idosubaru Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 2002 OBW has the McIntosh 6 disc in dash changer. What's the difference between that and other units, anything but cosmetics? Is there any reason not to just install another Subaru stereo? The WRX 6 disc changers are much easier to come by and it's a plug and play deal, I have a tape deck in there now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobywagon Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Subaru uses both Clarion and Panasonic to produce their stereo systems. Clarion owns MacIntosh outright, so anything that ISN'T home stereo and says "MacIntosh" on it actually has Clarion guts in it. However, the MacIntosh stuff is generally sold as being the upscale model. Strangely, ordering a Subaru with the "upgraded" stereo does NOT get you better, or even different, speakers. They're the same old speakers you get in any other Subaru. So the reality is that the only difference between a MacIntosh system and just about any other factory system is cosmetics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Subaru uses both Clarion and Panasonic to produce their stereo systems. Clarion owns MacIntosh outright, so anything that ISN'T home stereo and says "MacIntosh" on it actually has Clarion guts in it. However, the MacIntosh stuff is generally sold as being the upscale model. Strangely, ordering a Subaru with the "upgraded" stereo does NOT get you better, or even different, speakers. They're the same old speakers you get in any other Subaru. So the reality is that the only difference between a MacIntosh system and just about any other factory system is cosmetics. I did not know that. Does that go for any car mfg with MacIntosh stereos? nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted July 23, 2009 Author Share Posted July 23, 2009 It's plug and play to install another system so I'm not surprised. The McIntosh system has 11 speakers so "they" say and an amplifier under the seat. Maybe ends up being a wash functionally but I think it's a bit different than others. I'm not an audio buff so I really don't care, I would love an AUX port but apparently Subaru has little desire to be cutting edge with practical things! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 I'm not an audio buff so I really don't care, I would love an AUX port but apparently Subaru has little desire to be cutting edge with practical things! Hey its a subaru, it has to stay quirky about something ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pontiac6KSTEAWD Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 why would you say that? My 01 OB has the Aux plug (factory), same with my 06 (after I installed it), and my 90 legacy (Factory). Whats quirky about it, some years had them, and some didnt. My 93, 94, doesnt. Even thou it has the same radio, they dont have the plugs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobywagon Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 I did not know that. Does that go for any car mfg with MacIntosh stereos? nipper Sorry, nipper. I don't know of any other manufacturer's using MacIntosh audio systems so I can't say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Sorry, nipper. I don't know of any other manufacturer's using MacIntosh audio systems so I can't say. http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/inside/83.asp During the Clarion years the push to drive the OEM car audio business turned out to be an exercise that would be wrapped up in deals with Harley Davidson, Ford GT, and Subaru. Charlie Randall became President of McIntosh in 2001. My mistake, i was thinking Harmon Kardon. I thought McIntosh had more. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted July 23, 2009 Author Share Posted July 23, 2009 (edited) why would you say that? My 01 OB has the Aux plug (factory), same with my 06 (after I installed it), and my 90 legacy (Factory). will you post a picture of your 01 OB and offer advice on how you installed it into you 06? is your 01 with AUX a single CD or changer, tape, both? i'll buy an OB radio if i can find one that has the AUX port. your experience is anecdotal as it's VERY rare to find a subaru with an AUX port, i've never even seen one but i've only owned like 50 subaru's and worked on countless more:lol:.! if the mcintosh system isn't much more than a radio i'll get a newer one with AUX port. Edited July 23, 2009 by grossgary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pontiac6KSTEAWD Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 My 06 Tribeca, I went to the dealer, and ordered an AUX plug for a 07 Tribeca. The plug is already in the back of the radio, and it was just a matter of running the wire under the console to the pocket under the armrest, and put the other end of the plug in its already pre-cut hole. Why they never put it in at the factory just boggles my mind. Unfortunately, the Tribeca radio only works in the Tribeca (its one of those preformed ones, with the AC controls, and a separate screen in the dash). As far as my 01 goes, i couldn't get you a pic now. We just replaced the radio, 2 weeks ago, to a Pioneer Premier radio that has the IPOD controls built in, USB ports, and a AUX plug. The radio shop in Denver kept the old radio (it no longer worked). I could get a pic of the radio that's pictured in the owners manual, as its the same one, and has the AUX plug pictured. We replaced it with this one.. http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/CarAudioVideo/In-Dash/CD-Players/Premier/DEH-P510UB But we will be living in Colorado, with the cell phone headset laws. So we are returning it, and getting this one... http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/CarAudioVideo/In-Dash/CD-Players/Premier/DEH-P610BT Its got the cell phone Blue Tooth.. You can find them in radio shops cheaper than what Pioneer Electronics website has. No we don't have some big, boombastic stereo system. its just the Pioneer head unit, with Alpine components door speakers in the front, and alpines in the read doors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5GL Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 My understanding of McIntosh is the fact that the sound that comes out of the unit is "cleaner". Lower THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) across all frequencies. While the output (watts) may be the same or slightly higher, the sound produced is better. The speakers are the same, but upgrading the head unit from a "standard" one usually produces favorable results. Now if you put some nicer speakers on the McIntosh system it would sound really good. If you would be listening to sports, talk, or AM radio don't bother, but if you want to hear classical music from a quality CD in every detail when the song is in a "pianissimo" or "very soft" passage, get the upgraded system. Just my $.02. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted July 23, 2009 Author Share Posted July 23, 2009 if you want to hear classical music from a quality CD in every detail when the songhey, how did you know i listen to classical music?fortunately my hearing is bad enough it probably doesn't matter then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5GL Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 (edited) hey, how did you know i listen to classical music? Well, you have nearly 11,000 posts, I've read a few of them, and judging from your demeanor to be a fairly well rounded individual and such.... No, really, I just used that line to provide an example. Hope you find what you need! Lewis Edited July 27, 2009 by 2.5GL content Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now