1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Upgrading: In Order of Importance

Discussion in 'Audio & Video' started by Island Cruiser, Aug 30, 2012.

  1. Aug 30, 2012 at 6:29 PM
    #1
    Island Cruiser

    Island Cruiser [OP] TVita

    Joined:
    May 20, 2012
    Member:
    #79166
    Messages:
    3,910
    Gender:
    Male
    Kauai
    Vehicle:
    Baja
    I'm looking to upgrade my sound system as simple but effective as possible in my 2012 Access Cab Sport (no Entune/JBL).

    My preferences: Solid bass, sound clarity, ability to keep steering wheel controls/Blue Tooth.

    So I'm definitely adding a good sub. I would like to keep the stock head unit if it is worth keeping after upgrading the door speakers, let alone it is hard to find aftermarket head units that are compatible. My driver side speaker already is slightly blown.

    What would be the order of importance to upgrade first for my needs?

    My guess:
    Subwoofer
    Amp
    Speakers
    Head Unit

    Thanks in advance!
     
  2. Aug 30, 2012 at 6:30 PM
    #2
    brandonn

    brandonn pretend this is a clever saying

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2010
    Member:
    #35215
    Messages:
    248
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brandon
    Houston, TX
    You're gonna want a new head unit first IMO, a new HU will make the stock speakers sound way better than with the stock HU.
     
  3. Aug 30, 2012 at 6:32 PM
    #3
    brian

    brian Another Traitor

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2009
    Member:
    #16011
    Messages:
    7,551
    Gender:
    Male
    Elizabeth City, NC
    Vehicle:
    2017 F-250 Powerstroke
    Head unit first. Search my build if you want ideas. I'd like to think I got one hell of a system.
     
  4. Aug 30, 2012 at 6:50 PM
    #4
    Island Cruiser

    Island Cruiser [OP] TVita

    Joined:
    May 20, 2012
    Member:
    #79166
    Messages:
    3,910
    Gender:
    Male
    Kauai
    Vehicle:
    Baja
    Damn, glad I asked cuz I definitely thought wrong! Thanks
     
  5. Aug 30, 2012 at 11:05 PM
    #5
    BCTaco

    BCTaco Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2012
    Member:
    #78268
    Messages:
    16
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Don
    Langley BC Canada
    Vehicle:
    2012 TRD Off Road
    Head unit for sure. I put a pioneer AVH-p8400bh in my 12, the difference was night and day. Lot more than I thought it would.
     
  6. Aug 31, 2012 at 4:58 AM
    #6
    sirsaechao

    sirsaechao Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2009
    Member:
    #17772
    Messages:
    3,100
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tim
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2002 Toyota Tacoma SR5 TRD 3.4L 4X4 V6
    A lift, some wheels, some tires, some performance, some cosmetic and then audio.
    It all starts with the right headunit then mids and highs then amp and sub.
     
  7. Aug 31, 2012 at 8:28 AM
    #7
    ItalynStylion

    ItalynStylion Sounds Gooooood

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2009
    Member:
    #18467
    Messages:
    5,926
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Steven
    DFW, Tx.
    Vehicle:
    09 Double Cab TRD Sport 4x4
    I'm going to go against the grain here. You said you want, "Solid bass, sound clarity, ability to keep steering wheel controls/Blue Tooth."

    If that's the order of importance I'd say do the sub with a mono amp first. No matter what you do, the stock speakers suck when it comes to bass reproduction so it's best to offload that work to a subwoofer. THEN get a headunit because that's where all of the features come from including bluetooth. After that get new front speakers but I wouldn't even mess with the rears.
     
  8. Aug 31, 2012 at 8:33 AM
    #8
    jtav2002

    jtav2002 Kenny Fuckin Powers

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2009
    Member:
    #19074
    Messages:
    4,460
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Josh
    Reading, PA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Tundra DBL Cab TRD OR
    HU and sub then go from there. As much as the stock speakers suck I was satisfied with how everything sounds now and won't be upgrading speakers unless they blow.
     
  9. Aug 31, 2012 at 10:18 AM
    #9
    Island Cruiser

    Island Cruiser [OP] TVita

    Joined:
    May 20, 2012
    Member:
    #79166
    Messages:
    3,910
    Gender:
    Male
    Kauai
    Vehicle:
    Baja
    I appreciate all your advice! I'm just gonna upgrade that all at once and get it over with lol.
     
  10. Aug 31, 2012 at 4:30 PM
    #10
    Got2ryde

    Got2ryde Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2012
    Member:
    #77982
    Messages:
    610
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ryder
    Maryland
    Vehicle:
    AC OR 6spd silverstreak
    Off Road tow pac. GTCovers wetskinz seat covers, Direct wired Escort 9500xi, Leer 180 w/ARB awning, bed mat, extra d-rings, rear dif breather relocated, Weathertec mats, Elite front with Warn M8000-s and Rigid D2's, BAMF sliders, ABS killswitch, Kicker Hideaway sub, UltraGauge, ATO rear with flush mount duallys, FJ Trail Team black rims w/Duratracs.
    I gotta say I was pretty disappointed with the factory set up. I will be upgrading sooner rather than later. I put a aftermarket HU in my 05 Tundra(no jbl) and a 10" infinity and never had to do anything with the mids and highs. They were able to keep up after(as previous poster said removed the bass workload.) I'm trying to figure out how to make a box that doesn't hog so much space in my AC. Anybody know why they don't offer entune for the Offroads in 12'?
     
  11. Aug 31, 2012 at 8:52 PM
    #11
    Island Cruiser

    Island Cruiser [OP] TVita

    Joined:
    May 20, 2012
    Member:
    #79166
    Messages:
    3,910
    Gender:
    Male
    Kauai
    Vehicle:
    Baja
    Yeah that's a good point actually. I can probably do without getting aftermarket speakers as the stock ones blow for the bass. Save some bucks right there.

    And I've only came across like 3 different custom-fitted boxes for the AC's. The JL that goes on the center armrest console, and 2 others that go over/replace the rear center console. I want the JL one for convenience but costs over triple than the other 2. Go fig..
     
  12. Aug 31, 2012 at 10:07 PM
    #12
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2012
    Member:
    #73470
    Messages:
    16,331
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rich
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    08 Base
    Satoshi with FJ badge, factory cruise, factory intermittent wipers, Redline Tuning hood-lift struts, Hellwig Swaybar, Rosen DVD-Nav
    HU first, then the speakers before the new HU blows the stockers...

    [​IMG]
     

Products Discussed in

To Top