JennyDrisc

I've had my 2006 SC430 for about 4 years now and the one thing I've never been happy with is the radio. Can anyone recommend (or point me to threads about) upgrades?

As soon as I bought the car I had satellite radio added to it since where I live, terrestrial radio is rather non-existent (we can pick up only one FM station). The satellite radio add-on has never worked well and now it works about 25% of the time. I'm tired of paying $100+ each year when the radio itself just isn't working properly and the shop that installed it says there's nothing wrong.

Anyway, I'd love to replace the stock system altogether and would like suggestions.

Thanks in advanced!

sebtown

Check out the thead on Beatsonic including a group buy!

Harold57

Here is a recent install by VVTiBob. He has an excellent write up on it. There are a couple of other folks that have done a replacement also, but you'll have to do a search on this forum to find them. They were a couple of years back.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...-controls.html

loudzone

the link to the GB on the beatsonic stereo interface.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/clu...ml#post7270282

VVTiBob

before doing your upgrade you should contact Sirius/XM and ask about there footprint in your area to understand any coverage limitation which may or may not exist. In addition, can you tell us about your Satellite antenna placement on your car. I live in southern most Southern California and have no reception problems whatsoever.

JennyDrisc

Thanks. It's not an issue with Sirius/XM coverage or reception... it's the connection between the module and head unit. I have a portable Sirius/XM "radio" as well as built-in Sirius/XM in another car and have no problems at all. In fact, in my SC430 when the module and head unit connect, everything is fine however the vast majority of the time upon starting the car the Siruis/XM unit displays "---LOADING---". If you restart the car, sometimes it helps... but it shouldn't take restarting the car sometimes 8+ times for the connection to be made So, no problem at all with satellite reception. That is one of the reasons I just want to get the entire stock radio replaced with something that has Sirius/XM built in to it.
Thanks again!

VVTiBob

VERY FEW aftermarket radios have satellite radio "built in". Many, in fact most higher end ones come SAT RADIO "ready", where you can add a plug a play SAT recv'r. This means finding spot to hide the receiver and running two connectors to it. ( Antenna and data cable from the new head unit)
In my thread from about a month ago its exactly what I did using Beatsonic's new adapter for our SC430 ML AMP and steering wheel controls. (I am not affiliated in any way with Beatsonic, just like their product so my steering wheel controls still work.) I believe someone else posted a link to my thread in a previous comment.
Your 06 would use a different adapter, I believe it would be the 13L, not the 12L used in my 02. There is a group buy if your are interested in this idea...it will save you a few dollars.