XM Installation

[marvinii]

Has anyone installed a hardwired XM unit with their factory HU? I know that you need to buy the fit kit from Scion but is there any reason why you need the sat receiver from them also? It almost seems more economical to buy a new Pioneer HU and compatible sat receiver from Crutchfield and just deal with the loss of the steering wheel controls?

[ninjaionsobe]

can get a adapter to have wheel controls with new radio look into
http://www.pac-audio.com/products/pr...el%20Interface

[pwg_860]

I have a pioneer FH-P-8000-BT head unit and a pioneer inno for xm. I just mount it on the vent and I can use it in the car and on the walk and in the house. No need for tripple subscriptions.

I got the inno refurbed on ebay for 100 bucks.

The new head unit has a input on the back ( mini)

I may also use the usb cable to use a thunb drive for more variety.

MP3's really do sound like crap with a good set of speakers though.

XM sounds nice but the output is not as great as a cd.

[marvinii]

I went ahead with buying a Pioneer aftermarket HU and the XM receiver that they also make. The install wasn't that bad only two calls to Crutchfield, I got the Scion installation instructions and was able to hide all of the wires per the instructions. With the new HU, the IPOD and CD's sound much better than with the factory unit and the XM sounds clear also. If anyone needs the instruction set for the satellite install I would be happy to send them out to you.

[ChelsDS]

Where did you install the satellite receiver on the car? I'm wanting to put mine somewhere else but I can't think how to do it, and I don't know where they put the wires.

[marvinii]

The sat receiver went under the passenger seat, if you like send me a PM and I will email you the pdf instructions.

[pickledchang]

do the rear speakers still sound muted with the aftermarket HU? or are they as loud as the fronts now?

[pwg_860]

Still muted.

Its more of a location/speaker combo.

I'm not investing any $ in the rear doors.

I believe its a waste.

The front soundstage is where its at for me.

[pickledchang]

i think im gonna bust out the multimeter and shoot those wires between the head unit and the speakers and see if there is a filter somewhere we cant see, cause this is ridiculous.

anyway, back on topic... i dont think you will have to loose your steering wheel controls, there are available adapters you can buy:

http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=222578

[marvinii]

If you do pull the backs out and figure out why they are muted, please let us all know. The muted back is pretty annoying.

[pickledchang]

the part that puzzles me is that if there was a filter, it would either be (normally) in the head unit, or right on the speaker. someone has already stated switching to an aftermarket head unit doesnt fix it, and that switching out the rear speakers didnt solve it...

so where would the filter be at? it just seems so unusual that it would be mounted like halfway back. but, ill have to see what i can dig up. a multimeter will answer this pretty quick.

has anyone looked to see if this has something to do with the speaker and where its mounted, like is there thick foam or something on the door panel that covers it?

[marvinii]

I haven't done anything to look at whether there is something about the mounts or extra foam but the new HU I put in made the front's sound much better but the back still sounds really muted.