System Recommendation and Feedback

[FlyingDutchMan]

After doing a considerable amount of homework, I installed the following setup in a friends 2004 4Runner LE with suprisingly good results. I am really impressed with the sound quality, the volume and the functionality.

Here are the parts we used and why.

1) Pioneer Premier 860MP Headunit. I selected this because it had 3x 6.5volt Preouts, instead of the usual 2-4volts. Also it comes with a microphone and has a feature called Auto EQ, where you plug the supplied microphone in and attached it to the headrest, the HU then automatically sets up the sound field, fader, speaker levels, timing etc, canceling out any echo's and setting a baseline from which to fine tune the system. This takes all the guess work out of the the intial setup and its idiot proof. A consideration for the future is that this headunit can be configured for "Pro Mode" by which I can bi-wire the front component speakers.

2) Pioneer XM SAT reciever and 6 disc changer. I used these beause the changer fits in the armrest and the whole system is controled by the headunit via an IP Bus cable. Very user friendly.

3) Alpine F450 5 channel Amp, because it fit in the stock subwoofer location, just barely. It was a high quality reasonably priced part. The JL 500/5 would have been my other choice.

4) JL Audio Stealthbox, clean installation, and it was tuned specifically for this application. It is pricey, and makes the cargo shelf useless.

5) .5 Farad Monster Intilicap. Because it was cheap and enough for the one amp.

6) PAC SWI-x to adapt the steering wheel control to the aftermarket headunit.

7) 4gauge cable from the battery to the stiffening capacitor. 8 gauge to the amp.

8) Monsters ELN Low noice interconnect cables to prevent any noice from entering the system and to prevent any voltage drop. These were pricey however.

Stock door speakers for the time being.

I am blown away at how good everything sounded after we did the auto EQ set up on the Headunit. The system is plenty loud and surprising clear.

The only concern I have is that the amp might overheat in the fenderwell. If it does I'll install some fans to improve the airflow through this area..

Pictures of the intall are located here...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6787

 

[Wik]

Great post ....

Question:

Would the PAC SWI-x to adapt the steering wheel control to the aftermarket headunit work with the 4Runner Sport 2004 and any headunit??

 

[FlyingDutchMan]

Great post ....

Question:

Would the PAC SWI-x to adapt the steering wheel control to the aftermarket headunit work with the 4Runner Sport 2004 and any headunit??

Yeah, the PAC is really nothing more than one of those "learning remotes" with wires one end of the module that connect to the steering wheel controls and it has a wire with an infrared LED at the end, coming out the other site. You hook it up to the car and then use the remote that comes with the aftermarket headunit to program the unit with the respective button on the steering wheel. YOu can bascially program a button on the steering wheel to do any of the functions on the remote.

Does that make sense... its less complicated than you think.

 

[Wik]

Thanks for the reply ...

One more question ...

I have the JBL Premium 10 Speaker Package ... would that Pioneer 860 power up all 10 Speakers?

Thanks again.

 

[FlyingDutchMan]

Thanks for the reply ...

One more question ...

I have the JBL Premium 10 Speaker Package ... would that Pioneer 860 power up all 10 Speakers?

Thanks again.

The 10 speakers are set up for surround sound, it really 8 speakers, a subwoofer and a center channel speaker. If you wanted to retain the surround sound you'd need to add an amp and a surround sound processor.

Unless your playing DVD's in the car that are coded with surround sound, there is, in my opinion, no point in trying to play a CD that was recorded in 2 channel stereo in 5 channel surround. Your really just manipulating the music artificially. To me surround played in this way sounds novel, but it doesn't sound good.

With the 860 or any other headunit, you'd want to play the door speakers only and add an aftermarket sub and amp.

You can't use the stock amp without the headunit. They are one in the same in the Toyota...meaning that amp actually does more than just amplify the sound, its also a controler/processor.

Having said that, if you wanted to you could use all ten stock speakers if you had an aftermarket HU, Amp(s) and surround sound processor and have 5.1 Dolby Surround with the stock speakers. If you were installing a DVD player and TV screen this would be a way to go.

Alternatively for a more basic system you could power 8 of the ten speakers with amplifier that is built into a headunit like the 860MP.

Just to clarify....
The JBL system consists of:
1) Subwoofer (Right reafmost fender/trunk)
2) A center channel (Dashboard)
3) Left front Tweeter (Front Door)
4) Right front Tweeter(Front Door)
5) Left front mid range(Front Door)
6) Right front mid range(Front Door)
7) Right rear mid range (Rear Door)
8) Left rear mid range (Rear Door)
9) Rear Left Tweeter mono (Trunk)
10) Rear Right Tweeter mono (Trunk)


Does that help?

 

[Wik]

Thanks a million ...

Your knowledge was very helpful. In the new year I'll be looking into some upgrades ... I let you know how it goes.

Thanks again.