Pioneer 4500 NEX

What is your Favorite Stereo Set up?
I recently upgraded My 2006 Toyota Tacoma head unit, to a Pioneer 4500 NEX, and it Feels like a whole new Truck! The Pioneer Stereo has Apple Car Play, Bluetooth, Spotify, Maps, Audio Books, and Screen Mirroring so I can watch the Game during those long drives home from Mammoth! I highly recommend upgrading. My old set up was a very basic Alpine CD player, with Parrot Talk. ( Which is considered Primitive by todays standards )
If you're in the market for a new Head unit, I highly recommend the Pioneer 4500NEX. I was originally trying to get the Alpine 107, but that model has been discontinued. So after reading reviews on here, the next best choice, was the Pioneer 4500!

 

what'd you do about the microphone for bluetooth?

 

Looks good!

I went with an OEM Entune-GPS unit when I upgraded my 2015 (originally no GPS) mainly so I could have the original steering wheel controls and BT telephone functions work easily. I've been happy with that upgrade. It looks exactly like one would expect -- no surprises there.


I went with a Pioneer AVIC 5100NEX GPS head unit on my Gen 1 truck, and I'm (mostly) happy with that, too. The unit works perfectly, it's nice to have XM, although the original mounting position does lead to more glare on the screen than one might like. The Pioneer units with their ability to enter "test mode" is a useful mod for those interested in that kind of thing. I like their GPS head units.

 

Honestly, I have really enjoyed my Chinese Knock Off. It may sound crazy, but I recently put one in a 4Runner and am highly considering it for a Tacoma as well.

 

I picked up a roof console w the oem mic and gutted it. Ran the aftermarket mic to the oem location. Works perfectly and most importantly, looks oem.

 

I just upgraded from my basic Entune unit to a Pioneer DMH1500NEX. Wired Car Play and Android Auto, but I always have my phone plugged in anyway. I also had a Maestro RR installed. This retains steering wheel controls and gives me onscreen vehicle info. The mic was placed above the mirror.
Huge improvement over the stock head unit.

 

Hey bro-I also have an 06 Taco and I just bought the 4500 to replace a Kenwood I installed that sucked. Glad to hear you like it.

 

Which dash kit is that?

I have the 4400. Similar to yours. Wireless CarPlay etc. If you haven't done it already, do the Maestro module as well. It plugs in to the OBD port to interface your new head unit with the can/bus. You can see tire pressures and many PID's right on screen. Read and clear codes, etc...

 

I was Able to run my old Microphone from the Parrot talk, up behind the review mirror. Calls come in even clearer than they did with my old Parrot talk setup!

 

Pics of roof console ?

 

Does Gaia GPS, running on an iphone, show on the Apple Car display?

 

So that’s where they hide it. My console just has a blank spot where that louver is on yours. I’ll have to hunt one of those down. Currently my mic is just wedged in there between the console and the headliner.

 

I picked mine off ebay. You could get creative and custom cut yours. Sadly Toyota doesn’t sell that part alone either. I think i paid around $68 for it on ebay a few years ago.

 

Any thing else out there that compares to these? Also what is a total package kit? Like the double din kit, to adapt to the new screen, screen and RR module? Just an everything included type package.
Ima just say it, I’m busy and lazy. I don’e want to screen 32 threads to find the pieces and part numbers to make this happen when someone’s already done that. Doesn’t make sense lol.
My stock head unit is glitching out, it just freezes and becomes unresponsive, after a minute or two it restarts, sometimes it does it 10-15 times in a row. Some days it doesn’t do it at all and works perfect. I don’t know anymore, just wanna replace it. CarPlay and Spotify would be huge huge huge to me. So its time.
What other head units yal got?

 

To the OP that Alpine unit looks good!

I have a question. I have a 2015 Tacoma, it obviously has bluetooth which works well. If I upgrade my head unit can I still use the factory microphone? Is it plug and play or do I have to purchase a adapter to make it work?

 

There was a member on here that was testing out his oem mic adapters...not sure if he ever followed through and put them into production as he was busy with school. You always gut your oem mic out of the bezel and run the aftermarket mic to it.

 

True I can do that. Just more work rerouting wires and cutting the plastic, etc.

Seems like reusing the factory mic would be easiest solution.

 

Found him. Send him a PM.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/retaining-factory-mic-location.503653/

 

If you don't mind paying a little more and want the easiest install experience, get a package from Crutchfield. They will give you everything you need INCLUDING wiring everything so your installation is literally just a plug and play experience. I did this with my wife's crosstrek and IMO it was worth the little extra cost.

I think for a Carplay double din unit you're probably looking at maybe $500-$600 total for everything. You don't have to pay for the Maestro unit, the ASWC unit is much cheaper but still is easy to use.