Need your help: Is it foolish to install a $700 Sony CarPlay unit in a TJ without a hardtop?

CreepinDeth said:
I notice your profile says Los Angeles
Is this a serious question or are you new to big city living??😂

Im from Chicago, and hell no you dont put a fancy headunit into a Jeep without some kind of security if its parked unsecured when certain urban denizens are frequenting

I put a cheap $200 BOSS headunit in the TJ
Never used BOSS before but it does what I need it to

Ive had stereo gear stolen out of my Isuzu Amigo many years ago in a theater parking lot in a halfway decent suburb that was installed with security screws
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Thats what I did, mines a SSl, same as Boss, carplay and all
 
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freedom_in_4low said:
Tinnitus is the damn devil.
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Agree. I don't have it permanently, but a high-pitched sound will come on more often than not for me. It'll last anywhere from a few seconds, to a couple of minutes. I wear ear plugs a lot. The foam ones from Ace Hardware work really well in my opinion.
 
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How come your sound bar/pod is fabric? Is that an upgrade? My plastic one looks bad with stains on it from something in its past.

Oh, is mine supposed to have a cover on? LOL

Andy
 
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Check out the Sony XAV-XA3200
Single din but double din screen. You won’t have to cut into your sub dash.
The only issues you may have is CarPlay is wired and screen is not as bright as I’d like but with top off in sun not many units u can see. About 1/2 the price your looking at.
Super easy install with Crutcfield pre built cable ($24) and plenty loud… not as loud as my 100watt Marshall collection but ok for a Jeep.
Andy has a great write up on this site.
 
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It’s up to you. It crossed my mind too when I upgraded. Decided on a Boss radio that does what I wanted. Sure at times when I use onX i wish the display was better quality, but hey it works and does what I need it to do.
 
Taking your all advice I order this a few minutes ago.

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PNW_LJ said:
I’m sure it happens here and there. My point is that it’s not nearly as commonplace as 20 years ago.

I’m willing to bet you’re more likely to get your wheels/tires stolen than your radio.
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When I lived in Colorado Springs a neighbor 3 doors down had their Lexus stolen right out of their garage in the middle of the night while they slept. Theives were sticking a hook under the garage door and grabbing the disconnect handle so they could just roll the door up. Of course the owner had left her purse, with the keys inside, on the passenger seat.

Not a sketchy neighborhood by any means, either. All semi-custom 3k sf+ built within the decade, at the time.

tworley said:
Agree. I don't have it permanently, but a high-pitched sound will come on more often than not for me. It'll last anywhere from a few seconds, to a couple of minutes. I wear ear plugs a lot. The foam ones from Ace Hardware work really well in my opinion.
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I had that when I was younger before it kicked in more permanently. I have no idea if that's any indication of likelihood to develop it later on, but if I could talk to my younger self I would warn him to avoid NSAID type drugs, wear ear plugs more often, and politely ask his dental hygienist to clean his teeth the old fashioned way rather than using an ultrasonic cleaner on a body part with a nearly unbroken path of sound-conductive bone directly to the inner ear.
 
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freedom_in_4low said:
When I lived in Colorado Springs a neighbor 3 doors down had their Lexus stolen right out of their garage in the middle of the night while they slept. Theives were sticking a hook under the garage door and grabbing the disconnect handle so they could just roll the door up. Of course the owner had left her purse, with the keys inside, on the passenger seat.

Not a sketchy neighborhood by any means, either. All semi-custom 3k sf+ built within the decade, at the time.
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Middle class on up to affluent areas are prime locations for the feral teens to shop for driveby cars and other malfeasance planned. People think because irs a better area, they dont have to worry

modern vehicles have those $400 FOBs and they buy signal repeaters that can reach further out with signals and “catch” a FOBs signal and repeat it back to your car in the driveway or garage and steal it.

My buddy caught them on his RING in his neighbirhood goin house to house odd hours of the AM in his street court

Garage doors are easily defeated by this hook method also. People need to be less oblivious and protect their assets better

RFID blockers should come standard for every FOB sold
https://www.amazon.com/RFID-protect...or+keys&tag=wranglerorg-20&tag=wranglerorg-20
 
CreepinDeth said:
Middle class on up to affluent areas are prime locations for the feral teens to shop for driveby cars and other malfeasance planned. People think because irs a better area, they dont have to worry

modern vehicles have those $400 FOBs and they buy signal repeaters that can reach further out with signals and “catch” a FOBs signal and repeat it back to your car in the driveway or garage and steal it.

My buddy caught them on his RING in his neighbirhood goin house to house odd hours of the AM in his street court

Garage doors are easily defeated by this hook method also. People need to be less oblivious and protect their assets better

RFID blockers should come standard for every FOB sold
https://www.amazon.com/RFID-protect...rorg-20&tag=wranglerorg-20&tag=wranglerorg-20
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I've been taking the handles off of the ropes ever since.

I had a weird moment last week...a guy rung the doorbell at like 11 in the morning on a weekday, saying he saw my truck in the driveway and wanted to know if I wanted to sell it and was really pushy about wanting to look at it. Had a whole sad backstory about his mom's health problems and how she needed a vehicle (so your ill elderly mom that just had open heart surgery needs a 3-door half ton pickup to climb in and out of?) and supposedly was just driving around and saw my truck. Had another guy with him, supposedly his brother, that didn't utter a word.

I live in a cul de sac in the very back of a neighborhood 10 miles from any significant commercial development. Nobody just stumbles their way out here looking for a vehicle, let alone in 2024 when craigslist and marketplace exist.

My vigilance has been extra high since then. None of the truck stuff makes any sense but what I wonder is if they were just seeing if anybody was home in the middle of a weekday and had a story prepared for why they rang the doorbell in case I answered. Jokes on them, I'm not always here but my schedule is completely inconsistent and unpredictable.
 
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Westtown Willy said:
I wouldn't spend 10 cents on a new unit, it's so loud in my TJ that the stereo is largely irrelevant, in order to crank it up loud enough to drown that out & enjoy the music aggravates my tinnitus making it miserable so it's a no-go.

I get that most don't have this issue so my post is mostly irrelevant and non-responsive to your actual question, I'll show myself out.
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Related comment on this little rabbit trail- moving to a component set that moved the tweeter up higher- means I can keep the volume lower running down the road which makes my tinnitus more happy.

$700 is a chunk of change for a convertible that open to the elements and five finger discounts for me BUT as mentioned depends where you drive and park that will determine your odds. if you could cover that Sony with a Boss, Pyle, Spark-o-matic logo it will increase your odds.
 
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freedom_in_4low said:
I've been taking the handles off of the ropes ever since.

I had a weird moment last week...a guy rung the doorbell at like 11 in the morning on a weekday, saying he saw my truck in the driveway and wanted to know if I wanted to sell it and was really pushy about wanting to look at it. Had a whole sad backstory about his mom's health problems and how she needed a vehicle (so your ill elderly mom that just had open heart surgery needs a 3-door half ton pickup to climb in and out of?) and supposedly was just driving around and saw my truck. Had another guy with him, supposedly his brother, that didn't utter a word.

I live in a cul de sac in the very back of a neighborhood 10 miles from any significant commercial development. Nobody just stumbles their way out here looking for a vehicle, let alone in 2024 when craigslist and marketplace exist.

My vigilance has been extra high since then. None of the truck stuff makes any sense but what I wonder is if they were just seeing if anybody was home in the middle of a weekday and had a story prepared for why they rang the doorbell in case I answered. Jokes on them, I'm not always here but my schedule is completely inconsistent and unpredictable.
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This just happened in Florida.
A 12x felon scumbag used a ruse (fake delivery probably) to gain entry into an elderly couples home.

I'm sad to see an elder woman shot in the face, but I'm happy the elder husband filet'd his punkass
ALWAYS be vigilant ......and F*** Joe Biden for making it worse for Americans

I'm posting this particular link to video because the Sheriff's commentary is GOLD
https://worldstar.com/videos/wshhC3...to-pieces-after-his-wife-got-shot-in-the-face
https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-man-praised-police-fatally-stabbing-intruder-shot-wife
 
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I honestly think there is room in the market for Jomboy-style readings of police reports on youtube.
 
I get the ringing thing but there’s nothing like a BadAss stereo system where the volume is only halfway but full of deep lows with quality midrange and drilling highs! Anything HIGH volume should only be sampled for 10-minutes or so to save your ears. You installed Focal speakers but installed a budget head unit.. just doesn’t seem like these two mix well?
 
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AVGodZ said:
You installed Focal speakers but installed a budget head unit.. just doesn’t seem like these two mix well?
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Those are budget Focal coaxials, not high end

Head unit just processes the signal for the most part, but a quality external amplifier is what you put your $$$ into
 
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I really like my recently installed Sony XAV-AX5600.

I didn’t get the $700 wireless version bc it’s known for having connection issues and not adjusting properly to light.

I run a usb cord to the phone from under the dash and use Spotify and CarPlay through the screen. Has 5V outputs for the amp and a snappy capacitive screen.

It’s protected from the rain with a soft top, half doors, no windows. If someone steals it I’ll get another one.

I’ve had someone take a pry bar to my dash in the past. But, it’s not a museum mobile, so I’ve built it how I want to use it.
 
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