i have an alpine from about 10 years ago, and it still works. but won't play burnt cd's. they are very good, and i also like jvc, they are bulletproof, but don't have the sound quaility.

 

its getting harder to find a HU to match the green OEM color

mine does though.. its an alpine cda 7894

 

I love my Alpine and the main 4 buttons have 512 color options and two (amber and green) for the rest of the buttons.

 

Yeah thats the one.

 

I appreciate all of your suggestions. This seems like a great system...

CDA-9856 + XM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPINE-CDA-9856-...em140080916576

JL XR650 CSi

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JL-Au...spagenameZWDVW

or

Focal 165 V1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MakeTrack=true

Plus I would get the matching 5.25" JL's or Focal's for the rear (maybe at a later date due to budget constraints).

Comments?

 

Do yourself a favor and get an alpine some are pricey but thease things are proven to last. Mines a CDA-9815 a little older but it plays wma and mp3.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/PIONEER-DEH-P980...QQcmdZViewItem

I have this one and i really like it. It does everything except for play DVDs. accepts both XM and Sirius, Ipod, CD changer, plays WMA and MP3, has Blutooth, it does lots more other things that i dont even know about im sure.

 

I don't have any experience with the Alpine products but I can tell you I have an older Pioneer head in my 4Runner and it does match the color of the lights really well.

Now you guys have got me wanting an Alpine. Too bad I have a used Kenwood here wired and soldered to a plug and play harness waiting to go in next time the dash is opened up.

 

THIS is what I have...

clarion dxz745mp that has a ton of colors and three adjustable user-set colors. check them out. i got mine off of ebay for like ~$230 - and that was ~3 years ago. Also, all the buttons change color with the dispaly... I've had zero issues and would go with the same one if i had it to do over again.

for speakers, i personally like the polk audio DB series (i have rockford fosgates that i will soon be replacing - we have the polks in the land cruiser). for a good, affordable 4+ CH amp, you can NEVER go wrong with an alpine. for a sub, i currently have a JL W3 12" and it's in a cheap $20 ebay enclosure in the back.

 

All the new Alpines from '06-'07 ($350~ and less) have A LOT of negative feedback on car audio forums.

Whatever you buy, get a unit that has 4-volt preamp outputs.

 

I have purchased the system as I have described above.

Alpine CDA-9856
Focal Components 165 V1 6.5" & 1" (front)
Focal 130 CV1 5.25" (rear)

Speaker adapters for the doors, Alpine to Toyota wiring harness, and a Metra 88-00-8000 pocket.

I will let you all know how it sounds when installed.

BTW, I spec'd this system out at a local installer. The sound quality was excellent. I was able to purchase this system through e-bay for less that 1/2 of the retail cost from a local installer.