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#21 ·
JuneBug said:
It looks really good! I'm not a big fan of the phone mount, though. I couldn't survive with my A/C vent blocked down here. We use the A/C at least 10 months out of the year.
Click to expand...
Same setup I had in my 2004 RAV4. The vent phone mount, at least for me was the most practical and never a problem, even when in FL. The bigger issue with vent mounts is when you use the heater (potentially overheating the phone), not the AC :D Given that I use my phone primarily for navigation, the vent mount made the most sense, based on access, secure mount, minimizing damage and ease of install. As a result, it also made the most sense to put the mic there, particularly since removing the A-pillar in the 2011 Basic RAV4 is just plain gnarly ;) Got the top half off and basically came to the conclusion that I wasn't going to destroy it for a mirror mount ;)

When all is said and done, I am really happy with the setup.
 
#22 ·
laptopquestions said:
For those who might be curious, here is how the Sony WX-900BT CD receiver looks in my basic 2011 RAV4.

Mounted the mic to my Arkon Air Vent Car Mount, making a small hole in the free included Crutchfield dash kit so the cord was not pinched. Was simpler than the A-Pillar method.

So far, so good :D
Click to expand...
Naive question - does your '11 RAV4 not have the ceiling-mounted mic?

I am considering replacing the factory unit in my '12 RAV4 V6. The sound quality is below par, though (actually, like going back to AM radio days in the early '70s bad).

But, it has Bluetooth and controls in the steering wheel and - very important - also a factory-installed mic in the ceiling near the sunroof controls for use on phone calls. That mic does a great job. I would like to keep it in the mix.

Thanks.
 
#23 ·
RonMN said:
Naive question - does your '11 RAV4 not have the ceiling-mounted mic?
Click to expand...
Not a naive question at all. Fun fact: Only the 4.3 RAV4's with a sunroof AND JBL sound system have the microphone on the upper console. Those 4.3's that have a sunroof without JBL just have a fake grille there where the mic would be. And 4.3's like mine without sunroof don't even have that!
 
#24 ·
RonMN said:
Naive question - does your '11 RAV4 not have the ceiling-mounted mic?

I am considering replacing the factory unit in my '12 RAV4 V6. The sound quality is below par, though (actually, like going back to AM radio days in the early '70s bad).

But, it has Bluetooth and controls in the steering wheel and - very important - also a factory-installed mic in the ceiling near the sunroof controls for use on phone calls. That mic does a great job. I would like to keep it in the mix.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
JuneBug said:
Not a naive question at all. Fun fact: Only the 4.3 RAV4's with a sunroof AND JBL sound system have the microphone on the upper console. Those 4.3's that have a sunroof without JBL just have a fake grille there where the mic would be. And 4.3's like mine without sunroof don't even have that!
Click to expand...
So, mine just has a fake grill (no JBL system) ... which means the mic picking up well is actually my iPhone. Guess that gives me more options for a replacement stereo.

The opinion I am seeing is that the non-JBL speakers are actually decent, when paired with something other than the non-JBL factory stereo ... is that common consensus among owners here? I have only had it a few months.

Thanks.
 
#25 ·
RonMN said:
So, mine just has a fake grill (no JBL system) ... which means the mic picking up well is actually my iPhone. Guess that gives me more options for a replacement stereo.

The opinion I am seeing is that the non-JBL speakers are actually decent, when paired with something other than the non-JBL factory stereo ... is that common consensus among owners here? I have only had it a few months.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
For what it is worth, I am happy with my new Sony WX-900BT CD receiver (very simple install with the Crutchfield kit) and the stock speakers on my 2011 Base Toyota RAV4. The biggest issue for me was determining where I wanted to run the bluetooth microphone.
 
#26 ·
laptopquestions said:
For what it is worth, I am happy with my new Sony WX-900BT CD receiver (very simple install with the Crutchfield kit) and the stock speakers on my 2011 Base Toyota RAV4. The biggest issue for me was determining where I wanted to run the bluetooth microphone.
Click to expand...

So, when purchasing the Sony-WX-900BT...it comes with the dash kit? Or do I need to purchase that separately? If I was to get the XM reciever that comes with it, is it that much more of a hassle to install?
 
#27 ·
Saratonin26 said:
So, when purchasing the Sony-WX-900BT...it comes with the dash kit? Or do I need to purchase that separately? If I was to get the XM reciever that comes with it, is it that much more of a hassle to install?
Click to expand...

If you add the Sony-WX-900BT to your cart it will show you what else you need like dash kit and wiring harness for your Rav4. You can call or Live Chat them to find out about the XM Reciever. They are really good about answering any questions you might have.
 
#28 ·
JuneBug said:
Not a naive question at all. Fun fact: Only the 4.3 RAV4's with a sunroof AND JBL sound system have the microphone on the upper console. Those 4.3's that have a sunroof without JBL just have a fake grille there where the mic would be. And 4.3's like mine without sunroof don't even have that!
Click to expand...
Turns out mine is not a fake grill, but a working mic (during a call, I tossed the iPhone into the glovebox while talking and the listener said there was no difference throughout).

But is does not have JBL audio components, crappy unbranded HU and speaker grilles.

Any recommendations on a HU at a good price that would connect to the mic as well?
 
#29 ·
RonMN said:
Turns out mine is not a fake grill, but a working mic (during a call, I tossed the iPhone into the glovebox while talking and the listener said there was no difference throughout).

But is does not have JBL audio components, crappy unbranded HU and speaker grilles.

Any recommendations on a HU at a good price that would connect to the mic as well?
Click to expand...
Ah yes, you have a 2012, when they changed the design for the head unit and they all came with Bluetooth standard. For that one model year, there was no JBL offered. So, I assume your head unit looks something like this:

Image


Some head units use a 2-wire mic and others use a 3-wire. I'm not sure what Toyota installed in the 2012.
 
#30 ·
JuneBug said:
Ah yes, you have a 2012, when they changed the design for the head unit and they all came with Bluetooth standard. For that one model year, there was no JBL offered. So, I assume your head unit looks something like this:

Image


Some head units use a 2-wire mic and others use a 3-wire. I'm not sure what Toyota installed in the 2012.
Click to expand...
Yup, that's it.

Has anyone swapped out the HU on the '12 4.3 and 1) found it made a difference with the factory speakers and 2) if so, can recommend something that keeps the overhead mic in play at a $300 or under price point?

Not a hurry for me, especially now (don't relish working in the garage now that December is here in Minnesota).

Thanks.
 
#31 ·
Just to revive this thread a bit as I am about to replace my factory JBL HU with a Pioneer AVH-W4000NEX, I found this site which sells a slightly cheaper connector for the factory installed SAT (sirius XM) antenna... As I don't need the 12 feet of wiring the SFA12F comes with, this option below comes in 6 inch length, which is plenty for my application.

3 links depending on the connector you need...

XMM-TOY Sat. Radio Antenna Adapter Cable for Toyota, Subaru, Mazda :: Antennas, Adapters and Boosters :: Car Stereos and components
XMF-TOY Sat. Radio Antenna Adapter Cable for Toyota, Lexus, Subaru, Mazda :: Antennas, Adapters and Boosters :: Car Stereos and components
XMA-TOY Adapter cable for Toyota, Lexus, Subaru, Mazda to 3rd Party Antenna :: Antennas, Adapters and Boosters :: Car Stereos and components
 
#33 ·
ihabelnaccash said:
How did the install go for your Pioneer HU? Did you use any of the aftermarket boxes PAC/Maestro to retain the steering wheel controls?
Click to expand...
The install could not have been easier. This was my first HU install ever. But I am no stranger to working on cars. I used the Maestro with OBD2 and everything connected easily and without confusion. Everything worked as advertised. No issues at all.
 
#34 ·
Did your JBL have Nav?
Is that the Maestro RR with the idatalink serial cable RR-TOY01-DS?
I just got a 2010 with JBL without Nav, and one of my first must do's is replace the head unit to something modern... sound through the aux is pretty meh (probably need speaker replacement too- as the PO used to blast it)
 
#35 ·
My JBL did not have Nav. Pretty sure it was the Maestro RR. I used Crutchfield’s automatic configurator to know which parts to buy. Having CarPlay is so awesome.
 
#37 ·
The HU still uses the JBL amp, sub and all speakers via the Maestro RR. The new HU functions as though it was factory installed. All factory functions continue to work as they did prior to the HU install.
 
#38 ·
ihabelnaccash said:
Is that still powered off the JBL amp, but using the pioneer H/U? (forgive the barrage of questions- but it looks like a very similar path that I want to go down)
Click to expand...
If you have a JBL system and change it to a aftermarket ie. Pioneer you require a different wiring harness made for a JBL system. If you have the steering wheel audio controls you need that feature in the wiring harness also. The wiring harness for the JBL system look a lot different and cost more than the regular radio harness.
 
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