$ To Spend or not to Spend $

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Jhollowell

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2016
Posts
815
Reaction score
830
Location
Everett, wa
i upgraded the head unit to a Kenwood deck. you can get the adapters to retain all the steering wheel controls as well as the hard buttons on the dash. I have a 2011 so that was the only way i could get carplay and it made connecting to the amps a little easier by using RCA's. sounds like you have a 2013/14 so maybe you have better options.
 
OP
OP
Dblex

Dblex

Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2023
Posts
30
Reaction score
39
Location
Corpus Christi Texas
i upgraded the head unit to a Kenwood deck. you can get the adapters to retain all the steering wheel controls as well as the hard buttons on the dash. I have a 2011 so that was the only way i could get carplay and it made connecting to the amps a little easier by using RCA's. sounds like you have a 2013/14 so maybe you have better options.
Yeah, 2014. I don’t want to lose my climate controls / seat warmers and coolers from the screen…
 

The Car Stereo Company

aka grumpy car stereo guy and frf rolodex
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2012
Posts
32,625
Reaction score
23,670
Location
here, on frf
i travel..... sometimes....

i would change out the axxess piece. i am not fond of most their products. they are owned by metra, but axxess seem to have a lot of problems. run a 6.5 speaker instead of a 5x7. running in a bi amped configuration, will improve your sound greatly
 

Jhollowell

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2016
Posts
815
Reaction score
830
Location
Everett, wa
Yeah, 2014. I don’t want to lose my climate controls / seat warmers and coolers from the screen…
Gotcha. I still control my climate from the screen but i have a hard button for the seat heaters, but i don't have cooled seats. Look at Crutchfield.com and see what they offer for the 2014 and integration controls.
 
OP
OP
Dblex

Dblex

Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2023
Posts
30
Reaction score
39
Location
Corpus Christi Texas
i travel..... sometimes....

i would change out the axxess piece. i am not fond of most their products. they are owned by metra, but axxess seem to have a lot of problems. run a 6.5 speaker instead of a 5x7. running in a bi amped configuration, will improve your sound greatly
message me if your interested in coming to South Texas . I’ll buy the equipment pay your labor!
 

Cody Templeton

FRF Addict
Joined
Oct 29, 2020
Posts
1,453
Reaction score
1,129
Location
Des Moines, IA
I'm currently in the process as well trying to decide how far I truly want to go. Only thing I can offer is that the Focal speakers are incredibly nice, as I am currently running them. My current hang up with going around the stock Sony amp is that I am running one of the Tesla-style head units, which obviously weren't engineered for sound quality compared to a true head unit build for that. I am unsure if it would be worth trying to upgrade any further due to the limitations of the head unit.
 

The Car Stereo Company

aka grumpy car stereo guy and frf rolodex
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2012
Posts
32,625
Reaction score
23,670
Location
here, on frf
I'm currently in the process as well trying to decide how far I truly want to go. Only thing I can offer is that the Focal speakers are incredibly nice, as I am currently running them. My current hang up with going around the stock Sony amp is that I am running one of the Tesla-style head units, which obviously weren't engineered for sound quality compared to a true head unit build for that. I am unsure if it would be worth trying to upgrade any further due to the limitations of the head unit.
as long as it sends a full range signal, a sound processor will help immensley
 
Top