jbl audio system amo

[nkx1]

I have the jbl audio system in my '99 solara, and will be transferring my system from my old car into my solara. Is the power amp for the factory system contained in the head unit, or is it somewhere else. i need to know so I can bypass the factory amp.

Thanks!

[tmanana]

At least in my 2001 SE's JBL system, the stock amp came w/ a factory bypass, so installation was a breeze. That basically cuts installation time in half. Finally one good thing Toyota has done to help out the car audio people Now if they can get it so our headunits mount flush I would be a happy camper....lol. Good luck with the install! BTW...it is separate from the headunit.

[nkx1]

thanks for the reply. I forgot to ask where the factory amp is though; does anyone know?

[i20solara02i]

the solara stock amp is behide the glove compartment <~~~if i spell it wrong o well, you'll see 2 plug that is connected into 1 plug and all you have to do is remove the 2 plug and you'll have disable the stock amp

[bassthrive]

WOW am I glad I read this. I went headunit shopping today at Circuit City, Best Buy and Sound Advice. I was very skeptical when they all quoted me from $32 all the way up to $60 for "amp bypass" on my factory JBL system (in addition to standard installation charges). Circuit City actually tried telling me they had to rewire every speaker in the car to the new headunit.

Understand that I went to these stores just to physically check out the hardware. I will most definately be buying online. Crutchfield's prices are nothing special but they include basically everything you need; wiring harness, dash kit, etc. as well as provide free shipping.

There are discount sites like http://www.discountsjungle.com and of course eBay. But I will still have to find someplace to buy all the necessary stuff that doesn't come in the manufacturers box!

- Paul

[Grazi07]

heh, you definitely don't have to rewire every speaker! Just get the wiring harness and you should be all set. I got mine at a local audio store, but I'm sure you can find something online.

[Yanks0114]

buy the wiring harness and face plate kit from crutchfield.

They definately have the best quality connection kits. Plus if you buy just the kit from them, they'll walk you through the entire installation and help you if any problems arise

[roblectric]

I found it a waste of time to try and get all the needed items from the cheapest outlets. Crutchfield is the way to go because you will get the wiring harness, dash plate,and some great install instructions. Support is only an 800 number away.

[bassthrive]

www.cardomain.com has an online store - they include all the same goodies that crutchfield does, yet the price for the mp3 reciever I want is $40 cheaper!

So here is the headunit that is number one on my list, the Sony CDX-F7700.
I am also considering the Clarion ProAudio DXZ645MP, but I believe the Sony is yielding the best bang for the buck.

Im placing the order as soon as my security deposit from my old off-campus apartment gets returned. At install time, I will also be coloring bulbs in my a/c and shiftgate, along with changing the clock and installing reverse indiglos.

- Paul

[WortownSolara]

just want to put this one out here guys and gals. Much like auto manufacturers. Car audio Makers tend to specialize in a certain field of expertise to try and lure a specific brand of customer to them.
For example:
Kenwood = radio (one of the best tuners on the market. PERIOD. anyone who listens to a lot of radio should absolutly by a kenwood, little sidebar, kenwood was the first company in the world to MASS produce transistor radios 1957 =0) ok ok im a geek.

Eclipse = CD Quality( One of the AABSOLUTE best Digital to Analog Converters (DAC) on the market, those that are predominatly cd users should definatly invest in an eclipse radio. (Eclipse is made by Fujitsu Ten which translates to GOD OF KING OF THE MOUNTAIN) What a big name for an awesome comapny!

Alpine = 50%/50% users . Alpine is the exception to the rule. They are unlike EVERY other mainstream audio brand. Alpine is not owned by any one else, or make any other products (kenwood = Largest HAM radio seller in the WORLD, Eclipse, well fujitsu happens to be the second largest computer manufacturer in the world, pioneer DUH! im not even going there, and ohh ya SONY.......leave it alone Marc) . ALL ALPINE DOES IS CAR PRODUCTS!!!! If they are not above the bar in every category.they wouldnt be in business. Now that being said they are not the BEST in ANY category but more like the all-star in EVERY category.

Ok ready for this...........sony, pioneer, panasonic, jvc... are what we call FEATURE BASED. These companies sit down and say what cool buttons can we put on this. AND VIOLA!!! A HUNDRED FEATURES FOR A HUNDRED DOLLARS. This is great for the person that does not care how it sounds (i.e. my factory system is AWESOME!! kind of person) They look cool and tend not to break.

I think thats enough for now. If i missed any that people are conserned about, just ask.

Wortown Solara
Audio Guru

[WortownSolara]

P.S. Cars are moving objects. With a constantly changing atmosphere. that endure tons of bumps and bruises. PLEASE DO NOT BUY FROM A DISCOUNT DEALER. YOU NEED A WARRANTY!!!!!!!! At least companies like crutchfield will honor a warranty. dont be cheap $40 bucks could be the difference of losing the 300 dollars you spent on a player, or having it fixed. FACE IT in this domain stuff BREAKS. and its not cheap to fix either. just take it from someone who talks to 30 people a day for the last 8 years. ITS NOT WORTH IT!!!!!!!!

[Mudd]

You don't need to rewire anything. Get a pocket and a standard 70-1781 (I think it is) Toyota rewire harness. The bypass plugs are right next to the radio, to the right, you'll see them plugged into dummy plugs.

Circuit City is a joke. I worked there long ago, and it seemed they would hire any moe, see if he could sell (commission), and repeat the process.

At least the Best Buy guys are all MECP certified, meaning they HAVE To have a clue what they're doing before they work on a car.

Crutchfield's worthless, unless there isn't a BB or CC near you to buy from. Crutchfield's always more expensive (hell, CC and BB match prices there too).

[Rudy]

just want to put this one out here guys and gals. Much like auto manufacturers. Car audio Makers tend to specialize in a certain field of expertise to try and lure a specific brand of customer to them.
For example:
Kenwood = radio (one of the best tuners on the market. PERIOD. anyone who listens to a lot of radio should absolutly by a kenwood, little sidebar, kenwood was the first company in the world to MASS produce transistor radios 1957 =0) ok ok im a geek.

Eclipse = CD Quality( One of the AABSOLUTE best Digital to Analog Converters (DAC) on the market, those that are predominatly cd users should definatly invest in an eclipse radio. (Eclipse is made by Fujitsu Ten which translates to GOD OF KING OF THE MOUNTAIN) What a big name for an awesome comapny!

Alpine = 50%/50% users . Alpine is the exception to the rule. They are unlike EVERY other mainstream audio brand. Alpine is not owned by any one else, or make any other products (kenwood = Largest HAM radio seller in the WORLD, Eclipse, well fujitsu happens to be the second largest computer manufacturer in the world, pioneer DUH! im not even going there, and ohh ya SONY.......leave it alone Marc) . ALL ALPINE DOES IS CAR PRODUCTS!!!! If they are not above the bar in every category.they wouldnt be in business. Now that being said they are not the BEST in ANY category but more like the all-star in EVERY category.

Ok ready for this...........sony, pioneer, panasonic, jvc... are what we call FEATURE BASED. These companies sit down and say what cool buttons can we put on this. AND VIOLA!!! A HUNDRED FEATURES FOR A HUNDRED DOLLARS. This is great for the person that does not care how it sounds (i.e. my factory system is AWESOME!! kind of person) They look cool and tend not to break.

I think thats enough for now. If i missed any that people are conserned about, just ask.

Wortown Solara
Audio Guru

ummm, I have a pioneer DEH-P4600MP and i think it's fantastic.

so do these people http://www.sounddomain.com/sku/PIODEHP4600MP

and a bunch of other people I have talked to, including many "audio guru's" like yourself.

[WortownSolara]

umm.......ignorance can be bliss. If you dont KNOW whats its suppossed to sound like, then you will be more than happy with pioneer, Pioneer is one of the best sellign brands in the market, they fill their position. Im glad you like your player, if it works for you...AWESOME!!! thats why there are so many brands. I started when i was 16 with a pioneer i loved it. I couldnt break it if i wanted too, thing was indestructable. because i dont have it.....doesnt mean its bad. the fact is technology has made even a company like jensen, to produce equipment that has at least made a minimum standard. and as for other audio gurus, if they knew what SQ was, the only pioneer model number that would come out of thier mouth is a P9. Im sorry if it seemed offensive, thats not what i was saying, there is a fine line between good and great!

[WortownSolara]

one other thing............if a radio retails for $179.99, take 40% off, thats 108 roughly, thats what wal-mart and best buy pay for it, figure 40% off that, we are talking $66 dollars or less to make it, guess what.....that face plate to replace that costs 80 dollars!. Most of the money in pioneer headunits goes into the face plate, why? THEY LOOK COOL!!!!! show me a player for 250 that looks cooler than a pioneer or sony.............you cant. THATS THIER MARKET SHARE!