After planning this install for months whist waiting for delivery here is the Ice I have gone for in my MY03 wrx, the car is fantastic but I cant wait to get rid of the OEM stereo and speakers. I dont know how Subaru can get away with putting such rubbish in a new car.

Head Unit / Blaupunkt MP72
CD changer / Blaupunkt 5 disc in dash
Speakers Front Focal Access 165a
Rear Pioneer TSE 1395's
And some sheets of dynamat extreme to finish the job off.

Dr clifford is doing the install whilst fitting the extra security items.

I will post some piccys when the install is done and maybe a review. I just hope the system is going to sound as good as I hope it will.

 

That'll be nice mate. I'm very impressed with the focal access stuff. For the money, and probably quite a bit more, you'd be hard pushed to do better.

 

The thing is, that all manufacturers know than any ICE-head is never going to be happy with a low price HU etc and will instantly replace it with their preferred item, like you are doing, I guess.

So, they stick in a cheapy unit, - those that don't care, don't change, those that do, do, and nobody pays for an expensive OEM unit they don't need/want.

I reckon, anyway..

 

That's *exactly* what Subaru do, yes. I've heard that (relayed) from the horse's mouth.

 

But what is suprising is Kenwood still have the ***** to put there name on the bottom. I know kenwood make some very good stuff, so if they make something as poor as the oem subaru unit why put your name on it, it can do anything for their branding as a lot of people (idiots) would look at that and think kenwood are rubbish and buy a pioneer or something.

 

Been doing it for years...

I run the older Subaru's...the 80's and early 90's models...before the AWD bulls**t.They are VERY capable off-roaders right out of the box...anyways,these older Sube's all had Clarion ICE.
Crysler uses Infinity,Ford uses Bose I think...don't remember now if GM is still Delco or if they went with brand-name also.

I know that many Fords have a factory sub option...8" I think.It's a free-air job mounted in the rear shelf like the 6x9's.Even if you don't buy the stereo option package,the hole is still there.

Sorry for the rant...just got to thinking back to the ICE I grew up with.A simple AM radio with a single speaker in the center of the dash. Then came bulky under-dash 8 track tape players and FM...Pioneer.CD's were pure science fiction back then.

Point is,looking back,what is now called crap would've blown peoples minds 25 years ago.

Ain't so bad...