infinity cd changer with new head unit?

[nova1313]

I just bought a 99 eclipse spyder gs. It's equipped with the infinity head unit and cd changer. I wanted to keep the changer and all the speakers in the car if possible and get a new head unit. (The infinity one isn't the greatest (but it's pretty darn good ^^))

Anyway I was wondering if there is an adapater to go from the infinity cd changer into a new head unit.. I found this http://www.installer.com/cars/mitsubishi.html
if you scroll it's about half way down "MITAH
1990-2002 Mitsubishi built cars with Infinity Systems"

Is that what I need or can this not be accomplished? I'm not sure whats all involved as I havn't gotten into tearing apart the stereo yet.

[97GSTspyder]

from what i know (i don't know that much about sound systems and head units, etc) you have to rip out the factory amp, located under the passenger side and rewire everything yourself. i had it professionally installed at BestBuy. it was a Pioneer P6600. it was during "free-installation month"...ha, well the installation wasn't so "free" after paying $150 somethin for installation. they told me i had to pay because there was an assload of work to be done with my car. took the dude at least 4 hours to install it. oh, and i've been told, if you get an aftermarket head unit, the cd changer won't ever work with it.


EDIT > "amplifier bypass harness" yeah you'll need that. the factory amp has to be bypassed. at best buy i think it was like $50. can't remember exactly.

[kjewer1]

I have a harness that allows you to get an aftermarket headunit, and plug the stock AMP into it. It does not allow it to control the stock CD changer, and as far as I know, no such thing exists.

Edit> Looking at the link above, it appears to be the same piece I have. I think mine is shorter though. At any rate, you can see there is nothing to control the CD changer on it. And it does in fact say its to swap out the headunit or amp, though I dont see how it allow the latter, since the gender of the connector would be wrong.

[nova1313]

Okay thanks so much. It sounds like alot of hassle to have this done. The cdchanger is so nicely installed in thr trunk now. But it looks like I'll have to get a new one.

I actually work at best buy so I'm going to try to talk to one of the installation people, it sounds really hard just to replace the stock stereo. However I get a nice employee discount ^^

[kjewer1]

With the above mentioned adapter replacing the head unit but keeping the stock amp is a no brainer. Using a new head unit and a new amp is not so bad either. Using the new head unit to power the speakers directly would require some wiring.

[96RSeclipse]

ive been working with stereo systems for about 4 years now and from experience, i can honastly tell you that if you are looking for good sound, dont do things cheap. believe me or not, you are way better off to just spring for good stuff now. i can also tell you that you are goign to have a WAY better tuning ablitlity with an aftermarket amp. i would either loose the factory amp and run new wires from the HU to the speakers, or geta new amp and put it in the same place ad the factory one. and for your other question, im about 98% sure that your gonna have a better chance of hitting the lottery than finding a way to hook that stock cd changer up to your HU unless you are goign to hardwire it somehow. hope this helped