Has anyone tried swapping out their head unit yet?

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by shoreline86

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 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

Originally Posted by shoreline86

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?

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.

Originally Posted by Flarpswitch

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?

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.

[shoreline86]

Originally Posted by soundman98

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

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

[Flarpswitch]

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.

[EmperorJJ1]

Originally Posted by Flarpswitch

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?

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

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by EmperorJJ1

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....

[Yoshoobaroo]

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

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by Yoshoobaroo

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...

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by shoreline86

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?

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).

[EmperorJJ1]

Originally Posted by soundman98

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

maybe i just got lucky. or unlucky idk

[Flarpswitch]

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.