Alpine ILX-F511. Game Changer

I would just go ahead and get refunded for the install and buy your own face plate from crutchfield or Amazon. The install at Best Buy doesn’t cover any of the necessary wiring harnesses to retain steering wheel controls, etc. It really isn’t a benefit

 

I actually already have an aftermarket double-din faceplate from my current head-unit that I could re-use. I just figured since it was all included I might as well just use the new parts. Parts and installation were FREE as a TotalTrash TotalTech member, which I forgot to mention and one of the reasons why I optioned to have them install it.

I ended up going directly to the car installation and they took care of everything. I also was able to get a new install date for tomorrow. Honestly, I don't want to install it anytime soon anyway with the heat we're getting in my area as I live in the low desert. The last few years it stayed hot into mid/late October.

And besides, I needed an opportunity to b!tch about Best Buy.

 

I had issues w wrong parts ordered too, but as soon as I spoke w the geek squad guys, it went great. I’m very happy w their work, I did have to buy the extra harness for steering wheel control, but def worth it for me.

 

I had to get the harness as well for steering wheel control since I don't have a factory control unit.

 

This seems like as good of a place as any to ask . . .

Upgrading a '19 Platinum with JBL, current plan is a Pioneer 3800NEX, either component or 3-way speakers in the front door/dash, and a 4 channel amp. Leaving the sub and rear doors alone for now. Will bridge the remaining 2 amp channels for the sub down the road. I need replace the driver side mirror ASAP after some jackwagon hit it, so I need to take the door apart to put the new one in. While I have the door apart, I want to do the wiring and speaker install, I will be doing sound deadening at the same time. The rest of the install will have to wait for a few weeks while I collect parts, and I want to avoid taking the door apart again, if possible. I have read threads 'til I'm cross-eyed and still can't find the answers I am looking for:

1) If I install new speakers in the lower front door and sail, do I just connect them to the stock wiring and it will connect to the new amp with a harness connection, or do I need a new wire run from the amp to the speakers?
2) Depending on the above answer, where does the crossover go and how does the wiring get to the speakers?
3) Will the center and dash speakers just work without doing anything to the wiring beyond whatever harnesses come with the HU? My understanding is they are powered from the HU.
4) Same with rear doors and sub, do I leave the stock amp in for now until I get to a new sub?

If there is a thread detailing all of that, any help pointing me in the right direction is appreciated.

 

@1lowlife

 

First of all, I'm not an expert.
I'm just a ham and egger making my own way thru my Tundra Gen 2.5 audio and 45 years of DIY car audio..

Also my Gen 2.5 audio history is long and lengthy (like my Johnson, Top Gun quote joke).
I did a lot of hit-and-miss stuff trying to keep the Entune HU with no avail.
So it's good you are replacing the HU, it can't be saved and have decent audio.

That said....

You can do that, but you need to ask yourself the importance of returning the truck audio back to stock if you sell or trade it in.
Almost everything I've done to my Tundra audio is plug and play meaning I can pull all the aftermarket stuff and return the truck to stock if I want to.

I have 2 way Focal components in my front doors.
I first had them bi-amped from a 5-channel Alpine (2 channels to the woofers and 2 channels to the tweeters) so I did run a speaker wire line to the front doors.
I used the new wire for the woofers and the OEM wiring for the tweeters.
But the bi-amp didn't really accomplish anything.

In the end, I used that installed line to the Focal crossover I put in the door not using the stock wiring.

I put my crossovers in the doors.
If I had it to do over again, I probably would have put them under the passenger seat with the amp and just run new speaker wire to the 2-way front door components.

Running speaker wire thru the front door boot isn't that hard.
Running it thru the back door boot requires taking a lot of shit apart.
So it you do run rear doors off your amp, use the OEM wiring..
I did.

Yes they are powered from the HU.
With my Focal 2 way components in the front doors, I ended up disconnecting all three dash speakers.
There is no way to fade the dash from the front doors and the dash speakers were just too 'in your face'.
I even tried replacing the OEM dash speakers with JBLs and ended up just disconnecting them.
A decent set of 2-way components for the front doors (tweeters in the door sails) will give you a really nice front stage.
My music sounds like it is in front of me not from side to side.

Install what you want and experiment with the dash.
You might like them, you might not.
If you disconnect the side dash speakers, it will omit the center speaker.
They are wired HU, side dash, and then to a dual coil center dash.

That gets a little tricky.
Your JBL setup is a bit different than my non-JBL.
My advice would be to buy a 5-channel amp (if you do want rear door speakers) or get a good 4-channel and just do the front doors and a sub and skip the rears.
I actually could have done without the rear door speakers, only because I'm in my truck by myself 99% of the time.
They do add a little fill, but besides that, they do much.


If there is a thread detailing all of that, any help pointing me in the right direction is appreciated.[/QUOTE]

There are many threads on full audio systems.
You just have to find them.
I will share this on with you, it should help with the HU..
It is non-JBL, but if you ended up replacing the HU, amp, speakers, sub, and run your own speakers wires, it shouldn't matter.
Newb installation thread- Pioneer DMH-WT8600NEX into a 2018 SR5 Entune Non-JBL | Toyota Tundra Forum (tundras.com)

This might help you too..
My Stereo Install, Tech 12 Volts Hertz Kit | Toyota Tundra Forum (tundras.com)


Hope all makes sense, it's been another 13 work day..

Start a new thread on your build, I'll help if I can, again I'm no expert.
Don't clutter this thread up with your install.

Good luck...

 

There are many threads on full audio systems.
You just have to find them.
I will share this on with you, it should help with the HU..
It is non-JBL, but if you ended up replacing the HU, amp, speakers, sub, and run your own speakers wires, it shouldn't matter.
Newb installation thread- Pioneer DMH-WT8600NEX into a 2018 SR5 Entune Non-JBL | Toyota Tundra Forum (tundras.com)

This might help you too..
My Stereo Install, Tech 12 Volts Hertz Kit | Toyota Tundra Forum (tundras.com)


Hope all makes sense, it's been another 13 work day..

Start a new thread on your build, I'll help if I can, again I'm no expert.
Don't clutter this thread up with your install.

Good luck...[/QUOTE]

Awesome, thank you!

 

Keep an eye on the Best Buy website. Sign up for notifications when it's back in stock. The first time I went to the store, it was unavailable even to order and I was searching for open box units. Their website changed a couple days later and it was available for purchase, but showed the full price. I had to go back to the store at that time, and was able to get an order in. Good luck!

FWIW Mine arrived yesterday! Still have to order the various harnesses, maestro and dash kit.

 

Mine is up and running. So far Android Auto works exactly as my prior head-unit, except that my phone now establishes the wireless connection in about 15 secs on the Alpine. My prior unit took about 30 secs. And it was nothing to initially pair it, took maybe 20 seconds.

The display is nice and bright in the daylight, and I can still see it perfectly fine with sunglasses on. And the backup camera video.... WOW. That's what I was after as my old head until is a 6.9" and was really hard to see on sunny days. The only thing that annoys me so far is I can't access some of the deeper audio/device config settings without engaging the parking break. I get it, it's a safety feature, but that could be remedied I'm sure if I decide to go there.

All in all, I love this unit! It's exactly what I would expect from Alpine and more!

 

@red_5ive somewhere back in this thread it's discussed that you can add a wire that bypasses the parking brake requirement. Can't remember exact post but I know it's in here. The wire is available on ebay.

 

For install needs

See the https://www.tundras.com/threads/the-great-hu-install-of-2023.129229/

post 8 is a write up for VIM Bypass.

 

Anyone know if this remote (model RUE-4360) will work with the ILX-F511? I don't see an IR reciver/port, but Crutchfield's ILX-F511 product page says it will work. However, I can't seem to find any supporting documentation online other than Crutchfield.

 

I found this.....which kinda sucks....

 

Up early today to install Kicker rear door speakers to go with my Kicker fronts and RF Punch 10” sub all driven by a Kenwood amp. Then I spent about an hour readjusting gains and settings. Watching a couple videos on adjusting gains and crossovers made it all click. It sounds really, really good now. Still have only spent somewhere around the regular cost for this headunit building my entire system. I’m 100% happy with this Alpine!

 

Not a problem. I should have mentioned I have a gen 2 without steering controls. Which is why I'm considering getting the remote if it's compatible.

 

To answer my own question and for anyone else looking at possibly getting a remote, it does look like the 511 (and also the 509) has a remote sensor according to the manual. And it's visible also in a photo of the front panel. So I'm going to give that remote a try.

However, keep in mind like @Jim LE 1301 mentioned that the remote does not work with steering controls.

 

Would you be able to detail what you did and post the videos that helped you get there? I'm still trying to dial this thing in. Thanks

 

I have my steering wheel controls set up so won’t be able to test this out. But it would be sweet to be able to see if you could get a firestick remote with volume controls to work with the alpine. Would make it just like a regular tv minus the ability to power it on/off

 

Well I’m no expert and have no audio measuring equipment, and what I did was not really relevant to the stock amp and speakers, but I got a really great improvement by setting my amp gains to minimum on each channel, setting my head unit audio level to ~80% of max and then turning up my gains individually on each channel until the speakers started clipping. Once they started clipping I backed them off a tad. It’s a quick and dirty way to set your amp gains. Also set my speaker HPF and my sub LPF to 80 hz with a 24 db slope on each. With the sound mat on all four doors, the speakers and sub are clear, bright and punchy with no rattles up to my sound comfort levels and more.

 

Great stuff, thank you!!

 

This is good to know.

Also for the 1-2 other idiots like myself that might try it. Firesticks don't recognize the Alpine display through HDMI CEC so the volume buttons on the remote won't do it either.

I have a weird problem with my 11". Been installed for a few weeks w/o issue. Disconnected the battery in my truck to install a 2nd amplifier and now for some reason the clock on the headunit will not display time. There appears to be no manual way to set it (other than GMT offset). I have connected directly to wifi, tried cellular data pass thru, disconnected the battery again and no dice. 9" in my other truck does not have this issue.

 

In the JBL they are powered by the amp.
In the upgraded SR5 with separate amp they are powered by the HU

 

Anyone get a extra alpine they will part with?

 

I set an alert, I hope it comes back in stock!

 

Alpine #3 installed (wife's 2nd gen Tacoma).

And once again, the existing SXM tuner is not working with the new headunit. I don't get this at all.

Both the ones that stopped working are the same model as is the one that they were replaced with. I have never known these to be paired with a headunit, they are supposed to just be kinda dumb devices.

Not the end of the world but annoying, more work and more money.

 

I think there was response earlier that mentioned you have to buy a separate Sirius module to integrate with the aftermarket head unit. Not sure why the oem won’t work but probably some proprietary BS

 

The Alpines were replacing aftermarket headunits (pioneer) that had aftermarket SXM tuners. Both worked perfectly when removed and stopped working when plugged into the new radio. The one I already replaced was with the same part number (SXV300 V1) that I took out.

 

From the great install thread…

@RainMan_PNW - I don’t see this in the table of contents of the install thread. Might help to add it.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/the-great-hu-install-of-2023.129229/page-3#post-3297875