LX450 Audio/Speaker Overhaul

[Walletclan]

I saw that before. I love it. How do you use the iPad as a headunit?

 

[sxwatson]

I use lightning connector for charging and gps. I use bluetooth to transit blu Bluetooth receiver and from that with RCA cable to a matrix audio controller. From that to amp (not stock). Pretty straight forward. iPad UI is perfect for car stereo.

The last one I sent out, guy used a cellular version iPad mini (built in gps) with audio going through lightning connector to an IStreamer then same as my setup, matrix audio controller and amp.

For music I use cartunes app.
Gaia for off-road navigation
Google maps for in town
Use iPhone as hotspot

 

[WarWagon]

Update: (Pictures to follow)

The Kenwood DDX771 headunit slid right in without the need for trim, but I am thinking I would have been a bit happier with the Pioneer AVH-X5600BHS or 4600BT simply to better screen resolution and intuitive UI.

I had the rear USB port routed to the dummy plate next to the heater blower switch on the bottom of the climate control unit.

I had an installer look at the speakers. They all needed small spacers to keep them from hitting the window channel and the rear doors had to be ground down a bit to fit the speaker. 4" would have fit right in but they would not have contributed much to the sound. The stock speaker grill fit over the front door speakers and the rears have the Pioneer grills. No big deal to me.

The amplifier was mounted in the passenger sider rear storage area with plenty of room to spare. What is nice is that the amp has a pass-through so I can mount a sub and another amp without having to re-wire from the headunit to the back.

I think I will definately need a sub woofer at some point because the 4 6.5" speakers offer little to no low-end bass, but they do cover the mid to high frequencies well.

The stock amp and console subwoofer were by-passed.

I have ran into one issue. My iphone 5s will not connect to Pandora on the headunit via USB. My hypothesis is that it won't work, despite being compatible, because I am already running iOS 8 (i have a developer license). My wife's iPhone 5 running iOS 7.1.2 works just fine and so did one of our iPads running iOS 7.1.2 as well. I will either need to downgrade my phone or see if a future firmware update will resolve the issue. iOS 8 comes out officially tomorrow, by the way.

I am pretty happy with the build. It is much improved sound, feature and technology wise. So now I have the stock headunit and the 4 stock door speakers, with grills if anyone wants to make me an offer for the lot of them.

Stay tuned for pictures.

What spacers did you use for the speakers?? Sure enough the Pioneers I just purchased are hitting the window channel!
Really sucks because I have everything apart and it was starting to look like a pretty simple install.

 

[Walletclan]

I don't know what they were. I had an installer deal with the speakers since I knew the rear doors were going to need some trimming. I left it to the professionals. I can ask the installer.

 

[Paydday]

Walletclan - Did the antenna work with the new stereo? Did you do the amp bypass?

 

[Walletclan]

I did bypass the factory amp. My antenna wasn't working when I bought the truck last month. The new headunit is hooked to it, but I need to fix the mast. The radio works anyway though.

 

[vt78cruiser]

I have bought most of the components to replace the stock head unit with a spot to dock my Iphone6+. Much like sxwatson's post, I will be working to create a slide in or drop in bracket that can be glued to the stock dash. For those of us not as good with fiberglass I wanted some thing that I could epoxy in place in the existing spot. I bought a charging/analog out cable that will plug into an equalizer with remote analog volume control. This will plug directly into an aftermarket amp and then run back to the speakers.

Once all the parts get in I'll start a build thread and let everyone know how it goes.

Pro's:
- Turn by Turn GPS
- Large music catalog
- access to all apps on iPhone
- relatively simple (says the guy before he starts anything)

Con's:
- lose local radio (can access through app, just harder to cruiser through stations)
- run more wire than swapping in new head unit
- currently no bracket made for iPhone6, only iPads (I do have access to a 3D printer so that will hopefully solve that problem)

Maybe's:
- replace center console as I no longer have need for CD changer
- new center console will have more cupholders and be positioned a little further back for comfort
- might add sub in center console

 

[Walletclan]

I have resolved my iPhone 5s issue. The USB extension cable was not compatible for the phone, for some reason. I ran the existing USB connection wire to the dummy plate next to the heater switch and that works fine.

I now have full control of Pandora and iPod from the head unit screen. I also grounded the parking brake wire so I can have video playing while driving. There is no temptation for me to watch video while driving, but it sure keeps the kids quiet!

There is the ability to plug in a flash drive. I bought a 64gb drive that I can keep on my keychain: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A35X1BM/?tag=ihco-20 Now, I am trying to figure out what I can and can't play, in terms of video files and how I want to organize my MP3 collection for easy playback.

All in all, I am happy with the outcome. I still my MUD friends some pictures.