Are there any aftermarket head units out there that will interface with the factory in-dash 6-CD changer in my 99? I'm interested in changing out the factory head unit, but would like to keep the changer if at all possible.

Thanks,
Ken

 

i believe most toyota headunits are compatible with alpine if not alpine headunits with toyota labels..so i'm sure almost all alpine stuff will work..you should probably check with toyota to make sure..

 

More than likely, any "standard" head unit will work. The wire harness will just plug in, and the changer's connection should work just like an aftermarket changer's connection. I would give Toyota or your dealer a call and see, but I am pretty sure that will do. I have a Pioneer and love it. Pioneer and Alpine are very reliable units. :fireman:

 

BTOWN, you forgot kenwood

 

Btown forget to mention Sony too
Some don't like Sony, but the one I have is the ES series with the 3 year warrenty, and I have never had it skip, even when off road.
I have had it since June of 2000, and not one single problem with it.

<img dynsrc="http://www.pnw4runners.net/pics&vids/mousestereo.mpg" start="mouseover" controls height=240>

I am going to unload it one day though for the Sony MP70 which gets very high marks.

 

Sorry sorry!!! I could not think of any others. They are all good!!! :fireman:

 

I hate to rain on everyone's parade here, but you cannot use any of those head units with the factory toyota 6 disc in dash changer. If I'm not mistaken, the changer is made by fujitsu ten i.e. "eclipse". Unfortunatly, all changers are NOT the same, and neither are the plugs that connect them. You "may" be able to buy an Eclipse unit that will operate the changer, but I am not sure. They (Fujitsu ten) are pretty good at being very propriatary when they do factory stuff. My best reccommendation would be to either learn to love your factory head unit (if the changer is that important to you), buy a replacement aftermarket unit that also has a 6 disc changer add on (eclipse does make one for the aftermarket, but is quite expensive), or just buy a quality single din CD unit. I would highly suggest the new Pioneer stuff, especially the Deh-p740mp and higher, as they also play the MP3 format, which would let you put more music on one cd than you can fit in all 6 of the standard cd's you can play on the factory system.

 

For aftermarket head units, I would suggest any Kenwood eXcelon equipment, plus any Pioneer Premier deck. Sony's are great just as long as you get the Mobile ES series (like what Corey has).

 

I dunno about you guys, but i'm happy with my Kenwood head unit, although it's not just a head unit so that's a whole different story.

 

sony mp70 is cool..this was one of my first mods

 

I was going to add a changer, but a friend of mine suggested a MP3 deck(moreso the pioneer Deh-p740). I think that I will go with it seeing that it can allow one CD to play just about as long , if not longer, than most changers. Not to mention less installation worries.

My $0.02,
Outkast`

 

I think Ralph is saying that no matter how cool the head unit is, it will not work with the factory changer, so nichts on the whole new head unit thing. The only way to be sure is to check with Toyota or a very reputable audio dealer and see what they have to say. Goodluck! :fireman:

 

Exactly.


btw- I think Eclipse may make a deck that will interface the OEM changer.

 

IF it is a Fujitsu changer - and it probably is, Fujitsu was the first with a an in dash 6 disc that I saw - an Eclipse unit should work. They do make their stuff pretty proprietary, but my mom's Trooper was almost identical to one of the Eclipse models. The majority of the OE stuff should work with the Eclipse stuff, except for the DSP or mobile video type stuff.
Plus, Eclipse makes pretty good stuff. Other electronics makers use Fujitsu pars to make their stuff (including Kenwood, I've looked in side my stereo). The units also come with free replacement if they're stolen.

 

If it is a Fujitsu Ten changer look at the connector for the changer. If it is a DIN style connector (round barrel with like 5 pins in it) then any aftermarket Eclipse will work.

All Eclipse units run on their ELAN system (the din style connector) and allows any product by Fujitsu Ten to connect to any other Fujitsu Ten product. Other brands will not work since they all use their own proprietary system (e.g. Alpine uses the AI link).

If all else fails, sell the unit on Ebay and buy an indash changer from Eclipse or any of the other major brands. You can pick up the 5962 6disk changer from Eclipse off ebay now for about 200$ (retail is 450$) and a competition level CD player (5504 or 5506) to control it for about 150$ -200$ (retail is 600$). I had the 5504 and 5962 combo in my car and it sounds AMAZING.

There's also an Eclipse 5605 which is a single din 6disk in dash changer that doesn't need any thing to control it.

Try checking out www.eclipse-web.com ... maybe give their tech support a call.