Aftermarket head unit suggestions?
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I really like the Kenwood Excelon units. They have a 2 year warranty. Built in Garmin nav, which is very nice. I'm also using their back up camera in the same location in the tailgate as the factory one. Very happy with it. You'll have to run your own Satellite antenna for XM/Sirius, not a big deal. The GPS antenna works from under the dash, so that's easy.
Backup camera at night:
Backup camera at night:
alexatwork21
New member
I just re-did all of the audio in my 04 4Runner Sport, so I still have a lot of the research I did fresh in my memory 
I wanted to stay in the mid-range of touch screen nav units and ended up with the Pioneer 930 BT. I found that the user interface was the most appealing, and it had very nice response time. When I looked at some of the other options, it felt like the user interfaces were a bit dated. It does Nav, bluetooth (phone and audio streaming), comes with a remote USB cable that you can put anywhere, and has full iPod integration. You can also install an app for the iPhone that will allow the head unit to use Twitter etc, as well as Pandora radio etc.
Now for more than your original question... I originally had the JBL sound system in my 4runner and spent a bunch of cash on the whole "JBL interface" kit. My suggestion is to not waste your time. The sound quality was fantastic but it was very quiet in comparison to what I was expecting after spending around $800 for a head unit. I ended up biting the bullet and replacing everything (Alpine PDX5 amp, JL C3 components in all 4 corners, and a 8" JL sub in the factory location). If you don't have the factory JBL setup, you can always swap out component speakers later without many issues, but if you do have the JBL setup, save the $100 the interface kit costs and put it towards replacing everything.
I wanted to stay in the mid-range of touch screen nav units and ended up with the Pioneer 930 BT. I found that the user interface was the most appealing, and it had very nice response time. When I looked at some of the other options, it felt like the user interfaces were a bit dated. It does Nav, bluetooth (phone and audio streaming), comes with a remote USB cable that you can put anywhere, and has full iPod integration. You can also install an app for the iPhone that will allow the head unit to use Twitter etc, as well as Pandora radio etc.
Now for more than your original question...
I originally had the JBL sound system in my 4runner and spent a bunch of cash on the whole "JBL interface" kit. My suggestion is to not waste your time. The sound quality was fantastic but it was very quiet in comparison to what I was expecting after spending around $800 for a head unit. I ended up biting the bullet and replacing everything (Alpine PDX5 amp, JL C3 components in all 4 corners, and a 8" JL sub in the factory location). If you don't have the factory JBL setup, you can always swap out component speakers later without many issues, but if you do have the JBL setup, save the $100 the interface kit costs and put it towards replacing everything.
stanleybb50
New member
I just installed the following on Saturday:
JVC KW-HDR81BT CD receiver at Crutchfield.com
To make a suggestion that might help you... You'll notice the above is not a touch-screen... I originally set out to find a touch screen when I began my quest for a radio a couple weeks ago.. I looked at JVC units, Pioneer, and I forget the other... Price certainly became a concern of mine, and also the fact that the big touch screen draws attention, and the lot I park in isn't the "safest" for work. It's not bad, but not like a heavily watched/guarded parking lot, and I've heard of break-ins in the past...
So anyway, that brough me to think about what I'm actually looking for. I wanted HD Radio, Bluetooth, Better Sound, Better looks, easy to use.. So then I realized, a standard Double-DIN until was the way to go (for me at least). The unit does everything I want a radio to do. I'm definitely a big fan of it. Give it a look at least.
Fact of the matter is, I also have an Evo 4g, with a 4.3" screen anyway that I ended up being able to mount right to the instrument cluster (extremely securely) right below the hazard switch with a "pro-clip": Dual Select Listing - ProClip Car Mounts for Mobile Phones, GPS, and Handheld Devices . This thing installed really easily, then you can add any quality mount to the proclip (and screw it in and all that). So, now i have the best of both worlds, while having a nice, easy to use radio and my phone right next to it with Nav/anything under the sun that our Androids/iPhones can do these days.
Hopefully this helps! Glad to see you're still modding your Nautical Blue Runner! (I'm still hoping to lift mine sometime soon......... Just need to decide which one I'm going with and start to purchase the parts, and try to make my current tires go bald! lol)
JVC KW-HDR81BT CD receiver at Crutchfield.com
To make a suggestion that might help you... You'll notice the above is not a touch-screen... I originally set out to find a touch screen when I began my quest for a radio a couple weeks ago.. I looked at JVC units, Pioneer, and I forget the other... Price certainly became a concern of mine, and also the fact that the big touch screen draws attention, and the lot I park in isn't the "safest" for work. It's not bad, but not like a heavily watched/guarded parking lot, and I've heard of break-ins in the past...
So anyway, that brough me to think about what I'm actually looking for. I wanted HD Radio, Bluetooth, Better Sound, Better looks, easy to use.. So then I realized, a standard Double-DIN until was the way to go (for me at least). The unit does everything I want a radio to do. I'm definitely a big fan of it. Give it a look at least.
Fact of the matter is, I also have an Evo 4g, with a 4.3" screen anyway that I ended up being able to mount right to the instrument cluster (extremely securely) right below the hazard switch with a "pro-clip": Dual Select Listing - ProClip Car Mounts for Mobile Phones, GPS, and Handheld Devices . This thing installed really easily, then you can add any quality mount to the proclip (and screw it in and all that). So, now i have the best of both worlds, while having a nice, easy to use radio and my phone right next to it with Nav/anything under the sun that our Androids/iPhones can do these days.
Hopefully this helps! Glad to see you're still modding your Nautical Blue Runner! (I'm still hoping to lift mine sometime soon......... Just need to decide which one I'm going with and start to purchase the parts, and try to make my current tires go bald! lol)
stanleybb50
New member
Oh and since you havce an SR5 like me, you don't have to worry about that interface mentioned above. You just have standard wires coming from the head unit directly to speakers. There's no interface needed in your case. (I am curious how you hooked up the aftermarket sub with the stock stereo though...
And one last very important thing.... Do a search for "diversity antenna install" or something like that. So many people say/tell people to just hook up the "big" antenna wire to their aftermarket radio, then talk about reception not being as good as factory... I installed a "Y" connecter mentioned in that thread to take the (2) antenna wires we have, down to one. I also used the GM antenna adapter thing mentioned to adapt the small wire into the Y connector.
You also need to hook up the "amp turn on" wire from the new head unit to the "power antenna" wire in the clip that goes to your truck. We don't have a power antenna, but power needs to go there to give power to a "signal amplifier" in the back of the runner somewhere.
Seriously - those points above are very important. Make sure you do them. I can honestly/truthfully say that my reception is definitely, 100% better than my reception was with the factory radio.
Hopefully this helps!
I love the Pioneer Double Din nav units. I still have the F7010Bt that came out of my old car in the 4Runner and its still going strong after 4 years. I believe the current model is the x930bt mentioned above. They are great units and are windows based so there are plenty of hacks for it.
If you decide on a pioneer check out the forums on avic411 and they have plenty of users that have hacked the units with updated maps, custom screens etc.
If you decide on a pioneer check out the forums on avic411 and they have plenty of users that have hacked the units with updated maps, custom screens etc.
FWIW I just went looking for car stereos myself this weekend. The 2011 (last year's model) Kenwood Excelon, navigating the interface was really slow. There are a lot of icon and menu animations that are just way too pokey for an embedded OS. I also took a look at the 2012 Kenwood DDX419. Menu navigation appeared to be much quicker and tolerable. I would consider that one for purchase.
One thing to remember is that some of the JVC units have removeable faceplates - if where you park is a concern. I don't think Kenwood or Pioneer do that.
One thing to remember is that some of the JVC units have removeable faceplates - if where you park is a concern. I don't think Kenwood or Pioneer do that.
