and to begin I am just going to add my old sub from my previous protege5. I bought it off amazon for around $85 and it was here in the next day, I didn't know the seller was in phoenix too. It looks like crutchfield is shipping the 5 version now but it is around $200.
I didn't find a lot of reviems on the r-eq but the ones I did were very positive and it looks like a more simple way to get the stock stereo to have the proper starting points for adding subs, etc.....
Just thought I would chime in and say hello......

[fourthmeal]

snip

[jonathan4740]

Background : Previous Co-Owner of a little shop that I tried to bring to market...EDGE Racing and Performance. I was working on it Kansas City, MO for a year or so. Before that, I worked at Circuit City. After my failed adventure in business ownership, I worked at Ultimate Electronics for a few years. I'm better at home theater then car audio, but as you probably know, the two mix pretty well. I suck at fiberglass, and I can't control a jigsaw as well as I would like, but otherwise I'm OK at this stuff.

Dynamat isn't bad stuff, and I've said that a few times. Its just equal to other products, yet costs 5x more. Marketing is why. Other brands like Raammat use Butyl and other high quality materials, but still are cost effective because they sell by word of mouth. BTW, you'll hear more difference from a solid, well executed sound dampening job then you will just about any other thing you do. For example, I'm working on my wife's '08 Tribute's sound system, and I am doing it slowly and methodically so she doesn't get upset about me tearing into her car full bore (and potentially leaving us without a drivable vehicle.) So, each day I pick an area of the car I want to work on, and do that one little thing. Well, first thing to do has been sound deadening. I did the trunk one night, and the doors another. And she remarked to me shortly after doing just those two things,

"Wow, did you install the new speakers already? It sound WAY better!"

And indeed it does!

that's good news! thanks for the input. what would you consider critical areas for sound deadening in the mz3 hatch? doors, obviously... what about the floor? how big/difficult of a job is that?

[fourthmeal]

snip