Japan8

Sorry my digital camera is FUBAR, so I had to use my cell phone. Makes me wish I opted for the 1.2 megapixel model instead of the tv model... oh well. ENjoy!

Dr. Rx

Very nice, but now will the aftermarket receiver work seamlessly with the Rx-8 ?

Tamas

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the pics - although I can't see much on these.

Japan8

There isn't much to see... although I'd like to have been able to show the texture, but what can you expect from a common cell phone camera?

Japan8

Sure an aftermarket HU will work. There is even a shop in Japan that can rebuild your faceplate and all so you can mount a HU in the stock location. In the RMagic application, you just remove the speaker lines and antannae from the stock HU and hook them up to your new HU... be sure to leave the power alone as it seems to be needed for the red LED display to work (meaning you need to run new power, acc and ground). And there you go. Nothing difficult about it.

adrian-1

What about getting the steering wheel controls to work with the new HU?

Fd3BOOST

Whats to enjoy,those pics suck ball.

jgoldstein2000

where does this go? is this mounted above the current faceplate?

GiN

It looks like this replaces the center portion of your upper dash. There are two "vents" in that panel - one for the red LCD display and the other for a single DIN head unit.

Japan8

GIN got it in one. As for Adrian-1's question... you can retain them by buying a commercial box that turns the controls into infrared signals which you then beam into the HU like the stock remote.

jgoldstein2000

This is interesting...

So if I am understanding correctly I can install this. Add an aftermarket 1 DIN unit. Rip out all the current speakers and amps and replace with upgraded components.

I will still have the current faceplate but as far as audio goes it will now be useless. Am I correct?

jgoldstein2000

If there are any pictures of this installed with a 1 din unit it would be great!!!

Japan8

Check the old thread for installed pics from the manufacturer. Actual installed pics don't exist because no one on the board owns one... or at least I just shipped them, so it'll be a few weeks.

As far as the install goes, you are about spot on. You don't *have* to change the speakers and amps (amps if Bose), but I'd suggest it. Yes the stock HU just sits there as "decoration." This piece really looks more useful when you want instal a LCD HU or a LCD screen for a carputer.

jgoldstein2000

Thanks Japan8. I guess my interest would be to install a nice aftermarket HU (maybe Alpine) that would allow me easy hook up and control of ipod and xm and nav.

If I am interested I guess it is you I speak with?

SinDiego

What about getting the steering wheel controls to work with the new HU?

there is a certain adapter mande bypac which i have had no problems with. p/n SWIX it's a little hard to install but works like a charm when done right.

SinDiego

sorry i meant made by PAC

Japan8

As far as the texture goes... since I don't have an 8 to compare it to, it's hard to say, but it seemed pretty good to me. Hopefully one of the three people who purchased it during the group buy will be willing ot post some pics once they've got it installed.

This is the group buy thread... https://www.rx8club.com/group-buy-center-85/closed-group-buy-2-gauge-pod-1-din-pod-31726/

I have basically finished up the group buy already. As far as doing another? How many people are *seriously* interested? And this time around it will cost a little more as I miscalculated some costs this last time. I am also trying to get my **** together to work something out on the AU-TO Bahn bodykit, but ran into some roadblocks. I suppose it may be possible as I have the RMagic stuff already setup and I've done it once already...

huhsler

So, conceptually, will the price be exceeding $500, even for a group buy?

Just wondering if I could afford it, even when I do get paid. Thanks.

Japan8

I've said it several times in both the original thread and in the group buy thread...

1. RMagic is the only company offering this piece

2. The price for a custom made piece by an expert audio shop will cost you $500-600. Concerns then will also be if they just cut your stock piece and glassed over it or did they actually make a new piece from scratch (using the stock as a mold)... Ask rotarygod, Xero, or any of the other pros or former pros... if you want good quality it'll cost. If you want ****... sure you can pay only $200.

So now you think... "ok ok... I get the picture, but why can't we at least get a volume discount from RMagic??!!" Because of #1... they can name their price and also because not enough people here are interested in buying so that we can even get RMagic's attention. 5 or 6 units isn't enough. We need to be making an order in the neighborhood of at least 10 I'd imagine. Basically the more the merrier.

How much more will it cost? I haven't put all the numbers together, but I'd guesstimate $20-50 or so (don't hold me to this number).

So I'm sorry it can't be made any less expensive, but that is just the situation.

webba_az

Considering we're not driving $15K Civics, I don't think this is that outrageously expensive. Put me down for it, if the price neighborhood is within 100$ (more, obv.) of the first.

huhsler

My apologies Japan8. I wasn't implying anything other than it was expensive FOR ME.

I do drop by those other threads occasionally and so have been following rotarygod's saga of engineering and design.

Since the government hasn't paid me for my time in service for like 3 months, I'm a little short on the moolah and just got bugged out when pricing the 1-DIN and a motorized head unit with RGB (ACK!). Thanks for your research and group buy efforts.

If I don't have to pay for the unit until sometime in October, you can put me down for one. Otherwise, I'll have to pass this time around (booo!).

Japan8

No problem at all huhsler. Just since the first posting on the piece there have been a lot of complaints about the price. I'll agree it sure isn't cheap, but then again getting a decent quality piece for a $30k car wouldn't be cheap. OTOH I can understand it being a bit rich for your blood... it'd make me think about it before buying too.

Well if I do start another group buy for this it'll be a little while before I get started, so I wouldn't be closing it up and taking payment until sometime in mid to late October.

huhsler

Thanks Japan8. If that's the schedule, count me in for a group buy. Now, I'll have to see if I can afford a non-motorized touchscreen so I can finally make my geek-dreams com true!

webba_az

I just wanna be able to have the choice to run something other than stock base.. all they had to do was not combine the PCB.. sigh Oh well, hopefully I'll be good for winter! (Or "late summer", as it usually is here.. stupid desert)

Japan8

One of my group buys members has told me that they received the unit and are happy with how it looks. He has promised me pics once installed, and I'm planning to post them up here for everyone to see as well...