BEST head Unit Replacement?

Ok so all new speaker wires to all dash and door speakers so I’m not using the stock speaker wires anymore with a new HU

 

You can still use the factory speaker wirings. Just not from behind the radio. The rcas replaced the factory speaker wires from behind the radio.
If you look at your amp right now. You have the input signal coming from the radio. The other side is output to your speaker using factory wiring.
With the new hu, you replace the high level speaker wires that going into the amp with a low level (rca) signal cable. 3 pairs of rcas. 1 for front, 1 for rear and 1 for sub.
That mean on your new hu instead of using the, white, grey, purple, green wires, you leave that alone and use the rcas.
Run your rcas from behind your new hu to your amp rcas input..

You dont have to run all new wiring to each of the speaker in the vehicle. That's a lot of work. You can if you want to. But not needed.

 

Just run new wire.

 

Nothing wrong with doing it either way. I’m using the factory speaker wiring with the same amp and have no problems. Only things you must run are RCAs and power.

 

Agreed. Im running factory wiring on the amp's output also. Work just fine.

 

Kilmat! I used that stuff, glad it didn't stink up the cab.
Ran 3 sets of RCAs when I did my install, velcro'd the Maestro behind the passenger side dash panel(get to it w/o pulling the head unit).

IIRC someplace makes adapter harnesses for the stock speaker wiring, I never got that far into my install. Still using the stock JBL amp with Infinity speakers and sub RCAs into an amp. for the Stealthbox.
The adjustability/flexibility of the head unit helped me tune the sound levels enuf to where I said fuggit, its good enuf... For now.

 

The reason why I want to replace the stock HU is because I’m getting a lot of what I call white noise I can’t stand it so either I listen to the radio on loud or it’s off I hate the noise it puts out with the volume at 0 so I was told by a reputable shop that the noise is my stock HU with the aftermarket speakers and amp if I want that gone I need a new HU

Do you guys know if I get any of these Kenwood HU do I have to eliminate my FRAC harness?

 

I am looking at the Halo 9 and while I agree with you that it does not specify that it support wireless CarPlay, I will give you this anecdote to confuse your brain...

I have the

$280 Alpine ILX W650 7" Double DIN Touchscreen Digital Multimedia Receiver with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Alpine ILX W650 in another vehicle. No where does it say it can do wireless CarPlay. But it does. Sooooo?

 

Buy it from Crutchfield. If you dont like it, it'll only cost you $10 for a return label. Try it out.

 

Not sure if you ever got an answer to this. If you use a plug and play adapter harness for your new HU the FRAC harness will still work as normal.

 

Oh Ok thank you for the info wasn’t sure cause I see that these HU have several camera connections

 

I just installed the 1007 and pulled out my dsr1....loving the sound.

 

Theres so many models now days its hard to keep up with all of them but in general (which im sure you already know) Alpine, Kenwood, and Pioneer are still the top brands that arent android based or such.

Imo,

Alpine is more interested in their oem contracts for the vehicle manufacturing companies. They still have a couple good head units but they don't have a very big line up and they don't seem to have as many audio adjustment features as the other guys.

Kenwood has the most feature rich head units that are damn near close to being a dsp with all the audio tuning options they have built in them. They are pretty pricey but if it fits in your budget, thats the place to look.

Pioneer also offers a really good head units with a ton of audio features and tuning, but they have kinda gone overboard with how many units they keep releasing and they come in so many different combinations of features it can be a headache going throw literally all 100 available units they currently have for sell in the US.

That said, their budget head units are the best bang for the buck on the market.


Id go with kenwood if i was wanting to get one that the tech in it would still feel relevant a few years down the line and i wanted as many audio setting as possible.

Pioneer still has just as excellent units but the general consensus seems to be kenwood has a bit of an edge in the high end models. Pioneer's $100 - $200 range models are really nice and theres most likely one that has the combination of features that will suit someones needs.... but theres so many to sort thru and compare...

As for android units, i wouldn't know. There are quite a few ppl here though that have them and they do seem pretty cool.

I don't have any specific models to recommend but if you want to start by just narrowing all the options down first, then the above may be helpful.

 

I install the W650's almost on a daily basis and none have done wireless carplay/Android Auto.

To use either wireless it requires a GPS antenna and Vehicle Speed Pulse.

The W650 has neither.

 

I have a Halo9 and it definitely does not do wireless carplay. That's why I was considering The Pioneer 8600NEX and the Kenwood (can't remeber #)when I got it. My final decisions were Kenwood was too long to the start up (per reviews), and Pioneer with recessed buttons behind the surround bevel were too hard to reach.

My only regret with Alpine are lack of stock GPS system (not a huge deal since I usually use waze and google maps). And would prefer a volume dial as opposed to buttons for my wife in passenger seat, but I use steering controls myself.

 

I am looking into doing a Head Unit upgrade myself. I have a Head Unit in mind already but I can’t find a wiring diagram for the new 8 in. OEM Head Unit anywhere. Anyone know where I could look to find a wiring diagram for a 2020-2021 Tundra, unfortunately it is different from the 2014-2018 Tundra.

 

I have a 2015 and looking at the

$1,399 dnr1007xr excelon 10.1" high definition navigation car stereo receiver with capacitive touch panel

dnr1007xr. What harnesses and things do I need to be able to get this setup to work with all my steering controls and anytime front and back camera?

 

You can get an install kit from Crutchfield

 

I got everything I needed from Crutchfield installation dash kit, wiring harness To2 and Maestro RR2 everything easily programmed and installed

 

I am curious, why a new HU? I have a 2021 limited JBL. Replaced everything but and my truck is stupid loud. Is it for the bigger screen?

 

Aftermarket stereos have way more features and are generally way better.

 

I liked my Kenwood HU that I had a few years ago. It had the most useful features out of pioneer, alpine, and Sony. I also never had one issue with it.

 

Can anyone chime in on the BEST for a 2nd gen?

non-jbl btw

 

You get a much cleaner signal from aftermarket, the stock JBL signal is trash and the main reason why people are unhappy with the sound even after upgrading their stock speakers and amplifier.

 

Do you have a picture of it installed?

 

Love that look. How do you like it?

 

I really like it, and while not cheap, it is WAY worth it over the stock laughable HU.

Made my new speakers / amp / sub come ALIVE, Wireless CarPlay works great, and love how clean the look is without the volume knob (especially now with AJT full interior kit).

 

Do you take your truck off road? Any vibrations in the screen? I love the features but worry that a floating screen is going to rattle and blur on rough roads.

 

A decent bit of trails / rough dirt roads, and a ton of choppy snow / hard pack / ice living here in Alaska.

Also 32 speed bumps (8 each way, twice a day) taken at a minimum 30mph each day.

Its perfectly solid.