I just got my 60GB empeg, and I need someone to install it. All the car stereo stores I called are either backed up, or they sound like they don't have much experience with empegs. I rather have someone on this board who knows what they are doing install it casually, outside of a stereo shop and all that. I live in San Jose, CA, and I have a '99 Toyota Camry. I have an exisiting Kenwood Z919 head unit that I want to keep and serve as the empeg's amp. I was told that this is an option, and the way I should go. You will be compensated for the install !! So if you are up for it, perhaps this weekend, let me know, I would greatly appreciate it.

You are going to need the Kenwood cable that adds two RCA jacks to your head unit. Hopefully the Z919 supports it. The cable is about 2 feet long and has the two RCA plugs on one end and a DIN plug on the other. The Z919 should have the matching socket.

Who put the Z919 in? You? When you had the dash apart was there room for a second DIN box? Often Toyota will fill it with a storage pocket.

If the Z919 was put in with an adapter cable it will make life easier. This is a short wire harness that has the plug for the Z919 on one end and the mate to the Toyota factory harness on the other (the same connector that was on the back of the factory radio). The nice thing is that you can usually take the adapter cable completely out of the car and wire the empeg harness and cage into it on the workbench.

I work in Redwood City but only every other week and fly home to Utah on Fridays. So I can't hold your hand. But yours should be one of the easier installations if what I describe above is true.

Do you have a digital camera? Are you comfortable with a soldering iron or gun?

Sipho,
I do have a digital camera, but I am not comfortable at soldering. I was told I could just use the aux in of the Kenwood. Are you saying the z919 is not ready in its present state to be an amp?

If it is like my Kenwood (new as of last summer) it has an AUX IN but you need the special cable. Here is a Kenwood site that mentions the needed part - KCA-S210A. And here is a description it. Unfortunately it is fancier than what I found and you need. It is an $80 switch box to support two CD changers. I'm still looking for the cable.

I think he means you need the Auxiliary Input Adapter (CA-C1AUX) to modify the changer control interface on the deck to an RCA Aux input. The deck doesn't have straight RCA inputs stock. So you'd need the adaptor to take the outs of the empeg to the ins on the Kenwood....

see my above link... Crutchfield has them for $20.

am I better off just getting an external amp? Do I need both of the parts Sipho mentioned, the cable and that box? That would be $100 right there, I don't really care about having a radio feature, I just want whats easier to do.

BINGO, that's it. $20 is better than $80 and you won't have to find space for it.

Is this cable found at most car stereo stores, or is it a special order kind of thing? It looks like no one is offering an install, so I might take it to a local shop. If I could get the cable there it would be great.

All you need is that cable. I dunno if local shops would carry it or not... you'd have to call around. If you can get that cable... your install would be REALLY easy to do. All you need is the wiring diagram for your car, and some soulder and electrical tape... or shrink tubing if you wanna do it right. You could do it yourself if you wanted to invest an afternoon and save yourself the $$.

I am a dork though Loren, and I don't know how to do any of that stuff. I think I will just take it in to a place recommended on these boards in Sunnvale, Auto Sound & Security on El Camino. I don't wanna mess anything up doing it myself.

am I better off just getting an external amp?

Depends on your objectives.

If you want the best sound, yes.

If you want the easiest/cheapest install, no.

It's up to you.

tanstaafl.

Cool. Just make sure you read over the install FAQ so you can answer/help the installers. Make sure they don't cut any wires off the empeg sled either! =]

I'd be down to help you out, No way i can do it this weekend though. That... and i'm only confident enough in my skills to mess up my OWN car... heheh. But, your install is pretty much matching wires and soldering them together. Super easy.

I got mine from a local (Salt Lake) shop. Should be easy to find. Who installed your Z919? The technical principles of hooking up the empeg are not that difficult for a competent installer. More important is how clean an install they do and how they meet the challenges of whatever mechanical oddities they run into. In other words if you can find an installer you trust but who has not installed an empeg before - go with him. Or a mechanically-inclined friend.

In my experience the two likely areas of trouble are:

- having room for the empeg's "flange" - both the sleeve and the unit its self are bigger than the hole they slide into. On my Subaru Outback this interfered with plastic trim that came right in to the hole.

- having enough depth behind the dash for the sleeve and its wire harness.

I had my z919 installed at a local shop, they threw in installation cause I bought it there. The one I want to take it to said they have done empeg installs and told me to just bring it in on the weekend, and they will analyze the present setup and go from there. They seem good, we will see! Thanks for all your help Sipho.

If you're in San Jose, AMS on Stevens Creek has done several empeg installations. They are not perfect though.

Calvin

someone recommended Auto Sound & Security on El Camino in Sunnyvale, I am going in there tomorrow.

take pics for us... we love our pRon!!!