Y0l@nda

I have the stock radio, which doesn’t have Bluetooth capability. I would like to upgrade but don’t want to loose the warning chimes etc. Also I am not looking to break the bank. Any suggestions?

Vetteman1953

Having been here before as far as replacement radio choices, there are many, I went thru Crutchfield and went the Kenwood route. I did went middle of the road, costing under $700, but I add both front and rear video, blue-tooth, Sirius radio, Garmin GPS and all the harnesses to hook everything up properly. Bottom line for me was about $1400.00. I checkout some old threads on installation and with a little help from Crutchfield did the entire install myself. Everything works, was sitting at a stop sign recently when two cars hit head on in front of me. I played back the dashcam for the police, and he said it was the best he had ever seen, asked for a copy to add to their report. I went with all Kenwood hardware. Good Luck with your install.

GigG

Kenwood.

If you have a smartphone DO NOT get a head unit with Nav built-in. Use the Apple Carplay or Android feature for nav and pretty much everything else other than AM/FM.

ruenvs

And get the Apple Carplay/Android wireless option. I have a Kenwood in my '06.

drj2011

I installed a Kenwood Excelon 896S and have never looked back. Went to Crutchfield’s as well for the harness. No issues a year later. Some will say don’t get the Garmin nav unit. That’s okay, but there are many miles of great highways in the Midwest and Western US that don’t have cell coverage. I use Waze generally, but I know the on-board gps is there.

Any update you chose is the best upgrade you can do for yourself.

Turbo6TA

I don't want to try looking at a map on my small cellphone screen, so I got a Kenwood head unit with built-in Garmin Nav for my GS.

Bigger screen for these old eyes ...


Attachment 48332144



Also installed a 5-channel amp and replaced all the speakers ... then added a single sub woofer in the rear cubby (much better quality sound)

Attachment 48335933

BluegrassMotorsport

I've got the Sony XAV-AV5000 in mine and I really like it.

Fast Dawg

Finally - someone who likes the Sony! I put a Sony unit in my 09 with a back up camera. It doesn't allow me to use Apple Car Play unless I have my phone plugged into the unit, but then it charges my phone while I'm driving the car unlike the Kenwood - and I'm not bashing the Kenwood units. I agree with everyone - if you intend to do it yourself go to Crutchfield. They will really help you out and have great prices on everything you will need.

NBVette_Canada

What sub box is that?

NBVette_Canada

I personally put a Pioneer unit in mine as I liked the operator interface better than the Kenwood units, no nav. Wired Car Play, but it keeps my phone charged on long drives. I've also installed a front and rear camera. I had also read somewhere, can't remember where. that the Garmin maps in the Kenwood units can't be updated after a few years which to me didn't and still doesn't make sense. If they aren't going to ensure that I can update the maps after say 5-10 years, why bother installing it? So, I figured that could happen to any manufacturer's gear and chose a non nav unit and use Car Play to display the maps and driving directions. I'm sure there are places where I won't get a cell signal but if that really is a concern, I can download and install maps onto my phone for those times.

Nothing wrong with the Kenwood or Sony units. It's all what you personally prefer otherwise they would only make the factory radio and no one would want anything else anyway.

puterami

The Kenwood I went with (eXcelon DMX907S) came with had a chime "module" that plugs into the back of the unit and mounts with double-sided mounting tape or a screw. My module even came with a switch to change to three different volumes of tone. To keep my SWC (Steering Wheel Controls), I also used a PAC RP5-GM11 wiring interface.

dmaxx3500

bluetooth come from the ''onstar unit'',,

in the silverados [ive done 5-10 of them] ,you can go get a used onstar unit with bluetooth and add to the car by just pluging it in,,they came out of 08-09 pontiacs,cadillacs,suburbans,etc,,just go on ebay and look for metal onstar units with 2 coax antenna ports,and 1 will have a short antenna,and they have a ''bluetooth'' label on the front label

also have you tried to push the onstar button and said ''bluetooth'' to it?,,if its already there it will say ''bluetooth ready'' to you

Turbo6TA

From 'VetteNuts'

https://www.vettenuts.net/index.php?...t_detail&p=306

MysteryMob

The Alpine W650 is probably what I'm going to buy due to its ability to have two camera inputs (front and rear) and it has wireless Apple Carplay.

Fast Dawg

Sony has those same features.

Turbo6TA

Almost all of the medium to higher end head units have both front and rear camera inputs

TripleB5832

Turbo6TA, would you mind posting a pic of your amp location?

Turbo6TA

Behind passenger seat ...

Attachment 48333367



A sheet of MDF is glued with Liquid Nails to the metal panel behind the seat ... Amp is attached to this sheet of MDF using T-Nuts.

Note ... Don't drill though this metal panel because the plastic fuel tank is right on the other side.

Attachment 48333366

07MontyRed

Been very happy with my Kenwood except for the amount of time it takes to boot (frequently, I can start the car, back out of the parking space, and be going forward before it finishes booting, which makes the rear-view camera sort of useless). Wireless CarPlay is great! I used the Crutchfield harnesses and installation was a breeze and everything works (steering wheel controls, chimes).

MysteryMob

The Sony AX5000 and AX7000 do not offer dual input nor do they include wireless Apple Carplay. They have wired Carplay and a single input.