Has anyone tried swapping out their head unit yet?
 

I'm currently looking to replace the head unit with a Pioneer DMH-WT8600NEX but I haven't been able to find any info on head unit swaps for the car yet. I see in Japan that they do run custom head units but asking people there hasn't yielded much info likely due to the fact that they didn't install it themselves (the people I asked said they did retain steering wheel controls though).

Anyone here try to do the swap themselves?

I just happened to be checking out similar systems to replace the one in my RV. For more than $2,000, they could have bought anything off the shelf rather than the custom built system that has the build quality and utility of a middle school science project. The lack of Apple Car Play and Android Auto is a game changer. The Pioneer you mentioned is a nice one and they told me that there is an extra OEM converter module designed to retain the interface from the vehicle. In the case of my RV, I only need to be able to use the Mercedes Sprinter steering wheel controls. In the Subaru BRZ, there is a lot more going on and they told me that they don't have enough info on the 2022 Twins yet, so the jury is still out on that one. I am OK with the sound in my 2022 BRZ for now. They told me that if I am OK with the functionality of the head unit and I wanted to improve the sound, they could help me out starting with speakers and external amplifiers. They also suggested that I absolutely need to install a massive sub in the space where the spare tire used to be.

What?

Do you not have an 86?

^he's talking his RV in the first part.

all indications are that the audio system is identical to previous generations, so all the same rules as a 2020 brz apply.

there was a minor alteration with the brz limited/premium where the limited gets the same speakers as the pervious gen limited, but the premium drops the dash midrange speakers. but still have a door 'sub' amp, still tweeters in the dash, and still 3" speakers in the rear seats.

really shouldn't 'absolutely need' a sub unless you really want the seats shaking. a plenty-decent sound system can be put together without a sub...

2022 BRZ and a 2019 Ascent, both have Apple Car Play and Android Auto. It is the kludgy head unit in my RV that is functionally challenged and was the reason I went to the car audio shop in the first place. The Ascent has built-in Tom Tom navigation which is just so-so. I use Waze, Google Maps or Apple Maps connected to my iPhone. Mostly I use Waze (Police reported ahead or dead animal on the road). My Ascent will drive over most road-kill, but the BRZ has to dodge the blood and guts. Back to the Pioneer head units; that is my first choice for aftermarket gear. Back in the day before satellite or internet channels, the Pioneer radios were the best at pulling in both FM and AM radio when I was cruising somewhere USA.

This is what I believe too that it's the same. I don't think there is a lot to replace, the starlink module etc should all hook up. The questionable items are the lack of Maestro RR2 support and steering wheel controls.

But the Japanese owner I talked to said steering wheel controls work with his aftermarket head unit. And if the car is the same maybe Maestro RR2 support could at least be mostly complete?

My only thing is where are people finding these parts, I don't want to take everything apart only to realize I need some module for the steering wheel.

And also perhaps the biggest thing is I don't know what the deal with housing an aftermarket unit would be. There were dash kits from gen one, and people are doing it with gen 2 but I don't know the part number for it. Also I don't know if it would accommodate a floating display without having a huge gap in the back.

Replacing the head unit would only basically eliminate the app for Starlink/MySubaru but would not get rid of the Starlink functionality. You'd just miss things like maintenance alerts etc which is no big deal.

Also, it seems like every vehicle-related setting in the stock head unit can be altered in the gauge cluster display anyway so again no loss there.

really shouldn't 'absolutely need' a sub unless you really want the seats shaking. a plenty-decent sound system can be put together without a sub...[/QUOTE]

Right. He caught me looking at an Earth shaking sub and he knew that the spare tire was deleted for 2022. "Here's what you do: cut a hole in the floor. We have a grill that will fit real nice. Drop the back seat down and show time." I told him that I would have to think about that mod.

Okay, so I found some videos showing head unit replacements. I could possibly do this, the only issue remaining is the gap with a single DIN head unit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEL6lo6EqRY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEoAr0GhwCQ

I want to add a sub to mine but not sure how yet, going to figure this out so I can do the work myself. So, thanks for those vids, looks really easy to access the head unit. I was afraid it would require a lot more work.

it would take a lot of leg work, but toyota LOVES sharing parts, and subaru seems to float the same way.

i suspect you should be able to locate another toyota/subaru model that would at least fit to fill the gaps right, might even bolt up right.

and major +1 to wanting to run a 1-din!

if you've got the limited/8 speaker system, the amp in the trunk has high level full range inputs. can easily tap into that within the trunk for the signal.

Metra actually makes a dash kit for the gen 1 BRZ. I suspect that the bracket to actually hold the unit would be the same. The housing would be the problem, again though lol. I could check and look around but I'm unsure as of now.

I don't think finding something from another model would work though. Subaru's own cars and Toyota's own cars are wildly different in the head unit area vs. the BRZ.

But dash kits are also cheap enough that I could do it in an improvised way first and then do it the proper way once an updated kit is released.


I do have a question about the iDatalink Maestro RR2 though for anyone who knows -- do they get software updates to be compatible with new cars or are they actually revised hardware-wise?

This may or may not be relevant for you..

Dont replace your GR86 premuim\BRZ Limited Headunit until you read this.....

I saw this thread, but every car-specific control in the head unit can already be altered in the gauge cluster. The only thing you lose is the ability to schedule service or call roadside assistance via the head unit. But you can do that via the homelink mirror still I think. The loss of that isn't a big deal since it isn't like I don't have my phone with me 24/7.

I am not sure I understand how the amplifier(s) and speakers are set up. Looking at the diagram does not clear things up for me. My Subaru Ascent has 8 speakers and a big Harmon Kardon amp under the front passenger seat. I assume all the heavy lifting is done by that amp. Whether it is driven by power amps in the head unit or line level signals, I don't have a clue. Same with my previous 2017 BRZ which had 6 speakers and an amp in the trunk area. I assume that the 2022 is set up in a similar fashion. Does the head unit have a power amp capable of driving speakers on its own? Are all 6 speakers in the BRZ connected to the external amp in the trunk area?

i run the scosche kit, as i could more easily modify it to mount the pouch on the top, alternatively can also run 2 1-din units, where the metra kit is a fixed 1-din only kit
https://www.scosche.com/scn4202b

either can't hurt to try, definitely cheap enough-- if there were someone near chicago with a '22, i'd have no problem pulling my kit to test fit some weekend. if nothing else, for the future knowledge

they do get software updates to be compatible with newer vehicles, and also to update the connection/wiring diagrams. i know about it, but never used the maestro for it.

very different from your ascent. but typical for toyota. a number of other models are wired very similar. my tacoma is, just without the amp.

from the info i've collected so far, i've gathered that there's 2 sound systems offered now. the limited brz has a 8-speaker system, with amp, and the premium brz has a 6 speaker system, without amp. the major difference from 1st gen is the premium dropping a pair of speakers, and the amp--i believe. the 6-speaker part is confirmed, the non-included amp was anecdotal from 1 thread from a new member connecting a sub...


the front channels run into the tweeters on the top of the dash. there's a 4-wire plug on the tweeter with internal jumper pairs inside the tweeter to connect the 2 pairs of wires. 1 jumper for + input to +output, and 1 for - input to - output. disconnecting the tweeters will kill all the front speakers.

from that tweeter connector, the full range signal splits to the amp in the trunk, and the dash midranges(if equipped, premium won't have them, unclear if the wiring exists though).

once the signal hits the amp, the amp has some specialty low-pass filtering, and sends the the amplified result to the door speakers only, making them operate like subwoofers(but they're only low-grade 6.5" 2 ohm speakers, so they do a terrible job at it). there's a thread by frs2gt86 that goes much more into depth on the specific frequencies that the amp covers if one is so inclined, but i feel it's starting to get off into the weeds in this conversation.

for the 1st-gen, the dash midrange and tweeters both have built-in high-pass filtering, the diagrams i've seen of the 2nd-gen indicates zero changes. the same diagrams have also indicated that the amp/door speaker operation appears to be unchanged as well.



the rear speakers are directly connected to the rear speaker output of the head unit. there is no physical filtering on the rear speakers, though some speculation that the oem head unit limits frequencies going to those speakers. but no one's really ever cared enough to dig into it past that speculation--anyone that cared enough for how it sounds just replaced the head unit and speakers.

I'll get this and try and see. I just need to make sure then that the factory bezel can stay with it too.

I think I will wait for the dust to settle before I tinker with the BRZ. My priority now is dealing with the system in my RV since an email I received just yesterday told me that they just kicked us to the curb on any updates citing how difficult it is to deal with data intensive technology. Duh? Maybe the best thing to have in the dash is a monitor and a docking slot to drop in your smart phone that way three or four years down the road you are not doing reconstruction surgery on your dash unit. For now my next totally unnecessary project is to tap in to the sound creator unit output with an output converter with a cord that I can plug into the AUX jack. It will be interesting to hear what the fake engine noise sounds like though all the speakers turned way up. I’m sure the novelty will wear off after a day or so, but the fun thing would be to get a passenger to go for a ride not knowing what I did. I should be finishing up my tax return and not getting distracted.

ive only had mine for days so i cant help you with actual evidence but ive never seen a vehicle use high level signals and an amp for an oem system. low level to the amp has always been the way

i've got 2 ford, and 3 nissan sub amps that are high level input....

I don’t know of any OEM setup that uses low level signals. They always use high level signals even with an amp.

i've got 1 amp, think it was a ford that is low level. but oem low level amps are somewhat odd ducks...

Well, of course, back-in-the-day. Each spring I would take the radio out of my 1948 Chev and install it on the fender of an Oliver tractor, where I spent most of my time. Then in the fall, swap it back.

Piece of cake. One wire to ground, one wire to power, a wire to the speaker and a wire to the coat hanger, used as the antenna.

Got three AM stations (on a clear day).

:happyanim:

maybe i just got lucky. or unlucky idk

All my first cars had positive ground electrical systems. Lucky for me that I was able to find radios that were 'convertible' for positive or negative ground. Most of you missed that fun. Of course, it was AM radio and if you were uptown, you had AM/FM. Then came 8-Track... look out who knows, maybe we will land a man on the Moon? We live in amazing times.