2005 Forester: advice on mp3/Sirius CD player?

[Andrew]

I'd like to replace the factory 6-CD system with something that can:

(a) play mp3s on my mp3 player (which is not an iPod);
(b) play mp3s on a CD;
(c) play Sirius satellite radio.

I looked on Crutchfield.com and it returned 73 items with an AUX input and
satellite ready. Some of those AUX inputs will be on the back, though many seem
to be a 3.5mm jack on the front, which I think would be good for the mp3 player
(I suppose a rear AUX input might be good, if it's accessible on the fly). And
the satellite-radio-ready ones should remove the need for an FM transmitter,
which I understand won't work well anyway. I want Sirius for CBC Radio.

Prices are U$120 and up. I don't want to replace speakers or anything else, and
the Sony satellite receiver is consistently given a terrible rating, which
pushes me away from a Sony, although the units seem reasonable themselves.

Crutchfield also offers installation (InstallCard) for $55, though I wonder how
hard it is to install this myself. $55 sounds reasonable but I looked at
InstallCard's prices on computer services and if they're anything to go by, this
is about twice what it should cost!

Does anyone have advice on all this?

Thanks!
=aw

 

[David]

I'd like to replace the factory 6-CD system with something that can:

(a) play mp3s on my mp3 player (which is not an iPod);
(b) play mp3s on a CD;
(c) play Sirius satellite radio.

I looked on Crutchfield.com and it returned 73 items with an AUX input and
satellite ready. Some of those AUX inputs will be on the back, though many seem
to be a 3.5mm jack on the front, which I think would be good for the mp3 player
(I suppose a rear AUX input might be good, if it's accessible on the fly). And
the satellite-radio-ready ones should remove the need for an FM transmitter,
which I understand won't work well anyway. I want Sirius for CBC Radio.

Prices are U$120 and up. I don't want to replace speakers or anything else, and
the Sony satellite receiver is consistently given a terrible rating, which
pushes me away from a Sony, although the units seem reasonable themselves.

Crutchfield also offers installation (InstallCard) for $55, though I wonder how
hard it is to install this myself. $55 sounds reasonable but I looked at
InstallCard's prices on computer services and if they're anything to go by, this
is about twice what it should cost!

Does anyone have advice on all this?

Thanks!
=aw

Is the factory radio a Clarion?

 

[Andrew]

Is the factory radio a Clarion?

I don't know, it's whatever came with the 05 XT. I'll check the manual.

 

[mred]

I'd like to replace mine also. I use my PDA plugged into a FM
transmitter plugged into lighter socket, sound is lousy. I use the
weather band all the time. 05 Forester XS

 

[David]

1. Here's a kit to give you a jack for your media player. I'm
planning to get one but haven't yet.
http://www.jazzyengineering.com/

2. FM modulator. Mine works great if mounted back by the antenna. On
some cars it works up by the driver, but not in my Subaru--reception
was poor from there. So I velcroed it back by the left rear window,
and ran a wire to the console. The only problem is sometimes I forget
to turn it off, and the batteries run down.

3. Not replacing the speakers? That's all I replaced. The factory
speakers sounded bad. At least in my '03.