Good Head Unit for >$200?
- Thread starter david_ray320
- Start date
Clemsonfan15
New member
longeeMAC said:
That's what I was talking about. Make your money during the summer so you don't have to worry about it during the year.
Bretski
New member
When i bought my 4runner it had a Sony Xplode headunit that i really liked but it wouldnt play WMA's so I replaced it with a JVC which lasted just 2 weeks after the warranty expired (coincidence? I have no idea. lol) I'm running another Sony Xplode headunit now and I really like it. It has an iPod hook up to the front of it and I have a simple 12" cord leading from it to where I keep my iPod while I'm driving [the slot underneath where I put the headunit] I like to control my iPod via the iPod and not the headunit so i didnt get the kit that would allow me to use it through the headunit. The sound quality is better in my Sony than my JVC too even thought they were roughly the same price when I bought them [$160 for the JVC and $150 for the Xplode]
I have Alpine Type S speakers in all my doors and they work well with my sony unit. But you can find a lot of different head units for uner $200 so just do a bit of research on everything you want and check out the reviews on Crutchfield. Once you find a model or 2 you like type it in to Google and do a quick search on reviews for that model to see what other ppl have to say about it so you know if your getting a user friendly stereo or not. good luck. =)
I have Alpine Type S speakers in all my doors and they work well with my sony unit. But you can find a lot of different head units for uner $200 so just do a bit of research on everything you want and check out the reviews on Crutchfield. Once you find a model or 2 you like type it in to Google and do a quick search on reviews for that model to see what other ppl have to say about it so you know if your getting a user friendly stereo or not. good luck. =)
LINY4Runner
New member
david_ray320 said:
Amen! :bowdown:
david_ray320
New member
Well I ended up ordering the Pioneer DEH-P6000UB
Hopefully it'll be here by Saturday so I can get it installed before I drive back down to school on Sunday.
Can someone recommend a good place to get it installed? I'd like to avoid Best Buy because they charge $100 and I think I can find another place that has more knowledgeable staff. I was going to do it myself but for something like this I'd just rather pay for it to be professionally installed so I don't mess anything up.
Searching the YellowPages online hasn't really yielded any good results. What does a typical stereo installation cost? Am I likely to find a place that can do it cheaper than $100? Because if not I guess I'll just go to BestBuy.
Hopefully it'll be here by Saturday so I can get it installed before I drive back down to school on Sunday.
Can someone recommend a good place to get it installed? I'd like to avoid Best Buy because they charge $100 and I think I can find another place that has more knowledgeable staff. I was going to do it myself but for something like this I'd just rather pay for it to be professionally installed so I don't mess anything up.
Searching the YellowPages online hasn't really yielded any good results. What does a typical stereo installation cost? Am I likely to find a place that can do it cheaper than $100? Because if not I guess I'll just go to BestBuy.
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Clemsonfan15
New member
If you have the time I would say to do it yourself, this is coming from someone who isn't extremely savy with wiring and what not.
I think it took me like an hour and back then I knew hardly anything about how to remove parts and such.
Did you buy from Crutchfield?
I think it took me like an hour and back then I knew hardly anything about how to remove parts and such.
Did you buy from Crutchfield?
david_ray320
New member
Clemsonfan15 said:
Yeah bought it from Crutchfield so it will come with all the installation instructions and equipment.
How complicated/detailed is the crimping/soldering? That's the only part I'm worried about.
Clemsonfan15
New member
I didn't solder mine. I didn't want to buy a solderer. It was easy to crimp them. Just find the right wires, strip them, twist them together, and I put caps on them, like the ones you use for electrial work. I even taped them after that. 
Matt Starr
Banned
A CD player is quite possibly the easiest install on a 4runner. Im getting ready to do a write up on speaker install and if you want, Ill do a CD player write up too for ya. This isnt something that you can really screw up. Head units are pretty much just plug and play and this will be a good learning experience for you too. Ill try to have it done before the weekend but in the meantime, go to a car audio store (Best Buy, Ultimate Electronics, ect) and get a wiring harness and a single din pocket. Together they'll run ya about $20-$30 but you need them for the install. Seriously though, this is an easy install and you've got me to walk you through it so you've got nothing to worry about, and if you can replace all the interior lights with LEDs, you can do this. This is way easier than replacing instrument lights.
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david_ray320
New member
Matt Starr said:
Thanks a bunch, Matt! That's really nice and helpful of you. It'll be really good to have a write up to walk me through the install.
So I need a wiring harness? I ordered from Crutchfield, wouldn't that be included? They usually include everything you need for the install. If it isn't, what kind of wiring harness do I need?
Also, about the single DIN pocket. As it stands right now, the space underneath my factory stereo is open and I'd like to keep it that way. Is the single DIN pocket you're recommending still necessary?
Looking forward to that write-up!
Matt Starr
Banned
The wiring harness you need is different than the one Crutchfield is sending you. This one is so that you can just plug your new cd player directly into your oem cd player harness instead of having to hard wire it. Heres what the harness looks like and heres a link to the manufacturer so you can get the model #.david_ray320 said:
http://www.scosche.com/products/productID/682
Then the pocket is so that your new cd player will fit into the oem location properly. Of all the dash kits Ive ever used for Toyotas, the 1 din pocket looks the best by far. Heres a pic and link for the pocket too.
http://www.scosche.com/products/productID/178
david_ray320
New member
Matt Starr said:The wiring harness you need is different than the one Crutchfield is sending you. This one is so that you can just plug your new cd player directly into your oem cd player harness instead of having to hard wire it. Heres what the harness looks like and heres a link to the manufacturer so you can get the model #.
http://www.scosche.com/products/productID/682
Then the pocket is so that your new cd player will fit into the oem location properly. Of all the dash kits Ive ever used for Toyotas, the 1 din pocket looks the best by far. Heres a pic and link for the pocket too.
http://www.scosche.com/products/productID/178
Ok so if I take that part number to Best Buy or another audio place I should be able to pick up the correct wiring harness?
And so the DIN pocket you provided a link for is the piece that I'll actually install my headunit into?
Matt Starr
Banned
No the pocket goes under the cd player to fill the empty space since your aftermarket deck is a single din deck and your OEM deck is a double din.david_ray320 said:
If I remember right, Best Buy carries Metra instead of Scosche.
In my opinion Scosche is better than Metra but dash kits and wiring harnesses arent that big of a deal to worry about quality.
If you do go to Best Buy, heres the part # for the Metra product. Their website is flash so I cant give you the link.
Harness
70-1761
88-00-8000
Im not sure if you have Ultimate Electronics in your area but if you do, go there. They're a lot smarter than the begginers that Best Buy hires, so if you have any trouble they'll be able to help you. And Ultimate Electronics carries Scosche.
david_ray320
New member
Matt Starr said:
No Ultimate Electronics in my area unfortunately. Thanks for the part numbers, I'll pick up the harness and DIN pocket on Saturday before I do the install. So with the wiring harness you provided, will I still need to do crimping/soldering or is that the reason you told me to get a different harness, to avoid any crimping/soldering?
Matt Starr
Banned
You will still have to do some crimping but the harness makes it 100X easier and you dont have to tap into the oem wiring harness. Which p.s. make sure to hang on to your oem deck so you can throw it back in if you ever sell your runner.david_ray320 said:
Which reminds me, pick up some 18-12 gauge bell caps from a hardware store. I've never had to soldered a deck before. Its a waste of time. There are some electrical systems that should be soldered but a cd player isnt one of them.
Here's a check list for ya just in case you or I forget something
-Head unit (duh)
-head unit wiring harness (comes with the deck)
-vehicle wiring harness (scosche or metra)
-1 din pocket (scosche or metra)
-18-12 gauge bell caps
-crimpers or plyers will work too
-wire strippers (could use scissors or razor blade)
-electrical tape (not really necessary but good to have)
-and your mits lol :lmao: name that movie!
Clemsonfan15
New member
Crutchfield sends you all of that stuff, FYI. A wiring diagram too. Plus you can call them if you need help.
Matt Starr
Banned
are you sure? I've never ordered a cd player form crutchfield so I dont know but that just sound kind of odd but if thats true than hell ya.Clemsonfan15 said:
I found out that Walmart sells Scosche for dirt cheap. I took these with my phone
Clemsonfan15
New member
Yeah man. That's why Crutchfield is the best for head units. 
david_ray320
New member
Just a quick update- got it installed yesterday pretty hassle-free. A lot easier than I thought it would be. The "wiring" was just stripping and twisting together like 15 wires with crimp caps. Pretty simple stuff.
Only complaint I had was that the instructions that Crutchfield gave were pretty shitty. Not that detailed and didn't really explain clearly what you were supposed to do in order to hook up the receiver properly. But one quick call to their Technical Service rep and I was squared away. That's what's great about Crutchfield, I'll give them that.
Oh and the other thing I'll need to fix is the DIN pocket. The trim panel doesn't fit with both the pocket and the headunit installed. I flipped the DIN pocket upside down and it fit that way but anything I try to store in the pocket just slides out because the top slopes down. Guess I'll have to pick up one of those Scosche pockets and see if that works.
But most importantly, it sounds GREAT. Big improvement over the factory radio. I'm definitely getting the most out of my iPod. Now I just need to get an adapter bracket for the rear speakers so they stop rattling.
Only complaint I had was that the instructions that Crutchfield gave were pretty shitty. Not that detailed and didn't really explain clearly what you were supposed to do in order to hook up the receiver properly. But one quick call to their Technical Service rep and I was squared away. That's what's great about Crutchfield, I'll give them that.
Oh and the other thing I'll need to fix is the DIN pocket. The trim panel doesn't fit with both the pocket and the headunit installed. I flipped the DIN pocket upside down and it fit that way but anything I try to store in the pocket just slides out because the top slopes down. Guess I'll have to pick up one of those Scosche pockets and see if that works.
But most importantly, it sounds GREAT. Big improvement over the factory radio. I'm definitely getting the most out of my iPod. Now I just need to get an adapter bracket for the rear speakers so they stop rattling.
Clemsonfan15
New member
Glad you got it installed and like it. I didn't have any of those problems with my head unit. That stinks.
