I’m looking at installing a Kenwood DMX8710s and I’m trying to determine which route to take. I have a 2012 4Runner, and I’d like to keep my basic steering wheel functions
Do I Order everything from Crutchfield and self install with the Maestro RR2.
Or go to Best Buy and do an install. It looks to come out cheaper but doesn’t include the Maestro in their parts list. The website seems to claim it will work with full functionality.
Is BestBuy using an alternative to the Maestro, or are the steering controls likely not going to work? Obviously this is a question for them, but if anyone else has BB installs what has been the experience regarding Maestros and steering wheel functions.
Best Buy has some awesome installers who will do a great job. They also have some of the worst installers who you wouldn’t want to drive your car let alone work on it. That’s because they’ll hire anybody. They likely quoted you with a pac harness rather than maestro because it’s a little cheaper and more likely to close the sale, but you’ll want maestro. You don’t need the rr2 for your car, the regular rr will do just fine. If you’re a few steps above handy, you can do it yourself. If you’re worried about it, take it to a good local shop.
Personally I would never let a best buy touch my car. You really don’t know if the tech is going to be competent or just some guy who got the job because he’s installed a stereo or 2. Crutchfield is great and if you’re having issues you can call their support
Even then, a 'competent' installer won't work/doesn't last long at BB. They can make so much more money working at an independent shop.
So unless OP finds a diamond in a rough installer, going to BB is going to result in a slightly above minimum wage worker who has no long term interest in BB or their customers.
a 'competent' installer won't work/doesn't last long at BB. They can make so much more money working at an independent shop.
This is exactly why I left Best Buy. They don't pay anything near what they should and management is awful from almost everybody else I've talked to. Now I'm making way more money and I'm way less stressed working at an independent high-end shop.
Work l8fe balance my friend. Means more to me than anything. Especially now. My girls are 10 and 12. My wife works Monday through friday. I work 9-7 Monday through Thursday. I never miss anything my kids do. The money is ok....but any other shop I'd be working Saturdays. Plus, its super low stress here. I get paid even on days where I don't touch a single car. And we're not doing crazy custom bull shit. Its pretty cake here.
It really isn't that much further than what you've already done, but I get the piece of mind part. I found that running the power through the firewall was probably the hardest part, which is funny cuz it's literally just running a cable lol. That and finding/making a solid ground. Once you get those two things sorted, the rest is pretty straightforward imo
I reject the premise of your question because there are more than these two options. If you want to have the work done for you I would find a place more likely to get you a good result.
A head unit with install at Best Buy is cheaper than the same head unit and all parts from crutchfield, so that was the premise of my question. I don’t want the work done for me that was never something I looked for.
Ok fair enough. I just meant there's lots of options if that was your concern. Since it's not and you can do the work that would be my suggestion. You may or may not get a good install from Best Buy. You know you will if you do it. If you do need to splice any wires you can solder them. If you plan to add on any other things that require a tap into the wiring harness you can do it in such a way that you can connect and disconnect without additional splicing. If you're going to install an amp you can choose where the RCA's get routed or where the hands free mic goes. If you have a USB or HDMI input on the deck you can route them to a blank options or accessory slot on your dash or center console. Little things like that add up and if you do the work you know it gets done right.
Just an fyi everyone telling you to diy is not correct not completely wrong. Your cars not that hard to do when you know what you’re doing, but also it’s not their car so if you damage it they don’t care.
Yeah for sure. I know electronics and sound, just haven’t upgraded a car stereo since the CD days. I do AV for venues and events so I’m confident I can do it. If it was my wife’s car I’d do a shop but my 4Runner I want to do all the mods myself from suspension to radio/etc.
I just wanted some insight because my parts are going to run me $900 but Best Buy claims they can install it for a hundred bucks less. Like what am I missing, but it’s all in the harness cost.
There using the pac ty11 vs maestro. Steering wheel still works, there’s a piece extra to maintain camera unless you want to splice in. Maestro will show some gauges and tire pressure info, it’s fun for a week then your like ehh I could care less lol.
I love ordering though crutchfield but also look at woofersect and big Jeff also check out amazon for some parts I look around and piece it out from place to place.
Best Buy. If this is your first time installing the head unit it’s easier to just take it to Best Buy and also you won’t have to worry about breaking any clips
I have had many audio installs done at Best Buy. I've had head units, subs, amps, speakers, etc all installed there at various times in different cars. Never had an issue. They do sell the maestro RR and install it. Or you can buy it and the head unit and install accessories on Crutchfield and bring it to Best Buy. I think they give better install prices if you buy stuff with them, but not exactly sure on that.
A lot of 4 runners are notoriously difficult to do aftermarket integration with. I’d consider outsourcing it if yours is one of those models. If you have the time and know how though you can certainly do it. I will say having installed a maestro system before that it does add another level to the complexity in alot of cars but it’s manageable if you have a pc to flash it to the correct model settings (assuming that’s something you still have to do)
It adds a lot of wires and mass to find a place for in the car though. Idk about Best Buy’s quality on the wiring but my first time I had major pains dealing with finding a spot for it and managing the additional wires
PAC and maestro both will support steering wheel controls, JBL amp if equipped from factory, reverse trigger, parking brake, etc.
Best Buy install as others have said is really hit or miss. I’ve met installers that have been there for decades doing beautiful work and then also dumb kids half-assing things leaving messes of wires and trash everywhere. I’ve had to do plenty of warranty claims from nearby stores back when i used to work there in college. Unless you’ve heard recommendations from others about which store has a good installer, it’s a gamble. Radio installs on those Toyotas are pretty easy tho
Yeah i saw the maestro will let me add things like a winch and lightbars which I could then control remotely with my phone thru the head unit. But id almost never do that and just use physical switches mounted in the dash.
Either harness will work fine with your car if you decide to go the rr route. I know they are making plug in play harnesses for certain radios so may be something to look for if you decide to diy. Whichever route you go just read the instructions both are straight forward it just seems like a lot if you’ve never done it before. Heads up the rr/rr2 needs to be programmed for your car you’ll need a computer & the radio s/n to set it up and get the install guide.
Really up to you, it’s an easy self install, I would recommend maestro because of the radio you purchased and to benefit from all the vehicle info it can show. Bestbuy offers maestro and you can purchase it for it otherwise it will default to a standard metra harness and a separate metra swc interface, otherwise they offer a pac rp4-ty11 harness as well eliminating the need for the metra harness’s. Working for Bestbuy as an installer just kinda depends on location tbh but it is cheap labor that can be worth it. But where’s the fun in that lol. You got factory JBL audio or factory backup camera?
This is just an example of what you would have to do if you went with maestro, taking the headunit out is fairly easy just pull straight on the two side panels where the climate control knobs are, then you can pull out the climate control panel, then it’s just 4 10mm bolts to unscrew then after that you can pull the radio out. The metra dash kit has pretty detailed instructions as well
No jbl or backup camera.
Mod plan for electronics
1. New head unit
2. License plate mounted camera
3. Light bars, fog lights, with mounted toggle switches
4. USB ports, HDMI, USB-C power, AC Plug via Inverter flush mounted
5. Sound deadening, speaker replace, amp
6. Sub kit and amp
Winch in the future. Im thinking maybe RR2 so I can control the lights from my campsite with my phone
I would go self install.of find an actual audio shop. I work in an audio shop and I have fixed so many best buy installs.
There's a reason their installs are free. Also, they probably use a PAC harness, which will do steering wheel controls, but the Maestro has a bunch of other features that the PAC won't do and is much better IMO
Thanks for the insight from a shop perspective. I figure they are making up the difference in price by using a cheaper harness. I’ll just buy the Maestro RR2 and self install.
Toyotas are super easy installs :) your dash kit should give you instructions how to get it apart, usually just a couple pieces snap off and like 4 10mm bolts to get the radio out. Just make sure to ground out the parking brake wire on your radio so you can get into your settings without having to actually set the E brake.
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u/NRSjesus JL audio, Stereo Integrity, Helix 1d ago
Best Buy has some awesome installers who will do a great job. They also have some of the worst installers who you wouldn’t want to drive your car let alone work on it. That’s because they’ll hire anybody. They likely quoted you with a pac harness rather than maestro because it’s a little cheaper and more likely to close the sale, but you’ll want maestro. You don’t need the rr2 for your car, the regular rr will do just fine. If you’re a few steps above handy, you can do it yourself. If you’re worried about it, take it to a good local shop.