Ok I created another post a while back where I was going to chronicle my experience installing the AVN5435. Well I got cold feet and had my local Tweeter do it for me. They were able to get the door subs to work. They have done some good work for me in the past on my Accord.

There are two problems I'm having. The sound is totally washed out. I made sure all the DSP settings on the unit were off. I set the EQ to flat and even played with it. The Shaker 500 head unit provided a much better sound experience with the bass one over flat and treble three over flat.

The second problems is that I get a pop everytime I turn the radio on. I think someone was able to fix that problem.

Needless to say I am very unhappy with the unit. I bought it because I though the audio component was the strong suit of the unit. Right now I just have a stereo system that sounds like crap. Any suggestions would be welcome. I find it hard to believe my car should sound so bad.

Oh and I purchased the adapter and harness from Crutchfield.

 

I'm getting the AVN5435 installed by an Eclipse dealer in the next week or so, so I'll let you know how that turns out. I've spoken to the installer and he has already done the 5435 in two '05 Saleens and they came out great.

 

who are u getting it done by?i was about to get mine done too but i need the cash for something else right now and im also worried about it being stolen.ive been thinking maybe i should get one that hides away but they alway look so ugly.but i really dont want to get it stolen cuz im not covered for theft on my insurance.

 

Where I am buying mine from it comes with a 3 year warranty and for 1 year, if it is stolen I just bring in a police report and I get a new unit free.

 

You'll have to actually set equalizer settings on the new head. The factory unit has equalization built-in. All things equal, you shouldn't notice much difference in sound until you start to use the special features of the Eclipse. After all, it is still an electrical signal being barely amplified and sent to cheap speakers. The factory head is not the weakest link (if you're lucky to have one that works).

 

Here is the problem with the Eclipse. There are no build in crossovers on the unit. So all the speakers including the subs are playing full range. The subs would overwhelm the system and create the muffled sound. The 5x7's sound like crap because they are going lower then you normally would want creating the "farting" sound.

The Eclipse is a unit that is made for an audiophile that wants clean sound coming out of the source and then lets the apps and cross overs do there thing. This would be great if I had a couple grand to lay down for the rest of the system but I don't right now. I'm going to go with the AVIC-D1 instead since it has the build in crossovers and can retain the sound of the Shaker 500 until I can afford more.

With that said I've got an Eclipse 5435 that has been used barely for three days. I have the warranty card filled out by an Eclipse dealer but I haven't put any of my info on it. The warranty is good for one year. If your interested in the unit PM me.

 

According to the Eclipse web site there is a built in 9 band EQ and 6 channel output ( and I quote.."including subwoofer ) for that unit that should more than control what it is you want to do. Also the sub woofer outputs on pretty much all stereos are not only crossed over to be just that, sub woofer outputs, but there is usually also some sort of frequency control to fine tune them.

Not trying to knock you but perhaps it is your unfamiliarity with the unit? Or more likely incorrect installation since you did have it installed by the K-Mart equivellant of installation shops instead of a high end audio shop. You are going to have a hard time convencing me that a high end unit such as an Eclipse does not have a preline cross over built in for the subwoofer outputs.

 

I talked with an Eclipse dealer. The AVN5435 does not have any type of cross over built into the unit. Now on the EQ you can adjust the level for each frequency but you can’t cut the 5x7’s off at a certain frequency. On the AVIC-D1, you can cut both the subs and 5x7’s off at whatever you want.

What I’ve learned is that you if you want to go straight after market then the Eclipse AVN5435 is for you. If you want to keep the stock system then go with the Pioneer or Kenwood unit. The Eclipse shop told me that the Pioneer AVIC-D1 would be a problem for me later with only having the two-volt pre-out. It wasn’t a totally biased opinion because they sell the AVIC-D1 as well. He just told me the D1 was made to be cheap and left it at that.

As for going to a Kmart shop I thought Tweeter was a step above Best Buy/Circuit City. They did some really nice work putting a system together and intergrating it with my 03 Accord stock Navi unit.

 

Okay here is what I decided to do. I’m going to keep the AVN5435 because Eclipse I have been told is pretty much the best when it comes to sound quality.

I’m going to take out the 5x7 in the rear, remove the stock amps and 8’s in the door. I’m going to install my JBL P650c component speakers that I had in my Accord for about a year to replace the fronts. I’m then going to put JL 8w0’s in the door to replace the stock subs and hook it all to a JL 300/4. I’m not going to put anything back in the rear because the fronts should do the job.

 

Tweeter is probably a step above Best Buy/Circuit City. But that still isn't saying much! If you are going to have someone do it for you ( instead of not doing it yourself for whatever reason ) I would highly recommend you go to a car audio speciality shop. You will be much happier with the results. But honestly, it is not hard at all to replace the head unit. I did mine in about 3 hours, and that included engineering ( if you can call it that ) a rear view camera setup for it.

Good luck with whatever unit you decide to go with. But do yourself a favor, have it done somewhere that specializes in doing just that, not somewhere that the person installing your system could have very possibly been selling televisions the week before.

 

Yeah I realize now that it didn't take much to install the unit. I was just leary about making my first car audio experience one with a Navi system in a brand new car with little reference matterial out on the net yet.

 

who are u getting it from? if u want pm me? cuz the place i told u about i might not be able to get for the price i told u about.

 

I talked to a different installer at Tweeter today and he recommended this.

Soundgate LOCSUBA

He said that would get rid of the full range sound coming from the door subs. He also was going to look into a way to delay the amps so that they don't come on when the head unit turns on to eliminate the pop. Anyways I'm happy now because it saved me another $1200 in parts and labor. I can take the time now and save up for a system I really want.

 

I almost got an eclipse but I couldn't stand looking at the layout on those aftermarket stereos... though the eclipse seemed better then the kenwoods.

CAR COMPUTER ALL THE WAY!

http://forums.bradbarnett.net/index.php?ac...t=0#entry402061

 

I have no experience with this head unit but you said the EQ was set to flat. In my experience, flat never means good when it comes to sound. Play with the EQ a little. If anyone is looking for a good head unit, I recommend the Pioneer DEH-P8MP/DEH-P80MP which sounds great and is a good match for the IUP.

 

Anyone interested in purchasing and having an AVN5435 installed by an authorized dealer try going to the Eclipse web site and calling their 800 number for finding authorized dealers. You will be connected automatically to a dealer in your area. What surprised me was that the authorized dealer I was put in contact with quoted me a price or $1750 installed. Much cheaper than I thought it would be. I will be getting one put in my GT next week. This is the same price that many people are paying on Ebay for the unit alone from an unauthorized dealer and then having to find someone to install it.

 

That"s what I did, I called the dealer number and it put me in contact with a local dealer I didn't know existed. Where is the dealer who quoted you $1750 installed? Thats is a very good deal I am paying $2000 installed.

 

what a rip...

 

Phoenix, AZ