Advice for first time ever Head Unit and Speaker Upgrade on a budget...

[NuMystic]

Originally Posted by jcboy

you can search in the forums a 6.5" set will fit just have to cut the old speakers on the membrane themselves so you can reuse their frame as the "brackets" to screw your new speakers in. jbl gto609c are what i used but KenTK is right anything sounds better than stock.

The 6.5" are the ones by our legs and the rear speakers yes? I've heard a lot of people are now focusing on front only speakers which I'm considering. What about the two small round speakers at head level on the door frames by the windows?

Originally Posted by jcboy

additionally, that Pioneer is a good unit. I would suggest you get one with Bluetooth too.

The unit I mentioned as well as the cheaper model suggested by bassmnnate have bluetooth. Going to be cabled into the USB 100% of the time in any case though so I can mirror using AppRadio and Waze.

Originally Posted by jcboy

and since you havent done any wiring, make sure when you install the stereo that:
1) the unit doesnt have power or is not connected to +12V at any point during the install (better if you wire the metra harness so it's plug and play once done)
2) the speaker outputs from the stereo, are wrapped carefully and that they will never be shorted to ground at any point in their lifetime (it will fry the stereo)

All of that is pretty much foreign to me so I'm definitely leaning towards hiring someone from craigslist or going to a local shop to just get everything installed by someone that knows exactly what they're doing. Thank you for sharing all the details though!

Originally Posted by KenTK808

The speakers not working could just be age. Does it crackle?

The two speakers in the lower doors by our legs produce no sound at all. Same for the small round one by the window on the left. Small round one on the window frame on the right does crackle and kicks sometimes if I crank the volume way up but then cuts out again if lower the volume. Two back speakers seem to be fine apart from a volume difference. (left is lower than the right, need to adjust the balance to L-3 for it to sound even)

Originally Posted by bassmannate

If you're looking at budget, the AVH-X2800BS is the same unit as the one you described but it just doesn't have the HD radio if that's something you really don't care about. Should be less expensive as well.

Thanks! Only $25 difference but since I definitely don't care about radio at all that's still $25 more in my pocket.


Here's my current Amazon shopping list (not including speakers). Am I missing anything?

Pioneer AVH-X2800BS
Scosche Radio Wiring Harness for 87+ Ta Pwr/4Spk with Butt Connectors
Metra 95-8202 Toyota DDIN Multi Dash Kit
MicroBypass ALL AVH-X Video In Motion Interface for Select Pioneer Receivers
Rerii 3ft 1 Meter USB and 2RCA to USB & 3.5mm Female Flush Mount