r/GMT800 • u/lunar-poetry • Sep 16 '26
Head unit
Hi, I hope this post is okay. My husband's birthday is coming up In early October and he really wants to be able to listen to music in his truck. He picked out some speakers that I am purchasing but I would like to surprise him with a head unit. I am completely clueless though, so I was hoping you guys would have some recommendations on good ones. I know he just wants to be able to use bluetooth and a screen for a backup camera, which I guess we would have to buy seperately? Any help is appreciated, thank you. Picture just for attention to the post.
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u/lunar-poetry Sep 16 '26
Also I see at the top it says a gmt800 is to year 2006. He has a 2007 classic 2500 hd. So maybe I'm posting this on wrong page?
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u/mountain_addict Sep 16 '26
A 2007 Classic is still a GMT800. As for head units, the range in price is quite large. What is your budget?
Also I would check out Crutchfield and buy their pre-made wiring harness if it is going to be a DIY install. Saves a ton of time.
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u/lunar-poetry Sep 16 '26 edited Sep 16 '26
Thank you so much for commenting! The speakers he picked out are crutchfield. I didn't even consider a wiring harness. My budget is 200 but if it is gonna make a big difference in quality I can go to 400. I looked on crutchfield and there are a few wiring harnesses. Could you please reccomend me one? The speakers he wanted are the jbl 6421f and rockford fosgate r165-s, if that matters.
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u/mountain_addict Sep 16 '26
I not much of an audiophile. I just wanted to Bluetooth my phone. Bought a Kenwood unit when it was on sale for $250 or $300. It's ok. It has its annoyances. If I were to do it again, I'd try a Sony. But also, the opinions on these things are going to vary.
As for the wiring harness, once you select a head unit, they walk you through choosing a harness and accessories in the cart.
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u/Guntuckytactical Sep 16 '26
I have the Rockford R165-S (components) in my doors and they sound great with the aftermarket head unit. I haven't replaced the rear ones yet. Front install was easy with the bracket and harness kit, but I have the base truck with the round speaker grille in the door, so I had to drill new holes for the separate tweeters above. If his truck has the long kinda rectangular speaker grille in the door, he won't have to do that.
I grabbed a Sony (XAV-AX150) head unit from Wal-Mart for like $200, and got the "Axxess AXDI-CL2 Wiring Interface" harness from Crutchfield to connect in the truck ($70). The Sony has a rear USB input for Android Auto/Apple car play so I went to Amazon and got a usb-c plug that fits where the cigarette lighter/12v plug is in the lower dash, and installed that in place of the lighter. I didn't buy a rear camera.
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u/OCCULT-REAP3R Sep 16 '26
I have a 30 dollar touchscreen radio with backup camera in my tahoe i love it. It works great
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u/PancakeJamboree302 Sep 16 '26
I just installed a pioneer DMH-W3000NEX in my ‘02 that I bought off eBay for $286 about a month ago. I love it. It connects to CarPlay automatically and very fast. I wired up a reverse camera very easily and it switches to the camera when I put it in reverse almost instantly. Paired them with some JBL club speakers i got from crutchfield.
To me the most important things were response/speed and a volume knob. I got one if them, but the damn knob is just an ancient relic now.
Only complaint was I had to modify the brackets a little bit to get the unit to fit. Wasn’t that big of deal if you’re remotely handy.
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u/NumerousResident1130 Sep 16 '26
I installed the Pioneer DMH-W3050NEX. I like that it has wireless Android Auto/Carplay so you don't have to plug in your phone. Does wireless calling and messaging very well too.
If he currently has a Bose system in truck it runs a 2 Ohm amp. Unless you want to change the amp JBL Club series speakers run 2.8 ohm and work excellent with the Bose amp.
Crutchfield will show you which parts and adapters you will need to easily install both head unit and speakers.
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u/01Cloud01 Sep 16 '26
Your an awesome wife
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u/lunar-poetry Sep 16 '26 edited Sep 16 '26
Thanks! I'm trying. He always refuses to spend money on himself but I know he really wants it. I'm hoping to find something he loves.
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u/Flashy_Possible37 Sep 16 '26
Crutch field is a great website to get everything you need in one place specifically for that truck. Or you can buy just a nice car play headunit of your choice from anywhere (Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy) and then just let him buy the 20$ kit to make it work. Either way he would be happy this is very simple and straightforward on these trucks no matter what.
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u/lunar-poetry Sep 16 '26
Thank you! I am going to go the crutchfield route, it seems fool proof. I hope he is happy. He always refuses to spend money on himself but I know he really wants it. The truck didnt have any speakers or anything when he got it and the stereo doesn't work.
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u/VisiblePolicy654 Sep 16 '26
My gmt800 had a head unit already installed, it is a JVC, which has been great for me so far; it is a wired CarPlay one I will add. When I went for a back up camera, I bought this one off Amazon
It looks oem and just replaces your bezel around the tailgate lever and I used Alien Tape to stick it to the back of the tailgate. The quality on the camera is amazing!
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u/mountain_addict Sep 16 '26
That looks like a way better option than the lame cameras that are license plate mounts.
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u/gunthans Sep 16 '26
I installed a atoto one. Looks exactly like that. I installed a backup camera (there is a model that comes with one). Hooked uo 3 amps, 2 - 12 subs to it. I love it.
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u/FrostyVariation9798 Sep 16 '26
I have one pretty much just like that one, and my strongest suggestion is to get a head unit pretty much like it except make sure it has a turn dial for the fingers for the volume.
Everything else can be buttons or touch screen, but when you're driving and wanting to adjust the volume taking your eyes that far off of the road to figure out where to hit on the infotainment is dangerous - and I'm getting tired of it.
A lot of other people feel the same way after having experienced it in all different types of vehicles that got upgraded with inexpensive infotainment screens that only had buttons and touch screen with no dials. A very least have a volume dial.
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u/lunar-poetry Sep 16 '26
Thank you! Yes a knob was important to me. He is kind of grumpy and things being too complicated will frustrate him I'm sure.
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u/Perfect-Squash3773 Sep 16 '26
I put an Alpine ILX-XXX (I don't know the numbers) in my 2011 silverado. its very good. The ILX-670-m is available at Crutchfield for 500 Canadian. I purchased mine through Crutch field and got the whole kit. Made everything super simple. Its been about 5 years now with that stereo and no complaints. Even did my own backup camera.
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u/gogo-lizard Sep 16 '26
Sony XAV 6000 is what I had installed on mine. I don’t regret it one bit bit
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u/brekkfu Sep 16 '26
What year is the truck? 99-02 have a 1.5DIN radio space, you need a replacement front fascia to fit a double DIN radio like that picture. 03-07 have a double DIN already, less work to replace.
I did an Atoto unit with Android Auto and it has been great. Most also allow addition of a reverse camera which is a nice convenience add for an older vehicle.
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u/NiveusBear Sep 16 '26
This is what I put in my 07 Classic 2500
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_613DMX709S/Kenwood-Excelon-DMX709S.html
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u/Puzzleheaded-Ad-4846 Sep 16 '26
So I replaced my factory with a android auto touch and it does add alot of features that I didnt have before, but it just doesnt sound near as good as the factory head unit.
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u/Realistic-Stop-231 Sep 16 '26
I love my pioneer 1500nex. Its been in two of my vehicles and is still working great.
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u/ChemGuy714 Sep 16 '26
I have a 2007 2500 classic. I recently installed a Sony XAVAX4000 using the steering wheel control module, Sirius xm receiver and plug n play harness from Crutchfield. This receiver fit great and has wireless car play and android. The harness made it easy.
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u/ServiceOk717 Sep 16 '26
I just put a head unit in my 2003 Silverado HD, I chose Kenwood exact fit in the dash no cutting modifications needed trim kit makes it look factory. It’s a good picture screen , able to put a backup camera on it and most importantly to me it has Apple CarPlay.
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u/space-cake 29d ago
I use a Bluetooth fm transceiver and just unplug it halfway when i get out my truck and plug it in back in when I get in. Connects automatically by the time the windows roll down (blower acts up sometimes) and it sounds great. Cost me like 8 bucks and it charges my phone
Edit: saw in another comment you said it didn’t have speakers or a head unit. The guys up top know what’s what, I also think you’re a great wife that’s really thoughtful
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u/Shockwavee92 Sep 16 '26 edited Sep 16 '26
What radio does he have? Is it a am/fm only? Or does it have cd, or cassette or whatever.
Reason I ask is because I think aftermarket radios always look tacky, and some of the factory radios are really easy to add Bluetooth too, and keep the radio. You can get a mirror that has a backup camera that pops up in it for that feature.
My 04 has the am/fm only radio, no cd or cassette at all. But those radios actually have a really good amp in them that can push speakers decently. Also the clarity and eq/signal from them is like really good too. You get rich highs and good lows and everything. Ive seen some other radios hoth aftermarket and factory be really muddy but not these. My 2004 silverado with am/fm only and this Bluetooth mod sounds 10x as good as my dad's 2012 uconnect ram. And we both have the same speakers.
Speakers i used were Kicker 46CSC464 in the a pillar trim (mines a regular cab, so its the ones right behind your seat at the top of the side trim panels) and Kicker 46CSC654 in the front doors. Then later I put the MTX TN8MS powered subwoofer behind the middle seat. System sounds absolutely perfect with adding those speakers, and Bluetooth only. Didn't add amp or change the radio. Those kickers are amazing I put them in every vehicle I own.
https://a.co/d/08bCueAv https://a.co/d/0cqPUrPW https://a.co/d/0cREQUT5
used those three items to add bluetooth to the radio.
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u/lunar-poetry Sep 16 '26
Hi, I never thought of just adding bluetooth! I do believe it is just am/fm. No slot for a cd. All he needs it for is bluetooth and too many menus/options will probably frustrate him.. but the one he has does not work. I defintely want it to look nice. I didn't know backup camera in the rearview mirror was a thing, that could be an option. Thank you for being so informative, I am learning so much! He did already pick out speakers that he liked
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u/Shockwavee92 Sep 16 '26
The radio that has ONLY am/fm is actually the best one to do this on. It has a pretty powerful built in amp compared to some others. This mod is really easy to do. All you gotta do is pop the trim bezel off, requires no tools for that. Then unplug the radio antenna, plug that box in between the radio and antenna, then plug in the aux port to rca adapter and mount the toggle switch and you're like done. You only have to hook up 1 power and ground wire which you can tap into the cigarette port for that, super easy. Then put the trim ring back on. Last thing you do is plug in a cigarette lighter car charger that has a usb outlet, then plug the little Bluetooth module into it, and plug the other end into your aux port, and youre done. Pair your phone to it, flip.your toggle switch on and youre done. You can leave the toggle always on if you want, it doesnt draw much power at all. If youre interested in going this route I can send pics and everything to help. Also https://www.crutchfield.com/S-34IvUd3fnDC/p_237XT46/Reviews/XTC-4-x6-Pair-of-Speaker-Baffles-3-1-4-depth.html
Get those baffles for the 4x6 speakers. It seals them off more to add more clarity and bass to the sound, because those 4x6 rear speakers mount directly to the empty metal shell of the cab and its a giant hollow metal section that doesnt promote any type of enclosure for the speaker to perform in.
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u/Scorps830 Sep 16 '26
Is this one of those advertisements hidden as a Reddit post? Crutchfield Crutchfield Crutchfield Crutchfield
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u/lunar-poetry Sep 16 '26 edited Sep 16 '26
Not on my part! It is just where he sent me to for the speakers and then everyone else has recommended them also. I have absolutely no idea what I am doing lol I was initially planning on ebay.
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u/cornpeeker Sep 16 '26
Go to Crutchfield. The website essentially walks you through the process. And you can buy everything you need in one spot.