rplink

Hi All,
Decided to completely redo my stereo install to take advantage of the new Eclipse Double Din nav units available. Waited for the 5V pre-out version that included built in Sirius control: AVN5435.

System before:
Eclipse CD8061 CD Tuner 16V Balanced pre-outs
Eclipse 5083 CD changer
Kenwood Sirius (connected through Aux in on CD8061)
Diamond Audio D7104 100x4ch
Diamond Audio D7401 400x1ch
DLS Ultimate Iridums 6.3s in custom kicks
Rainbow SL65 coaxials for rear fill (please don't start on pros/cons of rear fill as I have enough experience with all levels of installations to know what sounds best to me)
Adire Audio Koda 10 Subwoofer

All the bells and whistles of the AVN5435 got my attention, but it was the drop from the competition Eclipse CD8061 (copper chassis, balanced pre-outs, no built in amp) that had me worried. Sound quallity was really important and the audio noise floor in my old setup was virtually undetectable at 80% volume on a blank track.

With only one day of listening to the AVN5435, I'm impressed. Still need to get all my gains set on my new amplifier McIntosh MC440 as they are set very conservative at the moment. Then find the best EQ settings between the headunit and MC440 to fit my install. No complaints so far!

If anyone has any questions about the AVN5435, I'll do my best to answer them. I haven't gotten around to really learn the Nav features, so your guess is as good as mine there!

Here's a few pics of the head unit installed.

Enjoy.

isugoo

iTrader: (6)

congrat. on your new upgrade (do i have to say downgrade?? since you had competition stuff).

And thanks for scanning/emailing me the installation manual.
I'm planning to install rest of my stuff (5ch amp-front/rear spk) comming sunday.
hope things go straight.

currently i'm using avn5435 and bose speakers and sound quality isn't really good.

thanks again fof the manual.

looks good man.

rplink

Thanks and no problem about the install manual.

If you've installed stereo equipment before, you'll probably find the Z an easy install. Most difficult things for me were to run new wires to the door speakers and pulling apart the plastic part around the rear speakers.

You'll most likely be alot happier with the sound when you get good speakers in place of the stock bose stuff.

Best of luck!

RANDY350Z

Very SWEEEET! Where did you mount the CD changer? Do you have a PIC?

rplink

Thanks!

I mounted the 5083 on the pass. side small storage box. Not the glove box, but the one above it. I still need to make a face plate to fill in around the changer. I'll do that this weekend if time permits.

I recently saw on this forum where an Alpine CD changer was mounted in the glove box at the very back. Only the face plate was exposed, so no storage space was lost. Neat idea, but when I did some test fitting, it was too difficult to reach the changer from the driver's seat. Makes switching cd magazines a pain, so I opted for a more exposed location.

Best Regards,

Randy

MethodRN

iTrader: (13)

Does the AVN 5435 play DVD's while in motion? Do you have to remove NAV DVD to play movies and/or CDs?

rplink

MethodRN, you can trick the AVN to play DVDs while in motion. However, there is only one DVD slot, so it's either DVD or DVD Navi. Playing a CD while using the Nav is no problem since each media has it's own slot.

MethodRN

iTrader: (13)

Doesn't the AVN5435 have a HD to allow for nav use while DVD is playing?

rplink

Nope. Just the soon to be released AVN5495

RANDY350Z

the avn5495 won't have Sirius radio until later this year. First models will be w/ out sirius.

smoothludey

nice setup....just curious as to how much the avn unit cost you and how much was the install? Another question is where did you get the faceplate trim that borders the unit to make it flush with the center console. I've been trying to find one for my pioneer Avic-D1 unit. thx

rplink

The AVN5435 costs anywhere between $1500 - $1800 depending upon your tolerance for risk. $1500 will get you one off eBay. $1500+ will get you one from an authorized Eclipse dealer. I've bought alot of stuff on eBay, but for this purchase I went to my Eclipse dealer so the headunit would be covered by the Eclipse 3 year warranty. I've given them quite a bit of buisness over the years, so I got a very good price on the headunit.
Kit I used is the standard Metra kit. Circuit City had them in stock for $18.00. You use the brackets from the stock radio plus two spacer brackets in the metra kit and the Double din trim ring.

dualies

Can anyone recommand me a good installer in Los Angeles area that has done this installation before?

james840a

iTrader: (7)

rplink- that would be me with the alpine changer at the back.

I got a qoute for $1,400 for that avn5435. I think that is the one i saw with the 20gb hard drive in it.

MRballer350z

+1

rplink

james, the 20GB model is the AVN2454. Two major differences between it and the 5435, is the 2454 has a 20GB HD and lower preout voltage. The 2454 was released last year and seems to be selling for alittle less than the 5435.

Both are nice headunits.

FloridaZman

rplink - Nice install! I like the look and fit of that unit in the Z. How long did it take to install, and what is the difficult level of this install?

rplink

Hey, thanks.

I guess difficulty would depend on your experience with car audio installs. The install of the headunit was not very hard as it was my second audio install in the Z. However, there is alot of cables to work...gps antenna, speed sensor, 3 sets of RCAs, CD changer, Sirius sat, sat antenna, and all the normal power, ground, remote stuff to work with.

There are great How To's on this forum which take alot of guess work on how to get the panels off!

JindaZ

also another advantage from buying from a dealer (ie. cartoys) is that they usually have no-interest financing available, im picking my 5435 up later this week for about $1650 and installing this weekend, paying no interest financing for a year.

RANDY350Z

I just went with the 5435, I am getting serius this fri or sat. I originally was going with the 5495, but the unit didn't show up on Sat, and I was told it was going to be a two week wait so I said forget it, and went with the 5435 because I wanted the Serius tuner. I kept getting conflicting stories from Eclipse and my dealer that there was or wasn't going to be a tuner for it.