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Trip
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i'm looking on eBay to upgrade the stereo in my 89 Prelude. i would like a CD player but would prefer a CD changer mounted in the trunk for security purposes.
i'm noticing some of the Honda radios have a "CD" button. For example, the stereo in a 95 Accord EX. i had this stereo myself at one point but i had the single in dash player. will it control a Honda CD changer?
tks
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Specboy-GSR
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I'm assuming you want to "Upgrade" the factory unit in your prelude?
My 86 Prelude had an adequate Cassette player but I wanted CD just like you do so instead of a factory unit, I went aftermarket. It cost me about $35 more but it was worth it (and it would accept an aftermarket changer as well). The Hind sight now tells me I made the right move. my 2000 GS-R Factory stereo Sucked so I put in a Clarion... what a difference. [Check my other posts in this section to read up on the Downsides of the Honda Factory Radio Systems(there are many)]
IMHO going to a "newer" factory system is not an upgrade and I don't think you will be too happy with it.
Ebay has some great merchants such as IKESOUND (scala1) who I personally have purchased many Items from for excellent prices.
on the changer note, I know my 2000 Factory radio could handle a changer (either the trunk mount or the 6-Disc in dash changer that mounts below the radio)
Good Luck
~SB
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PRBallard
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Most 90's Honda's and Acura's (including the 95 Accord) with a CD button controls a Honda CD changer. They also control Alpine Changers as well. My 93 Vigor doesn't even have a CD button, as just press AM twice and it controls my Alpine changer. All of this without an FM modulator or remote. There is a special Honda/Acura cable that you will need to get the pin-outs right. I think crutchfield.com sales everything you need, if not a web search should do the trick.
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Trip
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thanks for the input, guys.
i know a true audiophile would not consider another factory head unit an "upgrade" but i want to keep my interior as stock as possible. i didn't want to put in an aftermarket deck or mess around with an FM modulator, so a newer Honda head unit with changer controls is the way to go to get a CD player in the car.
if anything, i know it's not as clean, i'll go with amps that have speaker level inputs and then do some work with crossovers.
i'll definitely be upgrading the speakers. i'm thinking of hiding the tweeters for a component set in the door dash vents. the Prelude has the vents on the doors themselves (not in the dash) and they'd be a perfect place to tuck them away and keep the interior looking stock.
Last edited by Trip on 05-05-2003 22:12
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Specboy-GSR
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Hey Trip,
I think I'm a little bit confused about the purpose of this audio system installation.
I myself am not an audiophile but I do like Quality sound, and actually enjoy the tinkering more than anything else.
I'd like to clear something up out of my own curiosity.
Is your goal a Factory look?
or
Is your goal quality sound?
I may be off base but this is the impression I got:
You seem to want the quality sound because you want to spend the money and put amps in and replace the factory speakers with component ones.
But
Then you say you want the factory look.
In my opinion, and my experience with Replacing Stereos in 6 different hondas (86 prelude, 98 Civic, & 87/91/93/00 Integras), the two things you seem to want to do cancel each other out. (and could be a big waste of money) - This is the part that confuses me.
The honda head units cannot produce quality sound no matter what you do to the speakers or the amplification system. If you despise bass in a stereo system, then you are right on track and will get a louder system than the factory headunit's amp can produce. If you want quality in the full audio range (High's & Lows) then it is a Requirement to replace the head unit with an aftermarket one.
It's a shame that Honda decided to go with Crappy Stereos unless you get the BOSE Package.
I'm curious to know what your ultimate goal is for your audio system and how it eventually turns out. -let us know.
~SB
oh yeah, BTW, I have a Pair of NEW Infinity Kappa 63.5i 3-way speakers, which should fit on the rear deck of your prelude, that I want to get rid of. They don't fit in the rear of my 2000 Integra so I got components for the rear as well as the front. I'm selling for $100 + actual S/H (ups ground - 07059)
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Trip
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my first goal is to keep the interior looking stock. adding a CD player and upgrading the original 14 year old paper cones alone will improve the sound. i'm amazed they even work yet because they're so dry rotted! the original Honda in-dash CD players that had their own on board controls are hard to come by. and for security reasons, i prefer to just mount a changer in the trunk out of site thus the reason i wanted a newer unit with the controls built in. only a real Honda nut would even realize that the radio (from a 95 Accord EX) isn't standard issue - but the display colors will match perfectly. and it will be a little more powerful 4x20 vs 4x12.5 - nothing earth shattering but an improvement . . . .
i know to really improve the sound, replacing the source of the music (head unit) is the only real way to go. but IF i did want bigger sound (not necessarily better) i would still want to keep the interior stock. to do that i would have to go with an amp that has speaker level inputs and then fiddle with filters and crossovers to finesse it. not the best way for real quality sound but it would give me more possibilites than just trying to run "better" speakers off of an OEM head unit.
that probably won't happen anyway. the upgraded radio and speakers and the addition of a CD player will be more than what i want for this car.
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Specboy-GSR
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Sounds like you've got it all worked out. hopefully you'll be able to pick up the headunit and a changer for a couple of $$ and be able to pick up some decent speakers (the paper cone speakers are really quite crappy especially after such a long period of time of being in the car)
Good luck with it, thanks for clearing up my questions, and let us know how it all goes.
~SB
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Trip
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| Yoinks!
(Score: 1, Normal)
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05-11-2003 10:15 |
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:)
finished!
1989 Prelude Si. took out the original head unit and paper cone speakers . . . . this is what i upgraded to for a stock look and upgraded sound . . .
1995 Accord EX head unit (4x20W, auto select, CD Changer controls, anti theft) - from eBay - $40 with shipping - in excellent shape, very clean, works great.
Alpine CD changer from Crutchfield - $260 w/ shipping - includes all the mounting hardware and the adapter cables that plug into the OEM head unit
Honda accessory coaxial speakers for the front doors - Made by Pioneer, slim fit, high sensitivity ratting. Something about the tweeters in the Honda accessory speakers - throws the high ends up from the doors - Dealer gave me a deal to get them out of stock - $25
rear deck - over sized Pioneer 6.5" speakers from Best Buy $25. they're laminated paper cones. didn't want tweets in the back - wanted to keep the highends in front the bass / mids towards the middle/back. the rear speaks can easily over power the sound in this car and i wanted to keep the soundstage forward.
sounds great, the changer works fine, and because everything was OEM / OEM compatible, installation was a snap. the most difficult part was running the cable from the dash to the trunk and then mounting the CD changer - which wasn't really difficult at all. pulling trim panels off is a pain in the @$$ but other than that, a worthwhile stock upgrade.
i just had her painted, added the OEM exhaust finishers, and a set of the 14" 2000 Civic mesh/8spoke wheels :) i'll post pics on my website . . .
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