Car Stereo replacement

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raytaylor

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#138404 2-Jan-2014 20:36

Hi All
Question regarding car stereos

I am looking at buying a 2013 korando, and it has one of those stereos that are built into the dash - it doesnt appear to be a replacable "DIN" or "Double-DIN" type ones - also has buttons on the steering wheel.

Anyone know if these sorts of stereos are replacable as I really want sat nav in the dash? I also cannot find a high pass filter setting in the stereo for adding a subwoofer.

I dont think the dealer wants to let me pull apart the dash board of his demo model.

Ray Taylor

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wasabi2k

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#960425 2-Jan-2014 21:08

You can get double DIN head units - all major brands do them.

A lot of them have standard mounts behind the dash - but you more than likely won't work with your control bits on your arms.

jpoc

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#960453 2-Jan-2014 22:48

Most of the units that do not appear to be DIN or 2xDIN are but they are disguised. In some markets, cars are required to have standard fitments and so the mfrs try to hide the fact for other markets. Can you get a look at a list of factory approved alternatives - that may well make clear to you what your choices are.

Also, go to one of the after market suppliers and see what they say they can offer.

ScuL

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#960476 2-Jan-2014 23:48

I don't know what a Korando is (never heard of it) but in principle any stereo (DIN or double DIN) is replaceable. What the main point is, is retaining alternative functionality that may be linked to the HU (head unit).
There are small aftermarket boxes called "stalk-modules" that allow you to retain steering wheel functionality. The trick here is that you need the stalk-module plus a part A (that matches car manufacturer) and a part B (that matches radio manufacturer). For a BMW with a Pioneer radio you need a stalk-module that has a BMW plug on one end and a Pioneer plug on the other end.
Maintaining steering wheel controls is easy with the right modules. It becomes more complicated when a built-in sat-nav has its main hardware integrated in the HU. When this is the case you need to stick to the factory radio and boost your audio in other ways (replacing speakers and/or adding amps & subs)

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richms

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#961246 4-Jan-2014 19:19

Friend had a hell of a time getting decent audio into their 2011 landrover with the inbuilt stereo. Ended up close to a grand before they had even started to add the good stuff. Look on ebay for the kits and stuff, be aware that there may be a colour difference on any dash kits you buy compared to the stock dashboard and you may need to get it re-sprayed to match which is suprisingly expensive. Also watch for different left hand drive vs right hand drive kits, the left ones are usually way more common. Ebay uk is a good source for parts.

Where the climate controls are on the same panel as the stereo, there is usually kits where you move all the other controls to the new panel and end up with a din sized hole where the actual stereo goes.

As for wheel controls - lots of money to save having to reach a few CM and they usually only do volume and skip track or preset - hardly worth the money IMO.

Richard rich.ms

MikeB4

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#961257 4-Jan-2014 19:48

I find factory fit car audio fine. As for steering wheel controls should be compulsory on all new vehicles. They cut down driver inattention.

Replacing factory fit with after market can be a minefield as many vehicle as systems are inigrated into infotainment systems

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

richms

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#961260 4-Jan-2014 19:57

Hmm, Factory audio on the last current model car I drove:

Noisy 3.5mm Aux in that gets even noisier with groundloops if you try to charge your phone at the same time, and cruddy A2DP bluetooth so totally unlistenable, barely any imaging because of almost floor level speakers, and excessive mid-range that no amount of changing the limited bass and treble controls could get in any way sounding remotely neutral.

And chronically underpowered with no sub either. Wheel mounted controls could only change volume, source, and skip to the next station up/down, which is hopeless with there are over 20 stations plus all the waikato ones that it will sometimes stop at as well.

Wasnt upgradable without spending heaps on it as the same stupid low-res in dash screen was used for the "I cant drive" reversing sensors and other car related warnings.

Richard rich.ms

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MikeB4

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#961264 4-Jan-2014 20:09

I confess to having the in car stereo on only sparodically, 99% would be radio.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

MikeB4

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#961265 4-Jan-2014 20:12

raytaylor: Hi All
Question regarding car stereos

I am looking at buying a 2013 korando, and it has one of those stereos that are built into the dash - it doesnt appear to be a replacable "DIN" or "Double-DIN" type ones - also has buttons on the steering wheel.

Anyone know if these sorts of stereos are replacable as I really want sat nav in the dash? I also cannot find a high pass filter setting in the stereo for adding a subwoofer.

I dont think the dealer wants to let me pull apart the dash board of his demo model.

Due to systems integration I would suggest you check to see if changing the unit would impact the vehicle warranty

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

raytaylor

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#961267 4-Jan-2014 20:17

Okay well thats all good to know there should be DIN slots behind the fascia.

Here is a picture of the stereo thats built in.
It says its a 9 speaker which implies there is a subwoofer somewhere, but I cant find it. Honestly i would have been happy if there was a high pass filter setting in the head unit so i can bring my sony amp and sub from the old car.

So I am 99% sure its going to be 3x DIN in height.

I am willing to spend $1k on something nice, but replacing the fascia is going to be the hard bit

If i cant do it, then i am going to be running some USB cables up to the storage compartment you can see on the top of the dash and probably mount a tomtom.

Ray Taylor

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richms

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#961275 4-Jan-2014 20:35

most factory stuff will have a rear aux in that is available with an overpriced loom, its what they use to connect those fancy parrot handsfree/media player units into cars with craptastic inbuilts like that one.

Richard rich.ms

lxsw20

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#961278 4-Jan-2014 20:42

http://www.edsauto.co.nz/index.html Try this guy.

http://www.edsauto.co.nz/images/PDF_Catalogue/Rover_Landrover_Smart_Skoda_Ssangyong.pdf

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ScuL

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#961342 5-Jan-2014 00:43

There seems to be quite a bit of specialised kit available for this model

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ssang+yong+korando+replace+radio&newwindow=1&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=QFR&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=qfPHUofHCaPB7Aaz4YGADw&ved=0CGAQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=951

http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/ssangyong-korando-car-radio.html

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raytaylor

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#961352 5-Jan-2014 02:26

lxsw20: http://www.edsauto.co.nz/index.html Try this guy.

http://www.edsauto.co.nz/images/PDF_Catalogue/Rover_Landrover_Smart_Skoda_Ssangyong.pdf

OMG Thank you thank you thank you - That pdf looks like its got the exact fascia part.

Im not one of those people that likes to drive around with a sub woofer blasting but i do like high quality sound.

Ray Taylor

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ScuL

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#961353 5-Jan-2014 02:46

I am like that too, unlike the boyracer types with their loud booming bass I appreciate very high quality (crisp) audio with plenty of punch.

In my current vehicle I had to work around the factory HU as I couldn't take out due to integrated sat-nav.

I have managed to extend the system with some clever wiring & parts.
Please see my showcase here

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nickb800

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#961391 5-Jan-2014 09:55

Another way could be to disconnect one of the speaker feeds from the stock headunit (perhaps the mystery 9th speaker) and feed it into a high-to-low-level converter, which will give you an RCA jack, to then feed into an amplifier for your subwoofer.