new cd player installation.

[indysubaru]

OK. I have a quick question regarding the installation of a new CD player. It is more or less questions about taking apart the console.

1) Do I need any special tools to take the console apart and remove the old cd and tape player?

2) For those of you who have done this, what is your recommended approach. (I don't want to start guessing how things come apart and end up snapping a piece of plastic).

I have briefly taken a look at it and I just thought I would get some feedback conerning it first.

Thanks!

[rao]

It's very easy, go here: http://www.egr.unlv.edu/~simon/2.5RS/FAQ/radio.html.

[AaronB]

I replaced the stereo last weekend and used the instructions that Rao pointed to. Well written. All you need is a screwdriver. Replacing the head unit was much easier than a lot of other cars I have done, replacing the speakers on the other hand...

I took a bunch of digital images and was going to do a write up on some of it, but I haven't had a chance yet. I would reccomend getting a wiring harness so you don't have to cut the factory wires though. It makes life much easier when you try to put the factory back in.

Good Luck, email me if you have any Q's.

Aaron

I just changed my deck (2nd time) today. Took me about 30 mins total, starting from unbox the deck (he he). Only 1 phillips screw driver and you are good to go to take apart the console. Get the wiring harness from your local car audio shop, it will make your life 10x easier.

Sak

[indysubaru]

Thanks for the instructions. The head-unit was probably the easiest part to swap. The rear speakers were a pain in the butt. I mounted some 6 1/2" JBL Power series speakers back there and they rock!

I haven't done the ones in the doors yet, but they are next (hopefully they will be a bit easier to get out). I was quite amazed to see how cheap the factory installed speakers were. I'm surprised they sounded as good as they did for what they were.

[Tim Prudence]

Yeah, I had a pain with the front speakers too. I used the stock plastic holder but I could only screw down the speaker so far until the magnet pressed against the baffling. So the speaker is actually elevated off the plastic holder with the long screws not going very deep into it (see diagram below). Well, that's better than hitting the window I guess, but it's certainly not a professional setup. Anyone think I'm going to have problems with this? It seems stable, and sounds good.

----------- speaker
|_________| screws
plastic holder

[This message has been edited by Tim Prudence (edited January 27, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Tim Prudence (edited January 27, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Tim Prudence (edited January 27, 2000).]

[AaronB]

I thought the rear deck was a pain in the a$$ compared to the front doors. I also had to trim the factory mounting plate because the speaker magnet would hit it. Luckily I had a bandsaw handy, it took about 2 seconds I mounted the speaker to a 3/8" spacer and mounted that to the modified factory mounting plate. It stuck out a long way, but the door panel still fit with no problem. The hardest part was running new speaker wire into the door. I ended up going on the outside of the factory loom and zip tying to it I gave up on it. I might re-wrap it all so it looks a little better though.

I had the tweeter kit, which has a tweeter right by the door handle. It is a tweeter screwed to a piece of metal that is held onto the doors by 2 screws. I removed the entire assembly from the door, unscrewed the tweeter, removed the tweeter from the bracket, and I was lucky enough to have the surface mounting adapters for my Boston tweeter and it fit on the piece of metal with minor modifications (bending). Everything fit right back into place and cosmetically except for the in-dash CD player you can't tell there is any aftermarket items in there which is what I wanted.

Tim,
If the door panel went on ok and it is secured tightly, the only drawback I can think of is that you probably aren't getting the best midbass response your speakers could provide since the front and back of the speaker aren't seperated. Mine aren't completely seperated and it sounds a little off to me so I may take the panels off and try to isolate front/back better. i will probably put some sound dampening on the door while I am at it.

I have some pics of the install if anyone has more questions. I am trying to write it up in a how to, but work has been to busy

Aaron

[mlomker]

Originally posted by indysubaru:
I haven't done the ones in the doors yet, but they are next (hopefully they will be a bit easier to get out).

You're in for a surprise. The rear deck is easier than the front doors. My `96 had the front speakers mounted in this plastic holder. I had to take a hacksaw to it in order to make my Boston's fit. The problem is that the factory speakers have tiny magnets and are very shallow. It's also a pain to run larger speaker wiring through the doors.

My recommendation would be to have a stereo shop make some custom front mounts for you. That's what I'm doing on my next Impreza (WRX!)

Someone mentioned upgrading the front speakers on their newer Impreza. Did you install separates? Was it easy to fit a tweeter in the stock location?

[Bob_the_cook]

I'm trying to get some ideas for some speakers to go with my Alpine 52x4 mp3 deck... I'm considering jbl or polk.

[Aaron'z 2.5RS]

Originally Posted by Bob_the_cook

I'm trying to get some ideas for some speakers to go with my Alpine 52x4 mp3 deck... I'm considering jbl or polk.

And you bumped an 8 YEAR OLD POST.... good jerb...

[Aaron'z 2.5RS]

Ok, to not be a total prick, please look at the first 3 pages here....