Replacing the Stereo: Aftermarket or Junkyard?

[Aeonica]

The stereo head unit in my 90 Legacy is having intermittent speaker issues, where sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. Usually the driver door speaker quits, but sometimes the passenger door speaker quits as well. This typically changes when the ride gets bumpy. Based on what I've read, the head unit is usually to blame for this. I've also been able to give the head unit a good smack and have the speakers start working right again.

I live right next to a Subaru junkyard and can buy a replacement head unit pulled from an identical legacy for $40. Or I can buy an aftermarket one that comes with new features like USB/SD card readers, and maybe some better sound quality that I won't appreciate because I'm still using old speakers and I'm too cheap to upgrade? The aftermarkets typically go for around $70+ for anything that looks decent.

I mostly use a generic MP3 Player hooked up via a cassette cable anyway.

Does anyone have any recommendations on which would be the better route to go for replacing the head unit?


While I'm posting, I'm also trying to find information on taking the steering wheel apart and getting at the cruise control controls, and the ignition switch area, if anyone can direct me to an appropriate thread for that. Thanks.

[James614]

I say go for a cheap aftermarket head unit with an Auxiliary jack for your MP3 player. Works way better than a tape adapter, and you won't find the Aux port on anything between 92ish and the mid 2000s (they had them in the first Legacies, and then they disappeared for no apparent reason for like 12 years). Even with the stock speakers you will notice a good sound quality difference from the move to an Aux port.

FWIW, I'm starting to see this issue on mine, and I plan to take apart the rear of my head unit to see if any solder joints are cracked (and repair if needed.). I managed to restore the function of my 23 year old front aux port this way (I have a '91 radio with the aux port).

[Aeonica]

What do you use to get rid of those wonderful "extra sound effects" that come from the auxiliary port when a player is hooked up to it? Or do you not have them? Mine squeals like crazy if I just plug in an MP3 Player to the port through a straight sound cable. That's why I'm using the cassette adapter. (I've also noticed that the volume is much louder via the adapter than the auxiliary port.)

[James614]

I had the fading volume until it cut out with the cracked solder, but no extra noise. Not sure what would be causing that. Could be the same issue, but affecting different pins.

[Legacy777]

I would suspect there are solder joints that are cracked that may be causing the extra noise.

You are probably better off getting a newer head unit.

[Danteandsoob]

This is how my unit is too, is there any other treads on that have step by step instructions on how to replace the OEM unit with an aftermarket?

EDIT: By instructions I mean for requiring the harness for the new head unit. Also, I looked at my unit and the sound cuts out when wired get moved around, is it the head unit, or the wiring? Is there a way to tell the difference?

[Legacy777]

Regarding the wiring for an aftermarket head unit. There are various adapters that plug into the stock stereo plugs and give you the wire color information to hook up the aftermarket stereo. That's the best thing to do.

To test whether the issue with the wiring or head unit, You'd need to test the power, ground, and resistance of the speaker wiring to verify whether they're good.