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2008 Highlander Bad Install?
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<blockquote data-quote="greynolds" data-source="post: 4933776" data-attributes="member: 593834"><p>The system sounds pretty good and I haven't spent any time tweaking the equalizer settings in the head unit yet. The bass seems quite good, but definitely doesn't have as much oomph as I've heard from some other cars around here. I definitely didn't want to end up being another one of those cars going down the street where all you hear is BOOM-BOOM-BOOM until the car is a couple miles away - quality sound is more important than quantity in my book. The system does start to distort when I really crank the volume up - not sure if the limitation is in the amplifier, the speakers, or both. But it stays clean at loud enough volumes for what I would realistically want. I may decide to upgrade the speakers or amp in time, but I am pretty happy for now. My one big complaint with the system itself is the Kenwood head unit takes FOREVER to boot up. I knew that ahead of time, but the time it takes really didn't sink in until I actually had the system.</p><p></p><p>For reference, my home audio system consists of a Lexicon MC-12B preamp/processor, Krell amps, B&amp;W Matrix 800 Series speakers (7 channels), a Velodyne 18" subwoofer, etc., so I know what a good sound system sounds like //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif. My car system definitely doesn't sound as good as my big home system, but I paid more for one of my Krell amps than I did for the entire car system.</p><p></p><p>Here's the list of installed equipment:</p><p></p><p>Kenwood DDX-812 head unit</p><p></p><p>Kenwood KNA-G510 nav unit</p><p></p><p>Kenwood iPod cable</p><p></p><p>Kenwood Sirius adapter</p><p></p><p>Sirius tuner</p><p></p><p>Dashboard installation kit for Highlander</p><p></p><p>Boston Acoustics GT50 5 channel amplifier</p><p></p><p>Boston Acoustics SX95 6x9 Speakers in front doors</p><p></p><p>Boston Acoustics XS65 6.5" Speakers in rear doors</p><p></p><p>2 Boston Acoustics G1 10" subwoofers</p><p></p><p>Hushmat installed in the doors</p><p></p><p>Streetwires ZN5 series interconnects</p><p></p><p>The prices they charged for most of the equipment were definitely more than I would have paid if I had shopped around online. They charged me $1400 for the Kenwood head unit and nav unit combo, which is less than I would have paid at Crutchfield for the combo OR for the DNX-8120. If I had installed it myself, I probably would have gotten most of the stuff from Crutchfield in order to get the install instructions, access to their tech support, etc. So I probably wouldn't have saved much on the equipment. From what I can tell, they charged me pretty much list price for the other gear.</p><p></p><p>For those who are curious, the breakdown on the install costs was:</p><p></p><p>Install / wire amp - $100</p><p></p><p>Build rear amp / sub box - $490 (7 hours of labor / parts)</p><p></p><p>Install head unit - $100</p><p></p><p>Install speakers - $100</p><p></p><p>The main line to the amp is fused. There isn't a fuse between the amp and the cigarette lighter plug - I'll probably add an inline one at some point. If something blows the fuse for the cigarette lighter, I'd prefer not to have my entire audio system disabled because of it.</p><p></p><p>The color match is actually pretty good. In the pictures, you may notice that the cargo floor consists of 5 pieces - Audio Werks is responsible only for the large piece that covers the amp and subwoofer area and the removable subwoofer panel. The other 3 pieces (left and right sides and the very rear piece) are all factory, so the factory cargo floor color is different from the rest of the interior. Audio Werks actually ended up ordering a second color to get a better match because they weren't happy with the initial choice they had made. Time will tell how the quality of the fabric they went with is and how it holds up compared to the factory fabric.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="greynolds, post: 4933776, member: 593834"] The system sounds pretty good and I haven't spent any time tweaking the equalizer settings in the head unit yet. The bass seems quite good, but definitely doesn't have as much oomph as I've heard from some other cars around here. I definitely didn't want to end up being another one of those cars going down the street where all you hear is BOOM-BOOM-BOOM until the car is a couple miles away - quality sound is more important than quantity in my book. The system does start to distort when I really crank the volume up - not sure if the limitation is in the amplifier, the speakers, or both. But it stays clean at loud enough volumes for what I would realistically want. I may decide to upgrade the speakers or amp in time, but I am pretty happy for now. My one big complaint with the system itself is the Kenwood head unit takes FOREVER to boot up. I knew that ahead of time, but the time it takes really didn't sink in until I actually had the system. For reference, my home audio system consists of a Lexicon MC-12B preamp/processor, Krell amps, B&W Matrix 800 Series speakers (7 channels), a Velodyne 18" subwoofer, etc., so I know what a good sound system sounds like [IMG]//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif[/IMG]. My car system definitely doesn't sound as good as my big home system, but I paid more for one of my Krell amps than I did for the entire car system. Here's the list of installed equipment: Kenwood DDX-812 head unit Kenwood KNA-G510 nav unit Kenwood iPod cable Kenwood Sirius adapter Sirius tuner Dashboard installation kit for Highlander Boston Acoustics GT50 5 channel amplifier Boston Acoustics SX95 6x9 Speakers in front doors Boston Acoustics XS65 6.5" Speakers in rear doors 2 Boston Acoustics G1 10" subwoofers Hushmat installed in the doors Streetwires ZN5 series interconnects The prices they charged for most of the equipment were definitely more than I would have paid if I had shopped around online. They charged me $1400 for the Kenwood head unit and nav unit combo, which is less than I would have paid at Crutchfield for the combo OR for the DNX-8120. If I had installed it myself, I probably would have gotten most of the stuff from Crutchfield in order to get the install instructions, access to their tech support, etc. So I probably wouldn't have saved much on the equipment. From what I can tell, they charged me pretty much list price for the other gear. For those who are curious, the breakdown on the install costs was: Install / wire amp - $100 Build rear amp / sub box - $490 (7 hours of labor / parts) Install head unit - $100 Install speakers - $100 The main line to the amp is fused. There isn't a fuse between the amp and the cigarette lighter plug - I'll probably add an inline one at some point. If something blows the fuse for the cigarette lighter, I'd prefer not to have my entire audio system disabled because of it. The color match is actually pretty good. In the pictures, you may notice that the cargo floor consists of 5 pieces - Audio Werks is responsible only for the large piece that covers the amp and subwoofer area and the removable subwoofer panel. The other 3 pieces (left and right sides and the very rear piece) are all factory, so the factory cargo floor color is different from the rest of the interior. Audio Werks actually ended up ordering a second color to get a better match because they weren't happy with the initial choice they had made. Time will tell how the quality of the fabric they went with is and how it holds up compared to the factory fabric. [/QUOTE]
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