Stereo Install (Alpine CDA-9884)

[verve92]

hey guys,

Time for a new stereo since i can hold off a month or so on the timing belt. I have selected an Alpine CDA-9884 system for $169 new. The specs say it is 50 watts total. Can the stock speakers handle this? Also how will the antenna get hooked up? It seems the stock one is likely in the windshield. I don't feel like paying someone for an install this one.
The stock system (just cassette; 4 spkr) looks the same height and width as the Alpine. The kind folx at Crutchfield are including the wiring harness and ipod interface, but what about the bluetooth? Do both need to be connected in back? I'm pretty sure the ipod int. needs to be connected back there as it is NOT the 1/4 inch male that goes in the front of the unit as the apple software would not talk to the stereo. I'd like to hook up bluetooth as the bored small town cops in NJ are friggin NUTS with the cell BS and i can't stand the ear plugs that give me blisters or just pop out!
Has anyone installed a similar system?
This is a virgin experience I'm gonna give it a shot so stand by ---
L8tr

[prnc_chrmng]

Originally Posted by alpine

This unit is Bluetooth ready so you can add a KCE-350BT adapter to pair up your cell phone with your head unit. Now make and take phone calls conveniently. View caller information including caller ID, missed, dialed, and received calls right from the head unit display. Use the microphone supplied with the KCE-350BT to speak, then listen through your car’s speakers. You can even set up your cell phone/head unit to automatically answer your calls. With select compatible phones with streaming audio capability, you can listen to music stored on your phone and have it stream through your Alpine system.

alpine list the KCE-350BT at $230.

the Antenna should just but a wire you unlpug from your stock stereo and just plug it back into your alpine.

the install it very simple...just take your time and make you you connect everything proper. it sucks having to go back and do it again.

[Heat]

What year is your Camry?

And yes, your stock radio is a 1-din radio – that is the standard radio size*. Have you gotten the new radio yet? Crutchfield will be sending you detailed instructions on how to replace your radio (head unit) but assuming you have a gen 3, it’s really simple:

a. At your kitchen table, connect the car’s wiring harness (Crutchfield will give you one) to the radio’s wiring harness using red butt connectors, using a decent set of crimpers. A box of 20 red butt connectors will be about $2, a decent set of crimpers will be about $8, both from the electrical section of any hardware store. Be sure to use crimpers, don’t try to use pliers or anything else. You can also solder them, but assuming you make good crimps they are just as good and much easier. Once that’s connected…
b. Pop off the u-shaped ring from around your old radio.
c. Remove four 10mm bolts (you’ll need a socket with an extension)
d. Pull out the old head unit and disconnect the wires.
e. Connect the new radio.

As far as speakers go, you will want to replace them – the stock Toyota speakers are not good – it would be kind of like driving your Camry on four donuts. Yeah, it would work, but it wouldn’t work well if you know what I mean. When I replaced my radio about 18 months ago, I first swapped out the radio and the sound was *much* better than it was with the OEM radio, but since I already had the speakers I went ahead and installed them and the sound level was taken to a whole new level. Trust me, you will want to replace your speakers… but it doesn’t *have* to be now.

As far as bluetooth goes, if that is really important to you I’d look for a car stereo that is less expensive after bluetooth is equiped. Call Crutchfield and ask them.

* DIN is literally the standard. DIN = Deutsches Institut fur Normung (German Institute for Standardization), 1-din is 178mm x 53mm but you don’t need to measure anything, if it looks like a normal radio it’s 1-din. If it looks twice the size of normal radio, it’s probably 2-din.

[frojoe]

Its really like 15 watts per channel rms so the stalk speakers will be fine as far as power. The stalk speakers suck though, so for SQ I would upgrade(alpine typr-r are solid speakers) I have the 9883 and its a great stereo. For the ipod connection there is one wire sticking out from the back of the stereo(might be purple?) That is the connection for the ipod full speed. All of the other connections will be made if you install the wiring harness correctly, which is easy outside of the car. If you need a tutorial on removal of the oem stereo just google it.

As far as bluetooth, with alpine stereos you need their absolutely ridiculously priced bluetooth unit, as only the controls are built in to the HU. If you really want bluetoooth through the stereo you might want to look into a different HU.

[verve92]

It's a 98. I haven't got around to puttin up pix yet but very clean! Gold with tan leather int.
you convinced me!
Can you point me to some speakers? Not looking to go crazy with the cost, but the stockers are pretty weak i agree. I wouldn't know where to begin with replacing the 4 speakers. Put it this way, if you just dropped $2k and financed $4k on a camry, and just got 80% of your sales bonus snatched in an ass economy, which speakers would you get? The stereo should arrive any day now, just wanted to get a head start!
The blue tooth is not a big priority. Wives are great at putting things into perspective I figured i'd get it for her since she never shuts up on the fone!
We both want a better system tho.
Thanx

[verve92]

What are the dimensions of the stock speakers gonna search crutchfield.
My system seems just to have 4 2 in back and two on bottom of door panel.

[Heat]

Enter your cars information at Crutchfield, it’ll then filter your results. Looks like you will be picking up a 6x9 for the rear deck and a 6 ½" or a 6 3/4” round for the kick panel (lower front door).

If you are on a budget…

Blaupunkt GTx693
6x9, 3-way speaker, $50
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_023GTX6...93.html?tp=105

and one of the following two:

Rockford Fosgate P163
6 ¾” rounds, 3-way speaker, $60
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_575P163...63.html?tp=105

Alpine SPS-17C2
6 ½” rounds, 2-way speaker, $50
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500SPS1...C2.html?tp=105

And just to be clear, you’re not adding an external amp, right? With your CDA 9884, the above speakers will work great. Be sure to keep your old speakers / stock radio when you replace them, when you eventually sell your Camry you’ll want to reinstall them so that you can use the Alpine / new speakers on your next car – or to sell on ebay.

As an alternative, if you’ve not bought your radio yet, just wait until mid to late January. There will be a number of returns following Christmas which will be resold at a $30 or so discount, plus the new Alpines will be announced so the ones that will be discontinued will be discounted. Plus, on occasion, Crutchfield will run specials where if you buy a head unit and four speakers from a particular brand, they will knock $50 off of the order. I bought my radio in this type of deal, got a Sony radio (GT410U) with four speakers for $205. I’ve seen them do the same thing for Kenwood. And one feature to look for is a USB input. What that, you can transfer .mp3 files (songs or podcasts) from your computer to the flash drive, then just plug the flash drive directly into the radio – I listen to stuff off of my .mp3 player probably 95% of the time I’m in the car.

[verve92]

No, i will not be needing a new amp. as far as the discount, the system has been purchased, speakers not. Now i know the dimensions so i can go from there.
Man this site if awesome. Nothing like a few bro's helpin each other out!!
I just wanna feel the old Metallica rather than just hear it!!

[ghettosled]

if you want to feel the music, take a page out of my book and hook up a 12" sub in the trunk. on a side note, i have an alpine head unit (cant remember the model) and it works pretty good. i like the ipod interface and there are two sets of equalizers to adjust.