Adding an aftermarket car stereo to many newer cars used to be impossible or required expensive aftermarket dash kits. But now, ADS has teamed up with Kenwood and JVC to revolutionize aftermarket stereo installs with iDatalink Maestro APX installation kits, designed to work with their new Direct Replacement car stereos. With this kit and a Direct Replacement stereo, you’ll retain your vehicle’s factory radio bezel and controls for a factory appearance with aftermarket performance. The iDatalink Maestro APX-S8-GM1 installation kit includes mounting brackets and hardware for a Direct Replacement stereo with an 8″ floating screen, a USB/hub adapter, an antenna adapter, plus vehicle-specific wiring harnesses.
The APX-S8-GM1 kit lets you install Direct Replacement Kenwood or JVC aftermarket radios with an 8″ screen in select 2014-19 GM vehicles with factory 8″ screen when used in combination with the iDatalink Maestro ADS-MRR or ADS-MRR2 (sold separately). This combination retains the following factory features (if present):
- OnStar® and Bluetooth® hands-free.
- factory climate display and control can be accessed from the touchscreen of your Direct Replacement aftermarket head unit.
- access and modify factory vehicle settings through the compatible aftermarket head unit’s touchscreen.
- steering wheel audio controls with two function buttons and expandable radio functions.
- backup camera with dynamic parking guidelines and park assist chimes (external chime module may be required). If adding an aftermarket front and/or side camera (sold separately) to your compatible head unit with multiple camera inputs, the vehicle’s factory auto camera switching feature is also retained.
- Secondary vehicle display (if factory equipped)
- factory USB ports
- Retained Accessory Power (RAP) and warning chimes
You’ll also gain the ability to display vehicle information (tire pressure, battery voltage display, door open status with warning) and selectable performance gauges, including “Track Pack” gauges and read/reset check engine codes. The kit’s harness also provides 12V/15A accessory power and illumination outputs as well as the outputs (parking brake, reverse, vehicle speed sensor [VSS]) needed to install a navigation or multimedia receiver.
Note:Â If your GM vehicle features a factory amplifier, the factory amp cannot be retained and must be bypassed or replaced with an aftermarket amplifier.
Installation Notes:
- The APX-S8-GM1 installation kit requires the purchase of the iDatalink Maestro RR or RR2 interface module (sold separately) and download of vehicle-specific firmware from iDatalink Weblink Desktop (for Windows and Mac).
- The APX-S8-GM1 requires iDatalink Maestro’s ACC-HU-KEN1 (sold separately) for direct connection to a compatible APX-compatible Kenwood or JVC aftermarket head unit.
- In some installations, the Kenwood KCA-A150EX or JVC KS-UA50 extension cable will also be required and sold separately.
This kit is designed to work with APX-compatible Kenwood and JVC Direct Replacement radios with 8″ screens, including the DAX800S, DAX800XR, and KW-Z800AW.
