Rep Power: 0

Hey all - I just bought a 01 civic ex coupe and was pretty disappointed with the sound quality. I don't like the idea of a after market head unit in the civic because the shape of the dashboard and it would really not look stock in this car. So my question is what potential does the stock head unit have? If I install my Rockford subs and JBL amp in the trunk and then upgrade the speakers in the car would I be able to get good sound from the stock head unit? If not what options do i have, and what have others done that didn't want to change the head unit from stock? Also would like an aux input for the iPod.

 
Rep Power: 243

I am pretty sure you can't plug an amp into the stock head unit. I just upgraded my head unit and the sound quality improved a lot. You can get a pretty cheap one with aux input and USB. A stock head unit really does not have much potential.

 
Rep Power: 0

I hear what your saying my only issue is that the way this car is designed changing the head unit will be something that sticks out. Some cars are designed ina way that you can change the head unit and it wont be noticable but in the civic its high up so i wanted to find something that looks oem. I read that the 03 se head unit has an aux input. Anyone know if it lets you hook up a amp?

 
Rep Power: 0

Okay so what you are going to do is go to the website for PAC audio if you google it it will come up then you need to type in the ,model of the car and they come up with all kinds of different adapter harnesses to add different things. Some of the different things you can add aux. usb connection and you will then get the ability to have pre outs and that way you could just amplify speakers etc.

 
Rep Power: 256

or get a Nakamichi head unit they look stock but have the best sound quality out there.

 
Rep Power: 193

I used to have my subs wired to the stock head unit. I used PAC SNI-35 which can be found here- http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...I-35.html#tabs. But honestly, the difference in sound quality between that and the head unit i put in is night and day. I didnt like the non stock look either, but if you get a HU with cool features you get over it pretty quickly haha.

 
Rep Power: 812

you will be seriously limited with the stock deck. sure you can find an amp with speaker level inputs and run it off the deck, but it will sound terrible and you have no way to adjust the bass volume. if you just get some aftermarket speakers that are lower power handling (around 30w rms MAX) they will sound decent off the factory deck.