Car audio recommendations?

[Fentonite]

The stock stereo in my ?05 Tacoma needs replacing, and I need to upgrade to something more modern (the stereo, not the truck), with Bluetooth, etc. Does anybody here do this? If not, any recommendations for a place where I can look at the stereos and get it installed reasonably? Do people still use Best Buy? Car toys?

[thedave1164]

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-RjnuBS1qxox/

They have wire kits to factory plugs and mounting kits too

[sako55]

Check out PDA inc in Littleton

303-761-6022

[DFBrews]

I did it myself in the 06 taco 20-30 minutes and a couple beers using the crutch field kit including running the Bluetooth mic i can help if needed

[Fentonite]

I did it myself in the 06 taco 20-30 minutes and a couple beers using the crutch field kit including running the Bluetooth mic i can help if needed

What stereo did you use?

[ChickNorris]

Bill Howard @
Premier Car Audio
565 E 70th Ave Unit 1W,
Denver, CO 80229

720-732-5479

Bill put my stereo in 10 years ago when he had a mobile service (speed of sound) Went to see him just the other day for a little bug in that same & now obsolete stereo & he serviced it no charge because he's that kind of guy. Give him a call & he'll help you sort your options.

& as a bonus, you can pop on over to shooter ready & say hello to the guys for a few minutes too. They're just across the parking lot.

[Fentonite]

Thanks for the ideas. I shouldn’t be hesitant to do it myself, just lazy....

[DFBrews]

http://https://www.crutchfield.com/S-InabNb0iG7N/p_130X720BT/Pioneer-FH-X720BT.html


It’s a simple Bluetooth double din from pioneer

it’s latency during phone calls is eh I may upgrade to one with nav and a backup camera because even parking a baby truck in the city is horrible

[cstone]

DIY with the right wiring harness is pretty easy.

My next radio will be very basic with just the AM/FM tuner and BT and external mic for the phone. The software, including GPS/NAV mapping, was well as music/podcast features on your phone will always be ahead of anything in a car head unit. Your phone is being updated almost constantly and often with little or no intervention on your part. The only thing the head unit needs to do is connect to your phone.

Unless you absolutely need a screen for a backup camera, I would skip that feature. It is nice to be able to see what is behind your back bumper but it doesn't need to be feed through your head unit and the screen takes up a lot of dash real estate for how often it is being used, IMO.

Kenwood KMM-BT322U
Pioneer DEH-150MP

Both are under $100. Take the money you save and buy better speakers and/or some Dynamat or Noico to make the interior a little quieter.

[Fentonite]

Bill Howard @
Premier Car Audio
565 E 70th Ave Unit 1W,
Denver, CO 80229

720-732-5479


I used CN’s guy. I thought I’d need speakers too (they’ve been sounding crappy), but he told me to hold off and see how they sounded with the new stereo. He was right - they’re fine. He’s a stand-up guy, thanks!

[ChickNorris]

I used CN’s guy. I thought I’d need speakers too (they’ve been sounding crappy), but he told me to hold off and see how they sounded with the new stereo. He was right - they’re fine. He’s a stand-up guy, thanks!


Glad you liked him & you're welcome.

[Martinjmpr]

Crutchfield is your best bet. I was born with two left thumbs so if I can do it, anyone can.

More modern vehicles that have touchscreens, integrated GPS, HVAC controls - I wouldn't touch them, but on an older Taco it should be a straight-up install.

Also Crutchfield customer service is great. You can call them up and they will walk you through the process, step-by-step. For an older vehicle it's by far the best way to go and the least expensive as well.

Crutchfield installs are pretty straightforward on older vehicles like that. You take out the old stereo, then, build a wiring harness. The wiring harness has two parts, one that plugs into your new stereo and one that plugs into the place where your old stereo did on your vehicle. Each part of the wiring harness has color-coded wires so you just connect the same color wires together (I'd recommend soldering or at the very least, use shrink-tubing when you put the wires together) then just plug the new wiring harness in and slide in the new stereo.

For the Bluetooth I always put the microphone on top of the steering wheel rather than run the wire up the A-pillar to the headliner like they tell you to. It's much easier and less messy.

I got a kit for my '04 Suburban and my '02 Pathfinder and not only did the new stereos work great, they both retained the use of the steering wheel controls.

[Delfuego]

Check out PDW in Littleton. The took care of my old vehicle. The do work a auto-lot client too.

Let know what you get and how it goes, I am in the market for an upgrade in my Tacoma too.