I have a 2005 Accord hybrid and I want to install a single DIN radio in the lower pocket behind the gear shifter. I am wondering if it is possible to have the stock radio work ( I have XM and I want to keep using it ) while I have the aftermarket head unit. Would it be possible to route audio through the new head unit? Would it be possible to have audio on both the stock radio and the aftermarket ( not at the same time )?

 

While yes its possiable to do. The cost to do it and user easy would out weigh the cost of just getting a xm headunit and transfering your account over.

 

what about a harness just to have both radios functioning?

 

Your not going to be able to have both radios on at the same time unless you you figure out a way to disconnect the speakers or build a switching station. So the each radio does not have feed back. Not worth the trouble imo.

 

so if say i piggyback off the stock radio harness I would need to get switches for the speakers? or would it be more than that, including the power?

 

For one you wouldn't piggyback off stock wires, you would want to give it its own independent fused power source. Second, it's not worth all the hassle. A lot of wiring is involved in this and too many backfeeding risks/concerns. To get the sound out of your stock deck to run through aftermarket or any variation of requires too much, save yourself the headache and the possible damages you can cause to your electrical system! ditch the stock, grab a sat tuner or behind the dash unti and be done with it. WRX is dead on on this.

 

it is possible to do, and won't require too much work if you really want it done.. just a little bit of ingenuity.. leave the power wires connected to the factory radio, but cut the speaker wires about 2 inches away from the plug. wire up your new radio to those wires like normal.

next step would be get yourself a hi-lo converter (typically used to connect an amplifier to a factory stereo) and connect it to the front speaker wires coming off the back of the stock stereo. this will take the higher level speaker output and drop it down to a low level signal that you can then plug into the aux input on your new stereo.

then when you feel like listening to sat radio, all you need to do is change over to the aux source on your new stereo.

 

^^^^^^^^^^That is going to sound like pooo.

 

it's going to sound like anything else plugged into the aux input.. and if he's just looking for something that works, it'll do. obviously the best option would be a new tuner, but that's also the more expensive option.

at the end of the day, it's his decision to make.. but i'll at least do my part and give him the option. i won't begrudge a guy just because he wants to do something differently from how i would do it.

 

It will sound like anything else plugged into the AUX that has a stepdown converter, [LOC] wired to the speaker outputs, not like a pre-amp signal, it is an amplifide signal that has been stepped down to a pre-amp level and although it will work and is probably the easiest way to do it, it will sound like pooo.

A better way is to use a pair of 4PDT relays to switch the speakers.

You will need two(2) 4PDT 12V relays, a harness adapter, [plugs into the stock radio harness] and a reverse harness, [plugs into the stock HU] and a solder pencil or fine tip soldering gun and some shrink tubing.

Wire the speakers leads, [8 of them] to #30 of the relays, wire the stock HU speaker leads to #87a of the relay, [matching the left and right and pos.(+) and neg.(-)], wire the aftermarket HUs speaker leads to #87 of relays, [again matching the L/R & +/-], ground #85 of both relays and connect the power ant. control lead of the aftermarket HU to #86 of both relays, parallel the power and ground leads, or better yet, run a fused 12ga from the batt. for the aftermarket HUs 12V constant, [yellow] and run a 12ga ground from the chassis of the aftermarket HU to the cars chassis, [dash sub-frame] the 12V acc. and ground can be paralleled with the stock HUs acc. and ground.

When you tuen on the aftermarket HU the relays will energize and switch the speakers to the aftermarket HU, and just turn off the stock HU, or if you want you can install a 3rd SPST or SPDT relay and run the stock HUs acc. power through it , #30 and #87a and trigger that relay with the after market HUs power ant. control lead, stock HU will turn off when you turn on the aftermarket HU.

Not that hard to wire up. 94