Soundstream Replacement

[HDTVENG]

I have seen numerous folks on here taking about the Soundstream Head unit not being very functional or useful. I would agree

I have two questions for those who perhaps have gone through this experience before me.
How do you remove the Soundstream Head unit w/o busting up your dash
Must be a trick that I havent figured out yet.
Secondly, and I know this is a preference having seen numerous responses in other postings - which unit would you recommend?
My issues are existing screen is TOO small and functions TOO Limited
Many thanks
Marty

 

[bedubya]

I have seen numerous folks on here taking about the Soundstream Head unit not being very functional or useful. I would agree

I have two questions for those who perhaps have gone through this experience before me.
How do you remove the Soundstream Head unit w/o busting up your dash
Must be a trick that I havent figured out yet.
Secondly, and I know this is a preference having seen numerous responses in other postings - which unit would you recommend?
My issues are existing screen is TOO small and functions TOO Limited
Many thanks
Marty

I can't believe no one ever responded to this nearly two year old question! Last year, I bought a 2020 Redhawk 29XK with the Soundstream VRN-65HXBRP P.O.S. I am going to replace it with a Sony XAV-AX4000. But I have yet to figure out how to remove that head unit. I have searched this forum, but there's lots of talk about removing it, are no actual instructions on how. I have googled many times, to no avail. I am about ready to attack it with a sawsall and work out from the center.

 

[youracman]

I replaced mine using a couple of metal "tongue depressor" type tools from ebay. I don't remember the exact steps but once I slid the tools into place (one on ea side) the unit came right out.....first try.

Soundstream Radio Removal Tools for sale | eBay

Good luck with the switchout. Good times and safe travels to ya.

 

[youracman]

BW- Hope the removal went OK. I did recall just a bit more info.......FWIW. The Soundstream is in a "sleeve" in the dash. I believe that mounting sleeve may be a standard in the industry as my replacement (a JVC radio) fit right into the same sleeve.....although the retention method for the JVC was different (no release keys involved with the JVC.) $ to doughnuts your Sony will fit right in that sleeve too.

The (online) Soundstream manual doesn't show all that much, but I'll attach a pic anyway. You will likely have to click on it a couple of times to enlarge for readability.

Best............ Ed S

 

[bedubya]

Thanks Ed. Some time ago, I downloaded the Soundstream manual, so I have that diagram. I found the release keys on ebay.com. They will be here Monday. I am hoping they will work. It appears that the trim ring needs to come off first. I haven't been able to pry it out and it seems to be blocking the ability to slide anything in. I don't want to damage the dash. Do you recall how you were able to remove the trim ring?

 

[youracman]

Agree that the trim ring needs to be removed first. Sorry, I don't recall that part. I thought it was with small screws, but not sure.

I do remember I was glad that I took lots of pictures from different angles of the wiring there at the rear of the Soundstream before removing the wiring; came in handy later with the new radio install.

 

[craigav]

Keep in mind that even if you are able to remove the existing radio without removing the dash bezel, your new radio is of a different mount design and will not slide into place with the same mounting sleeve and hardware that your current radio uses.