Chat
Contact us
Close contact box
Connect ID #
113 547 387 4
Connect ID #
113 547 387 4
Don't wait on hold. We'll call you back when it's your turn to talk with the next available .
Please enter your name  
Please enter your phone number  
Please enter a message  

Calls may be recorded for training and quality control purposes.

We are located in Virginia USA.

Thank you. We will be calling you .
We're sorry. We have encountered a problem.

2008-2011 Subaru Impreza wagon

How to upgrade the stereo system in your Impreza wagon

2008 Subaru Impreza wagon

In brief: This Crutchfield Research Garage article gives you an overview of your Impreza's stock stereo system and your aftermarket upgrade options. We'll tell you all about:

Then, use our vehicle selector to find the gear that will fit your Subaru.

Overview of the Subaru Impreza

The 2008-11 Subaru Impreza Wagon is a popular AWD vehicle, especially big with the tuner crowd and in areas that suffer from harsh winters. The WRX version, in particular, has made its mark as a sporty, high-performance vehicle with lots of room for mechanical and cosmetic upgrades.

The Impreza comes with either a basic 4-speaker system or a premium 6-speaker system, and you'll find a ton of upgrades available for both sound systems. This is a straightforward vehicle for car audio installations. You can replace the factory stereo and speakers pretty easily and even retain the steering wheel controls.

Detailed stereo and speaker removal instructions

MasterSheet image
With step-by-step disassembly instructions and plenty of up-close, detailed photos, our exclusive Crutchfield MasterSheet™ takes the guesswork out of removing the factory stereo and speakers. It's free with your Crutchfield order, or you can purchase one separately for just $9.99.

The factory stereo system

An aftermarket receiver will give you the performance and functionality you've been looking for. The installation process is reasonably simple, and the results will be worth the effort.

Radio in 6-speaker system (Crutchfield Research Photo)

The standard Subaru radio is a pretty basic unit. An upgrade will give you better performance and functionality. (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Removing the factory radio

Here are some tips on what needs to be done to replace the stock receiver.

Standard 4-speaker system

Replacing your factory radio with an aftermarket car stereo is an easy way to add new functionality like HD Radio™ reception or Bluetooth® connectivity, plus take your sound quality up a notch or two.

If you have the standard Subaru radio, you'll need a dash kit to install either a DIN (2" tall) or double-DIN (4" tall) stereo, and you'll want to get a wiring harness that connects to the factory Subaru plug so you don't have to cut the factory wiring.

If you have the Subaru navigation radio in your vehicle, you'll also need an antenna adapter that'll connect your Subaru antenna lead to your new aftermarket stereo.

If you don't want to change out your radio, you’ll find adapters that let you connect your iPod® to the Subaru's radio, then control it with the radio or with your steering wheel controls.

You can definitely put together a complete audio system with new speakers, amplifiers, and subwoofers while retaining the factory radio, but a nice aftermarket stereo offers superior circuitry that will make these upgrades sound even better.

Subaru radio with navigation

The optional nav radio was an improvement, but it's probably time for an upgrade (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Premium 6-speaker system

You'll know you have the upgraded 6-speaker system if you have tweeters in the corners of the front door's windows. The speakers in the front and rear doors are 6-1/2" in both sound systems, with the premium version having tweeters on the door speakers in addition to tweeters in the sail panel location on the front doors.

Both speaker systems use the same dash kit and wiring harness for stereo installations. The dash kit, harness, and antenna adapter needed are available at a very nice discount all stereo orders, and the Crutchfield MasterSheet™ instructions for your Impreza are included free.

Note: If you have the Subaru satellite radio, Bluetooth, or iPod connection option, you’ll lose it when you install a new stereo. And, of course, you'll lose navigation capability if you replace the Subaru navigation radio with a receiver that doesn't have GPS.

Read our Car Stereo Buying Guide for shopping tips and advice.

Shop for car stereos that fit your Subaru Impreza

Tools needed: Phillips screwdriver, panel tool

Steering wheel audio controls

In most cases, it's reasonably easy to retain your Impreza's steering wheel audio controls when you install a new stereo. When you enter your vehicle information, our database will choose the adapter you need to make your factory steering wheel controls work with a compatible aftermarket receiver.

Removing the factory speakers

subaru impreza front door speaker replacement

Upgrading the speakers is a great way to improve your sound (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Standard 4-speaker system

The Impreza's standard audio system comes equipped with 6-1/2" speakers installed in the front and rear doors. Subaru generally uses 4-ohm speakers in their vehicles, so an aftermarket 4- or 2-ohm speaker will work well if you're replacing your speakers but keeping your factory radio.

subaru impreza front door speaker

Here's a look at the factory 6-1/2" door speaker in the Impreza's 4-speaker system (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Front doors

You'll have to remove the door panel to get at the factory speaker, which is mounted in an integrated bracket that's attached to the door with three Phillips screws.

You can use mounting brackets to install any aftermarket 6-1/2", 6-3/4" and 5-1/4" speakers, but you'll have to drill a new hole to install the bracket in each door. Wiring harnesses are available to connect your new speakers to the factory wiring.

The mounting brackets and speaker wiring harnesses you'll need to install your new door speakers are available at a deep discount with every speaker order.

Rear doors

Installing new speakers in the rear doors of the Impreza is exactly the same process as the front doors. The door panel must be removed to get at the factory speaker, and the speaker lives in an integrated bracket that's attached to the door with three Phillips screws. You'll have to use mounting brackets to install any aftermarket 6-1/2", 6-3/4" and 5-1/4" speakers, and you'll have to drill a new hole to install each bracket.

subaru impreza premium front door tweeter

The 6-speaker system includes tweeters in the sail panels (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Premium 6-speaker system

The premium 6-speaker system in the Impreza adds tweeters in the corners of the front windows (the sail panel), and upgrades the door woofers to 2-way speakers (with tweeters). Like the basic 4-speaker system, all of the speakers are 4-ohm.

subaru impreza door speakers with tweeters

The 6-speaker system's speakers look a little different, but they've aged in the same way as the base models (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Speaker locations

The speakers in the front and rear doors of the premium system can be removed from their bracket, which means you can install aftermarket 6-1/2" speakers without using a mounting bracket or drilling new holes.

You can also install a 5-1/4" or 6-3/4" speaker in the front and rear doors, but you'll have to use a mounting bracket in each location and you'll have to drill a new screw hole to install each bracket.

Tweeters

The premium system includes tweeters built into the sail panels of the front doors, and they are easily accessed. You can pull the sail panel away from the door to release the clip that holds it in place. Installing an aftermarket tweeter requires a little ingenuity, since tweeters don't come in standard sizes.

You may have to make modifications or create a mounting plate to get a new tweeter in there. The factory tweeter is 1.38 inches in diameter, and you only have about 1/4" of depth in the location, so you may have to cut a hole in the grille and surface-mount the new tweeter.

There are no wiring harnesses available for this location in the Impreza, so you'll have to splice into the factory wiring or use a set of Posi-Products connectors to hook everything up.

Tools needed: Phillips screwdriver, small flat screwdriver, panel tool, wire stripper/crimp tool, crimp caps, drill and 1/8" bit

Read our Car Speakers Buying Guide for more information.

Shop for speakers that fit your Subaru Impreza

Sound Ordnance B-8PTD powered subwoofer

A powered sub like this Sound Ordnance B-8PTD might be a great choice for your Impreza

Bass in your Subaru Impreza

The bad news is that nobody makes a custom-fit sub enclosure for the Impreza, but the good news is that finding room for a subwoofer and amplifier (or a powered sub) in this wagon shouldn’t be a problem. You’ll need to tap into the rear door speakers or run wires to the rear of the factory stereo to get a signal to your subwoofer system.

Learn more about building a bass system in our Car Subwoofer Buying Guide.

weathertech custom floor liners

Keep your carpets looking good with a set of custom-fit WeatherTech floor liners

Other options for your Impreza

Here are some other ways to upgrade your Impreza:

Protect the carpets with WeatherTech floor liners

It's easier than you think to mess up your Impreza's interior while you're going about your daily business. Floor mats and liners from WeatherTech will help protect your car's carpeting from dirt and damage. And if they're already dirty and damaged, these mats will cover it up and make your car's interior a nicer place to be.

Amplifiers

An amplifier will really boost the performance of your new speakers. We don’t recommend using an amp with the factory speakers because they simply won't handle that much power. Learn more about adding amps to your system in our Car Amplifier Buying Guide.

Satellite radio

If your factory radio came equipped with satellite radio, you will lose that option with a new car stereo, so look for a new radio that’ll work with an outboard SiriusXM tuner. You can also add a Dock-and-Play satellite radio that you can take from car to car.

Navigation

There’s plenty of room behind the dash, so any aftermarket in-dash navigation receiver will fit in the Impreza.

Security

Installing a security system in your Impreza isn't easy (security systems rarely are), but it's definitely a good idea. Our Crutchfield Advisors can help figure out what you need to get the job done, but we usually recommend taking your car and new gear to a professional installer.

Let's get started!

Ready to shop? Use our vehicle selector to find the gear that will fit your car or truck. If you have questions, give us a shout via phone, chat, or email

Please share your thoughts below.

  • Glenn Wheatley from Sydney Australia

    Posted on 8/25/2020

    Hi Team, I have 2009 Impreza with the standard Clarion head unit as shown in this article, I have bought a Kenwood factory unit from the same year wrx model with Navi and trying to fit. Can you tell me if you have any harness to transplant Navi unit to fit original 20pin clarion harness existing in vehicle. Any help greatly appreciated. Glenn

    Commenter image

    Jon Paul from Crutchfield

    on 8/25/2020

    Glenn, OEM-OEM swaps aren't our usual thing, and they rarely work as smoothly as expected. That said, you might want to check out some Impreza owners' forums to see if anyone's tried this swap before and had any success with it. Good luck!
  • Brandi from Grand Junction

    Posted on 7/20/2020

    Where do I find a wiring diagram for my 2011 Subaru Impreza. Stereo is Clarion PF 3292A. We are putting a Boss 1800 Amp into Alpine 12 inch subs. Thank you

    Commenter image

    Jon Paul from Crutchfield

    on 7/20/2020

    Brandi, If you bought your gear from Crutchfield, you can call Tech Support for free help troubleshooting your system. If you purchased your equipment elsewhere, you can still get expert Crutchfield Tech Support - 90 days-worth for only $30. Check out our tech support page for details.
  • Andrew from Brisbane

    Posted on 5/3/2020

    Hey i have a 2010 subaru impreza r luxury. Ive just new head unit in a gps pioneer one and itworks great except i have no sound out of speakers now please help

    Commenter image

    Jon Paul from Crutchfield

    on 5/4/2020

    Andrew, It's probably a bad connection. Check 'em again and make sure everything is secure. If you bought your gear from Crutchfield, you can call Tech Support for free help troubleshooting your system. If you purchased your equipment elsewhere, you can still get expert Crutchfield Tech Support - 90 days-worth for only $30. Check out our tech support page for details.
  • Brandon

    Posted on 4/11/2020

    I have a 2009 subaru impreza 2.5i with the premium audio system. (4 OEM "two-way" door speakers and tweeters in the sail panels) I installed a aftermarket head unit ( Pioneer FH-S722BS) with a metra wiring harness and I have my speakers connected to it directly instead of the RCA outputs. However, I do have a subwoofer and amplifer so I am using the Subwoofer RCA output to my mono amp that powers my sub. (10" Kicker 4 ohm Dual voice coil) Wired at 4 ohms My question is, having the premium 6 speaker system with tweeters, and using an aftermarket radio, would I use the crossover settings on the head unit and how would I set them? Do I leave them set to "Off" or apply a HPF? Is there a crossover built into the OEM harness or in the stock radio? Im not really sure how crossovers work that is where I get totally lost. Same with the subwoofer channel I can leave it off or apply a LPF. Sorry for the lengthy comment and thanks in advance

    Commenter image

    Jon Paul from Crutchfield

    on 4/13/2020

    Brandon, If you bought your gear from Crutchfield, you can call Tech Support for free help troubleshooting your system. If you purchased your equipment elsewhere, you can still get expert Crutchfield Tech Support - 90 days-worth for only $30. Check out our tech support page for details.
  • Spencer Fordin from Newport richey

    Posted on 2/22/2020

    I have the 2009 outback sport; the stock radio has a satellite button, but when I press the category button, it says SAT 1 Detached. Do I need a new stereo to have satellite capability?

    Commenter image

    Jon Paul from Crutchfield

    on 2/24/2020

    Spencer, Not necessarily, but you do need a SiriusXM subscription. If you have one and it's not working, something might be disconnected somewhere. If you do need a new stereo, we'll be happy to help. When you enter your vehicle's info into our Outfit My Car tool, you'll see which stereos fit your car, plus the correct harness. If you have any questions, our advisors are available via phone or chat.
  • Mike from Danbury

    Posted on 2/7/2020

    I have 2011 impreza with factory 4 door speakers and front tweeters. If I change to coaxal speakers will I be able to retain the front tweeters or should I get a component set for the front

    Commenter image

    Jon Paul from Crutchfield

    on 2/7/2020

    Mike, Components are definitely the way to go here. When you enter your vehicle's info into our Outfit My Car tool, you'll see which speakers fit your Impreza. If you have any questions, our advisors are available via phone or chat.
  • Austin from Atlanta, Georgia

    Posted on 1/25/2020

    I have a 2009 Subaru Impreza hatchback w/ door tweeters and steering wheel controls, and my goal is to get something that lets me use Apple CarPlay with it (primarily so that I can use bluetooth and also navigate using Waze). I've read that some of the new CarPlay headunits leave a big, unsightly gap between the OEM fascia and the aftermarket headunit - are there any that you recommend that fit the older Imprezas well and look nice?

    Commenter image

    Jon Paul from Crutchfield

    on 1/27/2020

    Austin, We can help you find the receiver you're looking for. I've sent your question to our sales team, and they'll be contacting you via email soon. For immediate help, you can contact them via phone or chat.
  • Jane

    Posted on 1/14/2020

    I have the basic 4 speaker model. I'm looking into changing the speakers to at least those of the premium 6 speaker model. Do you happen to know what's the difference in quality between the two models? The basic 4 speakers, for me, lack some quality of sound (there's little to no bass). If I install only the 4 speakers of the premium set (so two in the front and two in the back) will I get better sound? Or is the difference negligible and I should look into aftermarket speakers.. Thank you!

    Commenter image

    Jon Paul from Crutchfield

    on 1/14/2020

    Jane, The premium speakers are a smidge better, but the most noticeable difference comes from the sail panel tweeters. Swapping like-for-like would exclude the component tweeters and probably sound worse than what you have. Plus, those speakers are getting kind of old anyway. Your best bet is to skip ahead and install new aftermarket speakers that really will sound better. Give us a call and talk to one of our advisors. We'll help you find speakers that will fit your car, your budget, and your music.
  • Travis from Seattle, WA

    Posted on 1/13/2019

    What are the best value audio upgrades to do for my 2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5i? I have the basic 4 speaker model and know that I want to (at the very least) replace the factory radio with an aftermarket stereo so I can use Bluetooth with my phone. I also don't want to spend more than ~$400 or so total; cheaper is better!

    Commenter image

    Jon Paul from Crutchfield

    on 1/14/2019

    Travis, I've sent your question to our sales team, and they'll be contacting you via email soon. For immediate help, you can contact them via phone or chat.
  • Commenter image

    Jon Paulette from Crutchfield

    Posted on 5/29/2018

    Vijay, Depends on what you're trying to do. I've sent your question to our sales team, and they'll be contacting you via email soon. For immediate help, you can contact them via phone or chat.

Max. 1500 characters. *Comment is required  
*Name is required  
*Email is required  
Please complete this input.  

Your email address will not be published. Comments will display after being approved by our moderators. Comments may be edited for clarity.

Looking for
car stereos?

Car Stereos Shop our selection

Find what Fits your vehicle

Remove

Checking fit...

Compare the sound