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Element LX stock stereo Upgrade (need help)

10040 Views 7 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  AztecRol
Looking to upgrade the head unit in the 05 LX that I just picked up this morning. I've got the stock head unit (cd player) and I'm looking to upgrade. I know very little about audio and car audio but I'm generally pretty handy at electronics and computers. My soldering experience is top notch and I'm good with a mutlitester :p

I'd like to get a dvd reciever (in dash not flip up). First a few questions.

-I assume the stock LX comes with 4 speakers? I know that I've got 1 in each door and tweaters.
-I was thinking about getting hte clarion vx409. http://www.crutchfield.com/p_020VX409/Clarion-VX409.html?tp=20217

If i get the vx409 will this give me room to upgrade all speakers and possibly add a amp/sub in the future? Any suggestions or links any one has is much appreciated. I'm kinda overwhelmed with reading right now and I don't know where to start. Also all the info seems to be for the EX and not the LX. Does any one have any LX specific stereo mod links?

Thanks
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the main reason that the posts are about the ex is because it is a little more involved to integrate with the amplified system and tie into the subwoofer and aux jack, etc than the stereo replacment in the LX's. yours is pretty straight forward. here is the radio removal instructions, you will need a metra 70-1721 harness and a scosche ha1701b kit. the metra kit instructions are better than the ones you may find from scosche, but they dont have a double din kit yet, so you can at least see how the radio comes out with them. just solder the harness that comes with the new radio to the metra harness and you are all set.
thanks for the help.

So I assume if I have the 4 door speakers and tweaters that I have the 7 speaker setup? Where is the 7th speaker located? My car is an 05, forgot to mention that.
thanks for the help.

So I assume if I have the 4 door speakers and tweaters that I have the 7 speaker setup? Where is the 7th speaker located? My car is an 05, forgot to mention that.
Since you have an LX you only have the door speakers. The tweeter grilles in the A pillars are empty.

The EX and Sc have the tweeters as well as a sub located where the storage bin is located below the shifter on the LX.
I`ve got the same LX `05 :)
do you ever use TV in your cars? The correct answer is "wasting money" if you aren`t dirver, who is waiting for the boss half a day. Imho it`s better to buy quality stereo components (HU, speakers, ampliifier, wires) instead of this stuff.
I just put a Sony CDX-GT08 in my wife's 2004 LX Honda Element. Big thanks to this forum for all the guidance and good ideas.

I'd like to point out that the directions posted from Metra discourage you from removing the "smaller piece around the radio because it's prone to damage". BS, put a big cloth covered screwdriver in the slots in the corners above the air vents and twist. It pops right off. I read that here, but I can't find it now.

Next I'm thinking amp and bandpass box in the trunk. Back to reading the forum.
I'd like to point out that the directions posted from Metra discourage you from removing the "smaller piece around the radio because it's prone to damage". BS, put a big cloth covered screwdriver in the slots in the corners above the air vents and twist. It pops right off. I read that here, but I can't find it now.
the reason that note is there is because the top two release tabs dont always like to let go if you dont know what you are doing, and even when you do sometimes they would not let go and crease or crack that "u shaped" panel.
I just put a Sony CDX-GT08 in my wife's 2004 LX Honda Element. Big thanks to this forum for all the guidance and good ideas.

I'd like to point out that the directions posted from Metra discourage you from removing the "smaller piece around the radio because it's prone to damage". BS, put a big cloth covered screwdriver in the slots in the corners above the air vents and twist. It pops right off. I read that here, but I can't find it now.

Next I'm thinking amp and bandpass box in the trunk. Back to reading the forum.
Here you go, read step one (with pics underneath) of my instructions here:

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showpost.php?p=766257&postcount=7
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