Legacy - upgrading stereo

[Rumbledriftspin]

Hi All.

I've got an 06 Legacy RE with a single CD player. Being of a certain vintage a lot of my music is on CD so I was thinking of upgrading the stereo to the 6 CD player fitted to the REn spec car or perhaps going aftermarket for a more modern unit with better functionality. I understand REn models also have stereo controls on the steering wheel.

Could anyone advise me if upgrading for better Legacy stereo unit will be a simple matter of plug and play, including swapping the steering wheel, or is it a lot more complicated than that?

Alternatively, could someone recommend a suitable modern stereo for these cars?

Many thanks in advance.

[Cambs_Stuart]

Going for a new head unit in a Subaru legacy is tricky, as you need a few facia which are generally only available from Japan at a cost of around £150.
As for moving to a 6 CD changer, it should be more straightforward as long as you get all the cables. Just watch out for the differences between pre and post Facelift models.

[Rumbledriftspin]

Thanks for your reply - I'll see what used spares stereos are available.

Hopefully any reputable ICE fitters could do the swap.

[sledge68]

Have a look at Pumpkin auto, Ive fitted a unit between the vents on the dash, single din unit with a 10 inch display. Fantastic unit, had to buy a subaru cluster bracket to fit it

[Cambs_Stuart]

Rumbledriftspin said:

Thanks for your reply - I'll see what used spares stereos are available.

Hopefully any reputable ICE fitters could do the swap.

just watch out for the McIntosh ones, from memory they're much more difficult to swap in and out.

[Smint]

My 2008 Forester (SG9 square shape, not leathered high spec either) has the OE 6 disc player in the double din dashboard, works really well, yes it has minimal steering wheel controls but also all controls are simple via the unit itself via switches not some awful touch screen so no worry about changing the steering wheel, i would expect a used one of those to be compatible with your Legacy and an easy refit, maybe some Legacy models came with the same unit anyway.
Seeing how many, ahem, younger chaps will have gone for all singing/dancing upgrades i would expect the 6 cd dash units to be easily available used.

[Rumbledriftspin]

Thanks all.

Having looked in a bit more detail it's a shame that the stereo appears to be integrated with the climate control so there could be redundant buttons when up speccing.

[Smint]

Thats a bind, my120 series Prado is like that and i'm praying the otherwise truly superb sound system doesn't play up because the whole climate system is integrated into the same touch screen unit, apparently it is possible to upgrade to an Android aftermarket system and some have done so but straighforward it isn't, given how closely related Toyota and Subaru are probably a similar system is fitted.

[TEKNOPUG]

Rip all your CDs to FLAC or even 320kbps MP3 and then copy them to a 800mb CD-r. You'll get 8-10 albums on each disc.