i went with the kenwood DNX5120, rather than the F series avic's since all the bad talk about the new F series.. also with the DNX, no nav disk (memory), and garmin GPS..

i have a 2007 7 speaker honda element.

i would like to keep the factory steering wheels, and i guess im going to have to get the XM adapter for the kenwood, and a wiring kit.

where's a good place to shop for my kits?

i need wire harness kit.
bezel trim kit.
steering wheel controls kit.
XM adapter.

i think thats about it. what do i need to keep the factory sub in place? does it wire up to the aftermarket HU? some type of adapter?

thanks guys

 

We use Metra, but I prefer the Best Kits dash kit for the Element......and Metra doesnt make a 2bl din kit for the Element so, here you go:

Kit - Best Kits BKHA1702B http://bestkits.com/ViewImage....b.jpg
Harness - Metra 70-1721 and 70-1726 (amp bypass harness, you loose the sub )
Antenna - Metra 40-HD10
SWC - PAC SWI-JACK

I'd call around to local shops first, online second.

Kirk R

 

what is it going to take to keep my factory sub in service?

also, why the 2 wiring kits? i thought i would only need one.

 

The 70-1726 is the amplifier bypass harness, goes from the head units speaker output or aftermarket amp to the factory amp location. The factory amplifier is proprietary and does not have standard RCA audio inputs. There are OEM integration harnesses that allow you to connect to the factory amp (PAC OEM-2), but they are not the best option. I would install a small mono amplifier for the factory sub, you would get better performance as well.

Kirk R

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KRock459 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">We use Metra, but I prefer the Best Kits dash kit for the Element......and Metra doesnt make a 2bl din kit for the Element so, here you go:

Kit - Best Kits BKHA1702B http://bestkits.com/ViewImage....b.jpg
Harness - Metra 70-1721 and 70-1726 (amp bypass harness, you loose the sub )
Antenna - Metra 40-HD10
SWC - PAC SWI-JACK

I'd call around to local shops first, online second.

Kirk R </TD></TR></TABLE>

I think there is a way to keep the sub working with the new radio...
I'll check when i get into work in the morn and post a reply later.

 

ok, i went online, printed the diagram for the back of my 2007 EX element radio. now i have a few questions.

all my descriptions were taken from the shop manual from honda..

1) the antenna. im going to need a antenna adapter right? and its going to also need power. so ive read that people are just taping into the ACC power, and using that.. thats for pin E3, or E1? E1 is inside E2, so thats kinda confusing? the adapter will plug into the back of the stereo like majority of aftermarket stereo's... here's a pic.



2) the factory amp plug.. connector B.. what are those "amp" wires for? is this power to the amp? some kind of signal?

after looking at that metra harness kit you mentioned.. the 1726 i understand about the amp RCA's.. the factory stereo has wires, not RCAs like the back of the aftermarket HU, so you have to adapt.

 

wait.. now looking back at the 2 required harness's... how is that going to work, when im basically using 1 car harness?

i know that 1726 harness has like a 6' loom.. i assume to make it back to the factory amp located at the passenger kick panel... so hows that work?

 

now i found that harness... its for a 2002+ RSX, but ive read that element owners have been using them too...

but, how does the amp get its signal? A14?

 

ok... now i might look like a complete ***, but correct me if im wrong..

kenwood stereo&gt;kenwood harness&gt;70-1721 (RCA)&gt;metra 70-7125&gt;into vehicle harness.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Built B16A &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> the antenna. im going to need a antenna adapter right? and its going to also need power. so ive read that people are just taping into the ACC power, and using that.. </TD></TR></TABLE>

The Kenwood has a blue "P ANT" (power antenna) for the blue lead on the Metra antenna adapter.

Kirk R