Yes, another Head Unit question.

[wayneg]

Has anyone changed their Alpine head unit for an after-market unit. Cruchfield.com clearly state later cars with the Alpine / HK 11 speaker setup can be fitted with another Alpine head unit plug and play. One thing that I keep reading is the old unit needs to be turned up fully before removal.
I am only interested in any ones experience if they have changed the head for an alpine or another make successfully on a late car without major surgery.

[Hoges]

If you use the "google custom search" on RANGEROVERS.NET HOME (http://www.rangerovers.net) looking for 'alpine headunit replacement' one poster talks about the Alpine DVA-986... which is about 4yrs old now. but there are several entries which may be of interest. I know this because...;):angel:

[wayneg]

Yes, I have read dozens of old posts, some from as far back 2005. Still none the wiser hence interested if anyone on HERE has done a swap recently. If I am going to swap out a perfectly good unit from the recent car I will want all the latest bells and whistles from an up to date unit or I will leave well alone.
My current car had major surgery to get a Sony head unit working great but I want an easy route if poss.

[wanglemoose]

depends on if you want to keep the steering wheel controls and amps. with mine i bought an alpine unit with front usb and just did a new install with new wiring, as for the door amps i cut them out and run all the door speakers into 2 wires which run to the head unit front speaker output, same for the rear doors to rear output. ditched the std sub and put in an alpine 4 channel amp running 4 350watt 6x9's in a box behind the rear seat. if you crank it you can hear it clearly from more than 100 meters away, just dont try sit in the car at that level >_<.

[wayneg]

The 11 speaker DSP system has one amp behind the sub, no door stations.
Still interested in any answers to the question. Late car, 11 spk system, Apline unit upgrade direct swap????