Advice needed ! 94 camry CD/MP3 player OEM or aftermarket ?

[iratoyota]

I want to finally install a CD/MP3 player into my 1994 Camry V6 XLE. I have the slot under the factory stereo that I suppose will house the new unit. Need advice on which direction I should go in. I would prefer a combo unit.

PLEASE HELP ! Thank you !

[uibalnme]

Wait, I don't get it. You want to install an aftermarket unit under your factory unit? Why not just replace the factory unit with a aftermarket cd/mp3 player and be done with it?

[iratoyota]

i am a rookie and really was gonna leave the factory stuff alone to keep the price lower. i did not want to relace the stereo and speakers. i just thought that slot would make it a nice easy fit. any other suggestions for units ? thanks

[uibalnme]

Keep the price lower? The factory stereo still being in the car will not lower the price of the aftermarket unit that you'll buy to replace it. Anyway, a wire harness adapter will still be needed to integrate the aftermarket unit into the factory wiring. Don't worry about the speakers, you don't have to replace them if you don't want to. The aftermarket stereo will have more than enough power for the stock speakers.

As for what unit, it up to you. What's your price range, what features(other than mp3) do you want, what brand do you like? After you've figured that out, shop around.

Here's a good place to start. You don't have to buy from them, but you can get an idea of what's out there. Click on the features you're looking for under "NARROW YOUR SEARCH"...

http://www.crutchfield.com/g_300/Car...s.html?tp=5684

[Kingdom934]

Your going to need to have to replace the factory head unit. Now this is the tricky part. Does your car have a factory Amp? I'm not sure if all models, but I know it was included with the factory head unit as an audio package upgrade, and since your trim is an XLE, it might have it. I forgot where it would be in a Gen3 Camry, but I heard it is usually mounted under the front seat.


Anyhow, since you want MP3 capability for a disc, aftermarket seems to be the way to go. You COULD go with a OEM look as in getting a newer OEM CD Toyota player that would fit (as a direct plug and play and physically fit in the dash), but I know a lot of Toyota CD/Tape combo players up until like 2001 didn't have MP3 capability nor a AUX. In the end, I found that by simply going after market head unit was the better way out in this.

[uibalnme]

It makes no difference if there is a factory amp or not. I have a factory amp under the front passenger seat. I installed my aftermarket unit with out removing the factory amp, and I've had no problems. I'm not sure, but I read somewhere that the wiring harness adapter needed for installation of any aftermarket unit bypasses the factory amp. However, if you think about it, with the factory amp between the stereo, and the speakers, the stereo doesn't have to work as hard to power the speakers. Not that it would be working hard to power stock speakers anyway. My stock speakers were only 15W max each. Most modern aftermarket stereos push 50W x 4ch easy. Either way, a factory amp will not be an issue when installing an aftermarket stereo.

[iratoyota]

thank you for the stron advice..i appreciate the comments