I have just purchased a 2005 Tiburon GT and am interested in replacing the factory head unit. The car came with the Infinity Sound System (six speakers plus amp and sub) and has the standard looking double DIN head unit. I printed out the wiring diagram and took it to Best Buy to show the installers in case they had not seen the system before.

The installer at Best Buy told me that any aftermarket head unit will work when coupled with the correct wiring harness adapter and trim kit. I went to Circuit City, however, and their installer told me that I would have to replace EVERYTHING (all six speakers, amp, and sub) in order to install an aftermarket head unit.

Does anyone have any user experience with replacing (or having replaced) a head unit in a comparable Tiburon? My goal is to keep the existing speakers, amp, and sub as is, and simply replace the double DIN head unit with a nicer single DIN unit that supports the iPod. Was Best Buy correct in saying that this will work, or was Circuit City correct in saying that none of the existing wiring can be used?

Thanks.

This post has been edited by ifonline: Jul 1 2005, 05:08 PM

Is it the 6-disc unit? If it is, are you looking to sell it?

Scott

Sorry, no it's not. It's the "standard" radio rebranded with Infinity. I ended up working it all out. It turns out that the factory amp is designed to accept speaker level inputs from the head unit, so any aftermarket head unit will work.

I replaced the head unit (after searching everywhere for the proper trim piece), and am awaiting my iPod interface. The factory radio will be boxed up in storage for future use if needed.

It depends on the type of hook-up the factory unit has. I have the same unit but have never taken the time to look at it. I'm pretty sure that you can use only the aftermarket head unit. If it uses RCA cables that is really easy. If speaker level input then the adaptor harness will work.

Actually, the factory head unit doesn't use RCA connections at all. The factory amp accepts speaker level input, so with the use of a wiring harness, any aftermarket head unit will work and will connect with the factory amp just fine. I have been running my car for a little over a week now with an aftermarket head unit, and all six speakers plus the sub are firing just fine (better than the factory head unit did).

My Question is this. Since the 2005 uses the Infinity Reference Speaker System and all the Speakers have their own amplification, how then does your system sound with the new head unit?

I am purchasing a Pioneer FH-P4200MP Double Din with CD/Cass/MP3 and XM, what part numbers did you purchase for the installation to the factory wiring.

Best Buy told me the entire wiring would have to be by-passed because the factory speakers use LOW band pass out out via the speaker wires to the amp, so if you use a New Head unit, you'll have to get low band pass filters to install for each channel.

Curcuit City told me nothing but wanted to sell me a JVC and two MTX subs with a 600 watt amp.

A local guy told me he'd have to add low band pass filters but any head unit would work. So I am lost as to what to do here.

I also have a 2005 tiburon GT but am unsure if I have the amplifier and subwoofer. It's power sunroof, leather trim, and door speakers say Infiniti. Can someone tell me if this model includes the amp and subwoofer and if so, their locations? Will any Head Unit work with amp and subwoofer? Because I've installed my new one(navigation system found in 08 Civic) and it doesn't have near the volume and bass output as my previous aftermarket unit.

If you have the infinity system, you have at least the amp. If you have a large speaker on the driver side of the trunk then you have the sub.

I having a problem with my infinity system in my 2005 GT also. The disc changer locked up on me and won't play CDs anymore. Went to the dealer and they said it would be $500 for repair plus shipping or $1300 for new since I'm out of the 3 year/36000 mile warranty.

I went to Best Buy to see about a new head unit and they gave me the same story about low band and how I would have to replace the whole system to get the quality I have now or bypass and suffer a dramatic decrease in quality.

Called a local automotive speciality store and they said they never heard of that problem before, but they I haven't had a chance to take the car there yet.

Is there hope or am I in a jam?

I replaced mine and you dont have to take out any of the infinity stuff I dont have my infinity stock subwoofer in there anymore either though. All I did was get the wiring harness for my tibby connected to stock and plugged it into the back of my deck and wah lah so NO you dont have to remove the speakers, as far as the subwoofer I am unsure of that.

The Infinity speakers and the amp are all a 3 ohm system. What that means is if you want to replace a single speaker, or the amp you have to replace all the speakers and the amp. Aftermarket speakers and amps are all 4 ohms. The head unit can be replaced without any problems. The amp for this system is connected to the head unit via low pass connectors instead of high pass. Again, all that means is the amp is connect to all the speaker wires coming out of the head unit, and not through RCA connectors. A filter would only be needed if you are hearing distortion noises like a wining sound that gets louder when you accelerate. I hope this clears up any confusion.

On a side note, that supposed Infinity system that added $600 to the MSRP of your car, is actually a JBL system.

This post has been edited by curious0145: Jul 3 2008, 11:29 AM

Hi there, i have a 2003 Tibby with the Infinity head unit, speakers and sub and, sorry for this really noob question... where is the amp supposed to be?
And by the way.. are you sure it's a JBL system with Infinity logos?

the amp for the sub is under the driver side rear speaker under the plastic.

and you can buy ANY HEAD UNIT, THE SPEAKERS WILL WORK FINE WITH THE WIRING HARNESS, AND THE SUB CONNECTS TO THE LEFT OUTPUT OF A PREOUT ON THE HEAD UNIT, much like you'd connect a mono speaker to an RCA jack.

I watched my installer do all this for me. in the end i wish i had saved the $65 because i coulda done it myself in an hour.

Hey Guys,

This is the closest thread to what I am looking for. I am trying to get to the back of my radio. So, my question is, do any of you know how to remove the dash on a 05 Tiburon GT?


Thanks a Million

I think your ash tray is on the bottom of the panel, right? If so while your ashtray is out, take a flathead screwdriver and pry that facia off. May take a little pressure, but you'll get it.

DUDE!!! Everything will work in your car with the aftermarket HU. Best Buy and Circut City do not know what they are talking about

just a note....alpine head units require an amp to get the juice to the car's system. (maybe a pre-amp?) the first time i got it all hooked up the sound was really faint, even at full volume (hence the amplifier.) the cheapest new one i could find was at pep boys for about $100. also, i picked up a harness on ebay that came with the color coded chart, so i was able to sort out the wires. make sure your grounds are tight. now- it kicks!