Replacing the crappy Head unit

ozkan bicer

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Nov 14, 2015
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116
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istanbul , Turkey
I have installed Helix C63C 3 way speakers in front and C62C 2 way component speakers in the rear. The HU I have now is a Kenwood DDX9017S and Helix P6 amplifier. I had a Subwoofer in trunk but removed it. I might install a spare wheel type active subwoofer later. I dont like traveling with a box in trunk. Tweeters and mids fit in the dash area. You will make small modifications under the grill, nothing visible though.
 

Luke Rado

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Joined
Oct 6, 2017
Messages
52
Location
Gold Coast QLD Australia
Carbon car systems seem to have some pretty good kits for Subaru’s in general and some YouTube install vids... got my Thinkware dash cam from there and it was easy to install ( once I figured out the B+ fuse to wire to lol)
 

Scooby-Doo

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Jun 21, 2018
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So just got a delightful 2018 2.0 GTS the other day, sound is already feeling a bit lack luster. Not going to jump into changing it up too much straight away, but have people found just deadening and some decent speakers in the front are helping?
 

Scooby-Doo

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Jun 21, 2018
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Thanks a heap mate.

Been a good while since I've been doing car audio, given you are in AU also, any suggestions on brands for both?

Cheers,
Nick
 

Garry

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May 23, 2017
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Riverina NSW Australia
Thanks a heap mate.

Been a good while since I've been doing car audio, given you are in AU also, any suggestions on brands for both?

Cheers,
Nick
My local (Wagga Car Radio), had a set of Morel Tempos for the front and Morel Maximo in the back on special. There a few options for sound deadening, WCR use dynamat for the sheeting and soundskins rings around the speakers. I hear the soundskins sheeting is pretty good too. Unless you are handy and willing to pull off door panels, it can be DIY. I got the my local to do it all in one hit. Saves on labor costs done at the same time.
The guy at WCR commented that the headunit isn't too bad and can power the 100w-90w speakers well and the wiring is enough to run the 100w speakers.
I will be upgrading the headunit to a kenwood Apple Car play system with a under seat sub soon. Carbon Car Systems make a wire kit and USB replacement for the levorg. I'll probably get those from there, new fascia off ebay and headunit from whoever has it on special.
 

Scooby-Doo

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Jun 21, 2018
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Thanks mate.

Yeah did all the sound work on my last two liberties, so no issues there. Sound deading is just a sit down with some tunes, beer and a heat gun for an arvo I've found.

Sweet will start looking into that.

I saw the Carbon Car Systems stuff, may do a bit of saving for that, but please let me know how you go/take photos as it will be interesting to see what functionality we actually get to keep/lose :p.

Cheers,
Nick
 

Kash

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Jun 22, 2018
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Just on the Kenwood android auto update (as per the carbon systems you tube vid)...does it's fitting throw up any issues on the central display in the middle of the dash of us it pretty much seamless?

looks like a far more capable unit than the stock clarion system
 
Joined
Sep 15, 2018
Messages
62
Vehicle(s)
Subaru Levorg 1.6 GT with STI body kit 2016 (17 plate)
I'm in Jamaica.
You have a Levorg in Jamaica? I'm presuming that you live in one of the main towns Like Kingston or Montego Bay? Where my family lives in Jamaica, the surrounding roads would wreck a Levorg. I have seen Foresters, Impreza's, Legacy's, Outbacks and XV's when I've been out there though.
 

Geck9

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May 1, 2017
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3
I ended up installing a Bad Blankenburg 3785.01 AM/FM/GPS/DAB antenna on the rooftop. This required me to run in additional cables (DAB, GPS) from the back of the car to the head unit but it's worth it.
Hi SkyBeam,

After reading your posts, I'm very impressed with all modifications you have made. I'm at the point to upgrade my OEM head unit (with navigation) with Pioneer, and would like to replace the OEM DAB antenna as well, but not sure how to do it. Did you take some photos or a video when you installed your Bad Blankenburg 3785.01?
 

jimmyp

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Jun 22, 2019
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Hi SkyBeam,

After reading your posts, I'm very impressed with all modifications you have made. I'm at the point to upgrade my OEM head unit (with navigation) with Pioneer, and would like to replace the OEM DAB antenna as well, but not sure how to do it. Did you take some photos or a video when you installed your Bad Blankenburg 3785.01?
does yours have the factory DAB / carplay unit?
 

SkyBeam

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Joined
May 2, 2017
Messages
41
Did you take some photos or a video when you installed your Bad Blankenburg 3785.01?
I don't think I did but all those things are pretty stright-forward do complete:
  • Remove some covers in the trunk area, at least the left side cover and pull down the ceiling to access the screw holding the OEM antenna in place
  • Remove the OEM Antenna and place the replacement into the same hole (the Bad Blankenburg has a smaller rectangular fitting but it still will fit pretty nicely
  • You mgiht find some adatpers but I decided to make one myself. The OEM antenna has a connector which delivers power (12V) and FM antenna signal. I have simply cut this on the OEM antenna side and fitted FAKA connectors for FM and power on this connector.
  • In addition I did pull in 2 more coax cables for DAB + GPS right from the antenna location towards the headunit. This is pretty simple to do. Just remove the handles above the doors to slightly pull down the ceiling. There are cable-guides on top of it where you can insert the coax cables. The cables will run from the trunk to the left (driver) side A Pillar and from there down to the dash where I connected the head unit.

It's all pretty self-explanatory when you pull the ceiling. You will see immediately where the factory FM radio coax cable is going. It just takes some time to unmount all the door handles and plastic frames to pull the ceiling a bit down to access this area. You can use readily made coax cables with FAKRA connectors or you can crimp your own ones (which is what I did). The factory/OEM Subaru connector will also provide power to the amplified Antenna if needed. On The Bad Blankenburg antenna you could also use phantom power on the FM cable if you want. But I decided to use the OEM 12V power and use dedicated antenna power input.

First I was a bit afraid the new antenna wouldn't seal properly as there is no proper sealing ring around the inner part, but there is a sealing lip all around the antenna. And also it does not sit that tight into the larger square cutout of the factory antenna mounting hole but it turned out still tow work quite well. I would have prefered the OEM antenna design as it fits the Levorg better and I thought about mounting the Bad Blankenburg electronics parts into the OEM housing. But finally I did not do this as it also looks it would not fit physically. I did however wrap the Bad Blankenburg antenna in blue vinyl to match my other blue applications as I didn't like the black plastic look.
 

Geck9

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May 1, 2017
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3
Thanks for the guide. How is the headliner attached? I watched some videos on Youtube on different Subaru models, they all have special clips, but I can't see them on my Levorg.


I would have prefered the OEM antenna design as it fits the Levorg better
That's what I was afraid of. I'm looking for a way to keep the original shark fin, or at least to find something similar.

Also, do you know how long the coax cable is? I think I will use the readily made cables as I don't have the necessary tools to properly crimp them.
 

SkyBeam

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Joined
May 2, 2017
Messages
41
Thanks for the guide. How is the headliner attached?
As I remember it's clipped up with the typical push-pins on the back side. So Just pulling it down will work fine. I don't remember it to be somehow affixed at the sides/front besides it being clamped behind the handles and the B pillar cover (where the seatbelt is). You will also have to remove the seal around the sunroof which is holding the headliner in place. Just pull it and you're ready to pull down the headliner too.



Also, do you know how long the coax cable is? I think I will use the readily made cables as I don't have the necessary tools to properly crimp them.
Just use a cord or similar to estimate where you want to run in the cable. Probably a 7m cable would do it. But if you want to know precisely, then just use tesa strips and a cord, go from the antenna location to the left side and from there to the A pillar, down the A pillar and underneath the dash you probably need another 1.5m.
 

nicodache

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Jun 23, 2014
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50.45459,3.95254
Looking at replacing my HU one of these days, as warranty extension expires in august.

Seicane seems not to carry the WRX/Levorg unit anymore on their official website - only Forester. And the only suitable one on their official aliexpress shop is outdated quite a bit (ARM 1.5ghz) - idoing has the 1.8.
I've seen Joying, which doesn't offer model for the silver edged ventilation/air duct thing.
And then Idoing.

Who among you has installed an Idoing HU w/o Harman Kardon thing on a MY16 levorg GT-S ?
 

Luke Rado

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Joined
Oct 6, 2017
Messages
52
Location
Gold Coast QLD Australia
Looking at replacing my HU one of these days, as warranty extension expires in august.

Who among you has installed an Idoing HU w/o Harman Kardon thing on a MY16 levorg GT-S ?
I have not looked into the idoing but I have looked into aftermarket options (pioneer etc) that keep all the factory features like steering wheel controls, reverse camera, Sat Nav (their own, probably better than the Subaru one). It also comes with a factory style trim piece for around $1100 or $1300 AUD professionally installed. Can get cheaper head unit depending what you’re wanting as far as speaker output, subwoofer configuration etc.
 

nicodache

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Jun 23, 2014
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50.45459,3.95254
The thing is that I'd like to keep the stock aspect of my dashboard, and as I have the builtin GPS thing, a regular 2din HU is going to look horrendous.

Now, if you tell me Pioneer/Sony/Alpine have a model for Levorg with the fascia, I'd be interested in knowing more :cool:
 

Luke Rado

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Joined
Oct 6, 2017
Messages
52
Location
Gold Coast QLD Australia
The thing is that I'd like to keep the stock aspect of my dashboard, and as I have the builtin GPS thing, a regular 2din HU is going to look horrendous.

Now, if you tell me Pioneer/Sony/Alpine have a model for Levorg with the fascia, I'd be interested in knowing more :cool:
haha I know what you mean. But in my experience the built in GPS is a bit rubbish at times and I have noticed with a phone connected, music playing and GPS routing the system locks up after a few hours of use. We have told the dealership and the response was turn it off and on again... not the response you’d expect when you’ve bought a $50K car. The Bluetooth voice experience is also sub par. Anywho trying to get a new headunit and then swap and sell for an aftermarket one once the process is complete and I’ll post some piccy’s once complete The Automotive sound guy says it will look better than stock with a new fascia piece specifically designed to go with the double din units which are more powerful and have all the bells and whistles like car play and GPS etc. there are two different wiring harnesses for the Levorg though apparently so part of the reason I’m going down the professional install route.
 
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