Stock radio sucks

So I've had my new truck awhile now and the new has worn off. Love the truck, HATE the radio! I didn't get the up graded stereo system and the one in the standard SR5 doesn't go that loud. Has anyone got any suggestions? I don't want to replace the in dash unit, thinking an amp would help.

Thanks.

 

The speakers are the biggest piece of shit you can imagine (see this thread http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/173446-stock-speaker-rms-rating.html). You will have to replace them if you get a new head unit so I would suggest replacing the speakers first and see if it makes enough difference.

 

I hate mine, but I am gonna be stuck with it for awhile til I get some money to spend freely.

 

I would imagine you could buy a used JBL system from someone on here. The one in my 2011 TRD sounds pretty good, not great, but it'll be fine until I have the money to drop on a proper system.

 

If you think the stock Tacoma radio sucks you should have seen what was in our Highlander. The tuner specs on that thing were so week that it couldn't pull in an FM station if it was parked in the transmitter parking lot. And the specs met Toyota's requirements. More ridiculously stupid cost cutting.

 

Just changing out the head unit for a good name brand like Pioneer or Kenwood will have a noticeable positive effect in the sound quality. I outgrew the loud competition style sound systems long ago and, for me, my Pioneer AVIC-D3 drives the stock speakers just fine.

 

The main thing that keeps me from swapping my head unit for a nice Kenwood I have sitting in a box is that the adapter to make the steering wheel controls work with the Kenwood costs over $100.

 

$85.50

http://www.pac-audio.com/productDetails.aspx?ProductId=1016&CategoryID=29

$39.99

$40 PAC SWI-RC Steering Wheel Control Interface Designed for All Major Radio Brands, Universal Interface SWI-RC1

http://www.amazon.com/PAC-SWI-RC-Steering-Control-Interface/dp/B004HKBY8G

 

Thanks, I'll look at that...I might be able to convince myself to do it for $40 (plus the adapter kit). I'll have to look and see if my Kenwood has a wired remote socket (it does have a wireless remote).

 

I've been real happy with the head unit, the controls and tuner are great. Its the speakers the suck. Its just plain sad.

And thanks for the feedback guys.

 

Mine dosent get but a couple of stations. Just dosent pull in the stations like my wifes camery. Stock Fm Radio is junk in the tacomas.

 

well

 

Same here wifes honda picks up stations the tacoma can't.

 

You don't have to spend much to make a big improvement on the speakers. I was thinking of replacing the HU but did the speakers first. That alone made enough difference for me. It's an easy change out too.

 

It's good enough for sports-talk radio.

 

any of you crackers add an amp to the factory HU yet?

 

I think I'll try replacing the speakers first. If I have to up grade the whole system the speakers will need to be changed out anyways so its worth a try.

Thanks

 

I was just at the dealership today picking up parts and told the salesman that sold me the truck about how crappy the stereo system is. He told me to look into the BOGIOVI ( ??? ) add-on, apparently its a plug and play unit made to be used with the factory system that makes it sound alot better.

 

Looks like that's an accessory from Toyota in Canada that acts as a simple EQ for the system; I don't know how much that'd help with the stock speakers in the truck