Tacoma Stereo System

Would it be worth the dough to spring for Toyota's optional upgraded
stereo system for the Tacoma, or would I be better off going with a
third-party dealer to install a killer sound system? I particularly
want to integrate my iPod with the stereo system, and I don't believe
Toyota is on board with that yet. Any advice from the audiophiles in
the group?

-Fleemo

In article <1159403753.332796.169780@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>
[email]fleemo17@comcast.net[/email] writes:
[color=blue]
> [...] I particularly want to integrate my iPod with the stereo
> system, and I don't believe Toyota is on board with that yet.
> Any advice from the audiophiles in the group?[/color]

AIUI the latest Prius allows you to feed the onboard audio system
from an iPod through a socket within the central arm rest. Ideas
of that sort tend to spread.
--
Andrew Stephenson

<fleemo17@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1159403753.332796.169780@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Would it be worth the dough to spring for Toyota's optional upgraded
> stereo system for the Tacoma, or would I be better off going with a
> third-party dealer to install a killer sound system? I particularly
> want to integrate my iPod with the stereo system, and I don't believe
> Toyota is on board with that yet. Any advice from the audiophiles in
> the group?
>
> -Fleemo[/color]

Toyotas have a reputation for building reliable transportation, but I don't
think anyone has ever accused a Toyota of having a killer sound system, and
I do not think the Taco has a provision in the factory sound system for iPod
integration.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

[email]fleemo17@comcast.net[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
> Would it be worth the dough to spring for Toyota's optional upgraded
> stereo system for the Tacoma, or would I be better off going with a
> third-party dealer to install a killer sound system?[/color]

If you can get the truck without it. <G>

When I bought mine, none of the nearby dealers were willing to get me a
TRD 4x4 Access Cab without the $200 CD changer. My truck was ordered
anyways, because nobody had a loaded truck with a stick, but all of the
trucks in the pipeline had the changer. I was finally able to negotiate
the overall price I wanted (after 2 weeks), without paying for the
radio. The sound isn't great, but it's been good enough to make
replacement less of an issue.

I really like the steering wheel controls, so I've been looking at
Eclipse aftermarket gear. Eclipse makes the Tacoma radio, so the
controls will work. The speakers are weird shaped, so plastic or MDF
adaptor rings are necessary to install aftermarket speakers. I'm not
really interested in losing my rear bins or any space to a subwoofer
(it's a truck that gets used as a truck, not a car <G>), so I'll have to
live without a sub.
[color=blue]
> I particularly
> want to integrate my iPod with the stereo system, and I don't believe
> Toyota is on board with that yet.[/color]

I do the same with XM, using a $75 aftermarket aux input that plugged
right into the factory head unit.

On Thu, 28 Sep 2006 11:03:40 +0000, B A R R Y wrote:
[color=blue]
> [email]fleemo17@comcast.net[/email] wrote:[color=green]
>> Would it be worth the dough to spring for Toyota's optional upgraded
>> stereo system for the Tacoma, or would I be better off going with a
>> third-party dealer to install a killer sound system?[/color]
>
> If you can get the truck without it. <G>
>
> When I bought mine, none of the nearby dealers were willing to get me a
> TRD 4x4 Access Cab without the $200 CD changer. My truck was ordered
> anyways, because nobody had a loaded truck with a stick, but all of the
> trucks in the pipeline had the changer. I was finally able to negotiate
> the overall price I wanted (after 2 weeks), without paying for the
> radio. The sound isn't great, but it's been good enough to make
> replacement less of an issue.
>
> I really like the steering wheel controls, so I've been looking at
> Eclipse aftermarket gear. Eclipse makes the Tacoma radio, so the
> controls will work. The speakers are weird shaped, so plastic or MDF
> adaptor rings are necessary to install aftermarket speakers. I'm not
> really interested in losing my rear bins or any space to a subwoofer
> (it's a truck that gets used as a truck, not a car <G>), so I'll have to
> live without a sub.
>[color=green]
>> I particularly
>> want to integrate my iPod with the stereo system, and I don't believe
>> Toyota is on board with that yet.[/color]
>
> I do the same with XM, using a $75 aftermarket aux input that plugged
> right into the factory head unit.[/color]


Is that the PIE Toy-03 adapter? How does it work? Before I shell out
$65-85 for the thing, I want to know if it's worth it!

On Wed, 27 Sep 2006 17:35:53 -0700, fleemo17 wrote:
[color=blue]
> Would it be worth the dough to spring for Toyota's optional upgraded
> stereo system for the Tacoma, or would I be better off going with a
> third-party dealer to install a killer sound system? I particularly
> want to integrate my iPod with the stereo system, and I don't believe
> Toyota is on board with that yet. Any advice from the audiophiles in
> the group?
>
> -Fleemo[/color]


I have had a LOT of Toyotas, some with National (Panasonic) sound systems
and some with Fujitsu-Ten sound systems. Since I replaced the radios in
all the ones I bought new, I'not not sure about them, but every Used
Toyota that I have bought and replaced the radio on has had a sticker from
United Radio in upper NY State, meaning the radio has been warranty
serviced!

The 'upgraded' sound system is OK if you just want something to listen to,
but for the $300 they (probably) want for the radio, you can go to Best
Buy or Circuit City, get free installation and put in a nice CD/MP3 player
and some nicer speakers.

Hachiroku wrote:[color=blue]
>
> Is that the PIE Toy-03 adapter? How does it work? Before I shell out
> $65-85 for the thing, I want to know if it's worth it![/color]


It works great for XM. Not perfect, but much better than FM modulators
or cassette adaptors (if I even had a cassette deck). <G>

That said, I've heard of issues with it with some MP3 players due to
impedance mismatches with the player's output. I "think" the issues
were with genuine Ipod players, but I'd have to ask the guy again.

Hachiroku wrote:
[color=blue]
> The 'upgraded' sound system is OK if you just want something to listen to,
> but for the $300 they (probably) want for the radio, you can go to Best
> Buy or Circuit City, get free installation and put in a nice CD/MP3 player
> and some nicer speakers.[/color]


FWIW, the Tacoma 6-disc changer system MSRP's @ ~$200, most sources
dealer cost it ~$150.

I haven't found anyone yet who would do a totally free installation, due
to the required speaker adapter plates, and a ~$30-40 dash kit.
Crutchfield still doesn't list a front door fit for 05+ Access and
Double cabs.

So far, the best I've seen, between my local guys and the chains, for a
_better sounding_ system (head & speakers, no sub) that still works with
the steering wheel controls, including an aux input, completely
installed, is more like $600.

B A R R Y wrote:[color=blue]
>
>
> That said, I've heard of issues with it with some MP3 players due to
> impedance mismatches with the player's output. I "think" the issues
> were with genuine Ipod players, but I'd have to ask the guy again.[/color]

I asked the guy, and the issues were with an IRiver MP3 player that
didn't have a true "aux" out. He was using the headphone output into
the PIE adaptor.

The guy sez' that anything with a real aux or line out" works great.

On Thu, 28 Sep 2006 13:54:34 +0000, B A R R Y wrote:
[color=blue]
> B A R R Y wrote:[color=green]
>>
>>
>> That said, I've heard of issues with it with some MP3 players due to
>> impedance mismatches with the player's output. I "think" the issues
>> were with genuine Ipod players, but I'd have to ask the guy again.[/color]
>
> I asked the guy, and the issues were with an IRiver MP3 player that
> didn't have a true "aux" out. He was using the headphone output into
> the PIE adaptor.
>
> The guy sez' that anything with a real aux or line out" works great.[/color]


The only thing to do in this case is turn the volume down as far as it
will go and then creep it back up until it overcomes the noise without
distorting.

Hachiroku wrote:[color=blue]
>
> The only thing to do in this case is turn the volume down as far as it
> will go and then creep it back up until it overcomes the noise without
> distorting.[/color]


The issue was noise. The headphone-out of the player was quite noisy,
and when set at an output level low enough to sound good into the PIE
adapter, the noise floor was too high. This isn't an issue with a
headset, as the output is then turned up high enough to drive the
transducers, which makes the noise floor seem much lower.

I'm a former touring sound engineer, so I know what you suggest, as well
as understand his description of the problem.

Thank you all for your input. I really appreciate it. :)

-Fleemo

On Thu, 28 Sep 2006 18:31:04 +0000, B A R R Y wrote:
[color=blue]
> Hachiroku wrote:[color=green]
> >
>> The only thing to do in this case is turn the volume down as far as it
>> will go and then creep it back up until it overcomes the noise without
>> distorting.[/color]
>
>
> The issue was noise. The headphone-out of the player was quite noisy,
> and when set at an output level low enough to sound good into the PIE
> adapter, the noise floor was too high. This isn't an issue with a
> headset, as the output is then turned up high enough to drive the
> transducers, which makes the noise floor seem much lower.
>
> I'm a former touring sound engineer, so I know what you suggest, as well
> as understand his description of the problem.[/color]


LOL! I was an Electronics Tech for 19 years! I know S/N levels and ratios!

I figured when you said "Noise Floor" you knew something about sound! ;)

Hachiroku wrote:[color=blue]
>
> I figured when you said "Noise Floor" you knew something about sound! ;)[/color]

On occasion, I used to get hired in to Northhampton and UMASS Amherst. <G>

We've chatted before on this forum.

In article <1159405770snz@deltrak.demon.co.uk>
[email]ames@deltrak.demon.co.uk[/email] "Andrew Stephenson" writes:
[color=blue]
> In article <1159403753.332796.169780@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>
> [email]fleemo17@comcast.net[/email] writes:
>[color=green]
> > [...] I particularly want to integrate my iPod with the stereo
> > system, and I don't believe Toyota is on board with that yet.
> > Any advice from the audiophiles in the group?[/color]
>
> AIUI the latest Prius allows you to feed the onboard audio system
> from an iPod through a socket within the central arm rest. Ideas
> of that sort tend to spread.[/color]

My local T-pusher's service manager tells me the Prius audio-feed
idea is, indeed, spreading and has reached the Aygo (sp?).
--
Andrew Stephenson