Chat
Contact us
Close contact box
Connect ID #
235 490 387 4
Connect ID #
235 490 387 4
Don't wait on hold. We'll call you back when it's your turn to talk with the next available .
Please enter your name  
Please enter your phone number  
Please enter a message  

Calls may be recorded for training and quality control purposes.

We are located in Virginia USA.

Thank you. We will be calling you .
We're sorry. We have encountered a problem.

2004-2006 Scion xB

How to upgrade the stereo system in your xB

2004-2006 Scion xB

In brief: This Crutchfield Research Garage article gives you an overview of your xB's stock stereo system and your aftermarket upgrade options. We'll tell you all about:

Then, use our vehicle selector to find the gear that will fit your Scion.

Overview of the Scion xB

When it comes to looking like the box it came in, few vehicles can top the 2004-06 Scion xB. That's not a criticism; mind you, just an observation. After all, when you go to a big box store and buy a few big boxes of things, it's nice to know you have a bigger box waiting for you in the parking lot instead of, say, a Pontiac Fiero.

Whether you look at the xB and think "pugnacious" or "cute," there's no denying that it's a distinctive, quirky little wagon — er, crossover. Microvan? Whatever you call it, the first-gen xB was a welcome addition to the sometimes-bland automotive landscape.

The xB isn't for everyone, but if it's the car for you, you'll be rewarded with a surprisingly vast amount of interior space, decent road manners and an impressive list of standard features. All you need to do now is open up a few boxes of car audio equipment....

Detailed stereo and speaker removal instructions

MasterSheet image
With step-by-step disassembly instructions and plenty of up-close, detailed photos, our exclusive Crutchfield MasterSheet™ takes the guesswork out of removing the factory stereo and speakers. It's free with your Crutchfield order, or you can purchase one separately for just $9.99.

The factory stereo system

The xB's factory stereo system didn't change a lot during its relatively brief stateside product cycle. A 6-speaker Pioneer AM/FM/CD sound system was standard throughout, though the 2006 model year saw a revised head unit design, a new steering wheel with built-in audio controls and the addition of a remote AUX input. Also, iPod® users gained the ability to control, charge and view their song info on the receiver.

Scion xB factory radio

The Scion xB's factory radio (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Removing the factory radio

The xB's dash opening will comfortably hold a 2" single-DIN or 4" double-DIN receiver. You'll need a receiver mounting kit and a wiring harness to install a new receiver, and these are available at a discount with all stereo purchases from Crutchfield. To install a double-DIN size receiver, you'll need to use the brackets attached to the side your factory stereo. If you don't have the brackets, you'll need to obtain them from your friendly neighborhood Scion dealership.

When you replace the factory radio, you'll lose your XM satellite radio capability. If you're a big fan of satellite radio, you should shop for SiriusXM-ready receivers, then order a tuner as well.

Removing the factory radio is a reasonably simple task. You'll pull off all three climate control knobs, to expose Phillips screws in each of the outer knob locations. Be gentle, of course. You're dealing with plastic parts and they don't bend so well. Remove the screws, then use a panel tool to pry around edges of the receiver/climate control trim panel to release the mounting clips.

Pull the trim panel out juuuust far enough to reach in and disconnect the wiring harnesses, then set aside the trim panel. Remove four more Phillips screws and the old radio is ready to remove. Hang onto those four screws, by the way. You’ll need them to secure your new mounting bracket to the dash.

Single-DIN receivers: Remove the DIN sleeve from your new receiver, slide it into the receiver mounting bracket and secure it by bending the securing tabs. Once they're together, slide the receiver in and connect the wiring adapter. Hold receiver assembly near dash. Next up, you'll connect the receiver wiring adapter to the factory wiring harness and plug in the antenna lead. From here, pop it in, secure it with the screws you set aside earlier, and test things out. If it sounds good, you're ready to put everything back together again.

Double-DIN receivers: Remove the mounting brackets from the sides of the factory stereo, and mount them onto the new stereo. There are a lot of screw holes on the new stereo, but it should be pretty easy to get the brackets to line up. Plug the new stereo's wiring harness into the stereo, then plug the other end (the Crutchfield harness) into the Scion's connector. Plug in the antenna cable, then carefully position the new stereo in the dash and use those four screws removed earlier to secure the new receiver. Test it out, then reassemble the dash.

Tools needed: Phillips screwdriver, panel tool, 8mm socket, ratchet and extension

Read our Car Stereo Buying Guide for shopping tips and advice.

Shop for car stereos that fit your Scion xB

Steering wheel audio controls

In most cases, it's reasonably easy to retain your Scion's steering wheel audio controls when you install a new stereo. When you enter your vehicle information, our database will choose the adapter you need to make your factory steering wheel controls work with a compatible aftermarket receiver.

Removing the factory speakers

Installing new speakers in the xB involves a few challenges, but it's nothing the average do-it-yourselfer can't handle.

scion xB front door speaker replacement

You'll have to drill out the rivets to remove the old speaker, then drill new screw holes for your new speakers (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Front doors

The xB's front doors house a pair of 6-1/2", 4-ohm Pioneer speakers. As factory speakers go, they're not too bad, but if you want to upgrade, you have plenty of 5-1/4" or 6-1/2" options, though the selection is quite a bit larger in the 5-1/4" aisle.

Given the easy-to-get-to tweeter locations, consider upgrading to a set of component speakers. You'll need mounting brackets for either size, and they're available at a discount with your Crutchfield speaker purchase.

The factory speakers aren't hard to get to, but replacing them involves drilling new mounting holes. Needless to say, always be careful when drilling or cutting in a vehicle. Be aware of things like wiring, windows, fuel lines and safety devices.

Double-check the drilling/cutting depth and location to avoid damaging your xB. "Measure twice, cut once" is as true in car audio as it is in carpentry. Once the holes are drilled, all you need to do is secure the new speaker, test it out, and put the door back together.

Complete disassembly instructions can be found in your Crutchfield MasterSheet.

Tools needed: Phillips screwdriver, panel tool, drill and 1/8" bit

Scion xB tweeter

The xB tweeters can be replaced (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Tweeters

Besides a center-mounted gauge cluster that is, we admit, an acquired taste, the xB's dash also contains a pair of 3" (13 ohm) tweeters. Since they're 13-ohm speakers, replacing them with normal 4-ohm tweeters means you'll get an immediate boost in your upper frequencies (because the new tweeters will get more power from your stereo).

Removing them is quite easy, but to replace them with aftermarket units, you'll need mounting hardware, like our universal backstrap, which can be cut or bent to the right size and shape you need for a mounting bracket.

The aftermarket speaker wiring adapter will work with the xB's factory speaker harness, so you won't have to splice the wires for a new tweeter. That's not always the case with tweeter upgrades.

Tools needed: Phillips screwdriver, panel tool, 8mm socket, ratchet and extension

Scion xB rear speakers

The rear side speaker (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Rear speakers

The xB breaks with convention in many ways, and that's part of its charm. In most 4-door vehicles, the conventional approach to rear speakers involves putting them in the rear doors. In the xB, you'll find them way out back, on either side of the rear hatch area. There's nothing wrong with that approach, really, but if you're a travelling quilt dealer, you might notice a slightly muffled sound until your sell down your stock a bit.

Replacing the 5", 6-ohm rear speakers is a busy process, but not a hard one. You'll have to remove the floor panels, spare tire, and the foam rear floor before prying away the scuff plates and exposing the speakers. No drilling is involved, but work carefully on everything else and remember to bend your knees when you're pulling out the spacesaver spare.

Whether you choose a 5-1/4" or 6-1/2" speaker, a mounting bracket and wiring harness are needed, and they'll be included free with your speaker purchase from Crutchfield.

Tools needed: 8mm hex bit, panel tool, 10mm socket, ratchet and extension

Read our Car Speakers Buying Guide for more information.

Shop for speakers that fit your Scion xB

Scion xB trunk

There's plenty of space for bass in the Scion xB. (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Bass in your Scion xB

If you like bass, there are lots of cool ways to add some boom to your box. Depending on your storage and hauling needs, you can go pretty big in the xB. If you're thinking about a subwoofer box for the rear hatch area, there's space to work with. Your available dimensions are 15" high (top to bottom), 37" wide and 15" (top) to 21" (bottom) deep. That's plenty of room for a pair of 10" subs in a sealed enclosure, just in case you're wondering.

Learn more about building a bass system in our Car Subwoofer Buying Guide.

weathertech floor liners

Protect your carpeting with a set of custom floor liners from WeatherTech

Other options for your Scion

Here are some other suggestions for improving your Scion xB.

Floor mats

You don’t need us to remind you of what can happen when you hit the road carrying any combination of adults, kids, pets, and food. Floor mats and cargo mats from WeatherTech will help protect your floors from dirt, damage and discarded juice boxes.

Add an amp (or two)

A new 4-channel amplifier will help you get the most out of your new speakers. You'll get cleaner power (and a lot more of it), which will result in much, much better sound. A mono amp can provide the juice you need for your new rear deck subwoofer, too. Learn more about adding amps to your system in our Car Amplifier Buying Guide.

Security

Installing a security system in your xB isn't easy (security systems rarely are), but it's definitely a good idea. Our Crutchfield Advisors can help figure out what you need to get the job done, but we usually recommend taking your car and new gear to a professional installer.

Let's get started!

Ready to shop? Use our vehicle selector to find the gear that will fit your car or truck. If you have questions, give us a shout via phone, chat, or email

Please share your thoughts below.

  • Jude from Cleveland

    Posted on 7/24/2023

    My standard 2006xb a mess. Bought 2006xb BASE model. Want to put the standard steering wheel with audio remote in the base model. Do you know if the wiring in a base model EVER supports remote sound controls? So far everyone including Crutchfield phone help line says I have to take base model steering wheel off & look . Can you tell me what I'm looking for or do I have to take both wheels off & compare ? Thanks.

  • David from High Point, NC

    Posted on 4/17/2023

    Having installed a HU and door speakers from Crutchfield and planning to replace dash and rears and adding a sub, I realized that the droning sounds were pretty irritating, especially at 60-70mph. Since the xB1 has large flat sheet metal sections with nearly no damping I want to try adding some damping material. I suspect the tailgate and rear floor and sides as being culprits. I don't like the idea of pulling the headliner. Did you consider where most of the road noise comes in or resonates?

    Commenter image

    Jon Paul from Crutchfield

    on 4/18/2023

    David, With questions like that, it's always better to have a conversation with a real live human. If you bought your gear from Crutchfield, you can call Tech Support for free help troubleshooting your system.
  • Mike from Boise

    Posted on 9/16/2021

    I typed in Scion XA and it brought me here. weird. I wonder how similar these two cars are ?

    Commenter image

    Jon Paul from Crutchfield

    on 9/17/2021

    Mike, They're similar in some ways, but not the same. When you enter your vehicle's info into our Outfit My Car tool, you'll see which stereos fit your car, plus the correct harness. If you have any questions, our advisors are available via phone or chat.
  • Michael

    Posted on 3/20/2021

    I replaced my dash speakers with 4" 4-way speakers and I'm getting an awful crackling noise from the dash speakers. Any idea of why this is happening?

    Commenter image

    Jon Paul from Crutchfield

    on 3/22/2021

    Michael, With questions like that, it's always better to have a conversation with a real live human. If you bought your gear from Crutchfield, you can call Tech Support for free help troubleshooting your system.
  • Commenter image

    Crutchfield Writing Team from Crutchfield

    Posted on 11/27/2018

    Paul, I've sent your question to our sales team, and they'll be contacting you via email soon. For immediate help, you can contact them via phone or chat.

  • paul from Dallas,PA

    Posted on 11/27/2018

    What speaker brackets do I need for an 05 scion xb? I'm replacing the front factory ones with 6,1/2 ,and the rear with 5,1\4 speakers.do you have the part numbers,so I can order them correctly?

  • Commenter image

    Jon Paulette from Crutchfield

    Posted on 4/11/2018

    James, Our researchers were able to do the job without removing the seat, so it's definitely possible! You'll find complete disassembly instructions in the Crutchfield MasterSheet included with your speaker purchase. If you have questions or hit a snag somewhere in the process, your purchase also comes with free tech support for the life of your gear.

  • James Crawford from Gaithersburg

    Posted on 4/10/2018

    Received my Fosgates from Crutchfield today for the rear speakers in my XB. Am I understanding this correctly that it's unnecessary to remove the rear seats to replace the rear speakers. I watched a YouTube video and the kid claimed he couldn't get the scuff panels off without removing the entire rear seat.

  • Commenter image

    Jon Paulette from Crutchfield

    Posted on 2/25/2018

    Duane, If you bought your gear from Crutchfield, you can call Tech Support for free help troubleshooting your system. If you purchased your equipment elsewhere, you can still get expert Crutchfield Tech Support - 90 days-worth for only $30. Check out our tech support page for details.

  • Duane selby from Newbern

    Posted on 2/24/2018

    I bought the morell Maximo 6.5 component set can I use the stock speaker wire for the new tweeter and how would I get the tweeter wire to the cross over using the stock dash location if I'm mounting the crossover in tbe door with the woofer ???

Max. 1500 characters. *Comment is required  
*Name is required  
*Email is required  
Please complete this input.  

Your email address will not be published. Comments will display after being approved by our moderators. Comments may be edited for clarity.

Looking for
car stereos?

Car Stereos Shop our selection

Find what Fits your vehicle

Remove

Checking fit...

Compare the sound