How much time for Stereo Installation

Hi,

My schedule is crazy but I really want to install my new Kenwood Excelon DMX1057XR.

I got the Crutchfield kit.

Poll: How long do you think it's gonna take me to install?

I'll post pics after installation.

Thanks!
Ken

 

Assuming it’s just the HU swap and you have the wiring ready to go shouldn’t be more than an hour. If your using the Maestro idatalink unit make sure you configure and flash it before install.

 

Thanks for the reply and the tip about flashing the Maestro. At least I got to get a head start while hanging out with my kids. Hopefully install later today or this weekend.

 

There are things you’ll want to take your time on (like making the harness, flashing the maestro correctly, fitting the trim kit etc) so I would be prepared to spend at least a couple hours on it. You don’t want to feel rushed.

Make your harness as compact and tidy as possible because between the wiring, maestro unit (RCAs if you’re running an amp) and HU it can be like trying to shove 5lbs of ish in a 3lb bag.

 

^Good advice. The Maestro is finicky in that it needs to be removed from power to flash it via USB. I tried to flash it while still connected to the power and that didn’t fly.

Also what helped me is to remove the dash speaker grille to help pull the harnesses through from behind the stereo (I don’t have a speaker there so it was easy)

 

Good point. With the Maestro now flashed, the wiring harness will be stage two of the project. I'll solder and heat shrink on the bench. Thanks!

 

Thanks for the tip. I will take a look at the center speaker if it becomes a hassle. I'm glad I didn't just jump in my truck at 11pm last night and start tearing into it.

 

Took me about 8 hours to install the

$999 DMX1037S 10.1" High Definition Car Stereo Receiver with Capacitive Touch Panel

DMX1037S and about 8 hours to install sound-deadening, an amp, new door/dash speakers and a sub. I have no background in this stuff and I was not in a rush.

 

Thanks! I can see how it could take that long if I was still married and spending time in the garage doing important things. Cheers!

 

On this same note...if I know NOTHING about car audio, should I even attempt this install or pay a professional? I just won the Kenwood 10" floating screen from one of JRT's Facebook raffles. I am not afraid to do it if it is not that bad, but I AM afraid to mess it up. I want all of the Maestro connections to work flawlessly so I am leaning toward having someone professional install it.

 

If you have not done this before, and have nobody on site to help you with a stereo install, have a professional do it! Not sure about what equipment that you are installing into your rig, but I'm sure it's not cheap. I've seen inexperienced guys burn out head units, amps.... and another guy with an brand new Xterra burn out his main because he had no clue what he was doing. Doing a stereo install requires experience/knowledge in electronics soldering, amperages, wire gauges, polarities and countless other items. And, for an amateur, it requires taking your time. I've seen people rush through an install and damage important vehicle components, let alone stereo equipment.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I was definitely leaning toward having someone else do it. What would you say would be a reasonable price to pay someone to do the install? I know JRT sometimes does entire systems in the $500-600 range which seems cheap to me for how much work it seems to be. I would think I could do the HU only for like $200, but I really don't know.

 

Installing just a H/U is probably not very much as it does not take much time provided you have a good wiring harness. Regardless, cost of labor depends on what all you want installed. I usually do my own installs, but with work, wife and children, I went to my local guy (whom I trust) to get a quote to install the following: H/U, two amps, two sets of 6.5 components, 2 10" subs in a Tech12volts box and an iDatalink Maestro. He quoted me about $800.00 for labor (which does NOT include sound matting) and said he could have it done in about a day and a half. That is a very reasonable quote. But, in the end, I just broke down and did it myself (I felt my $800.00 would be better put to use toward my new bumper)! I took my time (about a week), to do my install which included: sound matting all 4 doors, back wall and floor; custom amp rack under the back seat, in addition to all the equipment I listed earlier. Bottom line, I have 100% confidence in my own work, and I cut no corners. I even used 100% oxygen free copper wire for everything. And it turned out phenomenal!

 

There was nothing too difficult. You do have to splice the TO3 harness which is not difficult but I definitely did not fly through that part. I watched a bunch of Youtube videos. The second most difficult task was running the RCAs which required disassembling quite a bit of the passenger side dash. Again, not difficult but I watched a couple of Youtube videos and having not done it before it still took some time to make sure I wasn't breaking anything. Then there were the numerous times I was "done" but then say realized I didn't need half the wires in the TO3 (all the speaker wires) so I pulled the unit and removed the entire black-ended harness and taped the TO3 so it looked cleaner. Then there was the time because I did not leave myself enough length on the RCAs one pulled out as I was placing the base unit and when I thought I was done the right rear speaker didn't work. Then I ordered the wrong USB adapter so that wasted some time just figuring out it was the wrong one. If I had to it again I could easily do the HU install in 3 hours or less. It's like the door panels - the first time it took me 15 mins and now I can have a door panel off and back on in under 3 mins. It's totally doable, especially with Youtube videos. The reason I did it myself was because I was getting crazy quotes from shops on doing just the install - one wanted $1300 just to install the speakers and amp and another wanted $1000 for the HU - that was just labor.

 

Crutchfield has a ready-harness offering that fits your specific make of vechicle and HU, saves the need to splice/solder the harnesses your self. Well worth the $25 to me.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_264PASCON/Crutchfield-ReadyHarness-Service.html

 

Another question. When I have someone install my new Kenwood DMX1057XR, will it be installed in a way that the HU powers the door speakers, or will he have to do anything special to make that so? I have heard that the HU powering the door speakers is a major improvement over the crappy factory amp. Wondering if doing this involves any extra steps. Excuse my ignorance.

 

No, it will not require anything "special". They will use a Toyota-compatible wiring harness that will connect your head unit, directly to your OEM amp/speaker setup. Your dash speakers will be running directly off of the H/U power (your 1794 OEM h/u is currently set up in this way, and the 4 doors and 8" sub are running off the OEM amp which is ridiculously under powered). Yes, you should hear some improvement on the audio. But, nothing that is going to knock your socks off. When all is said and done, remember, you are still running the OEM amp and speakers which are sub-par in my honest opinion.

Are you planning on sound matting the doors? Sound matting my doors made a big improvement in the bass of the OEM system (I was careful to mat not only the sheet metal immediately under the door panel, but also the inner-backside of the door skin sheet metal; with the matting closing off all of the "holes", the door acts like a sealed speaker box).

 

You may need an amp and speakers for that beautiful head unit to sound just right. I have some for sale if you're interested.

 

Watch 5 star car stereo on YouTube. They have several videos on this unit. They have a bonus video for this unit on Tundra posted 2 days ago.

 

I can attest to that. I m going on 2+ years, and I m still not done.