2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid HU Replace

I would like to replace the 2-din head unit in my 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid (non limited edition) which has in-dash 6 discs CD changer and JBL factory amp. The factory head unit (HU) has the 2 20 pin connectors & 1 16 pin connector. I'm replacing this HU only because I need 1-din space for a VGA touch screen. Replacing the factory 2-din HU with after market 1-din HU was the only solution. I would like to connect my after market HU to the factory JBL amp. This sounds pretty straight forward, until I heard (unverified) that the JBL factory amp needed a digital on signal from the factory HU to turn on (!). Relocating the factory HU elsewhere in the vehicle and leaving it in the ON state seems a very inefficient way to go about this. Please, does anyone on this board have experience with the Highlander Hybrid JBL audio system who can verify and help with information on connecting an aftermarket HU to the JBL amp? Am I stuck with either relocating the factory HU or scrapping the JBL amp and factory HU altogether? Thank you very much! Khoa Ton

The JBL amp is a digital turn on from the factory radio. If you want to keep the JBL amp you HAVE to relocate the factory radio. This is the only way to do it right now as no companies make an interface yet. Jazzy

Thanks Jazzy. That's the (bad) news I've been afraid of. Would you know how easy it would be to use the OEM speakers with an after market HU that has internal amp? Are all speakers pretty much driveable from such and HU? Specifically, I have the Pioneer DEH-3700MP. Khoa

Well, the problem is most JBL systems have 8 or 10 speakers, each running off of a seperate channel of the JBL amp. With an aftermarket head unit, you can only use four of the speakers. If you have the 6 speaker JBL then using the Pioneer head unit drive the factory speakers is no problem. IMO i think you are going to lose sound quality and SPL if you drive the speakers off of the Pioneer head unit. The factory JBL amp is going to be more powerful than the internal amp of the Pioneer head unit. Jazzy