Car Stereo Filter
May 26, 2017 1:30 PM   Subscribe

I have a JBL ad6805 and an Alpine CDA-9884. I want to install them in a 1992 Camry XLE. There isn't a stereo in the car now, just the empty console. What do I need to get one of these stereos working?

I don't know much about cars but I do have experience with audio/recording gear, and I'm hoping that will get me through it.
posted by kittensofthenight to Technology (6 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
You've got the link to Crutchfield for the Alpine stereo. Usually when you buy from Crutchfield, you tell them what kind of car you have and they pack in an adaptor wiring harness kit. There's two connectors, one goes to your stereo with a bunch of different-colored wires, and one goes to your car. You solder and tape the wire harnesses together, based on a color-code schematic they give you, then plug in and you're good to go.

I think you need to contact Crutchfield support, tell them what stereo you have and what car you have, and ask them to sell you the wiring harness and any size adaptors you'll need, and instructions. They don't sell that stereo any more, but there's a good chance they do have the parts you'll need.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 1:52 PM on May 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


Wait, you want to install both a double DIN and single DIN receiver in the same vehicle? Is this just to have a tape deck? If not, ditch the JBL and install the Alpine.

The dash trim kit for this one is like $15. Nice! It's about $350 for my Accord. Crutchfield will be able to tell you if there's still a wiring harness available for that unit, and if so, it's probably about $10. In the worst case scenario you have to wire your own, which isn't that hard once you know which wire does what. Somewhere there's a document that says "pink/white wire: front left speaker positive, green/white wire: front left speaker negative, etc". You can use butt connectors and a crimper to avoid having to solder. Or you can take this to an audio shop and they'll do it for about $100ish.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 3:13 PM on May 26, 2017


Response by poster: Wow, I worded that wrong! No, those are stereos I got at a thrift store. I don't care which one I use.

I'm calling Crutchfield now.
posted by kittensofthenight at 4:03 PM on May 26, 2017


FYI they also have a great chat option if you don't feel like talking on the phone. They will add everything you need to an online cart and you can modify it after the fact. They have top notch customer service.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 4:05 PM on May 26, 2017


If you opt to install the single DIN stereo - you may have fit issues with the single DIN mounting kit. I've done a few of these over the years, and have never found a kit that worked out of the box. You may need to shave plastic tabs and/or improvise mounting brackets. I'm not familiar with Toyotas, but have installed in Hondas/Acuras and Mazdas of a similar vintage.

The best thing I've found around the house for making mounting brackets has been PCI slot covers - the ones that have square perforated holes in them. Easy to bend to suit your needs. If you don't have any, befriend your IT guys at work and ask them to paw through their junk pile.

Buy the adapter - much quicker than matching the wires from the car to the stereo's harness. And, since it's a Camry and will probably outlast us, it will make it easier for future owners to replace the stereo, since the factory connector will be intact.

I've also never soldered the wires - just crimped those butt connectors and wrapped with electrical tape.

And here's a good install guide.
posted by ortoLANparty at 6:54 PM on May 26, 2017


I would consider buying one of the cheap ~$50 car stereo receivers from Crutchfield. Having SD/USB and line-in is pretty awesome. For a few bucks more you can get something that does bluetooth also.

The receivers have gotten so cheap that it doesn't make sense anymore to fool around with taking your dash apart and putting in a potentially faulty receiver.
posted by gregr at 7:58 AM on May 27, 2017


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