well im thinking about buying a better head unit and some decient speakers. i dont need anything nuts just something better than stock. i dont know much about these things so if you guys could help me out with some advice or recomendations that would be great, thanks.

 

I just upgraded my stock system as well. I would suggest a pioneer, I like their premier line and I got a 680. I havent done the speakers but did add a jl sub and jbl amp. Theres so many to choose from so good luck.

 

dont get sony i like pioneere

 

I have had great experiences with Pioneer head units. They go real well with Toyotas too. Mounting holes and color coding on wires all match up.

If you plan on going with some 6.5" or 6.75" coaxials, I'd suggest Boston Acoustics.

Just remember that an amplifer will make a huge difference in sound.

 

pioneer is a great product the deck i have is 7yrs old and the buttons light up green so it matches i still have the factory door speakers and two pioneer 12'' subs and it sounds good to me

 

I love Alpine for head units. They don't make too bad of speakers either. You can get Alpine products much cheaper off ebay.

My personal favorite is JL Audio. They make a good product.

If you plan on running the speakers off the head unit, you need to get a lower RMS wattage speaker so you dont underpower them. I would consider looking at a 4 channel amp to run the speakers.

 

+1
My system is all Alpine other than the sub.
Great product. I guess I have just been brand loyal since I was a teenager.
The head unit back light matches the gauges also.

 

hmm yeah i guess ill get Alpine. ill be installin it myself so when i guy the head unit what else to i need to buy.

 

I'm an Alpine guy as well. Just installed a 9855 tonight in my runner. You will need a harness and a pocket to take up the extra space beneath the new radio. I also bypassed my factory amp which is a breeze in these trucks. It's the silver box directly below the radio. The harness that plugs into the radio comes directly from the factory amp. Two phillips screws on each side and the amp comes right out. You will then notice two plugs on the backside of the amp, these will now plug directly into your new harness that you have spliced on to the new radio.

Good luck and feel free to ask any questions....

 

I think I am also going Alpine with the CDA-9856. Does anyone have this HU?

 

I have the 9856 as well as 2 or 3 of my friends. I love this head unit. I am running my iPod on it as well as XM Radio and a 6 disc changer.

 

I have the Alpine 9856 and I love it, though I almost wish I had held out for the 9857, which has the nice BioLite display with the two lines of text.

 

I've already ordered this.
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-D40Ij29...1&i=113KDCX591
For the price you can't beat it.
Delivered with IPOD adapter, pocket, harnesss, USB port, aux input and so much more for $210.00

 

yeah i saw that. but, do you think it would be worth a 100 dollars more?

 

how hard would it be to install a head unit and where do i get the spacer and the wiring harness and whats the advantage to get rid of the stock amp?

 

Running a high level signal into the low level input of the factory amp equals distortion, not to mention a volume knob that wont give you much control.

Pocket and harness can be bought at any car stereo shop. Install is very easy.

 

so does that mean i have to buy a new amp too?

 

i love my kenwood, but the setup is impossibly hard!!! so many menus and button presses...

i have a kenwood amp, 4 channel, real nice. its at home ill get the model number. it sounds better than the amp that i have now, but it doesnt match my other one so... ill part with it for 60 shipped. pm if interested.

there is a thread here with my stereo install, ill try to find it later.

 

Probably not yet, in time they will create a more effective way to control the ipod , its already started a newer model has percentage scrolling that goes chunks of your playlists at a time... and that with the display would be worth 100$, to me.

 

No, you just use the internal power of the new radio.