Wiring for Pioneer radio into 09 HHR
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 02-03-2020
Posts: 12
From: Tennessee
Been there, done that. If you replace the radio, get the correct adaptor, if for no other reason that you can add value by assuring the next buyer that they can just plug the original radio back in if they want to.
I've received great advice about audio on these forums. Both of my LS's with base radio/speakers had door speaker failures, one by one, intermittently at first, them complete. And exactly as I expected from the experience voices here, the little high-frequency "presence" tweeters in the A pillars kept working, giving a tiny, tinny, distant sound.
Almost any POS aftermarket speakers will be better than the base OEM's. I got lucky and found 2 pairs of not terrible $40/pair 6" speakers on closeout at $20/pair.
I'm not convinced that the feeble base radio didn't contribute to the demise of the stock speakers though - inadequate power and/or too-skinny wires and/or poor connections will trash speakers (clipping), especially cheepies, according to my limited understanding of these matters. Anyway, I retrofitted a garage-sale high-quality (for its time) double-DIN unit complete with navigation and other frills, picked up an OEM subwoofer/amp and grill from a boneyard, stored the amp (too many wires) and bought a cheap little amp for the subwoofer only. Pretty satisfied with the results since I don't run high volume, HUGE improvement over original.
Then I sold the car. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Still have one LS with bad speakers to fix. The other two wagons have Pioneer "enhanced audio."
I've received great advice about audio on these forums. Both of my LS's with base radio/speakers had door speaker failures, one by one, intermittently at first, them complete. And exactly as I expected from the experience voices here, the little high-frequency "presence" tweeters in the A pillars kept working, giving a tiny, tinny, distant sound.
Almost any POS aftermarket speakers will be better than the base OEM's. I got lucky and found 2 pairs of not terrible $40/pair 6" speakers on closeout at $20/pair.
I'm not convinced that the feeble base radio didn't contribute to the demise of the stock speakers though - inadequate power and/or too-skinny wires and/or poor connections will trash speakers (clipping), especially cheepies, according to my limited understanding of these matters. Anyway, I retrofitted a garage-sale high-quality (for its time) double-DIN unit complete with navigation and other frills, picked up an OEM subwoofer/amp and grill from a boneyard, stored the amp (too many wires) and bought a cheap little amp for the subwoofer only. Pretty satisfied with the results since I don't run high volume, HUGE improvement over original.
Then I sold the car. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Still have one LS with bad speakers to fix. The other two wagons have Pioneer "enhanced audio."
I found a 2 channel amp for under $10 which will suffice if I need to go that route.
I will post my results when I get it all back together and working properly.
Thanks to all who have contributed to this point.
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Joined: 05-01-2014
Posts: 8,499
From: California
This question about the Pioneer label in the cargo area was asked a week and a half ago. The answer will tell if you have a factory amp or not.
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 02-03-2020
Posts: 12
From: Tennessee
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 02-03-2020
Posts: 12
From: Tennessee
Senior Member
Joined: 08-03-2010
Posts: 3,564
From: Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
Being curious, did you find that in a repair manual ?