Head Unit

[Richard]

Well, just three days after deciding I wanted a Bravo, I've bought one! And what a beautiful car it is

Anyway, is it possible to replace the standard stereo head unit with one of my own? And if it is, what does it look like? Does it look better with the standard one in?

Thanks in advance...

 

[jim]

I have changed my head unit to a standard shaped one. you will need a special dash adaptor plate (or whatever it's called) to fit it, but they are fairly easy to come by. it does not look as good as the original and I wouldn't expevct it to. The original is contoured and dessigned (quite nicely) to fit in with he asthetics of the dash, but the improvement in sound is well worth the sligh visual incongruence.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Re: Head Unit

Is there much of a difference in sound when changing the head unit? Is it worthwile or would you also need to change the speakers to get a better quality sound? Ive found that setting the speakers to +3 in the rear creates a much improved sound as well as turning on the loud function.

 

[ReZZa]

Yep u can buy the facias at halfords for about £18.00

 

[Barakka]

Sound Quality

If it's sound quality and volume you want then Yes you need to change the head unit...

The standard Fiat (Grundig) head unit is porbably rated at about 15W per channel (about 6W RMS), whereas my Sony unit is rated at 50W per channel (about 22W RMS).

This means that it will go a lot louder, but also that the quality is better at low/medium volumes as the amp doesn't have to work as hard, and is usually of better quality.

The speakers do become an issue if changing the head unit as you will (probably) have more volume available than they can handle. I blew one of my back speakers after about 12 months, but I was listening to VERY HEAVY BASS AND VERY LOUD at the time so i'm not surprised

Barakka

 

[Oli Lloyd]

Rattling door

My drivers door rattles when a song is played with even small amounts of bass? It makes a horrible rattling noise and it comes from the ddor not the speaker and its only on the drivers side. Anyone got any ideas? I would take it into fiat, but the warranty has ran out. Its a S reg 1.8HLX.

 

[Kanulondon]

same

I get same thing happening to me in my Bravo


I have just come to the conclusion that the speakers are simply crap

I send more sound to the rear speakers....i am also going to change my speakers too.

Hopefully this will help

KL

 

[Tony Ruddock]

Re: Rattling door

Funny my wife's 'R' reg HLX had the same annoying rattle in the door, but my 'P' reg HLX doesn't and I play my music considerably louder than she ever did!

 

[Oli Lloyd]

Re: Re: Rattling door

Anyone know anything else? I also put more sound to the rear speakers but its not as if the sound is from both, its only on the drivers side? How much do you think fiat would charge to fix it? Or does anyone know how easy it is to remove the door panels and then change the speakers? Would halfords "free install" include taking the door off and then installing them or does the free install only cover easy speakers to replace like rear ones?

 

[RichardG]

Re: Re: Head Unit

Well I've changed the stereo. It doesn't look too bad, but the fascia itself isn't too well made. Are some makes of fascia better than others?

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Re: Re: Head Unit

Yes, apparently so. Which one have you got? Aparently fiats isn't too good cous obviousally they would rather you left theirs in! I think the halfords one is pretty good.

 

[RichardG]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Head Unit

I'm not sure what make mine is as a car stereo dealer did the whole lot for me. I would expect it'd be an official Fiat one though.

Are Halfords definitely the best?

 

[RichardG]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Head Unit

Just to add that my main problem with it is the holes on the top and bottom as can be seen here:

I know it sounds pernickety

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Head Unit

Im not too sure which is the best. But i know halfords do one. Someone on here will know which is best though? Anyone?

 

[Jonathan]

Jamie

They are all a touch poor to be honest. But i think "The Devil" has imported some from Italy which are a completely different design to the fiat/autoleads ones and look quite good. The fascias all have small holes in the top and bottom because a fake radio cover fits on to it. Making it look like you have an original radio when really you have an aftermarket one.