If you only need an AUX input, i'd say go for the external AUX module like the GM12-AUXv2 that you can remove if you sell your car....If you want a better sound, go for the new headunit that includes AUX inputs, but then you might want to change speakers, add a subwoofer, etc...I had witness some sound improvement by only swapping the headunit in a Matrix though and you could always put back the original one.I have the Monsoon kit in my car and it is more than enough for my music needs so I kept the original headunit adding the AUX module.
from the most basic non-factory one to the highest level, they pretty much all have an AUX input, either by using a 3.5mm audio jack on front or RCA (red/white) on the back.Some have a SDcard slot or a USB jack to manage MP3s from the headunit directly or there's also some HU supporting IPhones/IPod.I personally prefer the standard 3.5mm jack or RCA so I can plug all kinds of external devices (laptop, cellphone, mp3 player, sirius radio, even ipod/iphones, etc...)It all depends on budget... visit http://www.crutchfield.com, there you can search compatible radios for you car and then filter the options like having aux inputs on rear or front or both......
nooo... dont do it!The Vibe head unit is actually quite good, I doubt you will get any better sound going with third party. And while most of them will have aux in, most do not have RDS (song display and radio call name). You will miss it... I had a couple of third party head units, and actually paid a high end auto place to put it back. Of course, the speakers and amp were total crap, I replaced those.. but I had to put back in the head unit. And, it simply just looks like it belongs, more than any other And.. I no longer have to go to the hassle to take the face off to prevent theft.. no one is attracted to a factory head unit.. Instead.. and this is a little rigged up, but I simply stick the Y jack into my 3rd party amp, if I want to feed an iPod or something into the speakers.. Or just make it work with the aux wire.
2003 Vibe AWD w/Moon & Tunes (factory head unit only)
Unfortunately, you have the 6 CD changer that I, and many others, have. That AUX button does not serve a purpose for our radio. The CD changer actually uses the line the AUX button runs on. Stupid, I know. There are numerous threads on here talking about the issue. People have opened up the radio and hard-wired RCAs, tapping into that AUX wire, but your CDs are still constantly changing and running inside, because the radio doesn't know to stop playing them. You're just hearing your device that is hooked up, because of the audio wire splice.I did not want this option, so I had to order a wired FM modulator that interrupts the radio antenna wire (simple plug-n-play) and antenna input on the back of the unit. I listen to my Sirius this way and there is ZERO static. Cost me $40 for all the wires through Crutchfield, but it's been in for a year, and sometimes I forget I dealt with static at all.
Quote, originally posted by jkm311 » That AUX button does not serve a purpose for our radio. The CD changer actually uses the line the AUX button runs on. Stupid, I know. wow seriously? I thought about swapping my actual headunit with one like this because of the 3.5mm jack...
This is an original post I put up over 5 years ago about this:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=26562Now, the one caveat... some of us have found a wiring harness in the back right side of the cargo area in the hatch. You know those little removable panels on the back side of the rear wheels? Some of us are finding wiring that we think was intended for an XM satellite hook up. I was never able to get a straight answer from anybody on whether this wiring leads back to the HU, making it possible to tap into. I tried to find the thread for you, but I can't find it at all. That might be our only hope. And the only reason I never pursued a new aftermarket HU is because of the Monsoon amp set up. I am not tech savvy, and was not interested in ripping everything out. People have successfully worked around this set up with a separate accessory that adjusts levels to make it work. I found the hard-wired FM modulator setup I have SIGNIFICANTLY easier. Took me 20 minutes to install, for $40.
Quote, originally posted by jkm311 »Unfortunately, you have the 6 CD changer that I, and many others, have. That AUX button does not serve a purpose for our radio. The CD changer actually uses the line the AUX button runs on. Stupid, I know. There are numerous threads on here talking about the issue. People have opened up the radio and hard-wired RCAs, tapping into that AUX wire, but your CDs are still constantly changing and running inside, because the radio doesn't know to stop playing them. You're just hearing your device that is hooked up, because of the audio wire splice.I did not want this option, so I had to order a wired FM modulator that interrupts the radio antenna wire (simple plug-n-play) and antenna input on the back of the unit. I listen to my Sirius this way and there is ZERO static. Cost me $40 for all the wires through Crutchfield, but it's been in for a year, and sometimes I forget I dealt with static at all. Any odds on you remembering where you found this on Crutchfield?
2008
47,891 Added new horns
47,900 Yokohama Avid 205/55-16 $492.40 drive out w/TPMS rebuild kits
69,036 Added sound deadening
70,395 Battery
106,019 Yokohama YK580 205/55-16 $589.19 drive out
Absolutely: http://www.crutchfield.com/p_6....htmlWe need extra wiring harnesses to make all the connections work for our Vibe OEM radios, so make absolutely sure you enter in all the vehicle info so Crutchfield can suggest the harnesses and add it to your cart/order. The install literally only involves plugging all the new harnesses together (there will be 2 harnesses along with the modulator shipped to you, with a wire for your device coming out of the modulator itself), sliding the radio out of the dash, unplugging the radio antenna, plugging that radio antenna into the harnesses, and then plugging the other end of the combined harnesses into the now-empty radio antenna. Run the wire that comes out of the modulator to the location of your choice (it's sufficiently long, BTW). Done. So simple. My only issue? The harness that goes into the radio itself was a tad loose. It slipped out easier than I would have liked. But after a year installed and many, many bumpy Michigan roads, no problems.
plug and play for non monsoon HUhttp://enfigcarstereo.com/USASPEC_PA11_GM.htmlI have the monsoon system so it didn't work. I got another version and it works perfectly. I'll get that info at a later date.
2010 Vibe & member of the yeargarage Email me if you need to talk to me, click my siggy and send the email threw the contact page.
Just chatted with Crutchfield.As related to my 2008 with 6cd Monsoon:Adapter $49.99 ($38.95 eBay) ($29.24 Amazon) ($27.83 Buy.com)http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1....htmlAntenna adapter #1 $9.99http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1....htmlAntenna adapter # 2v$9.99http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1....htmlNoise isolator $14.99 ($9.78 Amazon)http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1....htmlDon't know why but the website pic looks different than this pic.http://a248.e.akamai.net/pix.c...1.PDFSnippets of the conversation.........Agent (Marie): "This is what you need:"Agent (Marie) sends page: "http://www.crutchfield.com/p_142FMMOD02 ... vs=T"Agent (Marie): The FMDA25 adapter, and it is specifically designed for Sirius satellite radios."Agent (Marie): "But the FMMOD02 will work perfectly."Agent (Marie): "However, you will need antenna adapters and this ground loop noise filter/booster to boost the voltage:"Agent (Marie) sends page: "http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/Prod ... SNI1"Agent (Marie): "Portables do not carry enough voltage to give you very good sound quality or much volume."Agent (Marie): "This will boost the voltage and filter out any noise."Water Boy: "Yea, I was reading some customer reviews and the volume was a negative."Agent (Marie): "Yes, because most of them do not know about this SNI-1 noise filter."Agent (Marie): "I use it myself, otherwise, I wouldn't know about it."Water Boy: "That filter is shown with RCA connections. My device will only be an iPhone. How do I convert from the minijack?"Agent (Marie): "The FMMOD02 has RCA connections on the actual unit that will be hidden in the dash."Water Boy: "OK, then iPhone to the switched on/off jack. RCAs after that."Agent (Marie): "Correct."Option ... Options ... OptionsPAC has LOTS of options.http://pac-audio.com/default.aspx$54.57 Amazon (w/builtin gain)http://www.amazon.com/PAC-IS32...t_top
2008
47,891 Added new horns
47,900 Yokohama Avid 205/55-16 $492.40 drive out w/TPMS rebuild kits
69,036 Added sound deadening
70,395 Battery
106,019 Yokohama YK580 205/55-16 $589.19 drive out