2015 Limted (non-jbl) gut job

Truck is all back together.

I'm pretty happy with the outcome, only regret was not doing it sooner. Sound is balanced and clean. not much to show really but i'll share what I went with, didn't go nuts, just wanted something better than the factory garbage, without going overboard.

- HU - Kenwood DDX9904S
- Front components - Audiophile Sound Systems PhD CF 6.1 kit
- Rears - Helix E 6x for fill
- Sub - Kenwood Reference XW804B
- Amp - JL HD900/5
- Amp installed on Taco Tunes shelf
- Maestro RR + TO2
- Dynamat doors, rear wall

I'm impressed with the 9940S and its integration with the truck via the Maestro. All dash options and displays are still there. It's great to see the extra instrumentation on the head unit like doors, engine, coolant, intake, EGR, tire temps, psi ect. The HU is very smooth and responds without delay. Instantly available backup camera, no waiting before getting video when backing out of the garage. One touch on demand backup cam is a nice touch. Steering wheel controls respond immediately, work as expected. The HU and integration is like it came from the factory that way. My last HU was a DNN990HD, it's nice to see how far these have come in just a few years.

The Metra dash kit isnt too bad, not perfect. Cross overs went into kick panels, tweeters went into the dash. The hands free microphone fit nicely into the factory location inside the overhead.

I have removed my rear seats to make room for the dog who rides in the back. The low profile sub does not intrude into the area. It fills in well, doesn't over do it.

The taco tunes shelf is a nice solution to cleanly mount the amp. Top notch customer service from them, shipping to me overnight to meet a deadline, they are great.









startup image:


instruments displays:

 

Nice Setup!

 

few things are a little annoying about this set up...

1) i do miss having a big volume knob to flick

2) "Check surroundings before backing up" message on display while in reverse, is in the worst possible location. no way to disable it permanently, you have to physically touch it every time, very annoying.

3) using factory FM antenna, I've found the reception to be a little worse.

4) Metra dash kit fit isnt perfect at the bottom

5) while in Bluetooth source, Kenwood has this stock graphic in place of album art and it’s annoying. id love the space to just be black, but i don't think that's possible. If you plug the phone in via usb, use USB stick, or use carplay, the album art is transmitted of course and the blue square goes away.

my only complaints this far.

 

Ok i sort of 'fixed it', mainly because i didnt read the book. there is no way to change that graphic under 'bluetooth' source. but if you change the source to "iPod", still over bluetooth via your iphone, the graphic is replaced with album art which is fine for me.

 

Does the HU automatically pull all that data from the truck? Psi? Etc?

Can you switch to a front camera with that HU whole going forward to park?

Nice set up!

 

Yes it does (with the maestro kit)

I do not have front camera. I think since I can pull up the rear Camera any time, if you installed a front camera you may be able to pull it up any time. But I’m not sure though

 

I just ordered the DNX995s, I sure hope I don't miss flicking my knob as well...

 

That will be a nice unit.

metra makes the silver Chinesium dash kit and it’s fit at the bottom contour isn’t perfect. It’s sort of close but not exact. I'm not sure if the scosche kit is any better.

 

yes you can pull up the front camera any time if you have one installed.

switch back and forth and check the sound quality. I did the same think with spotify but through the app on the head unit it was not as good as through regular Bluetooth. It was worth losing the album art for better quality sound.

Also you can adjust the angle of the screen so it will sit flush with the dash.

 

wow that's weird, I will compare bluetooth source with ipod source over bluetooth and report back

 

Other than the two items you already mentioned, anything else you don’t like after having it installed for a week or so? Highlights? I’m looking at having the same HU installed next week... TIA

 

so far it has been good, great really. Having had Focals in my 3 previous audio builds, i do wonder what it would sound like with 4 focal 6.5s on the JL amp, but i wanted to try something different this time, and im really impressed with the sound range. the blue square thing doesnt bother me anymore since i use BT source on ipod. it sounds the same as the generic BT source to me.

dont miss navigation, since carplay or android auto will put navi right on the screen. the display and its functions are responsive, it dims well at night, and is bright during the day. some increase in glare is to be expected given the capacitive screen vs the crappy resistive entune one.

biggest gripe now, the silver metra dash leaves a bit to be desired, it's close but not perfect at the bottom where the angles align with the HVAC unit. im curious if the scosche is any better...

 

The scosche silver one is supposed to come with my DNX995s this week, I'll let you know what I think

 

focal is the way to go my friend! Ive ran a few different speakers and let me tall ya Focal knows how to make some speakers. Im currently just waiting on my box and one more amp then Im putting in my Focal K2s and jl tw5s in next week! Im really excited to say the least lol

 

Focals really are, they never disappoint. But I wanted to try something more unique and not mass market this time around for the front set. I would compare the PHDs to the Expert line from Focal.

@Beerdude77 please keep us posted on the dash kit. Good luck with ur install.

 

inside edges eeek
outside edges and the rest of the panel fit is very tight / solid.
(coloration looks worse than it actually is due to lighting and the angles of the panel in this photo)

 

What does everyone do with their stock HU after they upgrade?

 

I’m sure most sell it, throw it in the trash or save it in case they want to put it back to stock when they sell the truck. Depends on what your intentions are.

 

I always put the factory HU in the box the aftermarket one came in and put it in the attic. Good for if you sell the vehicle or it gets totaled.

 

My intention was to upgrade my entune radio to an entune plus or premium. But my account just told me nope.

 

Thankfully your account(ant?) told you no because that would be a giant waste of money. 100000x better off getting an aftermarket one. Even if you got one for free, it wouldn't be worth it.

 

Nice. I have a very similar setup and use Maestro but I’m not getting any vehicle info. Good job. Looks clean

 

@B737 I was also thinking about using that Sub/Box combo. How does it sound in the truck? I know they are meant to be down fired but was wondering if standing up right plays any big part in the way it sounds? I just want something inexpensive and easy.

@Danimal86 Im in Sac too and just read your whole audio write up (Thanks!) I really want to hear that one day. I just got my 18 last week!

 

@TheNickyy it is a great value at a really low price point. It sounds good and fills in nicely. I am by no means an audiophile but I do appreciate balanced sound. IMO it is adequate. I am satisfied with it, inexpensive, easy and out of the way.

I mounted the bottom of it with an L shaped bracket raising it up a few inches, and fastened the top with a steel bracket to the back wall.

I wanted to keep it very simple. My rear seat is removed to make room for the dog. I needed something that was not going to take up a lot of space, while being safe for the dog and any gear being loaded/unloaded. If I ever put the rear seat back in I will have to figure something out then. For now, I've been happy with the set up as a whole.

excuse the fur everywhere

 

Just verifying that it all fits ok with the seats in?

 

I've had the rear folding seat out of the truck since delivery. I'm not sure if it will fit under folding double cab seat you'd have to measure. I just mounted it to the back. Its 6" x 12" x 18"

 

I meant does it fit behind the seats when installed the way you have it pictures? upright against the back?

 

It's not going to fit behind the folding seat. Going off my 3 year old memory, there is only inches to spare behind the seat, might be zero.

 

Hi, were you able to keep your stock usb/aux with the idatalink maestro? Or did you use something else? I'm about to pull the plug on replacing stock HU and get rid of my JL Fix86. Also what other harnesses did you use/need to keep it as plug and play as possible TIA
My setup:
Morel Virtus Components front and rear
JL VX1000/5i
JL STEALTHBOX 2 x 10"
JL Fix 86