I want to know if it is worth it pay $240 for the upgraded head unit. I also woiuld like to konw if the upgraded head unit has a sub output for an aftermarket amp.

If you have an iPod, or plan on buying one, YES.

Scott

Hi. I just bought a TC last month and got the upgraded head unit. It's rather disappointing. My IPOD freezes sometimes and won't start playing music again for 30 seconds. It just happens out of no where. If you know anything about car stereos it would make a lot more sense to just buy another deck that would be cheaper and better and throw it in.

And it doesn't have outputs for an amp. You can get around that by splicing into the speaker output wires and connecting your own RCA jacks or there are harnesses you can purchase that have a passthrough with rca jacks... althought I'm not sure where to get them.

its pretty good as far as the control of the ipod goes, many reviews online say it's the best ipod to car stereo integration offered by any manufacturer.

and you can buy output adapters from norcalscions.com or something.

While it sux that your iPod freezes, dopexile, it's not necessarily the stereo - iPods can and do freeze up.

Other cars that have iPod integration are not nearly as good as the SCION/Toyota.

I'm very happy with mine. Definitely worth it IMO.

Me too. It's one main reason I ended up buying the tC over some other cars.

While it sux that your iPod freezes, dopexile, it's not necessarily the stereo - iPods can and do freeze up.

I have the 06 HU.

I originally used a 3G/20gb (touch wheel w/4 lighted buttons over the wheel) pod. It would sometimes search for a song and never play. It also would freeze now and again until unplugged/replugged. Sometimes it would not show up, when it was fine the last time the car was started-10 minutes ago.

That being said, I now use a 4G/60gb Photo clickwheel. It works flawlessly. I think the OS of the 3G is not *quite* compatible.

I have a 5G/60gb Video, but have not tried it in the box yet. I would guess that it would be fine also.

FWIW

The model iPod is important - make sure each one has up-to-date firmware.
Also, an iPod that has music from "questionable" sources can lockup.
I'm not saying anyone here has this stuff on their iPods, but I support scores of iPods in my work and the ones that were troublesome all had crap people downloaded from P2P sites.
iPod Software List (click me) (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61688)


Scott

If you do not plan on upgrading the stereo to an aftermarket one or are happy to replace only speakers if you want a little better sound, than it is perfect.

If you want to upgrade to a new stereo, $300 can get you a good MP3, iPod ready deck. Though you or a shop would need to install it. If you do not want to spend a lot of money for a great sounding system, then the Pioneer is great.

If you have the iPOD upgraded stereo... where does your iPOD sit? pics? Right now i have the non-upgraded stock stereo and i've been using the AUX plug, which has worked fine.. but i dislike the placement and having the wire sticking out of the center armrest all the time.

One of the facts of why I love the upgraded head unit is the fact that the iPod is consealed within the center console. The operation of the head unit could be a little better, but apparently it's one of the best. My one recommendation is to make playlists and use those to play songs. It can be a pain to find music, but that's the only downfall.

Hi. I just bought a TC last month and got the upgraded head unit. It's rather disappointing. My IPOD freezes sometimes and won't start playing music again for 30 seconds. It just happens out of no where. If you know anything about car stereos it would make a lot more sense to just buy another deck that would be cheaper and better and throw it in.

And it doesn't have outputs for an amp. You can get around that by splicing into the speaker output wires and connecting your own RCA jacks or there are harnesses you can purchase that have a passthrough with rca jacks... althought I'm not sure where to get them.

Make sure your iPod firmware is updated.
It sounds like an iPod issue.

In reply to the poster, I love mine. EXCEPT that the menu goes back to the beginning after you select an artist. So if you want a band in the "T's" it takes a minute to scroll thorugh. Kinda gets annoying.

Pics as requested...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/titolito/Pioneer%20iPod%20Deck/2c72434c.jpg
The head unit. Everybody likes "Hotel California!"


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/titolito/Pioneer%20iPod%20Deck/166a9d3f.jpg
Inside the armrest.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/titolito/Pioneer%20iPod%20Deck/6c44a37d.jpg
The iPod port.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/titolito/Pioneer%20iPod%20Deck/8b78b1f2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/titolito/Pioneer%20iPod%20Deck/e5153951.jpg
The cable that comes with the head unit. It's about a foot long.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/titolito/Pioneer%20iPod%20Deck/31f6b884.jpg
What the iPod screen displays when it is hooked up.


The only problem I ever had with the iPod connection is when I left the iPod in my car overnight when it was 0 degrees outside. When I turned on the car, the head unit said "Connection Error." 5 minutes later after the car had warmed up, I tried again and it worked.

u have a pic of where you set your ipod? Or do you just leave it inside the armrest?

u have a pic of where you set your ipod? Or do you just leave it inside the armrest?

Inside the armrest in the lower compartment.

Scott

hmm that's alright, cuz u can control it via the HUD- i wonder if you can get the armrest socket installation + stereo then get an after market HU to work with the connector?

u have a pic of where you set your ipod? Or do you just leave it inside the armrest?

I'm wondering what that foam cupholder insert is for. Initially I thought it was for the iPod, but then the cable from the iPod to the armrest is smashed under the armrest's top compartment. Now, I use the insert to hold my cell phone while I'm driving, fits perfectly.

That foam thing is pretty useless as far as the ipod is concerned. My nano stays inside the armrest. Not like I need to see the screen or anything.
As far as the Pioneer unit itself it is missing the Genre, but I just end up making playlists out of the Genre so problem solved.

I don't have an ipod, but I wanted to know if it's still worth it to get the upgrade head unit. I just need an line-out so I can hook up my mp3 player and I believe the upgrade does have it.

you either want to keep buring cd's or just get an iPod! Im glad i have one, but i bought an aftermarket HU. Alpine CDA-9851

I don't think you have to get an ipod (IMO, I think ipods are crap).

CDs are out of my question..I really hate using CDs, and plus, my sister stole my stack of blank CDs..I need to get it back from her.

I think the new Scion 06 does have the AUX output, so maybe there is hope for me. I gotta go to the Scion dealer one day to check it out.

ok here's a stupid related question:

i have the ipod upgrade (love it!), but when the artist/title is longer than the display (i.e. so and so featuring artist), there's a small arrow at the end of where the name fits on the display. just wondering how you scroll over to see the rest of the name (i know it's stupid, but i've tried everything it seems!).
just a curiosity! thanks!!!

ok here's a stupid related question:

i have the ipod upgrade (love it!), but when the artist/title is longer than the display (i.e. so and so featuring artist), there's a small arrow at the end of where the name fits on the display. just wondering how you scroll over to see the rest of the name (i know it's stupid, but i've tried everything it seems!).
just a curiosity! thanks!!!

Sadly you can't get the bar to scroll. The best you can do is hold the "text" button for a few seconds and it will show you the next 16 characters of the artist/song name.

for $180 you can pickup an Alpine 9852 which does full control of the iPod, sounds a LOT better than the factory decks and looks shiny to boot.
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2005/500/l500cda9852-f_CD.jpeg

Sadly you can't get the bar to scroll. The best you can do is hold the "text" button for a few seconds and it will show you the next 16 characters of the artist/song name.

Ahhh ok, gotcha.

Wouldn't it be sweet if the display scrolled through each of the headings (artist, title, cd, etc.) itself??

I love my ipod HU.

its up to you but i'd go aftermarket

I love my ipod HU.

And most likely, it will get you more resale value.
OEM options almost always fair better in the marketplace.
The OEM Pioneer HU is no slouch, as far as OEM gear goes and is perfectly good and usable.

Now if you want to compare your Alpine aftermarket stereo to something real, come to my place where my amp/preamp/speakers and CD player ran me $9k. ;)

Freeze up and other malfunctions can sometimes be fixed by doing a firmware upgrade from Apple. The nano I got would not send sound out thorough the USB until I did a firmware upgrade.