OEM Interface Forum » Head Units

replacing HU-650 with aftermarket head unit

(2 posts)

  1. nancy

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    Joined: Jul '09
    Posts: 10

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    I want to replace the head unit in my 2006 V70 with HU-650. There seems to be an amplifier under the passenger seat of my car. I'd like to install a Pioneer AVIC-X710BT, which is a double-DIN head unit.

    The radio vendor is suggesting that I will lose my dashboard speaker, and that I will have to run new speaker wires to each speaker. I am not so concerned about the former, but the latter seems quite a large task. It seems to me that I should be able to bypass the amplifier under the seat with some jumper wires - is this not the case?

    Any advice is welcome. I am an electrical engineer, so in theory you can be as technical as you like. I have installed an aftermarket radio in another car, so I'm familiar with wiring harness adapters and removing trim, etc.

    Posted 2 years ago #
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  2. Sam

    Posted 2 years ago

  3. helma

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    Joined: Jul '09
    Posts: 10

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    Yes, you will loose your center channel speaker unless you get an external amp etc to power it. The head unit's internal amp provides the power for the center. Not sure if this is a problem, but you'll also loose steering wheel controls (though there is an adapter--albeit pricey--that can preserve the capability).

    As for the wiring, what they're assuming is that the speaker wires from the amp go directly to the speakers, but in reality the wires actually run back behind the head unit and THEN to the speakers. Thus you have two connectors behind the head unit:
    1) head unit to main harness including power+external amp+center channel+steering wheel controls etc etc.
    2) external amp to speakers

    To be sure, you can pop the head unit out and see if you can find two separate harnesses connected behind the head unit. If so, no problem.

    And even if the wires don't run back behind the head unit, it's more than possible to just run them all down to the harness on the amp under the seat and splice into that.

    Posted 2 years ago #
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