installed finally

I got all the stuff installed finally. Pioneer DEH-P410UB HU, Image Dynamics XS-69 mids / tweeters, and ARC Audio KS-125 amp. It all sounds really good. I can tell it would have been better with a sub and I now wish I had gone with a 150W amp instead of the 70W amp. But for what I was trying to do with the install I would say that it was accomplished. Those speakers will flat get after it. I found out that rammat is hard to work with in 103 degree heat. The adhesive is so gooey it is hard to remove the paper backing so I put it in the house overnight in the AC to cool off and when I did the other door today it was considerably easier to work with. I found that if I removed the boots from both ends of the door conduits it was a lot easier to pull the wire through and the boots go right back in real easy. It took me about ten minutes to get the speaker wire pulled through the ports in the bulkhead and into the doors. Then just pop the boots back in and it's done. I left all the original wire intact due to the other functions (window controls etc.) all being bundled up together with the speaker wires and modular plugs. Just taped up the unused plugs there so there wouldn't be anything to rattle with the door plastic back on. Speaking of the door plastic there was a lip about an inch and a half around the speaker grid that mated up to the original speakers and I cut that off with a knife flush so that it would not interfere with the new speakers movement. It was real easy to cut that stuff off. I don't know if it would have hit the surrounds on the new speakers but now I don't have to worry about that. It looked like it probably would have touched the speakers if I had left it intact.

A couple tips on stuff I learned from doing my install. I still have to work with the HU a little to get some settings done but it's all working great. I found that on the '09s there was already a plate covering the big hole in the door so it was easy to deaden that area not having to fabricate a way to cover the hole.

 

...so lets see some pics of the finished product.

 

I can't read. Need pics please.

 

I will shoot one of the HU installed after the markets close. Really that's the only thing visible anyway. Amp under drivers seat and I'm not pulling the plastic off the doors just for a picture.

 

...All we wanna see is the Finshed product...

 

x2

 

hey whats that aux button for between your 12v outlets, my 05 doesnt have that

 

i was wondering the same thing.

 

That is for an auxilliary audio input for the stock radio. It is now non-functional. I do have the cord for either a thumb drive or an ipod routed to the glove box so I still have capability of using those media. Also I chose not to install the interface for the steering wheel controls since the only time I ever used those was when the stock radio screwed up and that was the only way to control volume on the stock POS radio. I use the wireles remote provided with the deck quite a bit. It is very handy.

I didn't want to spend too much on audio equipment but I did want to put good sound in my truck. The deck is pretty basic and the amp is a little under-gunned at 70 watts / ch but all I wanted to do was get rid of the problem stock sound system. I need to get a 300mm f4 and a 200mm f4 micro lens and photography equipment is brutally expensive (especially when getting the good stuff, those two lenses will cost $3000). So I guess my priorities show up.

 

its good that you recognize your priorities and put the money where its needed. Im in the same boat right now, no money for mods but once I get back on my feet from all of the wedding bills I'll be installing an audio system next.

 

Where did you get the textured install kit and did it come in that color?

 

that was one of the upgrades that toyota made on the tacoma for the 2009 model

 

i believe that's a metra kit. that is what i have anyway. very nice kits

 

Kit is a metra and it worked out great. I got it from sonicelectronix with an amp wiring kit and the HU. Nor ratlles or any other problems with the install due to mounting the HU. I would recommend the metra kit but I did not install a double-din radio with video etc. I would think their kit for that would be just as good.

 

I may switch mine out. I have the Scosche and not so crazy about it. Little flimsy in my opinion and the color match is off quite a bit.

 

Follow up: The speakers seem to be "breaking in" nicely and the system is sounding even better. So I guess there is some merit to the idea that the speakers do "break in" with more hours of play time. I am hearing details in music that I have never heard before. The addition of the sound system has made the truck just a blast to drive. I now understand the concept of the sound stage and how a good install really complements good components. The only part I messed up on is I should have pulled 4 gauge wire for power to the amp and terminated it into a distribution block under the console to allow for future expandability if desired. Oh well...and I probably should have gotten a 150 watt / channel amp instead of a 70 watt / ch amp (although I may have ended up damaging my hearing had I done so). It is so tempting to crank it up sometimes when it sounds so good with zero distortion...really incredible and getting better all the time!

To anyone who thinks 6 X 9's can't match the round speakers...please give me a break. The Image Dynamics XS-69 components just rock. That's all I can say about that. A good sub in there would just be absolute perfection. I need all the space in the back I can get though so no sub for me. Anyway the sound systen installation was such a major improvement I can hardly believe it.