My Journey to a better system

[penuch]

So it's not gonna be an all at once thing, but over the next couple of months I will be redoing my whole sounds system. I have decided to start with the head unit. I bought a used Pioneer AVH-P2300DVD Double-DIN DVD Receive ($215), a scosche antenna extension ($2), then just for the harness the Metra Honda Installation Kit (99-7862) ($21.99). So right now I have spent a total of 248.98 including shipping, which doesn't seem to bad because the HU alone goes for more than that usually. Just waiting for all the parts to get here and then I will post pictures as I go along. I am going to be putting the HU into the bottom cubby as others have done, but as I've read lots of place its not the easiest feat.

My next purchase in the next month or so will be an amp, and sub. I will leave the speakers for last just because to me they aren't that horrible so it just makes sense to do em last.

[mikeyd914]

the speakers are THAT horrible when you get new speakers you will see how they are one of the worst speakers ever lol. right now i just upgraded my rear speakers that are amp'd up and when i switch the fader from front to back, i get speechless lol.

the stock speakers sound like pure sH!T compared the infinity speakers i put in and it sounds like it has sound setting on -6 treble lmao

but yeah first get HU then sub then speakers youll be happy as you add each part!

[penuch]

Oh I mean I know they are horrible, not trying to say they are nice or anything. What I really mean is that it will be most beneficial to add them once I have the new HU and Sub in place. Then I will truly be able to appreciate new speakers. Can't wait till it all comes together.

[mikeyd914]

yeah i know what you meant lol jus sayin new speakers give the car a much more pleasent drive listening to clarity in music

[Mr.B]

Originally Posted by penuch

So it's not gonna be an all at once thing, but over the next couple of months I will be redoing my whole sounds system. I have decided to start with the head unit. I bought a used Pioneer AVH-P2300DVD Double-DIN DVD Receive ($215), a scosche antenna extension ($2), then just for the harness the Metra Honda Installation Kit (99-7862) ($21.99). So right now I have spent a total of 248.98 including shipping, which doesn't seem to bad because the HU alone goes for more than that usually. Just waiting for all the parts to get here and then I will post pictures as I go along. I am going to be putting the HU into the bottom cubby as others have done, but as I've read lots of place its not the easiest feat.

My next purchase in the next month or so will be an amp, and sub. I will leave the speakers for last just because to me they aren't that horrible so it just makes sense to do em last.

good deals on the 2din! looks like you got a plan and are sticking to it, budget wise. installing the deck really isnt a problem. it shouldnt take you more than 10 minutes to disassemble the dash, a quick search on youtube has a few tutorials available. the most tedious thing is crimping all the connectors on the wires from the pioneer harness to the stock harness adapter. lol.

since youre just doing the head unit for now, i would suggest looking at getting a 4 channel amp, that way you can bridge the rear two channels for your sub and power the components up front (when you get them) with the other two channels. you might be interested in Dayton Audio's HO 10 or 12. rated at 4 ohm so it would be perfect to run off of your amp bridged. great price and just as good reviews on DIYMA(dot)com.

the rear speakers in the deck lid are really only for ambient fill. i never ran any in my tacoma and only left the ones in this accord since they were already there. i got my deck faded +8 to the front anyways.

[penuch]

So if I don't buy the Honda Audio attachment, what is the best way to secure the receiver in the pocket? Obviously that comes with brackets, but I would hate to pay $50 just for the metal brackets that come with it. I have a trim piece, but Im just trying to figure out the best way to secure it in the pocket?

[Mr.B]

damn. come to think about it, you would have to custom fit the deck in there. hope you are pretty handy! at worst, you can always sell the 3200 and go with a 5100 or 5200 motorized 1din. that would make life a whole lot easier.

edit: theres a few threads on here where guys have fit a 2din in the pocket. search that and hit them up for any tips or info

[penuch]

Yeah, I may just give in and buy the Honda Audio attachment. I modified a single din piece into a double din, and it does slide into that. Only problem is can't really just find brackets anywhere that would work to hold it down.

[penuch]

Alright so I finally got it installed. Not the easiest thing I have ever done, but definitely manageable.
Right now the head unit is sitting on a modified metra single din pocket. I basically cut off everything but the bottom part. Should of taken a picture of it but I forgot to. As for holding tight, it is so tight in there for the most part I think I can probably just zip tie it to the platform it is sitting on and it should be fine.

The wiring I was nervous about, but it turned out great. Everything works, even the screen dims when I turn on the headlights. I also wired up a toggle switch that I put under my drivers seat and it is working great. I will post up pictures later today when I get done playing around with my new toy

[Mr.B]

Originally Posted by penuch

Alright so I finally got it installed. Not the easiest thing I have ever done, but definitely manageable.
Right now the head unit is sitting on a modified metra single din pocket. I basically cut off everything but the bottom part. Should of taken a picture of it but I forgot to. As for holding tight, it is so tight in there for the most part I think I can probably just zip tie it to the platform it is sitting on and it should be fine.

The wiring I was nervous about, but it turned out great. Everything works, even the screen dims when I turn on the headlights. I also wired up a toggle switch that I put under my drivers seat and it is working great. I will post up pictures later today when I get done playing around with my new toy

is the toggle for on/off or did you wire up a two toggle bypass? ive only done a relay bypass for video playback before. interested to see/hear more about how you got it set up. pics?

[penuch]

So here is the switch, It just mimics the e-brake being on. I chose this over an relay circuit on the off chance I get pull over and a passenger is watching a video I can hit the switch, and it cause the e-brake warning screen to come up making it seem that there is no video playing.


What I did was I ran the e-brake wire from the harness as if I was going to attach it to the e-brake, but then pulled the wire out from under the plastic around the e-brake area. which is easy cause the bottom can easily be pushed in or out a couple inches. I then grounded the switch to a metal bracket under my seat, and just put the switch in-between the console and seat, although there is enough slack that I can move it around under the seat.



Here is the radio installed. I still need to put a cover over it. Right now it is just sitting on the modified metra single din piece.



The headunit really does make the speakers and even the stock sub sound better, although I know everything will sound even better once I get a real sub and speakers put in.

[ligossipgurl]

i need to update the speakers in my 09 accord ex can you give me a good brand im new to the whole car mods i just purchased this car as my first new car