Stock Stereo - Sat Radio, Tape Decks, iPod?

[Mazda5Lover]

Subwoofer Possibility

Anyone know if a subwoofer can be installed in a 2008 Mazda 5? If so, where in the car is a good place for it? What subwoofer is good/compatible with it? And, does it involve too much modification?

 

[jimp]

Hey everyone. I installed the GROM Ipod adapter http://www.gromaudio.com/ipod.html in our 2008 5 last weekend. The install went pretty well except for a few changes to the interior pcs on the '08 that change the HU removal. Just remember to take you're time and remove the cup holders and console on the '08's otherwise, it's the same as on earlier models. Once you get the HU out you'll have to unplug the existing connection on the radio. The problem is once you do this, you lose the bluetooth capability, if you have it. I want to maintain the bluetooth compatibility with my phone, so I've disconnected the GROM unit until a Y adapter is made. GROM was talking about having one in MAY so hopefully it won't be long now.
The GROM unit was $70 on EBAY, displayed the tracks on the display, but no song name or titles, or playlists description. Playlist organization is important to ge the most out the GROM unit. Sound is great, charges the ipod, keeps it out of site and in the glove, and lets you use the steering wheel controls to change songs.

does anyone know what if any changes were made to the 09 oem HU in the 5. I have a 6cd change with the 6 speakers (2 tweets and 4 woofers in doors and rear cabin area. Just wondering if the grom unit noted above will work with my 09 OEM HU??

 

[dieseldriver]

Here's a pinout of the factory AUX jack on Mazda5::

RCA RIGHT Channel
Positive/+ or Center = PIN 3
Negative/- or Outside Shield = PIN 4

RCA LEFT Channel
Positive/+ or Center = PIN 5
Negative/- or Outside Shield = PIN 4

Semi - Permanent AUX Function Enable:
A simple mod of adding a jumper from PIN2 to PIN6 will alllow the radio to "see" a cable plugged into the AUX port even when there's no 3.5mm stereo cable plugged in. This opens up the possibility of installing multiple AUX ports using female RCA or 3.5mm stereo jacks elsewhere on the car for audio input. You can just scroll through modes and will always see an AUX mode on the radio display. When the switch inside the AUX port is in OPEN state, radio is sending about 3.25VDC to the PIN pairs 2 & 6. When the phono plug in connected, switch will close and zeros out the voltage or grounds it out which activates the AUX mode on the radio. You can probably add a SPST switch in-line to this jumper so that you can turn on/off the AUX function at-will as well.

 

[Davicho]

Can anyone confirm for sure if replacing the OEM head unit with an aftermarket one will disable my OEM navigation system? Crutchfield has a note under installation details that mentions this. Can someone confim for sure if this true.

 

[Bob*5]

I just picked up a 2013 Maxda 5 Sport and am impressed with the iPod integration. There is now a USB port and when connected you control the iPod from the head unit. When a song starts it shows the Title (At least the first 12 characters) and then the Artist with the first 12 characters and there is a scroll button if you want to see more. There are buttons to change playlists and to change tracks as well as a random button and a scan button that plays the first 10 seconds of each song. And being a USB port it keeps my iPod charged.

 

[hoppydawg]

Good info to hear. I have a 2012 and wish this was an option for the model year. If anyone has a 2013 model and will be swapping out their stock head unit, I would be interested if it is an option to direct swap the units and get that simple functionality. Mine has the single CD player and while ripping CD's is an option, with lacking storage, who want's to bother when you can just use the USB. Will it also read/play from a thumb drive, or just an Ipod?

 

[Geeshik]

I put a GROM in my wife's 2007 Mazda5 for her shortly after we got it. It works awesome with ipods. I can sometimes (seemingly by mistake) even get it to display the titles of the songs and artists on the factory display. I just wish I knew how to get it to work all the time. I forgot where i put the manual for the GROM.