Aftermarket Stereo

[wg73]

I'll test it!

Mike from Metra quoted me 1-2 weeks before they start shipping out. I already went ahead and had my pioneer navi installed (surrounded by a big gaping hole due to the lack of dash kit) since I am impatient. I'm planning to paint the dash kit satin black, when I finally get it, in an effort to "black out" the interior a bit more.

doodman- did you lose any functionality as a result of replacing your stereo? I have the stock 8-speaker system and I was told that I would lose the blue tooth capability on the steering wheel if I swapped my system out for a touch screen stereo. They also said they couldn't guarantee party mode would still work.

Also - did you replace any of the speakers?

 

[BrianLSU]

doodman- did you lose any functionality as a result of replacing your stereo? I have the stock 8-speaker system and I was told that I would lose the blue tooth capability on the steering wheel if I swapped my system out for a touch screen stereo. They also said they couldn't guarantee party mode would still work.

Also - did you replace any of the speakers?

I'm switching out speakers this week, low RMS JL Audio. I'm relacing the 3.5" fronts and 6.5" backs. I'll know soon how deep the spaces are and if aftermarket stuff fits. I like the stock system, I just need to know if I can make it better.

What speaker layout does the 8 speaker system have?

 

[doodman]

doodman- did you lose any functionality as a result of replacing your stereo? I have the stock 8-speaker system and I was told that I would lose the blue tooth capability on the steering wheel if I swapped my system out for a touch screen stereo. They also said they couldn't guarantee party mode would still work.

Also - did you replace any of the speakers?

I did lose some functionality - namely the bluetooth steering controls and the Party Mode button.

On that note, the bluetooth on my iPhone works seamlessly with the Pioneer nav and I don't miss the steering wheel BT controls one bit. Also, the pioneer nav has a built-in setting called "Staging" that lets you choose different audio settings called by different names. For example: Music Studio, Dynamic Theater, Actor's Workspace, Living Room, etc... I must say that using the Staging on the Pioneer makes the music sound MUCH MUCH better than Party Mode ever did. Also, the pioneer makes my stock speakers seem like the best top-of-the-line speakers you could ever buy. Needless to say, I will not be replacing these bad-boys until one of them blows out.

 

[wg73]

I did lose some functionality - namely the bluetooth steering controls and the Party Mode button.

On that note, the bluetooth on my iPhone works seamlessly with the Pioneer nav and I don't miss the steering wheel BT controls one bit. Also, the pioneer nav has a built-in setting called "Staging" that lets you choose different audio settings called by different names. For example: Music Studio, Dynamic Theater, Actor's Workspace, Living Room, etc... I must say that using the Staging on the Pioneer makes the music sound MUCH MUCH better than Party Mode ever did. Also, the pioneer makes my stock speakers seem like the best top-of-the-line speakers you could ever buy. Needless to say, I will not be replacing these bad-boys until one of them blows out.

doodman - a couple more questions....
Does your Pioneer have Sirius/XM satellite radio capability? If so, were you able to utilize the stock XM antenna or did they have to install a separate one?

Also, did you install amp(s) with your system? Did you have the stock 8-speaker setup, or the JBL premium sound with the subwoofer in the back?

I have the stock 8-speaker system (no subwoofer) and I'm curious if I'd need to upgrade the speakers if I installed a new stereo unit. The stock stereo has a LAME iPod interface and it is really slow. The new touchscreen stereos that I saw (I think one was a Kenwood) had a much faster interface to the iPod and was just a better design all around.

sorry for all the questions!

 

[doodman]

doodman - a couple more questions....
Does your Pioneer have Sirius/XM satellite radio capability? If so, were you able to utilize the stock XM antenna or did they have to install a separate one?

Also, did you install amp(s) with your system? Did you have the stock 8-speaker setup, or the JBL premium sound with the subwoofer in the back?

I have the stock 8-speaker system (no subwoofer) and I'm curious if I'd need to upgrade the speakers if I installed a new stereo unit. The stock stereo has a LAME iPod interface and it is really slow. The new touchscreen stereos that I saw (I think one was a Kenwood) had a much faster interface to the iPod and was just a better design all around.

sorry for all the questions!

Yes, Sirius/XM capable. But you have to buy/supply an XM receiver so I bought that as well. I guess the installers were able to use the stock XM antenna bc I didn't have to buy another one nor did they mention anything about it.

I have the standard 8-speaker system and I do not have an amp installed, but with my Pioneer now hooked up to the speakers, it sure as heck sounds like I have an amp and subwoofer installed in the truck even though I don't.

Seriously though, these stock speakers sound EXCELLENT with my recent pioneer upgrade so I don't think you'd need to upgrade once you get an aftermarket unit put in.

sorry for all the questions!

No need to apologize! For every question you ask, there are probably 10 people wondering that same thing. With that said, ASK AS MANY ? AS YOU WANT.

 

[wg73]

What is the XM receiver you had to buy? Is that like the stand-alone receivers you can hang from your windshield? Where do they install it? The reason I ask is that I had a stand-alone Sirius receiver in my last car and I really wanted to get away from that and have it all built into the stereo.

Interesting about the speakers. Sounds like it's worth a shot with the stock speakers. I know when I'm in Party Mode, the front speakers sound much clearer and brighter, so I'm sure they have the capability to produce a better sound (maybe they need more power?).

 

[doodman]

What is the XM receiver you had to buy? Is that like the stand-alone receivers you can hang from your windshield? Where do they install it? The reason I ask is that I had a stand-alone Sirius receiver in my last car and I really wanted to get away from that and have it all built into the stereo.

Interesting about the speakers. Sounds like it's worth a shot with the stock speakers. I know when I'm in Party Mode, the front speakers sound much clearer and brighter, so I'm sure they have the capability to produce a better sound (maybe they need more power?).

It's not one of those that you hang in the windshield. This is one of those that is hidden away somewhere once installed. My pioneer is "XM Ready" meaning that it's capable of playing XM but only if you buy the receiver necessary to decode the XM signals (I'm guessing that's what it does). I have no idea where in my truck it's located and I don't care just as long as it's out of view. Here's a pic of it installed behind the glove box of some dood's vehicle (not mine):

Pioneer USA - GEX-P920XM - Get 170 Channels of Music, News, Sports, Entertainment and More

As for the speakers, yeah I think you should give them a try. I think they just need the right amount of power to get the great sound they're capable of. It seems my Pioneer pushes out much more power to these speakers than my stock unit did, which I assume accounts for the much better sound.

 

[semperfly]

what kind of shop did your install work was it someone custom or what...

 

[fixedgeargus]

I need more...Please~

Price? Exact Pioneer System? Pics? I have never been a fan of pioneer since I bought my first Alpine unit back in 99. I have been away from the aftermarket car stereo market for over 10 years... Am I still valid in still loving Alpine?

I need to see positive vibes and review of another brand unit working in a 2010 4runner, before I would consider anything outside of Alpine. To each his own, I can't explain why I feel biased.

Some more info and pics would be awesome Doodman. Do the Mode and volume controls still work that are one the steering wheel?

Who installed it? Where did you buy it?

Thanks so much!

 

[reklov]

hipping Method: FREE Super Saver Shipping
Shipping Preference: Group my items into as few shipments as possible
Subtotal of Items: $1,024.08
Shipping & Handling: $17.86
Super Saver Discount: -$17.86
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Total for this Order: $1,024.08


Shipping estimate for these items: May 24, 2010
1 "Pioneer GEX-P920XM XM Satellite Tuner"
Electronics; $91.77

Sold by: Amazon.com, LLC
1 "PAC SWI-PS Sony and Pioneer Steering Wheel Radio Control Interface"
Automotive; $42.32

Sold by: Amazon.com, LLC


Shipping estimate for these items: May 24, 2010
1 "Pioneer AVIC-Z110BT 7-Inch Flagship In-Dash Navigation A/V Receiver with DVD Playback and Bluetooth"
Electronics; $889.99

Sold by: audioonline

 

[jreiter]

Price? Exact Pioneer System? Pics? I have never been a fan of pioneer since I bought my first Alpine unit back in 99. I have been away from the aftermarket car stereo market for over 10 years... Am I still valid in still loving Alpine?

You are still valid in liking Alpine. Their higher end headunits are, in my opinion, some of the best sound quality units you can get next to Eclipse. One thing I really like about Alpine now days is how they are integrating the Audyssey MultiEQ system into their higher end units. That's an awesome automatic tuning system that works wonders in a car.

But that being said, I had a Pioneer AVIC-D2 nav unit a couple of years ago, and it was pretty nice. As it got older the touchscreen became less responsive and you had to push harder and harder to make it work, but other than that I really have no complaints. As far as the big double-din touchscreens go, I do think Pioneer makes the best looking interfaces. That's just a personal preference, of course.

If I were buying an aftermarket nav unit today, I'm not sure which direction I'd go. There are pros and cons to each brand. I've never liked Kenwood sound quality, but their nav units use Garmin navigation, which is awesome and has a long, proven history with quality navigation. Pioneer is pretty good all-around. Alpine and Eclipse have fantastic sound quality (especially if you get the Audyssey tuning option), but I've found their interfaces to be kind of ugly sometimes (especially with Eclipse).

I'd guess you'd be happy with just about any of them, but if you can, go play with the interfaces a bit. One of them may drive you nuts, while you like the others. Don't underrate the interface, since that's what you have to look at and mess with every day when you get into your car.

 

[iDRiVaT4R]

It would be pretty cool if there was enough material on the side of the opening to accommodate some gauges. (I photo-shopped this, gauges are not to scale, just wanted to see what it could look like.)

Edit: Found this pic that doodman posted, looks like there is no room for gauges or anything, oh well. Looked cool.

 

[semperfly]

doodman we know yet if that dash kit is available yet?

 

[B'klyn_Mike]

It would be pretty cool if there was enough material on the side of the opening to accommodate some gauges. (I photo-shopped this, gauges are not to scale, just wanted to see what it could look like.)

Edit: Found this pic that doodman posted, looks like there is no room for gauges or anything, oh well. Looked cool.

You could hunt for a meter pod for the driver's side A pillar. Try looking here: Automotive Gauges, Gauge Pods and Gauge Faces at SFX Performance Parts :naughty:

Mike :artist:

 

[reklov]

doodman we know yet if that dash kit is available yet?

METRA 99-8227S Dash kit for mounting an aftermarket radio Toyota 4-Runner 2010, Double DIN radio provision, ISO stacked radio provision, Painted Silver finish DASHKITS;

They are available. I purchased on yesterday from onlinecarstrereo.com

 

[harper7]

METRA 99-8227S Dash kit for mounting an aftermarket radio Toyota 4-Runner 2010, Double DIN radio provision, ISO stacked radio provision, Painted Silver finish DASHKITS;

They are available. I purchased on yesterday from onlinecarstrereo.com

Did you call them and ask if they were in stock?
I and several people actually ordered from the same people a couple of months ago and they were'nt in stock yet.

Great price on your Pioneer AVIC-Z110BT by the way!!

 

[buenhec]

Ordered mine from them over a month ago and all I got was a backorder email.

 

[Jefferson]

Maybe a dumb question. Would the backup camera work with aftermarket nav?

 

[reklov]

Maybe a dumb question. Would the backup camera work with aftermarket nav?

Yes it should. I hear some people are doing front and rear cameras.

My order from onlinecarstereo.com went through.

Subtotal: $28.50
CA Sales Tax: $2.78
Shipping: $9.95
Total: $41.23
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Ship Via: UPS Ground
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Thanks again for shopping at OnlineCarStereo.com

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Update: I am calling them right now to see if they have more or when mine is shipping.

Looks like the warehouse guy said they had just one which is mine. I'd say just try ordering it and see what happens.

 

[doodman]

doodman we know yet if that dash kit is available yet?

METRA 99-8227S Dash kit for mounting an aftermarket radio Toyota 4-Runner 2010, Double DIN radio provision, ISO stacked radio provision, Painted Silver finish DASHKITS;

They are available. I purchased on yesterday from onlinecarstrereo.com

Did you call them and ask if they were in stock?
I and several people actually ordered from the same people a couple of months ago and they were'nt in stock yet.

Great price on your Pioneer AVIC-Z110BT by the way!!

They are actually not available yet. According to Metra, they are currently working on the Mustang dash kit as top priority and then our 4Runner dashkit has second priority. I keep getting told 2 more weeks but I've been told that same thing several times for the past 2 months.

Yes, you CAN order them online, but it will be backordered because even the factory isn't done with making them yet. If you call metra, dial ext 2482 and talk to Mike. He is extremely helpful and very nice to talk to about what's holding things up.

As soon as I get my dash kit, I'm going to paint it black to match the other two (vertical) silver pieces that I converted to matte black (which looks MUCH better btw).