Adding an aftermarket radio to 07-14 FAQ

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Luie

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Yes. That is what I was thinking. It not really IN the radio per say. Its more after the radio as in it has a 'Bose' amp and 'Bose' speakers.
 

Rocket Man

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Yes. That is what I was thinking. It not really IN the radio per say. Its more after the radio as in it has a 'Bose' amp and 'Bose' speakers.
It’s in everything- the head unit, the amp and the speakers. Licensed and engineered at least in part by Bose. It’s all designed to work together. I don’t know who builds GMs electronics, whether they have their own division or if they subcontract everything out. I also don’t know how well their head units play with aftermarket stuff but the amps and speakers they use in GM’s vehicles are non-standard as in they run at 2 ohms and you have to really look hard to find compatible speakers. I used to do warranty work on Chrysler electronics and they had their own division of Chrysler that built all their electronics including some of their basic stereos, bcm’s, ecm’s, digital dashes, etc. but not sure about GM. Chrysler’s upper end stereo equipment was built by several vendors including Mitsubishi and Alpine but carried the Infinity symbol and I’m not sure what Infinity had to do with it. It can all get confusing and I believe they intentionally want it that way. Automakers have been trying forever to keep you tied to their stereo systems so you have to come back to them for parts and service, and some of the new stuff looks like they might finally succeed with 10” or larger displays tied to all the other electronic vehicle systems so you can’t remove a part of the system like the stereo. Sorry for the long story, and now a question- what is it you want to do?
 

Luie

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As most of yall know im tryin to do a 'cheap' upgrade to the 08 hoe my wife drives. It had the non nav Bose rear dvd radio now. Id like to upgrade it per say to a GM Nav HU. Id really like to find one out of a 2012-2014 Tahoe with Bose and rear dvd. But Im learning thats not that easy. No one makes that 'adapter' harness any more. Its too old now Ive been told. So back to find one from a 2007-2011 GM vehicle.

I did this swap in my LMM GMC several years ago when those radios where a dime a dozen. Added the nav antenna, speed sensor wire etc...

But.... now all the factory pull outs are getting hard to find and the ones I do find dont have rear dvd or dont have Bose. It just got me to thinking, Is the Bose part just the amp and speakers or does it include the HU too. Well you answered that question.

Being a furloughed oilfield working for the past month and a half Ive been looking for a radio for a good price to make this swap. But... office called me yesterday. Going back to work next week.

Luie.
 

Doubeleive

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you could do a lower end or previous model year pioneer or kenwood with dvd and nav and a maestro rr and a couple adapters for less, you wouldn't need to change the amp or speakers the maestro rr retains all of the factory functions except the little pop up on the radio when you get low on fuel, you would actually gain a couple little things like a built in vehicle code reader and digital gauges on the radio screen if that's your thing, presuming you already have the rear screen or screens those would work also.

*the only other module you may need to add is a sirius radio receiver if you want satellite radio because that is built into the factory radio, it would just plug into the headunit.
 

Luie

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you could do a lower end or previous model year pioneer or kenwood with dvd and nav and a maestro rr and a couple adapters for less, you wouldn't need to change the amp or speakers the maestro rr retains all of the factory functions except the little pop up on the radio when you get low on fuel, you would actually gain a couple little things like a built in vehicle code reader and digital gauges on the radio screen if that's your thing, presuming you already have the rear screen or screens those would work also.

*the only other module you may need to add is a sirius radio receiver if you want satellite radio because that is built into the factory radio, it would just plug into the headunit.
and you would gain android auto / apple carplay


I do like those other options and have Not ruled that out. The wife dont really care. As long as she can get her K-Love etc she dont care. I go back to work next week then depending on how busy we are will really determine what I can do and how quick it will happen.

Thanks guys.
 

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