My friend and I installed it tonight. not at all difficult.
off

on

opening

I messed with the customizable colors and found one that matches the amber controls almost perfectly. you can make the buttons any one of 500 some colors.
:-D

 

Oh snap, I'm installing that very same headunit next week (I bought it off ebay on monday). How's the sound quality?

 

Only the buttons on the left side change color? Or does the whole display change?

 

it sounds pretty good, because the speakers are all pre-amped now. however, with MX on, you shouldn't really take it above volume 10 or 12, depending on the song, it starts to sound distorted. with mx off, I play it at about 15 and it still hits and is very loud. I am really happy I bought it. only the buttons and the color underneath the **** change, I haven't figured out how or if you can change the rest.

 

I should also tell you that I'm having a problem with the antenna hook up. it goes in fine, but the radio is coming in fuzzy. I don't listen to the radio too much at all, but my dad does, and this is a problem. I think that the ant wire is brushing against the steel chassis brace behind the dash, but I'm not sure. I'll have to get back in there to move that wire around. it could also be the weather. it's been stormy and rainy and cloudy here all day. I'm going to wait until tommorow on the drive to NJ (thanksgiving) and see how it is, will update.

 

I love Alpine.

Good luck. Thanksgiving road trips are always painful.

 

Good looking HU. I just picked up the model below that one, figured I didn't really need the color changing or the motorized face and I saved $150.. But Alpine makes some GREAT decks, the sound quality through the stock speakers takes on a whole new personality, I can play mine at like volume 25 with no distortion whatsoever. Good choice going with Alpine!

 

You need to hook up the power ant. wire this will fix your prob.

 

My antennea is fuzzy too. I use a Kenwood radio. Yes the power antenna wire is connected. I think it has something to do with the diversity that does not get connected. I have this problem with alot of newer cars I work on these days.

 

Thats strange I have the Kenwood ddx7015 great reception ,but this is the only Scion Ive done any work on..

 

the power antenna DOES need to be hooked up? I wasn't sure of what kind of antenna we have, since I haven't seen it. I don't even know where in the car it is.

 

is that the alpine cda9830? If so its the one im getting.. Can u give me any tips on installation? Did u run rca wires to an amp or totally just keep the stock setup and strictly just replace the head unit

 

I believe it's the CDA-9831. The CDA-9830 doesn't have the color-change option. Either way, it should be the same install.

I've never installed a HU before, but I'm putting the 9831 in next week. I went down to Circuit City and got the Metra harnesses. The Toyota one was #80-1761 and the Alpine one was AL16-80. They were $17 each (I probably paid too much), but I won't have to solder/connect anything. They had to order the dash kit, though.

 

If you have them add their "free install" line item to your receipt in the computer, you'll walk away with both harnesses for $20. :-) That's what I did this past week. Oh, by the way, the install takes all of 10 minutes max.

 

SWF: I bought my head unit off ebay, so I don't think you get the free install.

 

Oops, sorry I didn't pay attention to where you got the HU, I just saw you mention Circuit City. Guess that's what I get for ASSuming, haha.

 

It's cool. The HU was $260 shipped off ebay and $400 from Circuit City. I figure I saved enough cash this way.

 

I actually bought it at my local circuit city in an open box sale, although never installed, for $260. they needed the harness or something, so they opened it, but later replaced the harness. I didn't run RCA's to an amp yet, because I have no money left for an amp and sub :-( but I will be getting both early in january when I come back from vacation. I'm gonna pull the dash again to look at the antenna wire and see what's up. the installation was real easy. I would advise soldering and heat shrink-wrapping your harness, since it will carry more current and sound better. I've known how to solder since I was about 12, but you could probably go to an electrician and have them do it for you, I just wouldn't reccomend crimping.