2012 Stereo Upgrade Help

I have a 2012 SR5 with the crap single din stereo. Finally bought new wheels which was upgrade #1, now looking into upgrade #2. The stereo.

I haven't touched aftermarket car stereo stuff in 12 years and I'm super out of the loop. Not doing a full upgrade. I want to start with a new head unit and then add an 8" powered sub later on.

I've searched around enough to know that swapping out the HU alone will make a huge difference and I'm looking for any suggestions. I'd like to spend $200 MAX and I need to have iPod, Bluetooth and be able to connect to my steering wheel controls.

I've looked around on crutchfield but I just need a little guidance to narrow things down. I don't need contest winning, body panel rattling sound. I just want a clean, LOUD system that I can add a powered sub too sometime in the near future.

Thanks in advance.

 

sub'd

 

its just a touch more than $200 but you cant beat the features these two head units are coming enabled with right out of the box. Bluetooth for your phone, ipod integration, HD radio, and pandora...
I have personal experience and loved my KDC-X995, now the KDC-X996, and my friend just bought an Alpine CDE-HD137BT, which seems to have all the features of the kenwood but for a bit less money. (hes actually installing it in his 10' tacoma tomorrow, hes a member here).

the KDC-X996 can be set to match factory lighting exactly, its highly customizable display is not busy, its very refined. i have no personal experience with the alpine but my friend spoke highly of the unit.

 

I am B737's friend .

Its really hard to make suggestions for audio because there are so many difference choices available, alot of the equipment for the most part has the same exact specs.. what it really comes down to is interface (how easy it is to navigate stuff) and sad to say, looks.

I would just look around on Crutchfield and see what fits your price range and has the general features you want with a decent layout. I had an old Sony mp3 compatable deck that had an awful interface, took me forever to find a damn song on my iPod. It was also bright blue which was super annoying (Even on full dim) at night.

Just make sure the deck you look at is compatible with the steering wheel controls, also keep in mind that you need to buy the adapter box for the steering wheel controls which is another $69 i think on Crutchfield.

I personally went with the Alpine mostly because ive had an Alpine deck in all my cars for the last decade or so. Ive gotten used to the interface which for the most part hasnt changed. The only thing that kills me about Alpine is colors, the blue buttons get annoying, even on full dim! I bought a nice Alpine deck that let you change the button colors two years ago..would have bought that one again if i had the chance but its long discontinued. But seriously, nothing worse that stupid displays, bright colors and dumb graphics on head units that are basically right in your line of sight at night.

I also went Alpine because i already have the iPod connector cable from my Jeep.

 

im waiting around a lot myself since they dont have the fit kits ready yet for the radios unless you go double din. I am looking to go single din, with componet speakers and a cb style radio under the single din.