What should you choose?
(revised 4/17/17)
HERE'S AN OVERVIEW:
There are so many options, Vette owners are easily confused on what to buy. So here are your three basic options:
1. IF YOU HAVE FACTORY XM, one of my auxiliary input harnesses will work for you. They are simple to install and relatively inexpensive, and they will allow you to listen to your music device, whether it's a smartphone, iPod, or other device.
2. A big step up from an auxiliary input harness is a Version 2 PAL. While the Version 2 PAL includes an auxiliary input, its many other features will only work with iPods and iPhones. The PAL will allow you to control your music from your radio face and display the music information as well. You will need adapters for connecting and charging the latest iPods and iPhones with the Lightning connectors. Figure over $300 for this option.
3. The "best", but most expensive option, is to replace your radio with one of the new USB Nav radios from a 2011-13 C6 Corvette. This option is explained in detail on my website. Click HERE.
If you do NOT have factory XM, you are limited to Options 2 and 3, but 2005 Vette owners should click HERE.
This page helps explain some of the basic audio options owners have, depending on the year of their Vette and how it is equipped.
Alternatives range from basic auxiliary input harnesses to getting really fancy with the installation of a factory USB Navigation Radio.
Auxiliary Input harnesses range from $40 to around $100.
GM Personal Audio Links (PALs) now cost over $300 bucks.
If you can find a used USB Navigation Radio, you can install it for a couple of hundred bucks, not counting the cost of the radio.
| C6 Corvette Audio Options | |||||||||
| Year | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 |
|
Factory Audio Options |
|||||||||
| Navigation Radio | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. |
| Non-Nav Radio | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| XM | opt. | opt. | opt. | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard |
| Auxiliary Input | w/Non-Nav only | w/Non-Nav only | w/Non-Nav only | standard | standard | standard | |||
| Bluetooth Handsfree (phone only) | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | opt. | ||||
| USB Input | w/Nav only | w/Nav only | w/Nav only | ||||||
|
Additional Audio Options you can Install |
|||||||||
| GM Personal Audio Link (PAL) | w/Nav and XM only | w/Nav and XM only | w/Nav and XM only | w/Nav and XM only | w/Nav and XM only | w/Nav and XM only | w/Nav and XM only | w/Nav and XM only | w/Nav and XM only |
| Version 2 PAL (includes auxiliary input) | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Auxiliary Input AUX-x Harness | w/XM only | w/XM only | w/XM only | yes | yes | yes | redundant | redundant | redundant |
| Bluetooth Handsfree | w/auxiliary input | w/auxiliary input | w/auxiliary input | w/auxiliary input | |||||
| Bluetooth Wireless Audio Streaming | w/auxiliary input | w/auxiliary input | w/auxiliary input | w/auxiliary input | w/auxiliary input | w/auxiliary input | x | x | x |
| USB with new factory Nav radio replacement | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | w/Non-Nav | w/Non-Nav | w/Non-Nav |
What year is your C6 Corvette?
2005 Click Here
2006 Click Here
2007 Click Here
2008 Click Here
2009 Click Here
2010 Click Here
2011 Click Here
2012 Click Here
2013 Click Here
Your Vette may or may not have an XM receiver installed, but you likely have the XM wiring harness installed.
If you have XM, the options label in your glove box will list U2K and you will have XM1 and XM2 bands available on your radio.
You will not have an auxiliary input for music device connection.
If you have a factory Nav radio AND XM, an original PAL will work for you.
If not, a Version 2 PAL will work.
A Version 2 PAL includes an auxiliary input.
If you have the XM wiring harness in place (likely), installation of the Version 2 PAL is extremely simple.
Check out THIS PAGE for adding an XM receiver.
If you have XM, you can easily install an auxiliary input harness instead of a PAL.
If you have a non-Nav radio, a Version 2 PAL will require special software in it if you do not have XM.
A PAL is a great interface IF you have an iPod or iPhone.
If you do not have an iPod or iPhone, consider an auxiliary input harness (XM equipped cars only) and perhaps the Kinivo Bluetooth.
The Kinivo Bluetooth provides handsfree calling and wireless music streaming.
Or, install the new factory USB Navigation Radio. CLICK HERE for details
Your Vette may or may not have an XM receiver installed.
If you have XM, the options label in your glove box will list U2K and you will have XM1 and XM2 bands available on your radio.
You will not have an auxiliary input for music device connection.
If you have a factory Nav radio AND XM, an original PAL will work for you.
If not, a Version 2 PAL will work.
A Version 2 PAL includes an auxiliary input.
If you do not have the XM option, you will NOT have the XM wiring harness in place, and installation of a Version 2 PAL will require removal of the center console and radio.
If you have XM, you can easily install an auxiliary input harness instead of a PAL.
If you do NOT have XM, a Version 2 PAL is your only option.
If you have a non-Nav radio, a Version 2 PAL will require special software in it if you do not have XM.
A PAL is a great interface IF you have an iPod or iPhone.
If you do not have an iPod or iPhone, consider an auxiliary input harness (XM equipped cars only) and perhaps the Kinivo Bluetooth.
The Kinivo Bluetooth provides handsfree calling and wireless music streaming.
Or, install the new factory USB Navigation Radio. CLICK HERE for details
Your Vette may or may not have an XM receiver installed.
If you have XM, the options label in your glove box will list U2K and you will have XM1 and XM2 bands available on your radio.
You will not have an auxiliary input for music device connection.
If you have a factory Nav radio AND XM, an original PAL will work for you.
If not, a Version 2 PAL will work.
A Version 2 PAL includes an auxiliary input.
If you do not have the XM option, you will NOT have the XM wiring harness in place, and installation of a Version 2 PAL will require removal of the center console and radio.
If you have XM, you can easily install an auxiliary input harness instead of a PAL.
If you do NOT have XM, a Version 2 PAL is your only option.
A PAL is a great interface IF you have an iPod or iPhone.
If you do not have an iPod or iPhone, consider an auxiliary input harness (XM equipped cars only) and perhaps the Kinivo Bluetooth.
The Kinivo Bluetooth provides handsfree calling and wireless music streaming.
Or, install the new factory USB Navigation Radio. CLICK HERE for details
Your Vette has an XM receiver installed as standard equipment.
If you have a factory Nav radio, an original PAL will work for you.
If not, a Version 2 PAL will work, and it is easily installed at the XM receiver.
A Version 2 PAL includes an auxiliary input.
If you have a Nav radio, you will not have an auxiliary input without a Version 2 PAL.
If you have a non-Nav radio, it will have an auxiliary input jack on the front face.
Because you have XM, you can easily install an auxiliary input harness instead of a PAL to provide a jack in a more convenient location.
A PAL is a great interface IF you have an iPod or iPhone.
If you do not have an iPod or iPhone, consider an auxiliary input harness and perhaps the Kinivo Bluetooth.
The Kinivo Bluetooth provides handsfree calling and wireless music streaming.
Or, install the new factory USB Navigation Radio. CLICK HERE for details
Your Vette has an XM receiver installed as standard equipment.
If you have a factory Nav radio, an original PAL will work for you.
If not, a Version 2 PAL will work, and it is easily installed at the XM receiver.
A Version 2 PAL includes an auxiliary input.
If you have a Nav radio, you will not have an auxiliary input without a Version 2 PAL.
If you have a non-Nav radio, it will have an auxiliary input jack on the front face.
Because you have XM, you can easily install an auxiliary input harness instead of a PAL to provide a jack in a more convenient location.
A PAL is a great interface IF you have an iPod or iPhone.
If you do not have an iPod or iPhone, consider an auxiliary input harness and perhaps the Kinivo Bluetooth.
The Kinivo Bluetooth provides handsfree calling and wireless music streaming, but your Vette likely already has Bluetooth handsfree calling.
Or, install the new factory USB Navigation Radio. CLICK HERE for details
Your Vette has an XM receiver installed as standard equipment.
If you have a factory Nav radio, an original PAL will work for you.
If not, a Version 2 PAL will work, and it is easily installed at the XM receiver.
A Version 2 PAL includes an auxiliary input.
If you have a Nav radio, you will not have an auxiliary input without a Version 2 PAL.
If you have a non-Nav radio, it will have an auxiliary input jack on the front face.
Because you have XM, you can easily install an auxiliary input harness instead of a PAL to provide a jack in a more convenient location.
A PAL is a great interface IF you have an iPod or iPhone.
If you do not have an iPod or iPhone, consider an auxiliary input harness and perhaps the Kinivo Bluetooth.
The Kinivo Bluetooth provides handsfree calling and wireless music streaming, but your Vette likely already has Bluetooth handsfree calling.
Or, install the new factory USB Navigation Radio. CLICK HERE for details
Your Vette has an XM receiver installed as standard equipment.
Your Vette has factory Bluetooth for handsfree calling, but not wireless audio streaming.
If you have a factory Nav radio, you have USB and auxiliary input jacks in the center console.
If you have a non-Nav radio, it will have an auxiliary input jack on the front face.
If you have a non-Nav radio, you may wish to install a Version 2 PAL, a great interface for an iPod or iPhone.
If you have a non-Nav radio, you may wish to install an auxiliary input harness to provide a jack in a more convenient location.
The USB interface can be used with memory sticks, smartphones, or other music devices.
The Kinivo or other Bluetooth device can be used with the auxiliary input to provide wireless audio streaming.
Your Vette has an XM receiver installed as standard equipment.
Your Vette has factory Bluetooth for handsfree calling, but not wireless audio streaming.
If you have a factory Nav radio, you have USB and auxiliary input jacks in the center console.
If you have a non-Nav radio, it will have an auxiliary input jack on the front face.
If you have a non-Nav radio, you may wish to install a Version 2 PAL, a great interface for an iPod or iPhone.
If you have a non-Nav radio, you may wish to install an auxiliary input harness to provide a jack in a more convenient location.
The USB interface can be used with memory sticks, smartphones, or other music devices.
The Kinivo or other Bluetooth device can be used with the auxiliary input to provide wireless audio streaming.
Your Vette has an XM receiver installed as standard equipment.
Your Vette has factory Bluetooth for handsfree calling, but not wireless audio streaming.
If you have a factory Nav radio, you have USB and auxiliary input jacks in the center console.
If you have a non-Nav radio, it will have an auxiliary input jack on the front face.
If you have a non-Nav radio, you may wish to install a Version 2 PAL, a great interface for an iPod or iPhone.
If you have a non-Nav radio, you may wish to install an auxiliary input harness to provide a jack in a more convenient location.
The USB interface can be used with memory sticks, smartphones, or other music devices.
The Kinivo or other Bluetooth device can be used with the auxiliary input to provide wireless audio streaming.
Auxiliary Input Harnesses
CLICK HERE for Basic Questions about Auxiliary Input Harnesses
Bluetooth Devices
There are quite a few Bluetooth devices available that allow both handsfree calling and wireless audio streaming from most any smartphone. Many of these devices require an auxiliary input so high quality audio can be delivered to your sound system. The nicest one I've seen so far is the Kinivo BTC450 for the Corvette because of its simplicity, features, and high quality of sound. It will plug into the power outlet in the center console and a female 3.5mm (1/8") jack for the audio output of the device. It will connect directly to the AUX-1F or AUX-2 or AUX-3 harnesses.
CLICK HERE for more details about the Kinivo BTC450.
USB Factory Navigation Radio
CLICK HERE for details about the new factory USB Navigation Radio
If you have any questions, please email me at ray@kawal.net.