When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Says it only works with 2006 LS430, though I don't believe there were any changes to the Pioneer amp during the model run. You might consult with the manufacturer and see if they actually tested it in a LS430.
I have an 04 non ML. I took some time and found that only the 2004 wiring needs a beatsonic adapter to install a new aftermarket head unit.
Now the adapter from BS costed ? $200 but after weeks of messing around with work arounds, their adapter was the one thing that worked. 30 mins later the new AVIC head unit was up and running!
That's a good feeling! What do you mean when you say only the 2004 needs a beatsonic adapter?
2004-2006 need the Beat Sonic kit if you want to add an aftermarket stereo, though Beat Sonic does make a kit for the 01-03 models also IIRC. The Beat Sonic kit does NOT include provisions to retain the steering wheel controls and still ties in with the factory Pioneer amp. I'm running the Beat Sonic kit in my non-nav 06 and I love it, worth the price.
Yeah. I just refuse to believe Crux is totally wrong on this car. It seems pretty implausible but the more wiring combinations I try that still don't work the more I realize it's probably the case. I can finish this install today if I live with the fact that I'll never have steering wheel controls again but I'll probably just tell Crutchfield to refund me my money since I was promised something that they couldn't deliver.
And normally Crutchfield is awesome -- I realize mistakes happen every once in a while.
I know the non ML 2004 year SPECIFICALLY is wired differently that other years for the audio -
Never heard that before... Interesting!
The plot thickens... Today I called Crux and the guy that answered for tech support insisted that the steering wheel controls will work with this adapter... He is emailing me back tomorrow with an LS-specific wire splicing. I still think they're wrong.
2004 base owner here and just to chime in and confirm, the Crux CS-TJ20 definitely does not work (according to a local shops efforts) to retain steering wheel controls. The pre wired harness from Crutchfield was also a no go, although those harnesses may be specific to the head unit, I'm not sure. After struggling with it for a few hours my local shop couldn't find anything that would keep the steering wheel controls. The harness wouldn't work either so they had to bypass the factory amp and now all is good. Thankfully Crutchfield was cool about it and refunded me for the harness and Crux adapter. This was just about a month ago and I agree that something is wrong with Crutchfield's documentation on our car because they were also sure it would work for me. It was bummer because I was really looking for that plug and play installation and operation.
Finally finished the install. I love every bit of it except the lack of steering wheel controls. It just still feels like a half finished build. Not pictured but the speakers I used were Infinity Kappa 6.5 components. I’ve used them before in previous builds and their clarity is amazing. Their sub bass is lacking but that’s what you use a sub for anyway Scary
Back seats are a pain!
Sound deadened trunk lid
Spliced into these wires on the stock wiring harness with my four channel amp.. all speakers are using factory location/wiring
Planning out placement of subwoofer amp
Planning out place for my four channel amp powering the speakers
Splicing the wires for the head unit.. turns out I didn’t need the Crux interface at all.. ended up returning it for a full refund
Trunk was a mess (those are reflections on the bumper, not scratches)
Alpine ilx-207. Very high quality head unit. Love it. I used the Metra dash kit because it literally came free with the head unit. I think I can shim the bottom in order to bring that gap at the top closer. If not I’ll just buy the Beatsonic dash kit.
It was so nice I took her out of the garage one day
Finished it off with a JL 12W6 in a custom 1.3 cu ft. sealed enclosure. No wiring or amps visible
That looks sharp, nice install. Do you have any photos of your amps mounted up? I'm going to do a 5-channel amp install soon and want it hidden as well.
Thanks! Both of the amps fit so perfectly on either side that I just bought some Velcro and stuck them down. Honestly the fit was so tight that I could have just left them as they were and they wouldn’t have moved.
But be careful — you wouldn’t want an amp any bigger than probably 8.5 inches wide. Mine I think were around 8x8” for reference and just barely fit. And if you have a 430 with nav you’re going to be out of luck on the right side unless you remove the oem unit because that’s where the nav box goes in the 430s that were so equipped.
Thanks! Both of the amps fit so perfectly on either side that I just bought some Velcro and stuck them down. Honestly the fit was so tight that I could have just left them as they were and they wouldn’t have moved.
But be careful — you wouldn’t want an amp any bigger than probably 8.5 inches wide. Mine I think were around 8x8” for reference and just barely fit. And if you have a 430 with nav you’re going to be out of luck on the right side unless you remove the oem unit because that’s where the nav box goes in the 430s that were so equipped.
Ah yes, I have NAV (the gift that keeps on giving). So I'll have to come up with another mounting solution.
Did you need any spacer rings for the Kappa 6.5's?
Switch to the BeatSonic bezel... the fit and finish are OEM quality. The Metra would drive me nuts...
Totally agree there. Like I said, I got the Metra kit for free so I figured I had nothing to lose. I've been looking and apparently you can buy just the Beatsonic bezel without the wiring harness for around $150 which is a lot to pay for a piece of plastic but definitely worth it.
08-18-18, 01:05 PM
