Double DIN Stereo

arracado

New member
Wondering what people's thoughts are on double DIN-sized stereo units. Right now I have a single DIN aftermarket Pioneer with the storage compartment, but I find that things constantly fall out of the storage area so I rarely use it. Was going to upgrade my stereo to one with Bluetooth built in and can't decide if I want to go back to the factory-sized double DIN. Any opinions?
 
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why not? people do NAV screens all the time. That extra din is just a waste unless you've got a single din Cobra CB or a double din radio.
 
Go for it. If you don't want/need the storage underneath then you might as well maximize the space you have. I've got a double-din NAV unit and love it.
 
I have a Pioneer FH-P8000BT. The bluetooth on it works great. I rarely use and already have a GPS, so I couldn't justify the extra $ to buy a nav double din unit.

46369d1308749359-new-pioneer-system-02-sr5-deck.jpg


http://www.toyota-4runner.org/audio-electronics/92190-new-pioneer-system-02-sr5.html
 
I would also say do research on any deck you are thinking of buying to see how well the bluetooth works. I had a JVC KD-AVX77 before my current deck and it was an AMAZING deck in almost any feature EXCEPT the bluetooth. No matter where I had the mic set, it sounded to the other person like I was in a wind tunnel. I thought it was due to a crappy mic, but I found out that it was due to a less than optimal BT connection. My current deck has a great connection. I can talk to people with my windows down and they can hear me with no problems.
 
I have a Pioneer FH-P8000BT. The bluetooth on it works great. I rarely use and already have a GPS, so I couldn't justify the extra $ to buy a nav double din unit.

46369d1308749359-new-pioneer-system-02-sr5-deck.jpg


http://www.toyota-4runner.org/audio-electronics/92190-new-pioneer-system-02-sr5.html

I get a sweet discount on Pioneer stuff through work, and that's the same one I'm thinking about! I can't justify the NAV either...even with my discount it's still over $500, although it is tempting because I'm moving to LA in a few months. Probably just get a standalone NAV unit for that. Good to know the bluetooth works well, thanks!
 
Also, should the factory brackets that I'll need for the double-DIN still be there? I would imagine the kit that was used attached the stereo mount and the storage unit used them, but I'm not sure.
 
Also, should the factory brackets that I'll need for the double-DIN still be there? I would imagine the kit that was used attached the stereo mount and the storage unit used them, but I'm not sure.

Yep. The same brackets that mount the single-din and the pocket will attach to the double-din.
 
Kenwood DDX418

This is my double din. It's a Kenwood DDX418 that has bluetooth, navigation, CD, radio, and USB flashdrive. The sound and call quality is extremely good. It has a microphone for it that I installed on top of the steering wheel column.

I didn't install the navigation module because its quite pointless on 3rd gens because of the placement of the radio. Its so low down there, so I just bought a separate Garmin Nuvi. You can also change the color of the buttons or have it shift through all of them. I like red.
 

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This is my double din. It's a Kenwood DDX418 that has bluetooth, navigation, CD, radio, and USB flashdrive. The sound and call quality is extremely good. It has a microphone for it that I installed on top of the steering wheel column.

I didn't install the navigation module because its quite pointless on 3rd gens because of the placement of the radio. Its so low down there, so I just bought a separate Garmin Nuvi. You can also change the color of the buttons or have it shift through all of them. I like red.

This question is directed to Loyal Toyota but anyone can answer. Iv been looking at Double DIN units and the one on the top of my list has a USB port in the front of the unit. I listen too most if not all my music through my ipod or IPhone. This means I will have a cord coming out of the front of my unit all the times. My single DIN unit now has an Ipod hook up but its attached to the back and I routed it so it comes out by the cig lighter, so mu Ipod sits down there. I want to know If it bothers anyone having a USB hooked up to the front at all times? I think it will make my nice touchscreen unit aesthetically displeasing. or am i worrying too much about something small?
 
This question is directed to Loyal Toyota but anyone can answer. Iv been looking at Double DIN units and the one on the top of my list has a USB port in the front of the unit. I listen too most if not all my music through my ipod or IPhone. This means I will have a cord coming out of the front of my unit all the times. My single DIN unit now has an Ipod hook up but its attached to the back and I routed it so it comes out by the cig lighter, so mu Ipod sits down there. I want to know If it bothers anyone having a USB hooked up to the front at all times? I think it will make my nice touchscreen unit aesthetically displeasing. or am i worrying too much about something small?

I purposely picked a unit where I could wire it in the back and then I have it wired into my glovebox. It would bug me if it was in the front. Not to mention that I probably would leave it hooked up all the time, thus giving a little more of an excuse for someone to break into my car.
 
This question is directed to Loyal Toyota but anyone can answer. Iv been looking at Double DIN units and the one on the top of my list has a USB port in the front of the unit. I listen too most if not all my music through my ipod or IPhone. This means I will have a cord coming out of the front of my unit all the times. My single DIN unit now has an Ipod hook up but its attached to the back and I routed it so it comes out by the cig lighter, so mu Ipod sits down there. I want to know If it bothers anyone having a USB hooked up to the front at all times? I think it will make my nice touchscreen unit aesthetically displeasing. or am i worrying too much about something small?

It bothers me too, but I've found a way to slightly clean it up. Just note that I needed two wires to play music through mine. I needed one that goes into the headphone on the iPod and the usual USB to iPod port at the bottom. I have it sitting in the cup holders. I'm open to any suggestions anyone has to clean it up.

My usual set up has the iPod rocking the cup holders. If the cup holders need to be used for holding cups, then I'll put it in the transfer case. About half of the iPod is in it, so it's quite secure than it looks. Again, open to any suggestions that can improve this.
 

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I have a Pioneer FH-P8000BT. The bluetooth on it works great. I rarely use and already have a GPS, so I couldn't justify the extra $ to buy a nav double din unit.

46369d1308749359-new-pioneer-system-02-sr5-deck.jpg

I use to have the same deck in my vehicle until i wanted a tv so that i can watch music videos and movies on long trips so purchased a pioneer avh p4300 7" with no nav.

I didn't get the navi because most double dins with navi have a big lag and i like to use my phone instead
 
You might want to consider picking up a double-din SCION radio and popping it in the 4Runner. A lot of people have done this.

Many of the nicer SCIONs are made by Alpine and have MP3 and other great features.

*** EDIT: I don't think the SCIONs are very good quality if you plan on doing a full stereo upgrade but if you just want a factory only replacement then do it ****
 
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Just got back from the stereo shop... they installed this Kenwood DPX308U Double DIN today.

Without the iPod connected:

deck1.jpg~original


With the iPod conneted:

deck2.jpg~original


Side profile:

deck3.jpg~original


Looks and sounds great and is a nice upgrade from that tired, old OEM unit. :cool:
 
I put this JVC in about a year ago because all my lights were burned out and the CD player didn't work. It has HD Radio, USB and AUX inputs, and bluetooth. Plus you can change the display color and choose from something like 30-40 colors so I matched all the existing colors in the truck so it looks almost like a factory unit. I paid $169+TAX for it.
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Sorry for the crappy cell pictures, but you get the idea.
 

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Just got back from the stereo shop... they installed this Kenwood DPX308U Double DIN today.

Without the iPod connected:

deck1.jpg~original


Looks and sounds great and is a nice upgrade from that tired, old OEM unit. :cool:

I just put this same unit in mine right before Christmas. $199.99 with no tax and free shipping. They (Crutchfield) always supply instructions and wiring harnesses. Very easy install. I like that the colors can be adjusted to match interior. Didnt need nav or bluetooth, just ipod control. Works great.
 
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I just put this same unit in mine right before Christmas. $199.99 with no tax and free shipping. They always supply instructions and wiring harnesses. Very easy install. I like that the colors can be adjusted to match interior. Didnt need nav or bluetooth, just ipod control. Works great.
That's a good price. I paid $219.00 + 13% tax at Best Buy for the unit.

I like how the colours can be adjusted as well but I can't seem to get it to "stick" on the colour I prefer. Every time I start the truck it goes back to that annoying scrolling through every colour in the rainbow. Do you know a trick to get a preferred colour to stick permanently by chance?
 
AVH-P3300BT installed last summer. I mounted the Bluetooth Mic right between the tach and speedometer. Pairing different phones is simple and the unit will save each one for pairing at a later time. The user interface is seemless with my iPhone 4 (iPod music, contacts, pandora, etc.).

image2.jpg~original
 

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