Looking for budget ICE for 97 Legacy wagon

[dmanww]

If you look at page 21 on here

http://www.edsauto.co.nz/images/PDF_Catalogue/Eds%20Catalogue%20Pages%2016-21.pdf

There are 3 options

SUBP1: 1 DIN open pocket

SUBP2: 1.5 DIN pocket with door

SUBP3: 1 DIN pocket with door

I think these are OEM parts for older legacys and should be of high enough quality. Haven't tried installing them, but the trim on legacy and imprezas may be different enough to need a slight trim. Try googling around, I've seen a couple install walkthroughs with pics

[G-unit]

my old rs had 1 with a door, il get whatever will fit mint

[spark_38]

I got mine cheap from pick a part, $8 complete with mounting brackets too. The 1.5 DIN ones aren't that common...

I rang Ed's. $27.50 + P&P for the SUBP2 pocket.

Genuine Subaru pockets can go for as much as $50.

I usually recommend wreckers, common as so about $10-15. The aftermarket ones don't fit as well. Those repco ones are nasty as the frame piece keeps popping off, and the side brackets are held by flimsy screws into plastic.

[G-unit]

will 1 from a legacy fit a gc8 tho?

[Scoobydoo]

Yep it will, it's just the mounting brackets that are different

[G-unit]

so if the mounting brackets are different how will i get it 2 stay in place??

[Scoobydoo]

Well it's how they mount to the car that's different. The holes into which the pocket is screwed, are the same.

[G-unit]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-stereos/other/auction-421673591.htm

cheap enough on TM

[Scoobydoo]

Yeah that's pretty much the same thing you'll get from Repco

[spark_38]

 G-unit said:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-stereos/other/auction-421673591.htm

cheap enough on TM

Those that have done a few installs know that toyota and subaru aren't the same - the toyota ones do not sit flush, they sit behind the plastic surround and the holes have to be redrilled to suit the bracket. And they look ugly.

The subaru pockets have a lip around them that protrude through to the plastic surround piece enabling it to sit flush.

You wouldn't fit a toyota gear knob to your subaru, the same should apply to stereo pockets.

[94 Leone]

 spark_38 said:

You wouldn't fit a toyota gear knob to your subaru, the same should apply to stereo pockets.

Is that a challenge?

[dmanww]

Hmm, the pick-a-part is an interesting option. But I'm going to try installing everything first and see how bad it is.

I'll post a picture of the cheap one I got from TM. It's pretty crap. Cheap injection molded plastic and lots of flash. Will also put up a pic when it's installed.

[boon]

 spark_38 said:

You wouldn't fit a toyota gear knob to your subaru, the same should apply to stereo pockets.

Having spent some time in a car stereo shop... you do some crazy sh!t sometimes to make them fit nicely. Especially Honda pockets.

[dmanww]

So I got around to installing all the stuff this weekend and have some observations

- Stock Subaru speakers can get shockingly bad. The rubber on mine would flake off every time I touched them

- Cheap tools suck big time. I managed to snap off the tip of a screwdriver trying to take off the main centre console. Luckily I was able to get everything done without removing it

- The console I got from TM was really shit. I had to down to StreetSounds and get a proper one.

- Butted connectors are a bitch to crimp. Hopefully they hold up.

I have some questions though

- Is there a way to get the HU to dim with the dashboard lights? I have a Pioneer DEH-1350

- What would be the downside of leaving the stock A pillar tweeters hooked up?

[spark_38]

 boon']

You wouldn't fit a toyota gear knob to your subaru, the same should apply to stereo pockets.

Having spent some time in a car stereo shop... you do some crazy sh!t sometimes to make them fit nicely. Especially Honda pockets.

I refuse to do Honda's, the aftermarket stereos are almost an impossible fit when you pull out the factory units with the pockets that clip to the factory headunit. It's a stupid system. And having to pull half the dash out.

[quote name='dmanww said:

So I got around to installing all the stuff this weekend and have some observations

- Stock Subaru speakers can get shockingly bad. The rubber on mine would flake off every time I touched them

- Cheap tools suck big time. I managed to snap off the tip of a screwdriver trying to take off the main centre console. Luckily I was able to get everything done without removing it

- The console I got from TM was really s***. I had to down to StreetSounds and get a proper one.

- Butted connectors are a bitch to crimp. Hopefully they hold up.

I have some questions though

- Is there a way to get the HU to dim with the dashboard lights? I have a Pioneer DEH-1350

- What would be the downside of leaving the stock A pillar tweeters hooked up?

The entry level Pioneer stereo's: 1-5 series do not have the dimmer function. Only series 6 and above have the auto-dimmer (orange wire) and the OEL display. i.e. DEH-P6050UB

Take the tweeters out when replacing the stock ones with component speakers, or have you been lazy and just bought co-axial's?

[dmanww]

 

Take the tweeters out when replacing the stock ones with component speakers, or have you been lazy and just bought co-axial's?

we're going to go with option B on that one

[spark_38]

 dmanww said:

 

Take the tweeters out when replacing the stock ones with component speakers, or have you been lazy and just bought co-axial's?

we're going to go with option B on that one

If you're gonna leave the factory tweeters in, atttenuate the co-axials, some duct tape over the tweeter is the quickest method. This will result in a much smoother sound - removing that harsh treble. Even with the loudness on low/off and EQ on flat; I often have to set the high bands on -1 when using co-axial speakers.

I once had Sony Xplod speakers - never again. They hurt my ears.

[dmanww]

I've ended up putting a down slope on the EQ. something like B+3, M+1, T-0

I was just wondering if it will do bad thing to the electronics inside the radio.

[Scoobydoo]

Nah it'll be fine, although I would suggest disconnecting the factory speakers and testing it out for a little bit to see how different it sounds, see which way you like it best. Although you'll probably like it the way it is, since the higher tweeters bring the sound stage up and front more.

[dmanww]

I tried it out when I first installed the speakers.

Raising the soundstage makes a huge difference, though I did have to tone down the highs a good amount.

[spark_38]

Yeah having two sets of tweeters (esp down low) does sound a bit strange, I think I've done it before in the past - I prefered the factory ones as they didn't sound as harsh as the sony speakers. They were factory fujitsu ten ones in a Toyota.