Do any cheap, aftermarket head units allow you to control them via the steering wheel audio controls? I could get a nicer looking head unit than the premium one for cheaper, but I want to be able to control the stereo from the steering wheel. Do any aftermarket head units allow this?

 

um there is a way i forget what the device is called you can pretty much pick a unit and adapt the controls i forget what its called though

 

PAC makes steering wheel interfaces for most head units:

http://www.pac-audio.com/products/pr...el%20Interface

Expect to pay $40-$70 for one.

 

It seems like more trouble than its worth. I'll just use the premium pioneer head unit hehe.

 

I want to say that there are only three wires, and any respectable stereo shop has put many in.

 

i am an installer, i integrate steering wheel controls all the time. there are 2 options: one that's wired (you hafta have a headunit that supports "steering wheel control ready") and that piece retail's around $100. pioneer, sony, kenwood, alpine, and jvc decks have this option, if you spend about $250 or so on the deck.

option 2 is an IR type of universal steering control. it will work with any headunit that supports a wireless remote. you wire it in to the vehicle (toyota needs 3 wires as stated above) and then mount the IR transmitter somewhere in the vehicle where it can "see" the deck. the transmitter is very small, and flushmounts just about anywhere. that piece retails around $75

labor is pretty easy if you know what you're doing, the programming may take you 6 or 7 tries to finally get it all down

most car audio places will do the install for $40-$60

waaaaaay better than rolling with the premium headunit

 

the premium headunit is decent for a factory piece. as long as you don't get the bug to get something better later on, it's not a bad deal.

that said, i bought one and decided to swap it out to a touchscreen a few months later. and yes, the pac unit hooked up really easy to it and i paid about $55 shipped. just be sure what you want to do before you buy the premium.

 

I've just don't know if I want to have all that work done when I'm still using the factory speakers. At least with the factory unit it uses the stock ipod connection. I do intend to use the iPod as the main source of music for my stereo. Would I see a difference in sound quality from the premium hu to a $200 alpine hu?

 

huge difference. an aftermarket headunit will give you so much more control over high/low pass, as well as the ipod interface being way above and beyond what the stock one can do.

alpine decks starting at $170 come with the ipod full speed connection this year too

 

Pfffft. What do you know?


J/k. HI!!!

 

what up vegs, what's crackin?

 

Are the factory speakers ok? I don't have the cash or know-how to have a full sound aftermarket system installed. I just need the speakers to at least be as good as say, a factory Mazda 3's speakers.

 

the factory system is built by pioneer. they aren't the bomb, but they'll sound great just off the aftermarket headunit. i rolled that way for a while til i could save the flow for the speaks i wanted

 

Ok, thanks

 

I'm going to go with the Alpine CDA-9884. The red lighting and blue buttons are much brighter in person of course.

 

good choice, that deck rocks. If you can afford to step it up to the 9886 youll love the 3 line OEL display for iPod searching.

 

the 3 wires mentioned are they "can bus"? I want to switch to the pioneer after market with Bluetooth. As of July 1st it will be a ticket to be on your phone in CA w/o a hands free and I hate my bt earpiece. I have the parrot in my truck and love it.

 

Believe it or not, I can't afford to do that. I'm trying to keep the total price of the head unit, PAC SWI-JACK, and installation to equal as close to the price of that Premium Head Unit as possible. Oh, and I like the look of the 9884 over the 9886. My current head unit is an Alpine with a silver and blue color scheme so the red would be a nice change and if I remember correctly, the red matches the xB's gauges pretty close.

 

no worries, it's still a sick deck

rock on yo

 

For about 15 bucks, you can switch out your gauge lights to RED......jh