| Phinphan |
I want to install a new radio in my 2002 Premium with the base non base single cd system. I am looking at an Alpine with cd and mp3 capability and XM ready. I listen mostly to talk radio, the news and books on tape. I do not want to replace the speakers if I can avoid it.
My questions are:
Can I use the Alpine APN CDA9811 cd/mp3 xm ready unit without changing out my existing speaker system?
Are there any other brands that will do the same thing (super high fidelity is not an issue for the programming I listen to)?
Any advise would be much appreciated. |
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| TheyCallMeBruce |
quote:
Originally posted by Phinphan
I want to install a new radio in my 2002 Premium with the base non base single cd system. I am looking at an Alpine with cd and mp3 capability and XM ready. I listen mostly to talk radio, the news and books on tape. I do not want to replace the speakers if I can avoid it.
My questions are:
Can I use the Alpine APN CDA9811 cd/mp3 xm ready unit without changing out my existing speaker system?
Are there any other brands that will do the same thing (super high fidelity is not an issue for the programming I listen to)?
Any advise would be much appreciated.
While I don't see anything wrong with the 9811 headunit, you may want to look into first obtaining a trim mounting kit to adapt the aftermarket piece into the odd-shaped OEM space. Some people have had serious trouble seeking a stock look. A mass-produced bezel trim and mounting adapter may now be available for for the 02 MDX, but I think you should confirm and obtain this kit before purchasing the new Alpine headunit.
Good Luck. |
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| Phinphan |
Metra makes a mounting kit that I have seen on the board and although it does not match exactly, it is fine for my situation. I am most concerned about the speakers working correctly.
The guy at Circuit City thought I needed to change out the speakers as well. |
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| pacpal1 |
| I used the Metra kit...it works fine. You'll have to paint it along with the dashboard screen frame a grey/flake color so there's no color contrast between the Metra kit frame (it comes in plain black plastic) and the video screen frame. I think I've posted some pointers on maksing and painting the screen frame as well as the Metra kit. I used a dark grey metal flake spray paint obtained from Pep Boys...I'm VERY critical and I'm satisfied with how it turned out. See all my other posts for details. |
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| pacpal1 |
| Replace the speakers...you can do it cheaply and won't regret it. Focus on choosing speakers that have the proper depth dimension that won't require any mounting/spacer rings (my speaker choice required significant modification of the doors). See all the other posts on this site...I think people have experienced very little trouble swapping into the Infiniti speakers. |
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| Phinphan |
| pacpal - thanks for the tips. |
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| Phinphan |
| oh yeah, where can I get the Metra kit? |
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| pacpal1 |
You can't order directly from Metra, I tried. In fact, you can't even call Metra to find out what retailer carries their products, tried this too. Well, you can call Metra, but its employees actually don't know where the company's products are retailed...really, I'm not kidding, I spoke with a woman who was the senior sales rep for the west coast and she couldn't hook me up with a retailer!
Anyway, you'll have to call around to local mobile audio retailers, I found that Circuit City and Al & Ed's Autosound carry Metra products. Actually, they special order them. I chose to deal one on one with an Al & Ed's employee rather than deal with a Circuit City idiot. Cost was somewhere around $30.
BTW, in case I never posted the spray paint I used, its mfg. by Plasti-Kote Co., Inc. (a Valspar subsidiary). Looks like the color code is 9091CC. It's a dark grey metal flake. If you paint both the Metra kit and your dashboard screen frame, they'll match each other perfectly. In addition, I found that the grey flake color (9091CC) is close enough to the other gray plastic interior panels that, even in bright sunlight, you won't be distracted by the slight color mismatch. In fact, my MDX is silver/dark grey, so it was a perfect choice. |
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| phins2rt |
phinphan,
Don't know if this link will help or not. |
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