1999 Tacoma aftermarket CD player.

Wife wants to buy me a CD player for my truck. Don't need a ghetto blaster just want basic f/m, CD player and probably upgrade the speakers. Could you advise as to name brand? Is this something I can do myself? Or just let a stereo specific shop do it?

 

It’s one of the easiest things you can do yourself. www.crutchfield.com is your friend, they’ll give you the harness you need and vehicle specific instructions for free too.

 

I would second the crutchfield comment. I’ve installed 3 head units in 2 different cars from them. While they are somewhat more expensive they do all the legwork with the wiring harness and instructions for you. that’s helpful for people like myself with little electrical know how.

 

Third for Crutchfield, replaced my factory CD player with a nice JVC head unit with detachable faceplate. Crutchfield supplied a new wiring harness as well as downloadable instructions in .pdf format. Easy job, it took more time to remove the center dash panels then actually swapping out the radio.

PS: I would consider something with a USB port. Rip your CD collection onto a thumb drive as MP3's and it's a much more convenient way to carry your music around.

 

How many more Crutchfield recommendations do ya need? There are few companies on earth that are better to do business with.

 

As averse I am to spending extra money, Crutchfield did replace my $300 head unit over a year after I bought it when it just decided to stop working one day, with very little hassle.

 

Did a double DIN w/ CD touchscreen Kenwood from Crutchfield this past May in my 2002, along with speakers all around and then went crazy with sound deadening in the floor, doors, extra cab walls and rear wall. Huge difference in the the cab environment...nice and quiet now isolated from the road noise, and the tunes are crystal clear!

 

Ok, thanks for the positive responses. One more question...are the aftermarket units made to just slip into the space where the original is?

 

Some are totally OEM compatible.

 

Mine was. That’s the benefit of crutchfield. They have done all the leg work for you and you can even filter head units by whether or not they fit your vehicle if I am not mistaken. They’ll also sell you factory like connectors for all the wiring when you fill in your vehicle specs. It’s about as easy as it gets.

 

Yep. It’s a standard called the DIN system. Either single DIN or double DIN. You’ll just have to reuse the mounting brackets on your factory radio.

Here’s mine:

 

ilx-507?

 

Crutchfield is great, especially for reference but even if you don't buy from them, the Metra radio harness is only $5 from Amazon. I purchased my HU from someone else cause they included a backup camera & wireless charging pad for free. That was more worth it to me than a free harness adapter even though I'm not gonna use the backup cam.

CD, what's that? Lol. I still have all mine but I haven't played a CD in probably 10 yrs or more. Heck the CD player on my old HU stopped working years ago. My new HU doesn't have a CD player & I personally prefer it that way.

 

Yeah, good eye haha. Just got it.

 

Here's the double-DIN Pioneer AVIC 5201NEX in my 2003. The GPS puck fits perfectly above the center dash vent. (I had the instrument panel out of mine, so it was a great chance to place the puck.)

 

Nice! The only reason I knew is cause......




I just got mine a couple of months ago. I love this thing but then again my old Alpine was 15 yrs old, so old it didn't even have bluetooth. I miss the tilting face & volume knob but it was time for something new. Went with Alpine again cause I've been a fan since I was a teenager & so I could reuse my

$269 KTP-445A Head Unit Power Pack

KTP-445A power pack &

$330 PWE-S8 120W Compact Powered 8" Car Subwoofer for Under or Behind The Seat

PWE-S8 (well the compact sub wouldn't have mattered on the HU).

I hate volume buttons so I got the RUX-H02 volume knob. My old remote even works with the iLX-507 even though there is no specific remote for it. I bought another remote though for more simplicity since not all the buttons will work.



I just added a screen mirroring dongle to the HDMI input. So now I can watch videos or whatever wirelessly from my phone (probably never will though). Installed a USB switch so it isn't powered on all the time. I also installed a custom programmed parking brake bypass module.

I still need to figure out what I'm gonna do for a backup camera. I got a license plate mounted one for free but I want to install one on my PopLock.

 

Did you take off the dash cover just for that? I've never taken mine out before, is it really time consuming?

For my HU it said to install the GPS receiver & bundle the excess wire far away from the HU as possible. But I've heard that some installers have just attached it to the top of the HU housing without issue.

I stuck mine to the top of the passenger side air vent duct. Didn't even use the the insulation pad. Haven't had a problem with mine.

Edit: Oh it looks like you already had it off.

 

I'm not against buying from Cutchfield whatsoever, I'm a fan of them too & they probably are the best to buy from because of vehicle application resource & customer service.

In my case when I purchased my latest HU, pretty much all Alpine authorized dealers have the same pricing. As mentioned earlier, Crutchfield would have included a free radio harness adapter. I believe they sometimes even include speaker adapters too for free when purchasing speakers.

I purchased my HU from CarToys which is an Alpine authorized dealer also. They included a free backup camera & a Pioneer wireless charging pad. A month or so later I wanted another one of those wireless charging pads. They had em listed on their website but at $0. So I emailed them about it & while I was at it thanked em for my recent purchase. They asked for my HU purchase invoice #, once they verified it, they shipped me another charging pad for free, didn't even have to pay shipping.

I had never heard of CarToys before but then again I haven't looked at purchasing car audio stuff in a long time. Based on my experience I would highly recommend them also. They give 10% off for 1st time buyers/subscribers which Crutchfield does not afaik & they also have free 2 day shipping just like Crutchfield.

 

Jesus Christ, Will.

You always go all out!

 

Not always and I don't mean too, it just happens sometimes. And usually with long periods of time in between. That's how you'll know when it happens cause I'll pop back up here.

I got a full set of Wet Okoles a week before the HU too.... didn't want to spend the money but there was a sale & I really "needed" them!

I think it might best for me to go away again.