Hi there!
I am looking into purchasing a new 2009 Xterra SE. Inevitably, I would like to upgrade the factory audio system.

So, I went to Crutchfield.com and went through their 'Outfit My Car' thing (I selected the model without the Rockford Fosgate system, but factory installed), but to my surprise, when the recommended head units popped up, it said none of them would fit my car.

Next, I went back and changed the option where it asked if the car had the Rockford Fosgate system or not, and I selected 'WITH Factory installed Rockford Fosgate System'. The results now showed that I could fit an aftermarket Head unit in.

Now, I am quite puzzled as both these units are factory installed. Can any of you guys please clear this up for me?

Do I have to get the Rockford Fosgate system in order to put in an aftermarket head unit? Or can I just get the bottom of the line factory installed system and still be able to put an aftermarket head unit in?

Thanks!!
Wirercx

PS - I know the Fosgate system is free for a limited time for the 2009 SE, but I would just like to know what the deal is here for arguments sake AND in case I do not end up purchasing the car until much later.

the SE comes with the rockford fosgate system

Thanks for the reply!
What size head unit can the fosgate be replaced with?

you could prolly fit a full size nav/dvd screen headunit in there. go to your local circuit city/best buy they should be able to tell you everything they have that would fit.

ok thank you!
So I guess a double DIN unit would fit in place of the fosgate?

Get a double din unit, you can use factory brackets, parts are all the same as the 05+ xterras.

I replyed on XF.com with all the part numbers you will need.

All available at Best Buy. Atleast in my bay anyways.

Thanks so much! I'm sending you a PM on the other forum at the moment lol

Are you sure about the double din fitting in a 2009?
The climate controls have been rearranged and I don't see how you'd get enough room without some kind of aftermarket panel front...though I haven't tried taking mine apart either.

One upside to getting the RF system is that your X will come with the steering wheel controls which you should be able to adapt to the aftermarket one, plus the tech package is technically free.

Hmmm... I still can't find out what size, for sure, the rockford fosgate is. DIN? Double DIN? Crutchfield says it is a Euro-DIN...:aufkopfhauen-big:

take a pictrure real quick and ill be able to tell u

I don't have the car yet lol I have just been going off of what google pictures shows...
Try looking at this one
http://image.motortrend.com/f/auto-news/nissan-updates-2009-xterra-and-frontier-models/9678941+cr1+re0+ar1/2009-nissan-xterra-interior.jpg

OH damn...that a/c unit and the radio are all in one....

i might have to buy like a new bezel if they even make em like that...and if they do they are EXPENSIVE>.sometimes more than a radio costs...

when and if u do get it...why dont u just keep that and change out ur speakers with better ones and just add a sub with it?

For one, from what I have heard the rockford system sucks.

And second, I need to get a Nav system. And the one that you can get from nissan that they mount... is just as expensive as an in-dash nav and they mount it on top of ur dash and it is tacky lol.. So I figured I would just try to do the in-dash.

LOl i know what u mean i spent 700 for my indash....

but if u do what i told u it wouldnt be a rockford system, just ur radio for playin music..
however u said u need navi..

if ur really talented...u would take that bezel and cut out the radio somehow and fit a double din LOL

thats if u think u can do it?

Hmmm... yea, that might be what I have to do. So far I gather that the chassis behind the bezel can fit the double din, but the bezel is not cut for it.

And I really do not wanna f up a brand new car hahah... Is there any place where I can order custom bezels? or anything of that nature? Or just get the same kind of plastic so that if I mess up, I won't be messing up my original.

http://www.autotoys.com/x/home.php?cat=78&gclid=CLn4lYq5k5gCFQKfnAodbSYbmQ

i found this...take a look at that picture...

best thing to do is email those guys

I just emailed them asking if they had anything as far as a bezel that would fit or anything to make it fit. I also asked if they could point me in any direction as far as a custom bezel goes.

I will post back when I hear from them. They say they reply within minutes sometimes... lol

thats cool

I really like the RF system though I can hear where some 3rd party speakers for the doors might make an improvement. While I'm not a noob to car stereo I've never been one to chase the latest and greatest. As long as my mid bass is solid I'm happy.
If you're used to having two 15" subs in the back then yeah the stock system will probably be anemic for you.

I really like the RF system though I can hear where some 3rd party speakers for the doors might make an improvement. While I'm not a noob to car stereo I've never been one to chase the latest and greatest. As long as my mid bass is solid I'm happy.
If you're used to having two 15" subs in the back then yeah the stock system will probably be anemic for you.



not nessacirliy....its what is pusing the speakers...all the radio does is send audio signals...

True but that signal has to be very clean if you want to really amp it up.
Garbage in, garbage out. There's nothing funnier to me than seeing someone at a light trying to impress with their stereo and it sounds like sh*t and you can tell all they are really doing is pissing everyone off around them.

i guess ur talking about pre amp voltage? but then u would also need a hi lo converter if u have a factroy radio....LOl i kno what u mean..cars with all bass and no mids and highs..i hate that!

Wirercx- back to your original question- check out Metra's website. The dash bezel part you will need is number 99-7428. This is made for both the Pathfinder and Xterra b/c the climate controls are integrated into the bezel. However- the rockford system is more than likely using an amp. This means it will have to be bypassed. I have seen them located on each speaker, in which each speaker has to be replaced or hidden, in which case new speaker wire has to be ran to each speaker from the deck.

Any updates?

In exploring my Xterra today, it looks like the factory amplifier is under the passengers seat. The subwoofer under the drivers seat may have its own amp. It appears to have its own.

Anyone know a pinout for the factory amplifier?
Also anyone know if there are any other electronics tied into the factory amplifier?

I am hoping this is going to be as simple as my Mazda 6 with a Bose system where all of the wiring from the head unit to the amplifier was good old line level and was easily fed into a new amp then on to new speakers.
I want to keep the factory radio if possible as most commonly, the real thing messing up the sound is the amplifier and speakers, not the head unit.
That Mazda for example was ruler flat, as verified on my gold line RTA.

Hello, I have a color wire diagram for the 08 which is likely the exact same as the 09. I needed it to tap into the sub signal to power my sub amp which works very nicely.

I am looking to replace my headunit, but need to know if I need some type of in-line converter. I think the factory harness is fine but would like an answer.

Email me a private message and I can communicate with you from there and send you the diagrams.

Dave

Does that diagram show the amplifier side harness or just the head unit?

Thanks

Hello, after reviewing it, I think the 2009 has a 20 pin harness from the headunit and possibly a different antenna adapter. I have the whole entire 2008 wire diagram for the whole vehicle, so yes it includes the amp diagram under the passengers seat.

I've been tearing into my RF system in my '08. Here's what I've learned so far.

The headunit sends out a very low (approximately 2v) audio signal to the amp under the passenger seat.

The amp is only a four channel; the subwoofer under the driver's seat draws its signal from the two rear channels, essentially piggybacking off the rear door speakers, but in a bridged mode. This basically means the rear door speakers aren't getting nearly as much power as the fronts. It also means if you fade all the way to front, you get no sub.
I put together a custom wiring harness from two Metra harnesses (dunno the numbers offhand; I'll post them in a bit) that will give me RCA audio outs from the RF head unit so I can replace the amp. I'm going with the Alpine PDX.5, just haven't gotten it yet (money's tight and I still haven't sold my car; anyone wanna buy an SVT Focus?) I'm putting all my pics of my progress together to post in a single build thread. If anyone has any questions, feel free to PM me.

Well thats a clever idea with the 2 harnesses. There is more than one way to skin a cat to improve sound. I am ordering a pioneer avh-4100dvd from amazon, and going to run by RCA signal from the Pioneer to my JL 250/1.

My only headache is going to be not having the flexibility to integrate the bluetooth buttons on the steering wheel. I am going to have to mount another mic, does anyone know if I could tap into the OEM mic using the pioneer bluetooth unit?

J- EVERETT.....Do you think disconnecting the sub under the drivers seat would allow the needed power to the rear speakers? Seeing how I am already powering a 10" JL DVC in the rear.

I have the 2009 SE without the RF stereo. Does anyone know if a wire harness is available? Also from what I can gather it uses a 6X9 mid and tweet component set up front and a 6.5 coax in back is this correct?

Hey anyone ever find the VSS(speed sensor wire) on the 09 without RF system?

I figured out hte VSS thing but I am running my reverse wire. I wanted to contact to the rear light in the window. does anyone have the wire diagram in the back lift gate.

Have you listened to the Nissan Rockford Fosgate stereo? In all of my past vehicles I've had to install an aftermarket H.U. with a sub to get the sound I desire. In the 2005 I just got, I was actually surprised at how well the "sub" hits. Enough so that I probably won't put my own sub in for quite a while, if ever. The whole system isn't as clean as the Logic7 in my 3 series, but still sounds pretty good.

go to amazon.com and type in metra 99-7428b it said its for a fronteir but i found a nother site that said it will fit. its around $17 i havnt installed it yet but looks like it will fit. but does anyone know where to get a wiring harness and antenna adapter to put a head unit in?