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Prius C - Aftermarket Stereo Setup Complete

Discussion in 'Prius c Audio and Electronics' started by scrull, May 29, 2014.

  1. scrull

    scrull Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2014
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    Location:
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    After going through the forums here, I found that the information was all over the place and needed to be in one spot to make it easier for people who have just bought a new Prius C and want to change out their stereo and speakers. So, I've combined the information here as best I can:

    Stereo:

    For the stereo, in order to maintain all the OEM shit you'll need to get one that can do the minimum below:
    • USB (rear input - 5V power for OEM USB outlet)
    • Aux (rear input - Left/Right RCA or 3.5mm AUX jack)
    • Bluetooth (Streaming Audio & Microphone)
    • External Microphone
    • Steering Wheel Control
    All the rest of the stereo's features are up to you in regards to what you want (wattage, DVD playback, touchscreen, etc.), but the above features must be there to make all your car's OEM components function properly.

    For my setup, I used the following equipment for my 2012 Prius C one (base model):
    • Stereo: (1) Axxera AV614BH DVD Receiver
      • Mounting Kit: (1) Scosche TA2114B
      • Wiring Harness: (1) Metra 70-1761 Wire Harness
      • Antenna Adapter: (1) Metra 40-LX11
        • No need for Axxess ASWC-1 (steering wheel control) since its built-in
        • All the above bullet points
        • DVD Playback
    • Speakers: (4) Kicker 40CS674 6-3/4" 2-way Speakers
      • Wiring Harnesses: Metra 71-035LC (4)
      • Mounting Brackets: Metra 82-8148 Speaker Brkt (4)
        • Used for both Front and Rear speakers
    • Subwoofer: (1) Kenwood KSC-SW11 100 Watt subwoofer
      • 100 Watts
      • Fits under the passenger seat
      • Amp and Subwoofer Combined
      • Includes all needed wiring
        • Let's face it, you're driving a Prius. You don't need dual 12" subs pumping 1000 watts. All you need is some depth for the audio, nothing excessive.
    • Accessories:
      • USB/AUX Connector: (1) Axxess AX-USB-35EXT
        • This directly replaces the OEM USB/Aux connector in front of the passenger seat
        • Fits perfectly
        • Connect the USB input the rear input of your stereo
        • Connect the 3.5mm input into the rear L/R RCA or 3.5mm jack input of your stereo
    *** YOU DON"T NEED ANY OTHER PARTS OTHER THAN WHAT IS ABOVE ***

    ------------------------------------------------------------
    Connecting everything up:
    ------------------------------------------------------------
    Installation Order:
    1. Remove dashboard by stereo (all pressure plates, no screws - use a plastic removal tool)
    2. Remove factory stereo (phillips head screwdriver)
    3. Install your speaker brackets and speakers
    4. Replace the USB/Aux Connector
      1. Push with your left hand from behind the dashboard outwards towards the passenger seat - it will release and come out. Disconnect the clip connector.
    5. Connect your factory harness to the aftermarket, stereo harness
    6. Setup steering wheel controls
      1. Pings 21 and 22 on the 28 pin adapter
    7. Connect your antenna adapter
    8. Attach stereo mounting Kit
    9. Re-Install stereo
    10. Power on car and test stereo functions
    11. Setup steering wheel control

    These images show the replacement of the USB/Aux connector:

    IMG_20140529_165905814.jpg IMG_20140529_170029386.jpg IMG_20140529_170054729.jpg IMG_20140529_170215223.jpg

    This is how I wired up the external microphone. since my car didn't come with a push button engine I used the plastic insert with a Dremel and inserted the external microphone through the hole. In the end, it looked like this:

    IMG_20140529_192606525.jpg
     
    Netineti, Nate28, Slolane and 2 others like this.
  2. kingnba6

    kingnba6 Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2013
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    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    very nice thread. also thanks for the information you provided. i need rear speakers and i also wanted a powered sub like you. so now i know which speakers and sub to buy.
     
    scrull likes this.
  3. StealthFighter

    StealthFighter Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2015
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    11
    7
    Location:
    Bay Area, NorCal
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    Good job! Thanks for sharing.

    I was planning to get an under seat subwoofer/amp similar to yours. I was planning to connect power directly to the auxiliary battery below the right rear seat and connect to the stock speakers directly (hi input) since I don't want to mess with the stock radio console.

    Has anyone done this & if so, do you have any tips? I don't even know where all the stock speakers are yet, and which speakers are the best to connect to.
     
  4. scrull

    scrull Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2014
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    Location:
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    That'll work, just make sure the subwoofer powers off when the ignition is off. Mine has power going to the battery under the rear passanger seat. The stock speakers are terrible, get rid of em. Even if you bought the trim with the 6 speaker setup, I believe the quality is the same. When I pulled mine out they felt like paper thin cardboard - haha.
     
  5. StealthFighter

    StealthFighter Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2015
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    Location:
    Bay Area, NorCal
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    I'm thinking of keeping the stock speakers & set the the bass low to compliment the subwoofer. Thanks for the tip regarding the power. Seems that I have to connect the "remote" terminal to a fuse or accessories somehow... or maybe manually turn it on/off since I'll probably not use it all the time.
     
    #5 StealthFighter, Jun 7, 2015
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2015
  6. scrull

    scrull Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2014
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    Location:
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    Are you using the stock headunit or an aftermarket? All I did was connect "blue accessory" wire from the subwoofer to the blue accessory wire behind my headunit. That'll ensure that both the headunit and subwoofer turn off simultaneously when the ignition is off.
     
  7. StealthFighter

    StealthFighter Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2015
    24
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    Location:
    Bay Area, NorCal
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    I don't want to mess with the stock headunit so I'm tapping the front door speakers for high input to the subwoofer. My c is a one, so I don't have rear speakers. I found a "fuse tap" on ebay that I can use to connect the remote wire to. Just need to choose an appropriate circuit.

    [​IMG]
     
  8. scrull

    scrull Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2014
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    Location:
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    Yeah, I had the same problem; it has to be the most retarded thing I've seen. Why even put in speaker boxes and then nothing inside them? Anyhow, get rear speakers in; you won't regret it. It made a world of difference in my C One. That fuse tap will work fine and is the same thing I use for 12V accessories. Take a look at my other post on fuses to tap within the interior:

    12V Passthrough Connections - Dashboard | PriusChat

    What have you done to your c today? | Page 8 | PriusChat
     
    #8 scrull, Jun 7, 2015
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2015
  9. Nate28

    Nate28 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2012
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    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    Awesome post, I just purchased the 4x Kicker speakers and that Kenwood Sub as well as a pair of Kicker Silk Tweeters. My stock speakers blew out after a year or so, Toyota really cheaped out with their stock speakers, hear the C4 is no different than my 1 in that regard.

    I'm going to attempt to use the stock mic with a nifty hack I found rather than the aftermarket one on my Jensen VX7020 Nav/Radio unit. Fingers crossed, will reference this post for my installation needs.
     
    #9 Nate28, Jul 2, 2015
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2015