Sony Aftermarket Stereo

After researching many different options for bluetooth streaming, handsfree phone and other options I wanted, I came across the Sony XSP-N1BT.  Apparently it has iPhone connectivity and it uses the phone as the interface for the stereo.  It came with many different options --> CD, Sirius ready, bluetooth and Pandora ready.  Overall, the stereo looks very plain and simple.  Once you add the phone, it is a little more hi-tech.  For the price, I could not find all the features in other units including the add-ons that Toyota provides for the FJammer

First was removing the original FJammer.  This was the easiest part.  First start with the two silver trim pieces on the stereo panel.  There are two screws at the bottom that need to be removed.  Then just place your finger in the depressed area where the screws came out and pull forwards.  The clips at the bottom should come out.  Then use your other hand and pull forward on the top part.  It is very easy to take off.  Just make sure not to pivot from the bottom or you will probably break off the top part.  Everything should be pulled forward.

The next step was to take off the two screws on the sides of the stereo panel (should be color coded to your FJ, mine is black).  They are located at the towards the top on the sides where you took off the silver trim panels.  Take those off and then pull forward from the bottom first then the top.  The clips should pop out easily.

The next step is to take off the four bolts that are holding the stereo in place with the metal brackets.  This was fairly simple.  The stereo then comes out and you disconnect three plugs and the antenna.  The first two plugs are for the power/speakers.  The last plug is for the stereo controls.

I wired up the Sony HU and plugged it in.  I noticed that the stock subwoofer was not working.  After some research, I found a wiring diagram.  Apparently the blue/pink wire on the car harness goes to the subwoofer switch.  Once I connected the remote out wire (blue/white) from the Sony harness, I could use the switch to turn the sub on/off just as if it had the stock HU.

Placing the aftermarket HU in was simple with the Metra install kit.  Just like taking out the FJammer and proceeding with the steps above in reverse.

I was able to pass the microphone through a small gap between the Metra kit and the stereo, so it is just sitting on the bottom right corner.  I didn't want to place it on the dash or the sun visor since it will probably become too hot during the summer.

Overall, the stereo is very nice and can do the following:
1.  Connect any bluetooth device and stream music or sound from movies through the speakers.  In order to play movies through the speakers, you have to connect through bluetooth and not directly through the USB port.
2.  Answering and making calls (can use voice to make a call with the included mic).
3.  Has high rate charging for any device connected to the USB port.
4.  Plays CDs
5.  Has an interface with my iPhone that allows many different features to be set and controlled by an app called Sony App Remote.  You can set your fade/balance with the touch of your finger and it has an equalizer as well.  It recognized different apps on your phone and places them in the Sony app so you don't have to keep switching back and forth.  It recognized Pandora, iHeart Radio, Maps, Motion X drive, and IMDb on my phone.  So I can use the GPS with sound through the stereo.  It will dim all other sound from the stereo when the GPS is speaking.

XM/Sirius is the only option I have not used.

There is also the option to add a rear view camera.  There is an app called RFK WiFi that streams video from a bluetooth camera to your phone.  This will allow you to use the phone, when it is docked in the cradle, as a back-up-camera.  So in essence, you have all the capabilities of a $1000 GPS/DVD unit at a fraction of the cost.  The use of your phone as the stereo interface allows for this cost savings.

Old stereo out and new wiring harness plugged in.

Only uses two of the three plugs.  The other is the control for the steering wheel, which can be added separately.

The subwoofer switch wire is the second from the left (pink/blue)

The Metra harness connects the pink/blue with the blue wire (second from left)

The top is the Metra harness and the bottom is the Sony harness.  The blue/white from the Sony harness needs to be connected to the solid blue on the Metra harness for the subwoofer switch to work.

Everything tested with new HU and final wrap of electrical tape.  Also showing the third plug up on the right in the middle of the picture.  This one is for the steering wheel controls.

The Metra dash install kit is made of plastic.  In order to make sure I did not over tighten and crack the plastic, I added some larger washers to the stock bolts in order to spread the force.  It seemed to hold the stereo in without much movement.

The final result.  Microphone is just sticking out the bottom left corner.  The stereo has the usb on the left with a door.  The CD slot is right in the middle.  There is a top and bottom bar that adjusts depending on what type of phone you have docked.  The top bar moves down and clamps the phone in place to keep it from falling.  There is also a sensor on the bottom bar that turns off the stereo display when a phone is being used.  If you use one of the Sony Android phones(don't remember model), it has a built in connector for charging on the bottom bar.  Using the Sony phone looks much better than using an iPhone since it has a larger display.