I am an owner of a 2002 Honda Civic Si coupe and will most likely replace in the next couple of months. My main consideration is the 2004 Mazda 3 Sport, but I have my concerns with regards to the OEM stock radio unit.

I've searched through the forums to find info on RCA output from the stock radio and found only discussion on the 3rd Generation vehicles. So hopefully, you guys can give me some feedback that would make my decision on purchasing the 3 Sport more convincing.

Here come the questions:

1. The stock unit appears to be integrated with the dash and I don't believe that an aftermarket unit can be used, without making an ugly attachment. I have a decent Alpine (60x4W) head unit I paid a few years ago, and would consider still using it in my next car. Can an after market unit be used?

2. Does the stock unit have RCA outputs for a separate amplifier (main speakers) and another RCA output (with controls) for the 1-channel subwoofer amplifier? Again, I have a decent 250-Watt RMS JL Audio mono amplifier and a JL W3-12 sub, which I would like to use in my next car. Should the 3 Sport head unit have RCA out(s), are the signals clean enough to be amplified by a good amplifier? You know the saying, your output is only good as the source.

3. Should the stock unit be RCA compatible, how does the 6-disc and MP3 options work? Is this a separate unit (like on the Honda Accord/Acura TSX) or is it a 6-disc/MP3 unit that will swap with the existing 1-disc radio? Does it read most CD-Rs and CD-RWs? Ironically, my (3-year old) Alpine unit manages to read CD-RWs.

I appreciate everyone's feedback.

Cheers,

PiCASSO

 

Factory unit does NOT have RCA's... You'll have to use line-out converters. grrr..

I didn't get the 6D changer, cuz I'm thinking that a factory in-dash changer just ain't gonna last that long..