Add aux to OEM radio? first gen legacies?

[ericem]

Well i was searching around, and i see only some models came with aux, but it sounds pretty simple to wire up a internal aux, and make it like this one. Might i ask, is this how the CD came from factory? Looks pretty good, never seen it. Thanks, i use the tape at the moment with the stereo jack, but it looks so cheap, and i think this amp sounds VERY good, and it sounds very good with the tape, but not perfect, and it NEEDS to be perfect , just the speakers need to be changed, and possibly add a small sub and amp under the seat like the newer subaru's(legacy, baja, etc).

[jp233]

my stock 94 cd player doesn't look like that. But since I just pulled it out a few hours ago, it is a Clarion unit - that I can tell you.

The big radio/cassette deck IS the same, but the CD unit below it is just a little different. But I don't know maybe they changed it in 94 and mine is an LS also.

my old 93 only had the radio/tape, so I couldnt tell ya.

I agree the stock stereo is pretty loud and has decent tone,

but....... overall

Why bother with the stock 14 year old head unit driving the show here ? ???? Ditch the thing! Word on the street is that they make GREAT paperweights.

For $80-150 you can get a decent brand new CD / MP3 player with AUX power, and CD changercontrol and all that jazz. Crutchfield will give you a free wiring install kit also, so the only problem with these Legacies is the little gap you have to make a blank-off plate for. Some ABS or metal painted black, good to go. You can re-use the stock bracket that holds the radio/tape and CD players together, which bolts into the dash nicely. Then all you have to do is get the cubbyhole storage pocket that goes above the ashtray, and you have a pretty clean install.

I am literally in the process of wiring up my CD/mp3 unit from my old truck (a Kenwood KDC-MPV7019 that's been in a box for 2 years now). Only thing I can't get to work is the dimmer - but maybe thats a function of the head unit it has a ton of features in the menu I haven't played with in years.

Biggest PITA with these cars is damn cupholder blocks the stereo! Oh well, this is also why remote controls are nice

[ericem]

my stock 94 cd player doesn't look like that. But since I just pulled it out a few hours ago, it is a Clarion unit - that I can tell you.

The big radio/cassette deck IS the same, but the CD unit below it is just a little different. But I don't know maybe they changed it in 94 and mine is an LS also.

my old 93 only had the radio/tape, so I couldnt tell ya.

I agree the stock stereo is pretty loud and has decent tone,

but....... overall

Why bother with the stock 14 year old head unit driving the show here ? ???? Ditch the thing! Word on the street is that they make GREAT paperweights.

For $80-150 you can get a decent brand new CD / MP3 player with AUX power, and CD changercontrol and all that jazz. Crutchfield will give you a free wiring install kit also, so the only problem with these Legacies is the little gap you have to make a blank-off plate for. Some ABS or metal painted black, good to go. You can re-use the stock bracket that holds the radio/tape and CD players together, which bolts into the dash nicely. Then all you have to do is get the cubbyhole storage pocket that goes above the ashtray, and you have a pretty clean install.

I am literally in the process of wiring up my CD/mp3 unit from my old truck (a Kenwood KDC-MPV7019 that's been in a box for 2 years now). Only thing I can't get to work is the dimmer - but maybe thats a function of the head unit it has a ton of features in the menu I haven't played with in years.

Biggest PITA with these cars is damn cupholder blocks the stereo! Oh well, this is also why remote controls are nice

LOL, i cant let this stereo go, lol, want to know why, because when i turn on the radio they ask, is that the stock radio, and i say Hel Yee! Well it is to loud! and to me OEM looks nicer then any after market, if anything ill mod it and add a 1in LCD and sd/mmc card reader, aux, and cd player, and possibly GPS

[jp233]

Yes the stock stereo is pretty loud. Be careful not to bust the speakers, I busted all 4 on my 93 wagon.

People in the back seat always complained about how loud it was.

I like aftermarket stereo's, they have so much more to offer. If I didn't have this CD/mp3 head unit sitting around, I would've bought something that would fill up the whole area.... (2.5 DIN ?)

You'll be hard pressed to fit all that junk you're talking about into a 1x7" area.

[jp233]

Cool, just finished. I had to go get a 1" angle piece of alum this morning, cut it and paint it so I could make the spacer trim plate.

Old:


New:


Total cost = $19 for some butt splices, the angle piece of alum, and the cubbyhole storage pocket. Obviously I had the stereo lying around.

No I just hope the 50w x 4 doesnt blow out the speakers in the ride, although replacing them would be a welcomed addition

[thefultonhow]

I had the aux jack on my OEM radio. Nice and staticky. I got an Alpine iPod headunit and never looked back. Even when my iPod broke and I was iPod-less for a couple months, I just burned a couple MP3 CDs and still had plenty of music.

My advice is not to bother with the stock radio... yes, it is fairly well amplified, but so are aftermarket headunits.

BTW, jp233, the illumination wire on our cars is weird. It is a ground that varies from 0 to 12 volts based on the dimmer position. As far as I know you can't get it to work with any non-OEM headunit.

Also, they sell the 1.5-DIN pocket for our cars at the dealership:

[jp233]

dang, now I'm going to have to go get the 1.5 DIN pocket !!!!!

[ericem]

hey, looks good jp, but im wondering, did u try upgrading the speakers with the stock radio? or keep stock and upgrade head unit it? Because im deciding wether to get good high quality speakers, instead of getting a new head unit. Any ideas? thanks.

[jp233]

i totally lost this thread. anyways i've still got the OEM speakers. they are sounding fine and they only buzz a little bit with bassy tracks / rap etc - so i'm not worried about it too much. having the CD/mp3 player is very nice, since i spend over an hour in the car every day commuting, using an MP3 disc is great since you can put it on random and listen for a week without having to change discs.

i did replace the speakers on my old 93 wagon, but that was because i blew them up. but afterwards people who sat in the back seat always used to complain that its very loud back there. (I put Kenwood speakers front and rear of my old 93 wag) but hell with them, its my car and i have hearing damage!!!!

in short, the oem speakers will work OK with an aftermarket head unit as long as they arent physically blown out or are loose and buzz, etc.

[klaxed]

I had the aux jack on my OEM radio. Nice and staticky. I got an Alpine iPod headunit and never looked back. Even when my iPod broke and I was iPod-less for a couple months, I just burned a couple MP3 CDs and still had plenty of music.

My advice is not to bother with the stock radio... yes, it is fairly well amplified, but so are aftermarket headunits.

BTW, jp233, the illumination wire on our cars is weird. It is a ground that varies from 0 to 12 volts based on the dimmer position. As far as I know you can't get it to work with any non-OEM headunit.

Also, they sell the 1.5-DIN pocket for our cars at the dealership:

dude I don't know what you are talking about with the static of the oem aux jack. I just picked up an oem radio with aux jack and it works just fine.

[thefultonhow]

dude I don't know what you are talking about with the static of the oem aux jack. I just picked up an oem radio with aux jack and it works just fine.

It is possible that my headunit had weak solder joints on the aux jack. Either way, an aftermarket headunit is a far more elegant solution.