After market AV head unit

[2273]

Hello all. Great site...first post. I am considering ordering a new Tahoe (07), but I want to really do it right in terms of the Audio-AV system. I've searched and found a great system, the Alpine IVA W200.

 

http://www.alpine-usa.com/en/products/prod...?model=IVA-W200

 

This unit has alot but what most attracts me to it are 3 things: Ipod intergration with high speed and true ipod menu manipulation, bluetooth ready for my phone, and sat radio capabilities.

 

Questions:

 

> As I am ordering, can I order the new truck with no radio? I know I won't save much but with the cost of this set up every little bit helps.

 

> How can I determine if the Alpine unit is actually compatible with the Tahoe? If not a perfect fit can the space be modified or redone in some way? I've seen the preview photos of the new Tahoe dash with the nav system on this site and from the looks of things, the Alpine unit could possibly swap out nicely. Looking for someone who knows this stuff and any info would be very helpfull...Thanks

[2273]

Hello all. Great site...first post. I am considering ordering a new Tahoe (07), but I want to really do it right in terms of the Audio-AV system. I've searched and found a great system, the Alpine IVA W200.

 

http://www.alpine-usa.com/en/products/prod...?model=IVA-W200

 

This unit has alot but what most attracts me to it are 3 things: Ipod intergration with high speed and true ipod menu manipulation, bluetooth ready for my phone, and sat radio capabilities.

 

Questions:

 

> As I am ordering, can I order the new truck with no radio? I know I won't save much but with the cost of this set up every little bit helps.

 

> How can I determine if the Alpine unit is actually compatible with the Tahoe? If not a perfect fit can the space be modified or redone in some way? I've seen the preview photos of the new Tahoe dash with the nav system on this site and from the looks of things, the Alpine unit could possibly swap out nicely. Looking for someone who knows this stuff and any info would be very helpfull...Thanks

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I forgot to ask in the original post - can the steering wheel still operate the unit?

[ZZebes]

well to answer your first question, No, as far as i know you can not order your tahoe with no radio because of the harness.

 

2nd i believe the new tahoe has a 2 din opening BUT the whole Console is going to have to be altered because the CD player is seperate from the radio.

 

So as you can see the whole dash needs to be altered and if the harness is anything like the GMT-800's than you will need to either relocate your factory radio somewhere else or get a interface emulator because the GM Harness looks something like this.

plus to retain your door chimes etc. you need one of these

Plus the OnStar interface

Plus an interface for the steering wheel controls

 

But it is doable. But good luck

[2273]

well to answer your first question, No, as far as i know you can not order your tahoe with no radio because of the harness.

 

2nd i believe the new tahoe has a 2 din opening BUT the whole Console is going to have to be altered because the CD player is seperate from the radio.

 

So as you can see the whole dash needs to be altered and if the harness is anything like the GMT-800's than you will need to either relocate your factory radio somewhere else or get a interface emulator because the GM Harness looks something like this.

plus to retain your door chimes etc. you need one of these

Plus the OnStar interface

Plus an interface for the steering wheel controls

 

But it is doable. But good luck

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

ZZ,

Thank you very much for the info, thus is such a great resource! Your answers raise a few more questions however...

1rst - What about the steering controls? is there a connection with the factory unit that can be reconnected to the new Alpine unit to preseve function?

2nd - My main reason for considering this path is BLUETOOTH CAPABILITY! For God's sake you would think that even with the design lagtime the Corporate titans could figure this one out, very discouraging! But if there is a way to get a internal BT set up using the factory HU / speakers and auto interupt then I'm likely to get off the after market thing. Especially since I am very much attached to the steering controls in my 03' Tahoe and it's my fear that these controls will be either compromised or lost altogether. The remote that comes with the Alpine is a consolation I suppose. I already have a great phone (Moto V505) that works very well for me. Any suggestions?

[2273]

Sorry,

can't ever seem to get all my questions into one post...the other thing besides BT is the Ipod interface AKA mp3 feature that comes std with the radio. Is this just a cable to hook up and then you operate via the Ipod controls or does it utilize the steering control and display Ipod info on the factory HU?

[ZZebes]

to answer your 1st question, the Steering wheel control will still work with a Alpine Head-Unit i know because my 06 sierra has the Steering wheel controls and an Alpine CDA-9855 and the controls work, although there is yet another interface.

 

2nd there are ways of creating bluetooth capibility WITH audio interupt, BUT i have never seen it done with OnStar because it uses the OnStar port to emulate the signal. But it might be doable. I honestly don't know.

 

3rd the stock MP3 feature is just an 1/8" jack like your standard headphone jack and all of your controls ar on the iPod. (For a side note, the alpine iPod interface is freakin awesome.)

 

Good luck, and God's Speed