Clarion CX501 Installed
 

Successfully installed this head unit in my 2009 base last weekend. Thanks to the great disassembly instructions found here, it went very smoothly. The hardest part was soldering together the 4 different wiring harnesses I needed. I used the axxess steering wheel control, and after manually programming it, all functions work. I also had the metra dash kit, but I wasn't pleased about the fit around the A/C controls. After looking at it for a week, I took it out and reinstalled the original dash plate. It is a MUCH better fit. You just have to simply trim the bezel piece that comes with the head unit to fit. Save your money and don't buy the metra dash kit if you install a DD.

As for the radio, I am very pleased. I wanted a low end unit that had bluetooth and usb. The bluetooth works great with my iphone. Syncs before I back out of the garage and the sound quality for music over the bt is great. The built in microphone was a plus for me too, since I didn't have to fool with mounting an external one.
Radio reception is better than the factory head unit and the overall sound quality is much improved.

The pic is with the metra dash kit.

Looks good

I like the center mounted knob on that unit, it keeps the dash symmetry.

Nice. Looking at this unit for my Z.

What all adaptors did you need to retain the steering controls, etc? Why did you have to solder?

Did you just use the built in amp? Stock speakers? How does it sound? I see this unit is lower power, like 22x4 rms

Probably he used the built in amp. Stock speakers probably sense he did not say otherwise. Compared to the stock putting out around 9 watts the stock speakers will sound better with 22 watts which is pretty standard for most head units for RMS.You do not have to solder just makes a more secure connection than crimp connectors IMO. I recommend the metra axxess for controls. you will need to cut three wires from the factory harness and wire them to the axxess.

Metra Axxess Control
 

What three wires do you need to cut into the factory harness to wire to the metra axxes control for a Kenwood DNX 5180 H.U.?

How quickly does the metra axxess control respond?

Quickly and search around the forum there are threads about what wires to use also the instruction manual that comes with it will tell you.

What I like about the Clarion CX501 is that it looks very OEMish and also can be programmed to match the dash colors. It also has the round knob in the same spot as the OEM unit. Very nice.

bigaudiofanat has it right. I did not add an amp, and used the stock speakers. Sound quality is noticeablly better than the oem head unit.
I bought a wiring harness adapter from Crutchfield. I soldered it together with the Clarion harness on a workbench. The metra sterring wheel controls connect to 3 wires in the factory harness. I crimped those connections because I didn't want to solder inside the car. The response from the metra is very quick and with manual programming I retained all steering wheel controls. You will have to program it manually though, so don't button it all back up until programming is complete. You have to see the led on the metra to program it.
If you are looking for a good low end unit without touchscreen, I would recommend it.

The unit looks like it was meant for the car. More OEM than the OEM if you get my drift, especially at night.

I'm curious how the sound quality is compared to touchscreen units double the price? I'm not experienced with aftermarket HU's.

It's the same if your just powering speakers off the head unit. May be lower if amped depending on what amp and speakers you use.

So with that in mind when do you start hearing a difference between head units?

When you drop around 300+ for speakers and 500+ for amps.

You either saved me a bunch of cash or persuaded me to do a full system instead of just a HU swap lol

IMO I would do it all and do it once.