So whatever happened to amber illumination?

Todd Stout · 02-12-2007, 09:20 PM

I am in the market for a new head unit for my 2001 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 but I'm finding it hard to find any that feature amber illumination. It appears as though almost all car stereos have some sort of blue illumination of varying degrees of obnoxiousness and my eyes really have a hard time with that color (and it doesn't match my dashboard lighting either).

I was first looking at the JVC KD-HDR1 which features HD Radio built in as well as SRS Circle Surround Auto along with a display that doesn't appear to be too hard on the eyes. I've read comments online about JVC's iPod interface being somewhat clunky and some people question JVC's car audio reliability so I started checking out other brands.

I came across the Alpine CDA-9885 which features a bit more information in the display, a high speed iPod interface, and a red/blue display that can be made completely red. The red illumination would match my amber dash lighting better than blue. I then found another new model, the the CDE-9881 which is available in Europe as the CDE-9881R/RB in either a red/blue switchable model or a green/amber model. I see that the color I am looking for is at least made still but I guess car stereo manufacturers think we Americans only want bling bling blue in our head units.

Are any of you aware of any models that are available here and feature amber illumination? Do you think it would be difficult to swap out the bulbs in a head unit and change it to amber (especially the Alpine models since they are actually made that way for some regions)?

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JLAudioCavalier · 03-06-2007, 12:25 PM

Depending on what you are looking for out of the head unit, I would say Nakamichi is what you might want to consider. Very beautiful, simple, and in most cases look very stock (some people want something flashy but to me that is just not necesary). Nakamichi is very highly reguarded for thier attention to quality and sound quality. They build some of the most saught after SQ head units available on the market today, and it's hard not to recomend them here. In the short time I have been a member of this forum, it seems there is a much larger number of people who realy care about quality and high end components in their systems than I have ever experienced on any form, and for that I realy do not feel "bad" about recomending quality products such as Nakamichi. I would love to know more about what your entire vehicles system consists of, or what your main goals are with it, as Nak might not suit you, but I am not seeing the "I want to get 5 amps, 30 subs, and 50 speakers for 10 bucks, can you help me?!?!" threads in this forum at all, I don't feel the need to hold back... yes I rant. but i HOPE to be helpful in here. I suggest going to onlinecarstereo.com as they are now an authorized Nak dealer and have a good selection of Nak decks! And any audiophile will basicaly be put into an instant orgasm if you are looking for the smoothest, best feeling rotary volume knob available... buttons anger me! anywho.. this rant is done for now.

JLAudioCavalier · 03-06-2007, 12:30 PM

ALSO. For further help, I would suggest getting an account on CarAudioForum.com and posting in the general forum that I said to go there for more assistance finding the right Deck for you. The maturity level on that forum can hit rock bottom sometimes, but there are some legends in car audio there, and quite a few extremely knowledgeable members that will help at any chance they get. I would normaly come here first if I were to have a question on home theater, and likewise, I am going to suggest the car audio forum that I frequent for any car audio questions. I hope I'm helping.

Todd Stout · 03-08-2007, 02:52 AM

This all started when I got my first iPod for Christmas a couple of months ago. I thought it would be nice to be able to listen to my new toy in the car so I don't have to lug a bunch of CDs around with me. I looked at the various ways to use an iPod with the factory stereo but none of them really interested me. I figured now would probably be a good time to upgrade the stereo in my vehicle.

I currently have a 2001 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 X-Tra Cab with the factory head unit and speakers. The head unit is decent but very basic and the speakers are just cheap paper cone type jobs. I would like to at least upgrade the head unit and the speakers and probably add amplification and a subwoofer at some point. I'm more interested in accurate sound reproduction than I am in being heard for several blocks.

I bought a pair of Infinity 6810cs component speakers for my doors and a pair of 6812cf 2-way speakers for the rears. According to Crutchfield they drop right in but I have read that I may need to do some trimming of some sort to get the woofers to mount in the factory door locations.

I have also been looking at head units the past few weeks. I have noticed that a lot of head units have a cheap feel to them. I was impressed with how solid both Alpine and JVC models feel (especially Alpine). JVC is about to introduce some new 2007 models that I am interested in. I like the JVC KD-G730 and 830 along with the JVC Arsenal KD-AR780 and 880. JVC's regular car audio catalog for 2007 is here and their 2007 Arsenal catalog is here

Thanks for the link to CarAudioForum.com. I'll take a look in there and check the place out. Maybe someone there knows just what is involved in installing those Infinitys in my doors.

Todd Stout · 03-08-2007, 02:53 AM

Duplicate post.

Todd Stout · 03-08-2007, 02:54 AM

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Todd Stout · 03-08-2007, 02:55 AM

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Todd Stout · 03-08-2007, 02:56 AM

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Todd Stout · 03-08-2007, 02:56 AM

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Todd Stout · 03-08-2007, 08:04 AM

Duplicate post.

JLAudioCavalier · 03-08-2007, 09:24 AM

how much are you willing to or planning to spend on the front components, amplifier for them (it would be sacrelige not to amp a decent set of components and take full advantage of what they can sound like), and possible sub/amp? as well as the head unit? again, for a rock solid feel, highest quality sound, and highest quality build, Nakamichi is the first place I would turn. old school stock looking deck too... no 2 bit tool off the street is going to see that and think high end (even though he could be looking at a $1600 head unit)... JVC and Alpine are both good places to look. Alpines 2004-2006 lines have annoyed and disapointed me to no end, lets hope their 2007 line has something better to offer, or I'll keep sending the budget minded folk to Pioneer... I miss the days of recomending Alpine to be honest.

Todd Stout · 03-09-2007, 02:50 PM

I don't want to spend a fortune on a stereo system for this truck. It's a 4x4 that actually sees the dirt from time to time so I want to keep things simple and easy to replace if I break something. I'm familiar with the Nakamichi name but I think that their head units may be a bit more expensive than what I'd want to put in a 4x4 pickup.

I have owned a well engineered and somewhat inexpensive system that sounded fantastic in the past so I know it can be done. Back in the late '80s a shop in Riverside, CA called the Audio Shoppe put together a system that consisted of my existing Pioneer head unit, an Alphasonik amplifier, Speakercraft plate speakers (5.25" mid-woofer and a tweeter), and a Speakercraft 8" dual voicecoil subwoofer. This was all in a regular cab Toyota pickup and provided me with very balanced sound reproduction. When the owner of the shop first demo'd that system to me in his own pickup (I think he had an Alpine head unit) I thought he had a pair of 10" subs behind his seat but it was just that lone 8" sub.

What I want to do is replace my factory head unit with something that I can connect my iPod to, install the Infinity Reference speakers that I have already purchased, and then add some form of amplification and a subwoofer.