2nd Gen Radio Surround (Double-DIN) Comparo: Scosche vs Metra

Two common radio surrounds for fitting aftermarket headunits are available from Scosche and Metra. They are considerably different in finish and construction, and this will hopefully help others decide which surround they want to go with. Photos of the installed products can be found at the end of the post.

Metra (95-8214T):
When I ordered a new headunit from Crutchfield, they supplied a surround by Metra. This surround features a diamond textured finish similar to the stock radio and HVAC controls, and is available both in black and silver. The silver and the texturing was a good match to my 2005 Tacoma.

With the Metra unit, you first attach DIN brackets to the side of your radio, then snap a trim ring in place around the radio. You then bolt the radio/bracket assembly into the dash.

For the surround, the clock/hazard panel is held in place by a bracket and screws (provided). I found the fit around the hazard switch was a bit off, and sometimes the hazard button would stick a bit when turning them off. Others addressed this by lightly filing/sanding the button opening in the surround. The surround snaps in place over the radio/bezel that was installed in the earlier step. Getting the radio/bezel aligned with the opening in the surround can be tricky, and it may require some trial-and-error to get a good, tight fit.

When installed, the headunit will be angled slightly upward... this is one aspect I really didn't care for since it caused a fair amount of glare.


Scosche (

$40 TA2053B Car Stereo Complete Basic Installation Double DIN Dash Kit for 2005-2011 Toyota Tacoma

TA2053B):
I purchased this surround from Amazon and just installed it. Construction and finish are considerably different, and I prefer this in some ways. The surround features a smooth, matte silver finish (I believe it's also available in black). The finish matches the adjacent vents nicely.

With the Scosche, the radio, DIN brackets and surround get assembled into a unit, and then the whole assembly is screwed into the dash much like the stock headunit. Because of this, it's easier to get the headunit aligned in/out to your liking. The clock/hazard panels snaps neatly and securely into place, and there doesn't appear to be any drag on the hazard button.

The headunit also ends up being angled upward slightly, but not as much as the Metra.

The only negative I can give this is that the injection molding is not perfect. In the space between the headunit opening and the clock/hazard panel there are some minor voids that show up in some lighting conditions (as seen in the photo below).

My thoughts:
Overall, I have to go with Scosche. While it lacks the diamond texturing, the overall fit and assembly is subjectively nicer. Installation was less cumbersome, and the radio face is at a better orientation.

Metra Photo:


Scosche Photo:

 

My 06 had a Metra in it when I bought it and it never really fit quite right. I had to put felt in several places as it would squeak and rattle. It was minor but squeaks and rattles really annoy me.

 

Will the factory metal brackets work on the Soschse kit?

 

My recollection is they won’t... I believe the brackets for the Scosche also have flanges which hold the surround in place.

EDIT: see updates below ... I was mistaken.

 

I just threw the free Metra kit in the trash today. I hated the poor fitment, that stupid trim ring, and the cheap looking copied golf pips. And the panel clips would remain stuck in the dashboard upon removal..so you end up losing them. Overall it’s a crappy kit. The Metra kit could have been good, but Metra was happy with selling a mediocre kit for the Tacoma owners. Maybe the 12-15 guys have better fitment.

The Scosche kit, which I just installed today, is perfect and you can reuse your metal oem mounting brackets for perfect fitment and alignment. That’s not advertised and that’s not in the instructions. The hazard button works great, without any sticking like on the Metra kit. Nothing creaks or flexes. There exists a minor issue with their micro trim ring, it bends inwards on top and bottom, but it’s not really noticeable, and the top corners still look square. The color is the same grey as the hazard button, but coordinates with the vent surrounds. Only paid $19.

 

Yes. No need to deal with the plastic brackets. Install the OEM brackets onto the aftermarket radio using the OEM screws. The brackets should self align with radio using their keying pips. Install the radio into the dash. Then install the new Scosche panel around the radio, pushing the clips into the dash. Then install the trim ring.

 

This was my issue as well, I installed the Metra last night and it is real garbage. It looks nice outside of the car, but that's about it. They trim ring was a nightmare to get on, and still barely fits. I bought the kit specifically because I needed the trim to cover the huge gap between the bezel and the radio. The Sosche kit's ring will cover that, right?

 

Scosche kit comes with a 2mm wide trim ring. The aftermarket radio trim ring is omitted, and you put the Scosche trim ring in very last. It’s just a friction fit...it’s not as good as the aftermarket radio trim ring, but it basically covers all the unfinished edges about radio and the Scosche panel.

 

The TA2111B comes with metal brackets. The trim is black, but I don’t mind it.

http://www.scosche.com/2012-toyota-tacoma-double-din-and-din-with-pocket-in-dash-install-kit

 

Thanks for the correction -- I wasn't absolutely sure since I'd done the install a ways back.

That said, I didn't have any issue with the provided plastic brackets. Everything is secure and has held alignment, but then I'm not offroading and subjecting the thing to a bunch of jostling.

I need to pull the radio back out to tidy up the wiring ... my last adventure back there was to install a steering-wheel adapter kit that supported the phone/voice controls (right-side controls on the steering wheel). I was having issues and "temporarily" put things back until I had more time to scope it out ... turns out I was able to make the needed changes in the radio's configuration menu.

 

Thanks, that's how I understood it as well. I am hoping it looks ok, the gap between the radio and the surround on the Metra kit looked horrible before the ring was installed, which barely fits of course.

 

Don't think that works with the 05-11

 

I believe the difference is the clock.

 

So I just finished installing the Sosche kit, and holy shit, there's absolutely no comparison between this one and the Metra. The Sosche fits perfect, looks fine, covers the radio better, and the clock is easier to install. Thanks errbody.

 

I bought this unit probably a year ago with a dash kit/wiring adapter from eBay. My horrible decision. It’s always stuck out of the dash maybe 3/16 of an inch. It feels as though the radio is hitting the metal bar that runs behind the dash. Does anybody have any experience with this particular radio or do I just have a shitty dash kit?

 

Could be the dashkit or just needs some fiddling. With the harness adapters and all, there ends up being a lot of cabling behind the radio. It’s real easy to get one of the bundles pinched between the back ot the radio and part of the dash, and that’d keep the unit from sliding all the way back. You can also end up with some wires wedged between the “feet” of the brackets where they bolt down, and that’d also keep it from sitting all the way in.

Neither the scosche or metra kits are immune to this... it just take some patience to make sure all the cabling is clear as you feed the headunit in.

Single DIN radios are a little easier because they aren’t so bulky, though some of the newer double DIN units are very compact, especially those without discs players. The Sony XAV AX100 I have installed (not the one in the photos above) is like a single DIN radio chassis but with w double DIN face display... it was notably less fiddly to install than the Unit in those photos.

Here’s what the Sony chassis looks like:

 

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_500ILX207/Alpine-iLX-207.html?

Alpine has a nice one too. The ILX-207.

 

I've been real happy with the Sony once I figured out that the firmware can be hacked to remove the safety nag-screen... but the Alpines are also very nice.

If I were to upgrade, I'd be looking at the ILX-107 since it offers WiFi connectivity to my phone for wireless Carplay. But, at about $700, I just can't justify it. Well, I can ... but not in a way that my wife would agree with

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_500ILX107/Alpine-iLX-107.html?tp=78184&avf=Y

 

I wish Alpine made a unit with the features of the ILX-207, but with the WiFi from the ILX-107. They would get a sale from me for sure.