Serious Alpine CDA-117 issue

Ok, I finally had time this past weekend to install my new Alpine CDA-117 headunit- and I must say I am quite underwhelmed.... I realize it is "Just a headunit swap" but really- the system has almost NO A$$ to it. Less bass than the factory setup and rather hollow sounding. I have tried every setting and combination I could come up with regarding the parametric or graphic EQs as well as the Media Expander. I am seriously OCD with wiring, so the adapter harness and the wires for the actual headunit are good- no polarity reversing. So- ANY IDEAS? Sounds the same on Ipod, CD and tuner- no better for any. I have ordered a powered 6 inch Bazooka tube to HELP as I am not going to give up all my storage or rip out welded brackets- but ANY tweaks or hints you have discovered about the CDA-117 would be GREATLY appreciated....

 

Well thats a pretty descent headunit (even if it is alpine ). Ive seen this a few times before when putting an alpine in with factory speakers, and to help the issue, it just takes time to sit there and make the adjustments. For starters, most of the time that you put an aftermarket in, it will sound different because of the freq differences between the outputs of the fact and the aftermarket. Try changing the speakers out for a descent set of aftermarkets and see what you think.

and honestly, i hate the bazooka tubes. they sound like crap to me.

 

I think I remembered reading that the factory headunit adds "bass" by distorting the music...so it's more bass that you hear? That might have been completely off base but I know what you mean, I was actually pretty disappointed at first when I swapped my HU out. Honestly it wasn't a huge deal unless I was listening to hiphop but you're right that it definitely sounds very different. I just put it on the heavy bass eq when I'm listening to rap and you get used to it after a few weeks.

 

Well- the stock head unit just had more low end. I was not expecting to upgrade to Alpine's big boy head unit and have worse sound. I have never had a bad experience with an Alpine unit until now. I have tried maxing the low end (+6 on the EQ) and turning the highs all the way down (-6) and it is still too hot on the highs... I have tried the graphic and parametric EQs- neither did a lot. I tried the Media Expander- actually made it worse. I know Bazooka tubes are not ideal- but I will not give up all of the small storage behind the seats- so the tube is a resort- not a choice. I am not sure what else to try- I woul dnormally think the polarity of the speaker wires had gotten reversed if I heard someone else with this issue but I triple checked the wiring before installing the unit. Really at a loss and rather pi$$ed......

 

Throw those stock speakers in the trash. They're garbage. Have you seen the magnet on those things? It's about the size of a 2liter bottle cap. The stock speakers lasted all of 1 hour in my truck when I bought it and they were quickly replaced with aftermarket components as soon as I brought the truck home.

If you want bass, you will never get it out of speakers and have it sound decent. You need a sub. I have a 10" sub in mine. I put my box and amp behind the 60 side of the 60/40 seat. I still have full use of the driver's side compartment.

Reversed polarity wouldn't cause the speakers to sound too high. It would just made the sound out of phase.

 

Can you control the high pass filter? I can set my pioneer to super bass and set the eq to +6 and if the filter is set at 125hz I'm not gonna get much bump. Turn the hpf off though and you'll hear me coming before you see me

 

The JBL designed system in these toyotas are designed to work efficiently with the stock unit and the stock speakers. If you change any of that, then you're going to change the whole way the system works.Most head units like that aren't designed to put out a lot of juice. Granted, some of the higher end units will give you a few more watts, but not enough. The aftermarket HU's are there to allow you to use an external amplifier. This is where you will get the most sound and bass. If you're looking for bass, and you're not willing to give up some space for a sub, you might as well give up. Get rid of the trash stock speakers, buy some aftermarket ones, and put them on an amp. Most four channel amps will fit underneath the driver seat. That's where you're going to get the sound you want.

 

hmmm...I don't have any advice, but when I put the CDA-117 in my truck it was like night and day how much better and LOUDER it was. I really love mine, hopefully you can figure out what the issue is because these are great stereos, in my experience.

EDIT: Did you also add the steering wheel controller? Did you make sure to solder on the proper resistors when you installed it?

 

I did use a steering wheel adapter- but I used the Metra ASWC. It is 2 wires to solder and it auto programs. nice little piece of kit. No resistors or such to add it. I have the HPF off and bass on the EQ maxxed. Just hallow/no low end at all... I am pretty much monkey humped.

 

that SWC has nothing to do with the way it sounds. Is it a JBL system ?

 

No- not a JBL system. Just the standard setup.

 

I'm at a complete loss as to why your CDA-117 sounds so bad? You've addressed everything I could think of to check. I just don't get it.

I purchased my CDA-117 as the first step to a complete system overhaul. My truck is a daily driver so I had to replace components a little at a time over the course of a couple of months. My CDA-117 ran my stock speakers for a couple weeks and I was not blown away by the sound. After a couple of weeks I deadened the doors & back panel which made a dramatic improvement... the stock speakers had a much fuller sound. In fact my wife thought I had installed my new speakers it made such a difference. I then replaced the stock speakers, added an amp and a subwoofer and have been very pleased with the system as a whole. I've found the built in equalizers, high pass filter adjustments, time correction, & subwoofer adjustments on this unit to be excellent... but I only tweeked them while using the external amp & aftermarket speakers.

 

Check your crossovers

 

Stock speakers suck, no head unit will fix that.